I have done dumb things for elite status. I've done mileage runs and booked hotel stays that I didn't need. It has cost me a lot of money and time. I decided at the time that they made sense.
I've tried to keep myself from repeating the dumbest and most wasteful things, but last year I felt the pull to grab United's valuable top tier 1K status that was unexpectedly close to my grasp.
I want those 280 PlusPoints that come with getting Platinum status that I can use for domestic and international upgrades for myself and my family, complimentary upgrades, the better and quicker service when I have an issue, and the bonus miles.
With about two months left to go in the year and a few trips still to fly, I'm close to getting back into United's 1K status. Being close doesn't make a difference, it leaves you frustrated and looking in.
I flew enough segments with United this year to meet the flight requirement for the highest status tier. Status with United and other airlines isn't just how frequently you fly, it's how much you spend.
I'm just over 2,157 points away from the finish line of 13,500 PQPs needed to earn United's 1K status.
If you choose the option to include future flights, United will show you how much further you have to go. The shortfall is narrowed to 1,668 PQPs if all the booked flights happen as planned.
Here is a look at my plan to close the gap and requalify for United elite status before the end of the year, and some strategies that could work for others in similar situations.
What is the value of United 1K status?
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Spending on your United credit card is one of the easiest ways to get United PQPs.
I have both the United Club Infinite Card and the United SM Business Card which I can use to earn 500 PQPs after spending $12,000 on purchases in a year. I have already earned 1,000 PQPs this year, but I have some large end-of-year expenses coming up, so I will have to deposit another 500.
There are limits on some credit cards.
It's not possible to see how close you are to the next spending threshold without getting your statements out. I had 500 PQPs from card spending deposited in May, so I'm trying to figure out how much I need to spend to get to the next $12,000.
Since I need to spend on my Hyatt card to earn elite status progress towards Globalist status over there with dollars charged, it's unlikely I'll earn more than 500 more PQPs this way.
With 500 PQPs in hand, I'm down to 1,168 still to be earned.
You can earn elite status by using credit cards.
Since I have already hit the number of United flights I need for the year, it is more attractive to buy domestic first class on my existing flights rather than add more flights.
It still involves extra spending, but by doing it in a targeted way on United flights I am raking in more PQPs than just sticking with an economy seat.
I booked a flight to Denver that was operated on a United wide-body plane with lie-flat seats. When I bought up to first class for $149 on that flight, I was very close to requalify for 1k status.
It felt like I got something in return for the money I spent when I booked first class on the flight. I'll need to upgrade on a few flights in November and December that have $149 upgrade available.
If I do that two more times before the end of the year, the gap will be closed.
How to get an upgrade when flying on an airline.
This isn't something I personally need to do this year as I've hit this number of flights portion of the requirement already, but in case you fall short, here are some ideas.
A flight takeoff/touchdown is called a United premier qualification flight. Four PQFs would be equal to a round-trip flight from Houston to Colorado Springs and back. You need 36 PQFs to get 1k status this year.
When I was a few segments short at the end of the year, I added a connection to some other flights and went to Texas to visit Dallas and Austin for a day.
You can get airline elite status with credit cards.
There is still time to book additional flights.
I know of at least one more trip to New York City that is not counted in my totals. It's likely that I'll earn about 300 PQPs at a rate of 1 per $1 of base fare since I will be flying during business days and hours.
Once I count up the flights I need and anticipate taking through the end of the year, I should be able to cut my shortfall in half.
I'm not missing a year of 1K status by going just 98% of the way, I'm missing 570 PQPs. If I have to travel for work, I'll be booking a flight to Vegas for a night of fun, but I'm not sure if I'll need it or not.
If you click on the "View Mileage Plus Earnings" button under the "Total Due" screen, you will be able to see the number of PQPs you will earn before you book.
I need more Hyatt nights and there are many ways to earn them on the cheap in Vegas.
There are last-minute strategies for the United premier elite.
If you use partner bookings, you can potentially earn PQPs quicker than if you use United. If it is a preferred partner, partner earnings are based on a mix of distance flown, fare class and other factors.
For preferred partner flights that are long in distance and cheap, it works best. I don't have the time or interest in taking a long trip at this time of the year.
Many United employees earn less than 100% with charts and fare classes, so you need to read the fine print around charts and fare classes. It is possible to make more money with some of United's partners but only if you are careful about what you book.
United's best kept secret is how to earn PQP faster.
I don't think I'll do this myself, but you can purchase United PQPs on the open market.
Log into your account and find your reservations for future trips. When you look at your trip details, you may see an option for an award. As you check in for your flights, this option may pop up. Some of the more expensive packages include PQPs, which is a type of reward that can be redeemed for United miles.
6,000 United award miles and 400 PQPs can be purchased for $560. United miles are valued at 1.21 cents per mile. You are shelling out $488 more for 400 PQPs. $400 on base United fares, seat upgrades, and other things would earn you 400 PQPs.
Is it a good idea to buy hotel or airline elite status.
It isn't always worth it to be an airline elite.
Even when trying to apply PlusPoints, my United 1K status didn't result in any upgrade at all. It's cheaper to buy a domestic first-class upgrade when it's available for sale than it is to chase elite status when it's not available.
I had been at mid-tier United Gold status for years, and it was only because of the relaxed pandemic qualification rules that I was able to get 1k status last year. I only have a chance to keep it this year because of the bonuses that were given earlier in the year.
I expect to fall back to a Platinum or even Gold level if things go back to normal. I will do silly things for status. With two months left to go, it's all up in the air for me because I'm too far in to quit on the 1K status hunt.
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