On September 19, 2024, a United Airlines Boeing 757 took off from Los Angeles International Airport bound for New York.
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United Airlines Customers will have to pay more to gain frequent flyer status next year, the latest move by the airline to boost profits and provide a unique feel in an increasingly crowded field of top airline loyalty programs.
The threshold for earning elite status in the airline’s MileagePlus program has been raised by about 25%, which includes spending with a co-branded card or spending and flying at the same time. Status earning requirements and fringe benefits earned next year will take effect in 2026.
united, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines Other airlines have spent years changing their loyalty programs to reward travelers based more on how much they spend rather than how far they fly. Co-branded credit cards are key to airline profits because banks pay airlines when consumers swipe their cards.
Elite status comes with benefits such as free upgrades (if available), early boarding, better seat selection and extra legroom options. Airlines have been struggling to cope with an increasing number of high-spending customers, leading to crowded lounges and a flood of early boarders.
The lowest level of Silver Premier status will require customers to earn 5,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) and fly 15 qualifying flights in 2025, up from the previous requirement of 4,000 PQP and 12 qualifying flights.
Travelers can earn one PQP for every $1 spent on United and other eligible flights.
The number of points earned to earn Silver status through spending only (meaning no qualifying flights are required to earn Silver status) will increase from 5,000 points to 6,000 points. That means customers can increase the amount they spend on a United flight from $5,000 to $6,000, no matter how many flights they take. Customers will also earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent on the co-branded card, although certain options in their credit card portfolio will earn 1 PQP for every $15 spent.
Here are the changes:
- Silver status: 5,000 PQPs and 15 Premier qualifying flights, or just 6,000 Premier qualifying points. (Starts from 4,000 PQP and 12 PQF, or only 5,000 PQP)
- Gold level: 10,000 PQP and 30 PQF, or 12,000 PQP. (increased from 8,000 PQP and 24 PQF or 10,000 PQP only)
- Platinum level: 15,000 PQP and 45 PQF, or 18,000 PQP. (from 12,000 PQP and 36 PQF, only 15,000 PQP)
- 1K: 22,000 PQP and 60 PQF or 28,000 PQP. (Above 18,000 PQP and 54 PQF or 24,000 PQP).
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