{"id":201699,"date":"2025-10-27T16:00:29","date_gmt":"2025-10-27T16:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/27\/last-minute-elite-status-strategies-for-united-premier-status-the-points-guy-2\/"},"modified":"2025-10-27T16:00:29","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T16:00:29","slug":"last-minute-elite-status-strategies-for-united-premier-status-the-points-guy-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/27\/last-minute-elite-status-strategies-for-united-premier-status-the-points-guy-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Last-minute elite status strategies for United Premier status – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n

As the sun begins to set on 2025, your time is running out to qualify or requalify for airline elite status for 2026. Now is the time to check your account balances, plan your travel for the rest of the year and see where you will end up by Dec. 31.<\/p>\n

If you think you will finish short of your United Airlines MileagePlus Premier status<\/a> goal, here are some tips for earning the Premier qualifying points<\/a> and Premier qualifying flights you need before the end of the year.<\/p>\n

Related: How 7 TPG staffers are earning United Premier status in 2025<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How to earn United Airlines Premier status<\/h2>\n
\n
<\/div>
ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

United uses two elite status metrics: Premier qualifying flights, or PQFs, and Premier qualifying points, or PQPs.<\/p>\n

You can opt to earn status with PQPs alone, or with a combination of PQPs and PQFs. Here are the requirements for 2026 status:<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Status tier<\/strong><\/th>\nRequirements (PQPs only)<\/strong><\/th>\nRequirements (PQFs + PQPs)<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Premier Silver<\/strong><\/td>\n6,000 PQPs<\/td>\n15 PQFs + 5,000 PQPs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premier Gold<\/strong><\/td>\n12,000 PQPs<\/td>\n30 PQFs + 10,000 PQPs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premier Platinum<\/strong><\/td>\n18,000 PQPs<\/td>\n45 PQFs + 15,000 PQPs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Premier 1K<\/strong><\/td>\n28,000 PQPs<\/td>\n60 PQFs + 22,000 PQPs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

However, keep in mind that qualifying for any Premier status requires flying at least four paid segments operated by United or United Express in a calendar year. In most cases, those four paid segments will also count as PQFs.<\/p>\n

Premier qualifying flights<\/h3>\n

You will earn 1 PQF for every flight segment on United, United Express and United’s partner airlines \u2014 including eligible award flights. So, if your flight has one stop, you’ll get 2 PQFs.<\/p>\n

The only paid flights that don’t count as PQFs are basic economy<\/a> tickets, flights to Venezuela and flights to Cuba that are not operated by United. In addition, award flights operated by partner airlines won’t accrue PQFs.<\/p>\n

Premier qualifying points<\/h3>\n

There are several ways to earn PQPs, including paid and award flights, seating assignments and upgrades, and credit card spending. We’ll cover these in detail later.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/picture>\n
\n

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n

\n
\n

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy<\/a>. You may unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Although basic economy fares don’t accrue PQFs, they do earn PQPs and count toward the four-segment minimum for status.<\/p>\n

As with PQFs, you can’t earn PQPs on award flights with partner airlines. You’ll only earn PQFs and PQPs on the United-operated segments of your award flight.<\/p>\n

Related: Flights, credit cards and more: How to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How to earn more PQPs<\/h2>\n
\n
\"A<\/div>
United Polaris business class. KYLE OLSEN\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only way to earn more Premier qualifying flights is to, well, fly more. But there are several ways to earn Premier qualifying points, and they don’t all require leaving the ground.<\/p>\n

Flights booked through United<\/h3>\n

Let’s start with the basics: earning PQPs on United tickets.<\/p>\n

If you book your flight through United in any fare class, all customers (including those with Premier status) earn 1 PQP per dollar spent on base airfare and carrier-imposed surcharges. This applies to all United-issued tickets (indicated by a 016 ticket number), whether the flight is operated by United or a partner airline.<\/p>\n

This means you can maximize your PQPs on fares that are predominantly base airfare and carrier-imposed surcharges (as opposed to taxes and other fees). Unfortunately, international itineraries often have high government-imposed taxes and fees that don’t earn PQPs.<\/p>\n

As you search for flights on United’s site, you can see the PQPs and PQFs a given flight will earn by clicking on “Details.” Here’s an example of a one-stop flight from Denver International Airport (DEN) to Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), with both segments operated by United. All tickets earn 2 PQFs, but the number of PQPs increases with the fare price.<\/p>\n

\n
\"UA<\/div>
UNITED AIRLINES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can even earn PQPs on flights and upgrades booked with miles, albeit at a much lower rate. You’ll get 1 PQP for every 100 MileagePlus miles redeemed on United and United Express flights and seat upgrades. Award itineraries that include partner-operated flights will only earn PQPs on the United segments.<\/p>\n

Here’s a similar itinerary from DEN to BER, which costs the same number of miles \u2014 except this option earns fewer PQFs and PQPs because one segment is operated by a partner airline. That difference could make our break your elite status dreams, so be sure to check all your options before booking.<\/p>\n

\n
\"UA<\/div>
UNITED AIRLINES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You can also earn PQPs on Preferred and Economy Plus seating and paid cabin upgrades at a rate of 1 PQP for every dollar spent (excluding taxes and fees). However, note that other nonflight purchases like baggage fees and United Club lounge<\/a> memberships don’t earn PQPs, nor do certain private bulk fares and travel industry fares.<\/p>\n

PQPs are awarded to the traveler, not the person who purchased the ticket. So if you booked and paid for tickets for your entire family, you would only earn PQPs on your ticket, not your relatives’ tickets.<\/p>\n

Related: How to redeem 100K United MileagePlus miles for maximum value<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Flights booked through partner airlines<\/h3>\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>
ZACH GRIFF\/THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Partner itineraries \u2014 flights booked through a partner airline’s site where you enter your United MileagePlus number at booking \u2014 are the sweet spot of United Premier status, because you can earn lots of PQPs for a fraction of the normal price.<\/p>\n

The number of PQPs you can earn depends on the partner airline:<\/p>\n