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United has announced a major overhaul of its MileagePlus loyalty program. Starting January 1, 2027, the airline will no longer factor in the number of flights taken to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) – which are used to achieve Premier status – as these will be based solely on member spending.
Until now, travelers could choose between two paths. The first combined a specific number of flights (PQFs) with a lower point requirement. The second relied solely on points but required a higher total. United is eliminating the first path. Frequent travelers who used to rack up multiple low-cost, short-haul flights to reach a tier will therefore lose this shortcut.
These rules take effect next year. Status earned in 2026 remains unaffected; the current criteria apply for the year in progress.
A new threshold for Premier 1K status
While nothing will change for the Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels, the 1K tier is the only one being raised. A member who previously qualified with 22,000 PQPs and 60 flights will now need 32,000 PQPs to unlock the status.
However, United is not dropping the flight requirement entirely. Members must still complete at least four flights operated by United or United Express to qualify for status. This is a symbolic minimum that does not replace the spending-based model.
Note: Members who already hold Premier status entering 2027 will be awarded the following points:
Silver: 300 PQPs
Gold: 600 PQPs
Platinum: 900 PQPs
1K: 1,600 PQPs
For any further information regarding the overhaul of United Airlines’ MileagePlus loyalty program, do not hesitate to contact their customer service.