United Airlines beginning Jan. 1, 2027, will eliminate the ability of MileagePlus loyalty members to earn status through qualifying flights, the airline announced Tuesday.
Travelers will be able to reach status by earning premier qualifying points when they fly United, United Express or a Star Alliance partner, or by spending with an eligible United card. The carrier is removing premier qualifying flight requirements, but travelers still will need to take at least four United or United Express flights in 2027, according to the carrier.
To earn Premier 1K status, travelers will need 32,000 premier qualifying points, up from 28,000. Premier qualifying points needed for other status tiers will remain the same as for the current qualifying year: 6,000 for Premier Silver, 12,000 for Premier Gold and 18,000 for Premier Platinum.
Eligible United cardholders who qualify for 2027 premier status will get 5 percent of the qualifying points needed to reach the new status requirement, according to the carrier.
Delta Air Lines similarly revamped its program in January 2024, and American Airlines did so to a single set of points in early 2022.