United launches new status match offer for 2025

United Airlines' annual status match offer is back. The requirements are a little higher this year, but they're still much easier to achieve than United's standard criteria — making this an excellent opportunity to pursue Premier status.

If you hold elite status with another airline, here's how to turn that into United Premier status in 2025 — and why you may want to (or not).

Related: What exactly is elite status in travel — and how can I get it?

United's status match offer for 2025

Here are some airline loyalty programs eligible for United's status match and which Premier level they match to.

According to United's website, this is only a partial list. You may be eligible to apply if you hold another status.

To apply for a match, you must submit this form with your MileagePlus account number and email address, as well as a digital copy of your 2025 membership card for the frequent flyer program you are matching from.

If approved, you must take one "activating flight" operated by United or United Express within 90 days of approval to receive temporary elite status.

If you have flown on a United or United Express flight in the past 30 days from the day you registered for a status match, this may qualify as your activating flight. The flight must have already been posted to your MileagePlus account and have a date on or after Jan. 1, 2025. You must make this request at the time of your application for a previous flight to be considered.

If you do not complete an activating flight within 90 days of approval, you'll become ineligible for the status match challenge. Further, you won't be eligible to submit for another United status match in 2025. Be sure to time your application so that you'll be able to complete the activating flight requirement.

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After you take your activating flight, your United status will be upgraded to Premier Silver, Premier Gold or Premier Platinum within five to seven business days. You will hold this status for 120 days.

To extend your shiny new Premier status for the rest of the 2025 program year, you must meet the following Premier qualifying flight and Premier qualifying point requirements within the 120-day qualification period.

For this challenge, PQPs must be earned on United-operated flights. PQPs earned through other methods, such as credit card spending and partner flights, do not qualify.

How long will your status last? According to the United status match terms and conditions, "Earned 2025 Premier status is valid through January 2026. The MileagePlus status is valid through January 2027 for customers who earn Premier status through this offer on or after July 1, 2025." So, to maximize the length of your United status, you may want to wait until July to request a match.

If you cannot complete the status match requirements within the challenge period, your matched MileagePlus Premier status will expire.

Note that you can't elevate your status by meeting the above criteria; you can only extend the status to which you initially matched. You must meet United's standard thresholds for Premier status to move to a higher tier.

For example, say you entered this status match with Southwest Rapid Rewards A-List status, which would match you to United Premier Silver. Even if you meet the Premier Gold criteria above (fly 10 PQFs and earn 3,400 PQPs) in the challenge period, you'll remain Premier Silver for the remainder of the 2025 program year. However, you can move to Gold by meeting United's published Premier Gold criteria.

Related: Last-minute strategies for earning United Premier elite status

Who is eligible for a United status match?

There are a couple of reasons a traveler may not qualify for United's 2025 status match program:

• You are ineligible if you have participated in the MileagePlus status match program or received a Premier status exception in the last five years.
• You are also ineligible if you hold elite status because of a trial or temporary elite status in the other airline program.

Is United Premier status worth it?

United Premier status offers valuable perks, like free checked bags, bonus miles earned on flights, upgrades to Economy Plus and even lounge access on select flights at the higher tiers. If you plan to fly United in 2025, these perks could make a status match worthwhile, even if you don't plan to extend your status past the 120-day challenge period.

However, you can snag some of these perks without Premier status if you have the right card in your wallet. For instance, the United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) and United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees) offer a free checked bag for the primary cardholder and one traveling companion. Meanwhile, the United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) provides United Club lounge access. Depending on which benefits are most important to you, you may be better off applying for a United credit card than pursuing a status match.

If you hold status with another airline, there are a few reasons you may consider switching to United Premier status. For instance, you may not be satisfied with the airline's service or the elite perks you're getting. Or maybe you've moved to a location where your current airline has a smaller presence.

If you're thinking of changing loyalty, this 2025 status match challenge could be the perfect opportunity. It allows you to test-drive United Premier status for a short period and extend your status quickly.

However, remember that United typically lets you participate in a status match only once every five years. It may not be worth applying if you don't think you'll fly United enough this year to extend your status or take full advantage of its perks.

Related: Why this Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan change may sway me to leave American's AAdvantage program

Bottom line

United's 2025 status match is an excellent opportunity for travelers considering changing loyalty to MileagePlus Premier.

However, if United isn't the best airline for you, plenty more status matches and challenges are available. And don't forget to keep track of when your airline elite status expires to avoid missing out on valuable perks or future status matches.