Earning elite status on airlines has become increasingly difficult in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, as airlines have raised qualification thresholds and adjusted loyalty programs to prioritize revenue over miles flown.
In 2023, Delta Air Lines overhauled its SkyMiles program and introduced new, harder-to-reach spend-based qualifications (which the carrier later rolled back somewhat after public outcry). And Southwest Airlines last year increased the number of points required to earn a Companion Pass (a benefit of the airline’s Rapid Rewards program that allows members to fly a companion for free, aside from taxes and fees, on any Southwest flight).
More recently, United Airlines became the latest airline to announce significant changes to its membership program, which will make it more challenging for travelers to reach status with the carrier in 2025.
Here’s what you need to know about the changes to United’s Premier program.
Earning Premier status with United in 2025
Earning Premier status will be harder than ever in 2025 for United loyalists, as the threshold for all four tiers—Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K—will increase.
To get status, travelers will need a slew of Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs), United’s two metrics for determining a member’s eligibility for Premier status. The former is roughly calculated by awarding one PQP for every U.S. dollar spent on base airfare and carrier-imposed surcharges, while the latter is the total number of legs flown in the year.
There are two ways to earn Premier status: a combination of PQPs and PQFs, or a higher PQP-only target. Either route will require travelers to spend and fly more to achieve the various status levels in the coming year. Here’s how they’ll change in 2025:
- Silver: 5,000 PQPs and 15 PQFs, or 6,000 PQPs (previously 4,000 PQPs and 12 PQFs, or 5,000 PQPs)
- Gold: 10,000 PQPs and 30 PQFs, or 12,000 PQPs (previously 8,000 PQPs and 24 PQFs, or 10,000 PQPs)
- Platinum: 15,000 PQPs and 45 PQFs, or 18,000 PQPs (previously 12,000 PQPs and 36 PQFs, or 15,000 PQPs)
- 1K: 22,000 PQPs and 60 PQFs, or 28,000 PQPs (previously 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs, or 24,000 PQPs)
This marks the first time since 2019—when United introduced PQPs and PQFs (the previous system involved a combination of miles flown, segments, and dollars spent)—that the carrier has raised the requirement bar (though the airline did reduce the status requirements in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the pandemic).
On February 1, 2025, United will give those who currently have elite status (or who will by the end of the calendar year) a leg up with free PQPs. Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K members will be awarded 300, 600, 900, and 1,400 PQPs, respectively.
Beyond flying, the only other way travelers can earn additional PQPs is through spending on United’s co-branded credit cards: The United Club Infinite and Club Business cards will grant 1 PQP per $15 spent, while various other United cards will award 1 PQP per $20 spent.
One benefit of making it harder to gain status: less crowded business-class lounges, such as the United Polaris lounge at Washington Dulles International Airport
Photo by Wayne Slezak/Courtesy of United Airlines
The pros and cons of raising the elite status bar
In recent years, there’s been a broader airline industry trend toward prioritizing high-spending customers, making elite status more challenging to reach, especially for more budget-conscious travelers. When airlines raise elite status qualifications, there are some pros and cons for both travelers and the airlines.
Fewer people reaching elite status means that the perks associated with status—priority boarding, seat upgrades, and lounge access—have greater availability for those who achieve it, making the experience feel more exclusive. For the airline, higher qualifications encourage travelers to spend more to reach or maintain elite status. This can mean more bookings and additional revenue through premium seats, extra luggage, and upgrades.
However, higher thresholds make it harder for the average traveler to achieve elite status, which may discourage more casual fliers from building loyalty with the airline. Similarly, loyal customers who fall just short of the new requirements may feel disappointed or resentful, especially if they were accustomed to the benefits of elite status and are now excluded. In turn, customers who find the new requirements too steep may switch to competing airlines (something JetBlue has been quick to capitalize on by offering generous status-match opportunities with all other major U.S. carriers).
