United Airlines is implementing changes to its elite status qualification process in 2027, making it more challenging for those who typically qualify based on a combination of flight segments and spending with the airline.
Starting in 2027, United will no longer consider Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) for elite status qualification, and will instead rely solely on Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), which are earned based on spending on United tickets and with United credit cards.
The requirement to earn Premier 1K elite status will increase from 28,000 PQP to 32,000 PQP.
Here’s a breakdown of the changes to United’s elite status requirements in 2027.
2027 United Premier elite status requirements
Elite status tiers will now be determined solely based on PQP in 2027, with a minimum requirement of flying at least four flights with United or United Express.
Here is a comparison of the new requirements for each elite status tier:
|
Elite status tier
|
2026 requirements
|
2027 requirements
|
|---|---|---|
|
Premier Silver
|
5,000 PQP and 15 PQF
|
6,000 PQP.
|
|
Premier Gold
|
10,000 PQP and 30 PQF
|
12,000 PQP.
|
|
Premier Platinum
|
15,000 PQP and 45 PQF
|
18,000 PQP.
|
|
Premier 1K
|
22,000 PQP and 60 PQF
|
32,000 PQP.
|
These changes will impact those who relied on the combination of PQP and PQF to earn elite status. For those already qualifying through PQP alone, the changes will not have a significant impact.
United will offer starter PQP to some members in 2027, with eligibility requiring holding an eligible United credit card by Dec. 31, 2026. The starter PQP will be equivalent to 5% of the amount needed to re-qualify for earned status.
What do these changes mean for United flyers?
These changes align with industry trends as other airlines have also moved away from considering the number of flights flown for elite status. The changes are also aimed at incentivizing United frequent flyers to open a United credit card to earn PQP based on spending.
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