When you join United MileagePlus, you are a MileagePlus member. Additionally, the MileagePlus Premier Status Program offers Silver, Gold, Platinum and 1K Status.
You can reach Premier Status through a combination of PQF (Premier Qualifying Flights) and PQP (Premier Qualifying Points) OR just with PQP but meeting a higher goal.
The requirements are as follows:
SILVER you will need 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
GOLD you will need 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP (Lifetime status when you reach 1 million miles)
PLATINUM you will need 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP (Lifetime status when you reach 2 million miles)
1K you will need 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP (Lifetime status when you reach 1 million miles)
And, everyone will get an elite status jumpstart in 2023 and will deposit PQP into your account based on the status you are in 2022. So at the beginning of 2023 you will get PQP as follows.
SILVER-500 PQP
GOLD-1,000 PQP
PLATINUM-1,500 PQP
1K-2,500 PQP
And…in 2023, when you use Miles for award flights operated by United or United Express, you are now eligible to earn PQP. You earn 1 PQP per 100 miles redeemed, as well as 1 PQF earned per United or United Express flight.
So now lets take a look at the requirements separately.
1. Combo of PQF and PQP
A. PQF-Premier Qualifying Flights-Based on the number of flight segments flown, four of which need to be flown on United or United Express. (Note, you earn PQF and PQP when you fly on United, United Express, Star Alliance Partners and a few other airlines…see more here)
B. PQP-Premier Qualifying Points-Based on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharge of flight purchases which includes…
- Base fare + surcharge
- Economy Plus seating or subscriptions
- Preferred seat purchases
- MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays
- Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express
- Flights ticketed and operated by our Star Alliance™ partners
2. Higher PQP Goal-A higher amount of Premier qualifying points and a minimum of 4 segments flown on United or United Express.
Note, PQF and PQP are credited to the account of the member who travels, not the member who purchases the ticket. Also note, all Basic Economy tickets earn PQP, but will not earn PQF.
How does it work in earning PQP on flights ticketed and operated by a Star Alliance Partner?
Star Alliance Airlines and Air Dolomiti, Azul, Eurowings, Edelweiss, and Olympic-Your PQP will be 1500 for First/Business Class flights and 750 for Economy and Premium Economy flights.
Other MileagePlus partner airlines-Your PQP will be 1000 for First/Business Class flights and 500 for Economy and Premium Economy flights.
You can also earn PQP with certain United MileagePlus credit cards.
But remember-All cardmembers must take a minimum of 4 flights on United or United Express to be eligible for Premier status.
Earn up to 1,000 PQP-The United Explorer Card and the United Business Card-earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to Platinum up to 1K. BUT U STILL NEED TO MEET THE PQF REQUIREMENT FOR 1K
Earn up to 6,000 PQP-United Quest Card-earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 6,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K. BUT U STILL NEED TO MEET THE PQF REQUIREMENT FOR 1K.
Earn up to 8,000 PQP-United Club Infinite Card-earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 8,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K. BUT U STILL NEED TO MEET THE PQF REQUIREMENT FOR 1K.
Earn up to 10,000 PQP-The United Presidential Plus Card and United Presidential Plus Business Card-earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 10,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K. THESE CARDMEMBERS DO NOT HAVE TO MEET THE PQF REQUIREMENT FOR 1K.
If you still have one of these old United cards, click the cards to see the status earning potential-United Club Card, United Explorer Business Card, United Club Business Card
And note, the maximum number of PQP that can be earned on eligible card spend in a calendar year across multiple credit cards has increased from 5,000 PQP to 15,000 PQP, making it even easier to reach Premier status goals through card spend.