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With 2025 quickly coming to a close, frequent flyers are checking their loyalty accounts and devising last-minute plans to qualify (or re-qualify) for elite status with their favorite airline. If you're running short of earning your desired United Airlines Premier elite status tier, you have just over a week left to cross the finish line.
If you're a United elite looking to keep your status, you have a couple of options for earning the Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) you need before the end of the year. Some of these require hopping on a plane, and some don't, so you can find something that works for your budget and schedule.
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How to Qualify For United Premier Elite Status
There are two ways to earn United Premier elite status. The first is to earn a set number of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) within a single calendar year. You can also qualify based on PQP alone, but you'll have to earn more than if you earned in combination with PQF.
Here's a look at this year's requirements:
For reference, a PQF correlates to one takeoff and landing — so if you fly from Newark (EWR) to Mexico City (MEX) via Chicago O'Hare (ORD) in an eligible fare class, you'd earn two PQF. Meanwhile, PQP is usually based on how much you spend on a flight. However, you can earn these based on your flight length if you book through a partner.
As mentioned, you must meet these requirements within a single calendar year, from January 1 through December 31. Once you earn elite status, you have it for the remainder of the current year, the entire following year, and through January 31 of the year after.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to United MileagePlus
Last-Minute Ways to Lock in United Premier Status
There are a handful of ways to earn PQP on your flights, including flying on United. But there are other lesser-known methods, such as spending on a United credit card and upgrading to a higher class of service.
Here are your best options for earning PQP at the last minute.
Book a last-minute partner mileage run
If you can find a good fare on a partner airline, this could be your best bet. Partner flights earn PQP based on distance flown — not how much you spend — so long as you're not flying on United ticket stock (which starts with 016). This generally means booking through a partner airline's website instead of United.com.
In some cases, this can help you quickly earn PQP by finding low-cost long-haul tickets, ideally in a premium cabin.
How many PQP on partner flights you earn depends on the partner you fly with and whether or not they're preferred partners. Preferred partners earn 1 PQP per 5 redeemable miles earned, while other partners earn 1 PQP per 6 redeemable miles earned.
Here's a list of airlines classified as preferred partners.
| Preferred Partner | Other Partners |
|---|---|
| Air Canada | Aegean Airlines |
| Air China | Air India |
| Air Dolomiti | Asiana Airlines |
| Air New Zealand | Croatia Airlines |
| ANA | EgyptAir |
| Austrian Airlines | Ethiopian Airlines |
| Avianca | EVA Air |
| Azul Brazillian Airlines | Juneyao Air |
| Brussels Airlines | LOT Polish Airlines |
| Copa Airlines | Olympic Air |
| Discover Airlines | Shenzhen Airlines |
| Edelweiss | Singapore Airlines |
| Eurowings | South African Airways |
| ITA Airways | TAP Air Portugal |
| Lufthansa | Thai Airways International |
| Lufthansa City Airlines | Turkish Airlinesw |
| SWISS International Air Lines | |
| Virgin Australia |
Likewise, United has limits on how many PQP you can earn on partner flights, with its Preferred Partners getting higher limits. These limits are per segment, so connecting tickets can earn more PQP than direct flights.
| Class of service | Preferred partner PQP maximum | Non-preferred partner PQP maximum |
|---|---|---|
| First/business class | 1,500 | 1,000 |
| Economy/premium economy | 750 | 500 |
Of course, this requires significant flexibility on your end, and finding a fare that makes sense. If you're already planning a holiday trip but haven't booked yet, you can make this work in your favor.
Example: Earning PQP on a partner airline flight
For example, this one-way flight from New York (JFK) to Hong Kong (HKG) via Toronto (YYZ) and Vancouver (YVR) costs $1,111.50. The first two legs are in B-fare economy, and the third leg from YVR to HKG is in A-fare premium economy. You'd earn a total of 1,363 PQP on this ticket — more than you would if you spent the same amount on a United flight.
| Segment | Fare Class | Earn Rate | Redeemable Miles Earned | PQP Earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JFK-YYZ | A, full-fare economy | 125% | 458 | 92 |
| YYZ-YVR | A, full-fare economy | 125% | 2,606 | 521 |
| YVR-HKG | B, discount premium economy | 100% | 6,392 | 750 |
While this isn't practical for everyone at the end of the year, it's worth noting that you can still earn PQPs on partner flights in the new year as you plan your travel and status strategy. Depending on your fare, you may earn PQP at a cheaper rate than you would by flying United on the same route.
Related: The Best Strategies for Earning United Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) by Flying
Book cheap United flights for PQF
If you're qualifying on a mixture of PQP and PQF but are running low on PQFs, consider booking cheap short-haul United flights to fill the gap. There are still low-cost United flights available as we approach the end of the year.
For example, you can book a one-way flight from Chicago (ORD) to Minneapolis (MSP) for as low as $101.48 in economy if you don't mind flying on Christmas Day or New Year's Eve. Remember, United basic economy flights do not earn PQF.
Likewise, San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX) is available for well under $150 one-way.
If you live near a United hub and are only a PQF or two short of your desired status tier, consider buying a cheap flight to a nearby city, staying for lunch, and flying back the same day. This could be a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to reach the next status tier without spending much time away from home.
Spend on your United co-branded credit card
Many United co-branded credit cards also earn PQP, but the rates vary by card. Likewise, there are limits on how many PQP you can earn with each card every year. Generally, the higher your United card's annual fee, the more PQP you can earn and at higher rates.
Here's the breakdown of how many you can earn with popular United cards:
| Card Name | PQP Earning Rate | PQPs Earning Cap (per calendar year) |
|---|---|---|
| United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees) | 1 PQP per $20 spent | 1,000 |
| United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees) | 1 PQP per $20 spent | 4,000 |
| United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | 1 PQP per $20 spent | 18,000 |
| United Club℠ Business Card | 1 PQP per $15 spent | 28,000 |
| United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees) | 1 PQP per $15 spent | 28,000 |
| United℠ Explorer Business Card | 25 PQPs per $500 spent | 1,000 |
| United MileagePlus® Awards Card | 25 PQPs per $500 spent | 1,000 |
| United MileagePlus® Select Card | 25 PQPs per $500 spent | 3,000 |
| United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card | 25 PQPs per $500 spent | 10,000 |
| United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card | 25 PQPs per $500 spent | 10,000 |
PQPs earned with a United cobranded credit card are generally added to your account every Monday. However, PQPs you earn in 2025 will be credited for this status year regardless of when they post to your account. As a result, you can put Christmas gifts, estimated tax payments, rent, and other expenses on your card.
Just make sure that the transaction posts to your account before December 31, 2025.
- 2X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 5 miles per $1 spent at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
- 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants
- 2 miles per $1 spent on select streaming services
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 2x on United® purchases
- 2x on local transit and commuting — including train tickets, taxicabs, mass transit, tolls and ride share services
- 2x at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores
- 1x on all other purchases
Related: How to Earn United Premier Qualifying Points Through Credit Cards
Pay for an upgrade
Got a United flight coming up before the end of the year? Paying for an upgrade is an easy way to earn PQP. You'll earn 1 PQP per $1 spent on upgrades to premium cabins or on Economy Plus or preferred seat purchases. Likewise, you'll earn PQP on the cash portion of a United MileagePlus Upgrade Awards and 1 PQP for every 100 miles redeemed toward that upgrade.
If there's a reasonable upgrade price on your next United flight, consider paying the upgrade fee if it'll get you over the hump for the next status tier. You'll also earn PQP if you purchase an Economy Plus subscription.
Related: How to Upgrade United Flights With Miles — And When It's Actually Worth It
Purchase a status buy-up offer
Another option if you’re falling short of the Premier elite status tier you want is to wait for a targeted upgrade offer. Each year — typically early in the year around January — United sends targeted offers that let you pay cash or redeem miles to upgrade your status tier.
More often than not, these offers are expensive and not a great use of cash or miles. However, it’s an option worth being aware of if you’re just short of qualifying.
Final Thoughts
Time is running out to qualify for or keep your United Premier elite status, but you still have options if you're running short on PQP or PQF. The most convenient option is spending on a United co-branded credit card, but if you're going to be on the road anyway, you might consider paying for an upgrade.
Likewise, if you're willing to travel, booking a partner flight in a premium cabin could help you earn PQP quickly if you find an inexpensive fare.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees), and United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees)
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