Earning elite status in the United Airlines MileagePlus program is now attached to earning a certain amount of Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs). These can be obtained, of course, by flying, but also through spend on a few of the United Airlines credit cards.
Your PQP will be equal to award miles earned divided by 5 if you're flying on a preferred partner; for other MileagePlus partner airlines, it will be award miles earned divided by 6. Please note award miles is your base award miles earning plus your fare class bonus award miles earning, if eligible.
Earning Premier status is based on flying and spending during the previous calendar year. Once you qualify for a Premier status, it is valid from the date you qualified through the end of the following program year. So, it could last more than 12 months.
The expiration date for elite status is Jan.31 each year. To ensure that you maintain your status from year to year, you will need to complete the PQF and PQP requirements for your status level.
United Club? Infinite CardFew credit cards offer both airline and hotel elite benefits, but the United Club Infinite Card is one of them. In addition to a path toward United MileagePlus status, card holders also receive IHG One Rewards Platinum status and a $75 statement credit toward IHG bookings through 2023.
You're automatically eligible for a Complimentary Premier Upgrade as long as you are a Premier member (the higher your status, the earlier you become eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades and are flying on an eligible ticket on any eligible United-operated flight.
Yes, United miles can be transferred to others, however not only will you pay to do the transfer, but you'll have to pay a processing fee as well. United charges $7.50 per 500 miles transferred plus a $30 processing fee. So, if you wanted to transfer 50,000 miles, you would have to pay $780.
The Million Miler program, a part of the MileagePlus program, rewards members for extraordinary, long-term loyalty to United. Million Milers enjoy generous annual benefits and lifetime Premier® status.
Changes to United Premier 1K Status for 2023To become a United Premier 1K status holder through Jan. 31, 2025, you have to fly 54 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and earn 18,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), in addition to flying at least four United/United Express flights in 2023.
1. American Airlines AAdvantage. Starting January 2022, American Airlines revamped its elite status program. Earning Loyalty Points from flying is relatively simple: If you earn an AAdvantage mile from flying, you'll earn a Loyalty Point.
For most people, it probably won't be worth going very far out of your way to chase airline elite status. You can easily replicate many of the perks that a low- or even mid-tier elite traveler would enjoy by holding the right credit cards and buying the occasional upgrade to first class.
Lounge accessYes it does, since United Gold status is also Star Alliance Gold status. This means you and one travel companion can enjoy lounge access on international itineraries, even when flying in economy class.
When traveling on a Star Alliance member-operated flight, eligible Star Alliance Gold members (MileagePlus Premier 1K, Premier Platinum and Premier Gold) may visit designated Star Alliance member lounges.