As the sun begins to set in 2022, you have less than a year to get requalify for airline elite status. This is the time to check your mileage balances, calculate your travel for the rest of the year, and see where you will end up in terms of elite status qualification in three years.
If you think you won't be able to reach your United Airlines MileagePlus premier status goal, here are some ideas for earning points and flights.
The United shifted away from some of the things they used to offer. There are two elite status metrics.
You need to fly at least four paid segments on United or United Express in a year to be eligible for any status with United. Four paid flights can be counted as PQFs, but can't be booked in basic economy.
We will discuss partner fares later, but your remaining PQFs can be on United flights. Two PQFs will be earned on a United flight.
You earn PQF for every takeoff you take. Basic economy fares aren't worth PQFs.
If you're traveling on a United-issued standard or basic economy ticket, you can earn 1 PQP per $1 spent on base airfare and carrier imposed surcharges. PQPs can be earned on seating and cabin improvements.
We expect United to return to pre-pandemic status requirements after January 1, 2023. The status thresholds are lower this year than they were in the past.
| 2021 and 2022 requirements | Pre-pandemic requirements | |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 3,000 PQPs + 8 PQFs or 3,500 PQPs. | 4,000 PQPs + 12 PQFs or 5,000 PQPs. |
| Premier Gold | 6,000 PQPs + 16 PQFs or 7,000 PQPs. | 8,000 PQPs + 24 PQFs or 10,000 PQPs. |
| Premier Platinum | 9,000 PQPs + 24 PQFs or 10,000 PQPs. | 12,000 PQPs + 36 PQFs or 15,000 PQPs. |
| Premier 1K | 13,500 PQPs + 36 PQFs or 15,000 PQPs. | 18,000 PQPs + 54 PQFs or 24,000 PQPs. |
There are flights, credit cards and more.
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PQPs are earned on paid United tickets.
You can earn 1 PQP per $1 spent on base airfare and carrier imposed surcharges on United-issued tickets.
If possible, you want your flights on fares that are mostly base airfare and carrier imposed surcharges. International itineraries have high government imposed taxes and fees which don't earn PQPs.
You can see the PQP and PQF accruals when you search for flights on united.com.
The standard economy fare for this flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Los Angeles International Airport is $150. The fare earned 134 PQPs and 1 PQF.
PQPs can be earned on Economy Plus seating and cabin upgrades. Private bulk fares and travel industry fares are not rewarded with PQPs.
You can earn lots of PQPs for a fraction of the normal price on partner itineraries.
As discussed in this guide, partner fares have allowed me to requalify for premier 1k status for just $7,500, a far cry from the $13,500-plus required for premier 1k.
You can earn points based on the length of your flight, the fare class and the airline that operates it.
There is a full breakdown of how this works in my guide. There are three European partner itineraries that make a lot of money.
The SAS economy-class ticket costs $368 and is in the T fare class, so it would earn the following:
This round-trip SAS premium economy-class ticket costs $656 and is booked in the A fare class, so it will earn the following:
This round-trip TAP business-class ticket costs $1,951 and is booked in the J fare, so it would earn the following:
Spending on most United credit cards can earn you PQPs. The guide tells you how to earn PQPs by using your United credit card.
The United co branded cards only earn 500 PQPs for every 12,000 charged. There is a limit on the number of PQPs that can come from credit card spending. You can refer to this page for all the information.
Three of our favorite United co branded cards are here.
You may be asked to purchase additional miles if you have a reservation with United. Go to "My Trips" to see your offers. You can find the "Award Accelerator" option.
If you click "Learn more", you will be taken to a page where you can purchase mileage and PQPs.
I could buy 3,000 award miles and 100 PQPs for $188 or 6,000 award miles and 600 PQPs for $814 on this flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to San Francisco International Airport.
It's not hard to see that it's a terrible deal since you could earn more PQPs and award miles on a United ticket.
It's common for United to offer buy-ups to the next tier sometime in January or February, but they've historically been expensive.
My United miles are worth 5 cents per mile.
There is still time for you to requalify for your current elite status or level up for next year. If you want to decide if a mileage run is right for you, the first thing you need to do is sit down and calculate where you are and what you will earn from any travel planned for the end of the year.
It is possible that United will bring back the pre-pandemic status requirements, so it is worth locking in status before that happens.
The additional reporting was done by two people.
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