When you join United MileagePlus, you are a MileagePlus member. Additionally, the MileagePlus Premier Status Program offers Silver, Gold, Platinum and 1K Status.
You can reach Premier Status through a combination of PQF (Premier Qualifying Flights) and PQP (Premier Qualifying Points) OR just with PQP but meeting a higher goal.
The requirements are as follows:
SILVER you will need 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP (in 2025, 5,000 PQP and 15 PQF or 6,000 PQP)
GOLD you will need 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP (in 2025, 10,000 PQP and 30 PQF or 12,000 PQP) Lifetime status when you reach 1 million miles.
PLATINUM you will need 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP (in 2025, 15,000 PQP and 45 PQF or 18,000 PQP) Lifetime status when you reach 2 million miles.
1K you will need 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP (in 2025, 22,000 PQP and 60 PQF or 28,000 PQP) Lifetime status when you reach 1 million miles.
For 2025-the above qualification requirements are in addition to the requirement to fly a minimum of 4 flight segments on United or United Express between January 1 – December 31, 2025.
So now let’s take a look at the requirements separately.
1. Combo of PQF and PQP
A. PQF-Premier Qualifying Flights-Based on the number of flight segments flown, four of which need to be flown on United or United Express. (Note, you earn PQF and PQP when you fly on United, United Express, Star Alliance Partners and a few other airlines…see more here)
B. PQP-Premier Qualifying Points-Based on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharge of flight purchases which includes…
- Base fare + surcharge
- Economy Plus seating or subscriptions
- Preferred seat purchases
- MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays
- Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express
- Flights ticketed and operated by our Star Alliance™ partners
2. Higher PQP Goal-A higher amount of Premier qualifying points and a minimum of 4 segments flown on United or United Express.
Note, PQF and PQP are credited to the account of the member who travels, not the member who purchases the ticket. Also note, all Basic Economy tickets earn PQP, but will not earn PQF.
How does it work in earning PQP on flights ticketed and operated by a Star Alliance Partner?
Star Alliance Airlines and Air Dolomiti, Azul, Eurowings, Edelweiss, and Olympic-Your PQP will be 1500 for First/Business Class flights and 750 for Economy and Premium Economy flights.
Other MileagePlus partner airlines-Your PQP will be 1000 for First/Business Class flights and 500 for Economy and Premium Economy flights.
Award itineraries with United and non-United operated flights will only earn PQP on the United flights.
MileagePlus Upgrade Awards (MUA) earn 1 PQP for every 100 miles redeemed. MUA will also earn PQP on the cash portion of the co-pay fee.
What about when I book a ticket on United Miles?
Earn 1 PQP for every 100 MileagePlus miles redeemed on United and United Express flights and seat upgrades.
You can also earn PQP with certain United MileagePlus credit cards. These cards are the United cards available today.
But remember-All cardmembers must take a minimum of 4 flights on United or United Express to be eligible for Premier status.
United Explorer Card-earn 25 PQP for every $500 up to 1,000 PQP, so that is $20k in spend. In 2025, you can earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent.
United Quest Card-earn 25 PQP for every $500 up to 6,000 PQP, so that is $120k in spend. In 2025, you can earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent and the cap is increasing to 9,000.
United Club Infinite Card-earn 25 PQP for every $500 up to 10,000 PQP, so that is $200k in spend. In 2025, you can earn 1 PQP for every $15 spent and the cap is increasing to 15,000.
United Business Card-earn 25 PQP for every $500 up to 1,000 PQP, so that is $20k in spend.
United Club Business Card-earn 25 PQP for every $500 up to 1,000 PQP, so that is $20k in spend. In 2025, you can earn 1 PQP for every $15 spent and the cap is increasing to 15,000.
