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United just announced changes to how you can earn its Premier elite status in 2024 — and it's good news if you have (or want to get) a United credit card. Among the changes include the ability to spend your way to elite status in the United MileagePlus program. Plus United is removing nearly all requirements for actually flying. Let's take a look at the changes.
Earning United Elite Status
Unlike Delta's changes to earning Medallion status, United isn't increasing the requirements for earning elite status in 2024. Instead, it's sticking with the same requirements you needed to meet to earn status in 2023. Members can either earn a combination of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) or simply a higher number of PQPs.
And, as it did in January of this year, United will deposit bonus PQPs into your MileagePlus account at the beginning of the year based on which status you earned in 2023:
- Silver: 250 bonus PQP
- Gold: 500 bonus PQP
- Platinum: 750 bonus PQP
- 1K: 1,250 bonus PQP
While this isn't as generous as it has been in the past, it's still a nice boost to help you get on your way.
Related: How to Redeem United Miles for Maximum Value
Earning United Elite Status With Credit Cards Gets Easier
For 2024, United is making it easier to earn elite status with your United credit card. Much easier. If you have enough card spending and you play your cards right, you can even (almost) earn top-tier Premier 1K status by simply spending on a card.
So, what's new for 2024?
- United is changing how many PQPs you'll earn with purchases: Cardmembers will earn 25 PQPs for every $500 in qualifying credit card purchases. Previously, you'd earn 500 PQPs for every $12,000 spent.
- Card spend will count toward 1K status: PQPs earned with spending on your card can be applied toward 1K status. United previously capped this at Premier Platinum.
- PQP limits are increasing: For 2025, the maximum number of PQPs for The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees) has increased to 15,000 PQPs annually, up from 10,000.
- Total PQPs caps are gone: If you have multiple co-branded United cards, you'll no longer have a cap of 15,000 PQPs across all cards.
Note that those who hold either the United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card or United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Business Card have no cap on the number of PQPs they can earn in a year with their cards.
It's also important to note that although you can conceivably earn 1K status via spend, you'll still need to take at least four United flights in a calendar year to be eligible for status.
Related: Best Ways To Earn United Premier Qualifying Points by Flying
The Bottom Line
United is making some interesting changes to how you'll earn status in its loyalty program in 2024. And it's telling just what those changes are. What's more interesting than a PQP boost and static earning requirements is United's emphasis on rewarding card spending. Although it isn't as card-oriented as American or Delta, this continues the trend in airlines pursuing card spending with their customers. If you have a co-branded United card (or two), earning elite status via spend just got easier.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
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