United has announced major changes to how elite status will be earned for the 2020 year. Previously you could earn elite status with either Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM) or Premier qualifying segments (PQS) and Premier qualifying dollars (PQD). Under the new structure you’ll need a combination of Premier qualifying points (PQP) and premier qualifying flights (or a higher threshold of just premier qualifying points).
You’ll earn 1 PQP for every $1 spent (base fare only). Each take off and landing will be equal to one PQF, regardless of fare class (although basic economy fares will be excluded). The elite status requirements are as follows:
- Premier Silver: 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
- Premier Gold: 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
- Premier Platinum: 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
- Premier 1K: 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP
Personally I gave up caring about elite status a long time ago, the benefits elites receive has deteriorated over time and the requirements has increased.
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FYI, they also removed the spend waivers for Chase cards, international addresses, and military.
It should no longer be called MileagePlus.
RevenuePlus
Thrilled about the changes. As a last minute short haul flyer I regularly spend $10k a year on 40-50 segments. Silver blows. Looking forward to that group 1 boarding.
the lounge option is the best, along w your luggage coming out first. i used gold status at lounges throughout asia, ANA japan lounge has a sushi station and ramen bar
Do I understand this correctly? 1 first class flight overseas that costs $10k will grant gold status even if that is the only flight I take?
I think so!
5000 spending for silver. United has gone completely insane.
The PQD waiver for foreign addresses is now gone. That was a big deal for me. But, like others, I look forward to getting off the treadmill and flying with other carriers (once I get lifetime platinum in 2021).
I stoped caring too. Non AA OneWorld Emerald is still very nice on domestic trips when I can get access to AA Flagship on domestic basic economy trips, but for international trips I have started to go with whatever is the cheapest and fastest and simply use the Priority Pass options. Saves time, money and stress.
Between this and dynamic award pricing, what is even the point of flying united
I was a 1k on UA for the better part of seven years, it was helpful being next to a hub where UA operated > 50% of the flights.
Five years ago, I gave up on status, and go for the "best" option that's some subjective mix of flight times and price. At this point, I think I can say there isn't much of a difference between AA/UA/DL/LH/BA/IB/WN/B6/EW/AZ/FI/FR/U2/SU/QF, they all get you there at the same time, and the service is more or less the same in Y.
With a co-branded AA/UA/DL credit card, you get whatever baggage you would get from Star Gold, and jump far enough in front of the gate lice to always get place overhead.
Priority Pass is a good alternative to the run-down RCC lounges, I can't say I miss it.
I used to fly United all the time (roughly 60k miles a year) and Gold status was worth it for like two or three times a year. This year I kinda stopped caring about it after some personal issues I had with United and just started flying whatever the best times are for me. It's so much nicer. It's kinda sad what has been happening to elite statuses over the years...