United Airlines MileagePlus members will need to fly or spend more to earn premier status for 2024.
Under changes announced Tuesday, MileagePlus members will need to complete at least 12 flight segments and earn 4,000 premier qualifying points in order to obtain Premier Silver status, which is the lowest status level. Silver status also can be obtained by earning 5,000 qualifying points and flying at least four United segments.
In comparison, Mileage Plus members this year must fly at least eight segments and earn at least 3,000 premier qualifying points to obtain the Silver status for 2023. Or, they can fly a minimum of four segments while obtaining 4,000 premier qualifying points.
Flyers earn one premier qualifying point for each dollar they spend on a United flight. They also earn fractions of points for flying United partners and are awarded 500 points for every $12,000 they spend on a United-branded credit card.
United has implemented similar increases to obtain Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K status. The move, the carrier said, reflects a return to pre-pandemic standards now that travel is again in full swing.
More chances to accrue qualifying points
To alleviate the blow, United will also introduce new status-accrual opportunities next year. Notably, the carrier will begin awarding qualifying points and qualifying segments for travel flown with frequent-flyer points. United will also increase the total number of qualifying points that MileagePlus holders can earn via purchases with United co-branded credit cards.
And like it did this year, the carrier will give head starts on premier qualifying point accrual to flyers with status, depositing bonus points into their accounts early next year. The number of bonus points will vary according to each person’s status level, starting with 500 for Premier Silver and capping at 2,500 for Premier 1K.
United’s MileagePlus announcement on Tuesday followed a similar move for next year announced by Delta last month. Delta, though, is increasing the threshold for its top three Medallion Status levels, but not for its lowest level, called Silver Medallion.
