New offers for 2025: Check whether you are targeted to buy up to a higher United Premier status
Editor's Note
Although 2024 has ended, there may still be an opportunity to snag the next level of United Premier status for 2025. United Airlines has targeted some members with an offer to purchase the status level above what they earned in 2024 — including some members who didn't earn any status in 2024.
Some TPG staffers have been notified via an email titled "Get Premier status before January 31." Even if you haven't received an email, you can visit this landing page and sign in to your United MileagePlus account to see if you're eligible for a buy-up offer. But first, let's discuss some of the offers TPG staffers have seen in their accounts and their takes on the offers.
United offers for 2025 Premier status
TPG managing editor Erica Silverstein barely achieved Premier Gold status in 2024. She found the following offer in her inbox:
As you can see, Erica could upgrade from Premier Gold to Premier Platinum for $7,226 or 722,600 miles until Jan. 31. After that date, she would need to pay $7,726 or 772,600 miles. In either case, Erica noted, "It's likely a bad idea," and we tend to agree.
Erica wasn't the only TPG staffer to get a United status buy-up offer. Director of content Carly Helfand, who qualified for Premier Gold status last year, received a similar offer to upgrade to Premier Platinum for $6,493 or 649,300 miles by Jan. 31 (or $6,993 or 699,300 miles after that date).
Meanwhile, senior director of content Summer Hull — who wrote about giving up on United's top-tier status in 2023 and dropped even further last year — got an offer to upgrade from Premier Gold to Premier Platinum for $4,063 or 406,300 miles by Jan. 31.
Senior cruise writer Ashley Kosciolek qualified for Premier Silver status in 2024, the lowest status she's held with United since 2020. Her status buy-up offer would let her upgrade to Premier Gold for $3,772 or 377,190 miles by Jan. 31 (or $4,191 or 419,100 miles after that date).
These status buy-up offers aren't just targeted to elite MileagePlus members. For example, TPG engineering manager Zoe Jablow held Premier Silver last year but didn't re-qualify; she was about $350 away. She received an offer to buy up to Silver status for $410 or 40,950 miles by Jan. 31 (or $455 or 45,500 miles after that date).
Zoe said this buy-up offer is worth considering, adding "This is actually probably less money than if I had taken a mileage run (because of taxes)."
Associate writer Rachel Craft's husband doesn't hold United status, but he's had Premier Silver status in the past. He received an offer to purchase Premier Silver status for $844 or 84,420 miles by Jan. 31 (or $938 or 93,800 miles after that date).
Understandably, most of the above staffers didn't find their United status buy-up offer compelling. As multiple people noted, they'd rather spend the money on trips this year than upgrade their status by one tier for 2025. Plus, you can get some elite status perks — like free checked bags and United Club lounge access — by adding the right United credit card to your wallet. So, think carefully before you decide to pay money or miles to upgrade your status with this offer.
If you do get a buy-up offer you decide to take, carefully consider other uses for your United miles before you redeem them at about 1 cent per mile to upgrade your status. TPG's January 2025 valuations peg the value of United miles at around 1.35 cents each, so this likely isn't the best option.
Related: How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program
Bottom line
In most cases, United's status buy-up offers are atrociously expensive. If you've received one of these offers, consider your upcoming travel plans and see if the added benefits outweigh the cost.
Most of the time, we recommend applying whatever you were considering spending on a status buy-up toward flight activity this year. After all, the United Premier status you earn this year will be valid until Jan. 31, 2027, giving you an extra year to enjoy the perks associated with your status.
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