United is eliminating mileage flown as a pathway to elite Premier
status in its MileagePlus program. The new requirements, which take effect in
2020 for the next year's status levels, determine status by two measurements: Premier
qualifying flights and Premier qualifying points. PQFs are the number of
segments a traveler takes, and PQPs are based on the number of dollars spent on
a flight, minus taxes and surcharges from other parties. The requirements:
- Silver status requires either 12 PQFs and 4,000
PQPs, or 5,000 PQPs
- Gold status requires either 24 PQFs and 8,000
PQPs, or 10,000 PQPs
- Platinum status requires 36 PQFs and 12,000 PQPs,
or 15,000 PQPs
- Premier 1K status requires 54 PQFs and 18,000
PQPs, or 24,000 PQPs
Previously, United Premier status required a minimum of money
spent and a minimum of either segments or miles flown. United's new scheme does
not use multipliers based on fare classes, which was difficult for members to
track. Passengers will earn one PQP per dollar spent, including for Basic
Economy fares, though those fares will not earn PQFs. They also will earn PQPs
for Economy Plus seating and subscriptions, preferred seat purchases, co-pays
on MileagePlus Upgrade Awards, and paid upgrades.
Additionally, members now can earn PQPs on flights by
partner carriers, which were not eligible for PQD accrual. On preferred partner
flights, members will earn one-fifth of the award miles, and on other partner
flights, they will earn one-sixth of the award miles.
The carrier said the changes will "ensure our most
loyal members get the best value from their benefits." United expects the
total number of travelers with Premier status to grow, as the new scheme opens
membership to travelers who spend a lot on domestic travel but previously could
not meet the mileage or segment requirements. However, the carrier said the new
scheme makes it more difficult to reach the top tier, "which will help us
preserve the value of the benefits members earn at that level."
United is not changing the way members earn award miles, and
miles flown still count toward Million Miler status, in which members can earn
permanent Premier status with a lifetime mileage accrual of 1 million miles.
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