United unveils big Premier status, PlusPoints changes for 2025
If you're a loyal United flyer, you might want to pay attention to this one.
The Chicago-based carrier just announced a slew of changes to its Premier elite status program, and they aren't necessarily all good news.
The updates start with earning Premier status, which is getting harder next year with new increased qualifying thresholds. But once you earn status, the perks may be a little bit more exciting, especially for those who've struggled to use PlusPoints in the past.
Here's everything you need to know about United's big Premier program update.
Earning Premier status in 2025
Earning Premier status next year is going to be harder than ever before, as United is raising the thresholds required to attain elite perks.
To earn status in 2025 (valid through Jan. 31, 2027), you'll need a bunch of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), as you can see in the chart below.
| Tier | Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) + Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) | Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) only |
|---|---|---|
Premier Silver | 5,000 PQPs + 15 PQFs | 6,000 PQP |
Premier Gold | 10,000 PQPs + 30 PQFs | 12,000 PQP |
Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQPs + 45 PQFs | 18,000 PQP |
Premier 1K | 22,000 PQPs + 60 PQFs | 28,000 PQP |
Note that there are two tracks to earning Premier status. The first combines PQPs and PQFs, and the second is a higher PQP-only goal. Each track requires at least four flights on United or United Express metal — i.e., not on partners.
On average, the thresholds are increasing by about 25% across the board. That's pretty significant, especially since the airline's existing thresholds weren't exactly too generous. To put some (rough) dollars to these numbers, a traveler would need spend a whopping $28,000 on United flights to earn Premier 1K status via the PQP-only track.
Luc Bondar, chief operating officer of MileagePlus, told TPG in an interview that this change is about “wanting to reward the value we get with the value we give, and make sure those two things are in balance.”
It's worth noting that United hasn't raised the Premier qualifying requirements since it first introduced PQPs and PQFs in 2019. During the peak pandemic years (2020, 2021 and 2022), United temporarily reduced the status requirements due to low travel demand, but in 2023, it finally enacted the requirements it first unveiled back in 2019 but hadn't actually implemented.
Now the airline is ready to raise the thresholds once again.
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Of course, this move will sting for anyone who thinks that United's existing requirements are already a stretch. After all, higher requirements mean that you'll need to spend and fly more to achieve status.
However, the elite ranks have likely swelled in recent years. While it may feel good to unlock elite status, it's hard for airlines to deliver the elite benefits they promise when so many members are competing for the (often unavailable) first-class upgrade or extra-legroom exit row seat.
To that end, Bondar shared that “a lot of the benefits that play out through Premier program are capacity constrained … benefits like upgrades, like an early boarding experience ... if everyone's getting on the plane at the same time, no one's got status.”
You'll have to crunch the numbers to see if the new metrics work for your travel patterns. But the move reminds me of Delta Air Lines’ now famous quote, "When everyone's an elite flyer, no one is."
United adds new ways to redeem PlusPoints
While earning status will be harder than before, at least it should be much easier to actually redeem the best benefit of top-tier status: PlusPoints.
When Premier Platinum and 1K members earn status, they're awarded 40 and 280 PlusPoints, respectively. (You also receive 20 PlusPoints for every 3,000 PQPs earned from flying beyond 22,000.)
Ever since their introduction, PlusPoints have been an upgrade currency, allowing top-tier elites to apply them to bump into higher cabins, pending availability.
And in the nearly five years since PlusPoints have been in circulation, it's gotten harder than ever to actually confirm an upgrade. With premium demand so high, there are fewer business-class seats available for upgrades.
The good news is that instead of letting PlusPoints expire at the end of the year if you can’t confirm an upgrade, United will give you four new additional ways to redeem PlusPoints next year, including:
- A PQP or PQF deposit
- TravelBank cash
- Bonus miles
- Gifting Premier status to other MileagePlus members
The airline didn't have much to share beyond this tease. It promised more details about these PlusPoints updates in mid-2025.
”We call the overall strategy 'PlusPoints utility,'” Bondar said. He explained that customers have asked for years for more ways to use their PlusPoints, and now the airline is delivering on that with more utility for PlusPoints.
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United Premier head-start bonus
As it has done over the past few years, United will grant existing Premier members a starter pack of PQPs in the new year to give them a head start on requalifying.
Specifically, you'll receive the following number of PQPs in early 2025 (at a yet-undisclosed date) based on the status you earned in 2024:
- Premier Silver: 300 PQPs
- Premier Gold: 600 PQPs
- Premier Platinum: 900 PQPs
- Premier 1K: 1,400 PQPs
Note that these amounts represent a roughly 20% increase compared to the bonus PQPs awarded last year.
Free PQPs certainly don't hurt, but they alone won't do much to help you requalify for status. You'll still need to do a lot of flying (or swiping, more on that below) to help you cross the finish line.
This starter bonus effectively makes it a bit easier for someone to requalify. If you're rising the ranks to Premier status for the first time, you'll need to earn the full set of PQFs and/or PQPs, as outlined in the table above.
Earn Premier status from credit card spend
Of the three big U.S. airlines, United has been the stingiest about awarding status for spending on a cobranded credit card. The airline isn't doing a 180 next year, but it will at least make it a bit easier to boost your status using your United credit card.
For one, United will improve the PQP earning rate across its credit card portfolio, with the best improvement coming to its top-of-the-line cards.
- United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees): 1 PQP per $15 spent
- United Club℠ Business Card: 1 PQP per $15 spent
- All other eligible cards: 1 PQP per $20 spent
Note that while the earning rates are improving on the Club cards, all other cards will still earn at the same rate as before (it's just the frequency of earning that will be higher). In the past, United has awarded 25 PQP for every $500 spent on these cards. Now, there won't be a $500 minimum.
In addition to the changes to the earning rates, United will increase the maximum number of PQPs you can earn from certain cards.
- United Club℠ Card: 28,000 PQP (from 15,000 PQP)
- United Club℠ Business Card: 28,000 PQP (from 15,000 PQP)
- United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees): 18,000 PQP (from 9,000 PQP)
The information for the United Club Business Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bondar explained the rationale behind this move by saying that United has historically been among the weakest in offering status earning for cobranded spending.
But now that this segment is more important than ever to the bottom line, the airline is readjusting its strategy (but stopping short of letting flyers just spend their way to top-tier status, a la American).
“We’ve been very intentional and thoughtful about how we've integrated more earning opportunity on our credit cards. We have continued to increase both the rate of earning and the range of products on which that earning can apply from what was a relatively thin offering five or six years ago.”
Speaking about why United won’t simply let travelers spend their way to top-tier status, Bondar emphasized that “this is a program that reflects the relationship that customers have with United Airlines, and flying is the ultimate reward that all of our travelers are seeking. We see it in all the redemption activity. 97% of all redemption is for travel.”
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Bottom line
United is gearing up for what's poised to be another busy year of travel with some major adjustments to its Premier program.
The changes are headlined by the introduction of higher requirements to earn status and upgrades to PlusPoints. Bondar said the higher requirements are designed in part to help rebalance elite tiers.
“These thresholds are very much a function of where the market sits today. They're a function of fares. They're a function of demand, they're a function of the population that we see at each one of those Premier tiers. And we're very confident that what these thresholds do is help us ensure that the Premier population doesn't get bloated.”
Though the increased thresholds will sting for many, United is sweetening the deal for its best elites with more ways to use PlusPoints, such as gifting Premier status and converting them to miles. This should definitely help people use their PlusPoints (instead of letting them expire unused at the end of the year if upgrades don't clear).
Of course, the news will benefit those who fly United and its partners a lot. But for casual travelers who might have ended up with Gold or Platinum status in previous years, you might want to enjoy those perks now before they get significantly harder to achieve.
Related reading:
- 6 things you need to know about United Airlines MileagePlus
- The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers
- What is United Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- How to survive basic economy on United Airlines
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.