Don't panic: United confirms lifetime elites will receive PlusPoints in the coming weeks
If you're a lifetime Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, or Global Services member with United, you've flown 2+ million miles on paid United tickets over the years. In return, you've received lifetime elite status, which includes all the same benefits as if you'd earned the status tier outright, including an annual allotment of PlusPoints.
United's PlusPoints are the currency used for confirmed upgrades to United's premium cabins. Every year, those who requalify for Premier Platinum and Premier 1K elite levels are eligible to receive 40 and 280 PlusPoints, respectively, when requalifying for status. This means Premier 1K members earn 320 PlusPoints per year.
United lifetime status, also known as Million Miler status, is awarded to travelers after they fly at least one million miles on paid (non-award) United tickets. Lifetime miles are only eligible for accrual on United and United Express-operated flights. A mile flown is a mile towards lifetime status — regardless of cabin, so those who have Million Miler status have flown at least one million miles on United.
For such extraordinary customers to United, you are rewarded with status for life, for you and one companion. This means that regardless of your annual flight activity, your MileagePlus status will never fall below the tiers outlined below:
This year, however, lifetime status members haven't seen their annual PlusPoints allotment appear in their accounts. This was brought to our attention by TPG reader and lifetime United Premier Platinum member Neil Gafney, who wrote to TPG saying that the usual 40 PlusPoints haven't been added to his MileagePlus account. These usually appear in early January.
This was confirmed by two other United lifetime elites, and sparked discussion about United possibly ending the awarding of annual PlusPoints for lifetime members.
Fortunately, that's not the case. PlusPoints for lifetime Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Global Service members are not going away, as confirmed to TPG by United. United shares:
"United has not made any changes to the policy. We experienced a technical issue that has delayed the deposit of annual PlusPoints to our lifetime Premier Platinum, 1K and Global Services members. Members should see their annual PlusPoints added to their accounts within the next few weeks."
United also told TPG that it's aiming to have a fix "implemented by Feb. 1." However, given this is said to be a technical difficulty, it could take longer for the issue to be resolved, and for members to actually see these PlusPoints in their accounts.
TPG will continue to monitor and provide an update when this issue is resolved.
Feature photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
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