United Airlines has started depositing Premier qualifying points (PQPs) into the MileagePlus accounts of members who qualified for Premier status in 2024. This initiative, which provides a one-time PQP deposit, is intended to assist members in maintaining their elite status in 2025.
The airline had previously announced that achieving Premier status would become more challenging starting in 2023. To ease this transition, United promised its Premier members a one-time PQP deposit if they qualified for the status in 2022. The offer was renewed in February 2024 for those who earned their status in 2023 and is now available again.
The PQP deposits vary according to the level of Premier status achieved:
– Premier Silver: 300 PQPs
– Premier Gold: 600 PQPs
– Premier Platinum: 900 PQPs
– Premier 1K: 1,400 PQPs
Members holding full Premier status as of February 1, 2025, are eligible for these deposits. It should be noted that while the deposits have increased slightly from last year across all levels, the requirements to earn Premier status have also changed. Members must fly a minimum of four segments during the calendar year to qualify.
Additionally, United offers another way to earn PQPs through spending on eligible cobranded credit cards. The earning rate has been adjusted so that most cards now yield one PQP per $20 spent, down from $25 previously. However, the United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Club℠ Business Card offer one PQP per $15 spent.
For those considering purchasing an upgrade to a higher tier of United elite status before February 1, 2025, any resulting increase will reflect in their account’s PQP deposit according to their new status level. Participants who completed a status match or challenge by this date will also receive corresponding deposits unless they are still undergoing trials or challenges.
Lifetime United members will receive deposits based on their corresponding lifetime statuses regardless of whether they flew in 2024.
In summary, United Airlines’ initiative aims to provide existing members with additional support toward retaining or advancing their elite statuses by offering bonus qualifying points. Members can check their MileagePlus accounts for entries labeled “Starter PQP” to see what they’ve earned.
