United Is Making It Tougher to Earn Elite Standing in 2025 — What to Know

Incomes elite standing with United Airways will develop into more difficult because the airline implements main updates to its Premier program for 2025.

The tactic for qualifying for elite standing will stay the identical: fliers should accumulate a mixture of Premier Qualifying Factors (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) or meet a better PQP threshold, which incorporates {dollars} spent with United and its companions. Nonetheless, the necessities will improve throughout all tiers, the airline introduced at this time:

• Silver: 5,000 PQPs and 15 PQFs or 6,000 PQPs (Beforehand 4,000 PQPs and 12 PQFs or 5,000 PQPs)
• Gold: 10,000 PQPs and 30 PQFs or 12,000 PQPs (Beforehand 8,000 PQPs and 24 PQFs or 10,000 PQPs)
• Platinum: 15,000 PQPs and 45 PQFs or 18,000 PQPs (Beforehand 12,000 PQPs and 36 PQFs or 15,000 PQPs)
• 1K: 22,000 PQPs and 60 PQFs or 28,000 PQPs (Beforehand 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs or 24,000 PQPs)

The extra requirement to fly a minimum of 4 segments with United or United Specific to qualify for elite standing will keep the identical. Assembly these thresholds through the 2025 calendar 12 months will guarantee your standing for the rest of that 12 months and all of 2026.

On Feb. 1, 2025, United will give present elite standing holders a lift for the 2025 qualifying 12 months with 300 PQP for Silver members, 600 PQP for Gold members, 900 PQP for Platinum members, and 1,400 PQP for 1K members. 

A cobranded bank card may help vacationers speed up their PQP accumulation by way of on a regular basis spending, because the United Membership Infinite and Membership Enterprise playing cards will grant 1 PQP per $15 spent, whereas all different United playing cards will supply 1 PQP per $20 spent.

Moreover, the utmost PQPs that may be earned on a United card will improve from 10,000 to fifteen,000 on the United Membership Infinite and Membership Enterprise, with the United Quest rising from 6,000 PQPs to 9,000 PQPs.

The numerous adjustments are barely offset by the enhancements to United’s PlusPoints program, accessible to top-tier Platinum and 1K members. Starting in mid-2025, United plans to introduce extra redemption choices for PlusPoints, together with bonus PQPs or PQFs, TravelBank money, redeemable miles, and the flexibility to present standing to different vacationers. Nonetheless, the precise variety of PlusPoints wanted for every award hasn’t been specified but.

Incomes airline loyalty standing has develop into more difficult — a development seen throughout the business — with main airways introducing important adjustments for the reason that pandemic. Simply final 12 months, Delta Air Traces raised the necessities for its Medallion program considerably, however relaxed some standards after receiving pushback from loyal fliers.