We’ve updated our program in response to COVID-19. In response to the effects of coronavirus on global travel, we’ve made additional program updates since announcing our 2020 Premier program, including extending Premier status into January 2022 and reducing Premier qualifying thresholds for 2021 Premier status by 50%. See our response to COVID-19 to In response to the effects of coronavirus on global travel, we’ve made additional program updates since announcing our 2020 Premier program, including extending Premier status into January 2022 and reducing Premier qualifying thresholds for 2021 Premier status by 50%. See our response to COVID-19 to learn more

Premier status qualification requirements

Our approach to Premier® status qualification is designed to ensure that our program is valuable for all Premier members, whether you travel hundreds of miles each week, or a few thousand miles multiple times a year. Now, you'll earn Premier qualifying credit based on just two factors: the value of the tickets you’ve purchased, and the number of flights you’ve taken.

A minimum of 4 flights on United or United Express is always required to achieve Premier status

Why did we update our program?

Measuring Premier qualification based on the dollars you spend and number of flights you take rewards customers equally. We updated the program to ensure our most loyal members get the best value from their benefits.

We also wanted to get rid of factors like fare class multipliers, which made it harder to track your qualifying activity.

Read on to delve into the details of Premier qualification.

About Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying points

With Premier qualifying flights (PQF), every flight you take gets you closer to status. And by a flight, we mean a takeoff and landing — no more fare class multipliers and confusing segment math.

Basic Economy tickets will be eligible to earn Premier qualifying points, but will not accrue PQF. Award tickets also do not accrue PQF.

You’ll receive 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for each U.S. dollar you spend. Only the base fare of your flight earns PQP. Taxes and fees don’t count toward your spend requirements.

The following purchases earn PQP:

Base fare + surcharge

Economy Plus ® seating or subscriptions

seating or subscriptions Preferred seat purchases

*NEW* MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays

MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays *NEW* Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express

Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express *NEW* Flights ticketed and operated by our Star AllianceTM partners

Qualification requirements by Premier status level

Here’s how to qualify for each Premier status level beginning on January 1, 2020, for status in the 2021 program year:

Qualification requirements by Premier status level Premier status PQF + PQP Or PQP only Premier Silver 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP 5,000 PQP Premier Gold 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP 10,000 PQP Premier Platinum 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP 15,000 PQP Premier 1K 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP 24,000 PQP

Earning PQF and PQP on partner flights

Previously, if you flew on a Star AllianceTM partner airline and your flight was not ticketed by United, you couldn’t earn Premier qualifying dollars. Today, you’ll receive spend credit on these flights in the form of Premier qualifying points. Your PQP will be equal to award miles* earned divided by 5 if you’re flying on a preferred partner; for other MileagePlus partner airlines, it will be award miles earned divided by 6.

For Star Alliance airlines as well as Air Dolomiti, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Eurowings, Edelweiss, Juneyao Airlines and Olympic Air:

Earning PQF and PQP on partner flights. Airline partner PQP total Preferred partner PQP Award miles divided by 5 MileagePlus partner PQP Award miles divided by 6

For example, if you earned 360 award miles for your flight, you’ll receive 72 PQP if you flew with a preferred partner, and 60 PQP if you flew with a MileagePlus partner.

For flights on or after July 1, 2020, the maximum PQP that can be earned per flight on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines are as follows:

Earning PQF and PQP on partner flights. Class of service Preferred partner PQP MileagePlus partner PQP First/Business 1,500 1,000 Economy/Premium Economy 750 500

You’ll earn PQF on partner airlines as well, except when flying on light fares, basic fares, and award tickets. Learn more about earning with partner airlines.

While we no longer waive the spend requirement for members with international addresses, we have expanded the ability to earn spend credit for these members, which makes qualification consistent for all of our members.

Information for United MileagePlus Chase Cardmembers For program year 2020, MileagePlus members who are also primary United MileagePlus Chase Cardmembers are eligible to earn PQP based on their annual credit card spend. Starting on January 1, 2020, United Cardmembers who are eligible for a PQD waiver, PQM, or Flexible PQM (FPQM) 2 based on annual card spend will be offered ways to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) based on annual card spend 3 . The ability to earn a PQD waiver, PQM, or FPQM on these cards will end on December 31, 2019.

based on annual card spend will be offered ways to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) based on annual card spend . The ability to earn a PQD waiver, PQM, or FPQM on these cards will end on December 31, 2019. We’ll no longer waive the 4-segment minimum for members with eligible MileagePlus Chase Cards. Each member must take a minimum of 4 flights on United or United Express to be eligible for Premier status. Removing these waivers aligns qualification requirements for all of our members.

The United SM Explorer Card, United Club SM Card, United SM Explorer Business Card, United Club SM Business Card, United MileagePlus ® Awards Card, United MileagePlus ® Card, and United MileagePlus ® Business Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to Platinum.

Explorer Card, United Club Card, United Explorer Business Card, United Club Business Card, United MileagePlus Awards Card, United MileagePlus Card, and United MileagePlus Business Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to Platinum. The United MileagePlus ® Select Card and United MileagePlus ® Platinum Class Visa Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 3,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K.

Select Card and United MileagePlus Platinum Class Visa Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 3,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K. The United SM Presidential Plus SM Card and United SM Presidential Plus SM Business Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 10,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K.

Presidential Plus Card and United Presidential Plus Business Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 10,000 PQP in a calendar year, that can be applied up to 1K. United SM TravelBank Cards do not earn PQP for card spend.

TravelBank Cards do not earn PQP for card spend. Please visit our Premier Qualification page for information about your specific card benefits. Flex PQM On April 1, 2020, any residual Flex PQM (FPQM) balances will be converted and can be used as Flex PQP (FPQP) going forward at a ratio of 5:1. For example, a balance of 10,000 FPQM would become 2,000 FPQP. Flex balances that are converted can only be applied up to Platinum. Chase is not responsible for the provision of, or failure to provide, the 2020 MileagePlus program year stated benefits and services. PQP earned on eligible credit card spend will be awarded within 6 weeks of meeting the spend qualifications.

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