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Airlines in the U.S. are always competing for profitable customers, and elite status matches are one of their favorite tools for poaching frequent flyers from rivals. United Airlines is no exception. And once again, United is offering its MileagePlus elite status match challenge for 2025 — and there are a few noteworthy updates this time around.
The program lets you temporarily match your status from another airline to United Premier status. From there, you can lock in that status all the way through January 2027 by meeting some specific requirements — which are often much easier than earning status the traditional way.
Let’s break down all the details.
Page Contents
United MileagePlus Premier Status Match-Challenge
In 2025, MileagePlus members with another airline's elite status can match it to United. Here is a partial list of the airlines United accepts matches from:
| Frequent flyer program | Tier | Tier | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines Medallion | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Gold | Platinum | Platinum Pro |
| Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards | A-List | A-List Preferred | N/A |
| JetBlue TrueBlue | Mosaic | Mosaic 2 or 3 | Mosaic 4 |
| Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan | MVP | MVP Gold | MVP Gold 75K |
| British Airways Club | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer | Silver | Gold | Platinum Platinum One |
| Corresponding United Airlines MileagePlus level | Premier Silver | Premier Gold | Premier Platinum |
After submitting the required matching documentation, you'll receive the corresponding United Premier status for 120 days — but only after completing an “activating flight” within 90 days. An activating flight must be operated by United or United Express and earn Premier qualifying credits.
An “Activating Flight” is a flight operated by United or United Express® that is completed within 90-days after the documentation that you submit for this offer is approved and the flight is posted to the member’s MileagePlus account. Flights on tickets that do not earn Premier qualifying credits do not qualify for meeting the requirements of this offer.
United MileagePlus award flights flown on United earn PQPs, so award flights should count as an Activating Flight.
If you’ve already flown with United or United Express within 30 days before requesting the status match — and that flight took place after January 1, 2025 — you can ask for it to count as your activating flight when you submit your application.
This is a significant change compared to last year, as the 2024 offering did not include this activating flight requirement.
Related: Complete Guide to Airline Elite Status Matches and Challenges
How to extend your MileagePlus elite status past the trial period
To keep your matched Premier status beyond the initial 120-day trial, you’ll need to meet some specific travel requirements:
- Silver: Complete 5 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and earn 1,700 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP).
- Gold: Complete 10 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and earn 3,400 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP).
- Platinum: Complete 15 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and earn 5,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP).
These thresholds are noticeably higher than last year. Here’s what’s changed:
- Silver: Now requires one more flight and 400 additional PQPs.
- Gold: Now requires two more flights and 800 additional PQPs.
- Platinum: Now requires three more flights and 1,000 additional PQPs.
It’s important to note that you can only extend the Premier status level you matched. For example, if you matched to Premier Gold, you cannot leverage this challenge to qualify for Platinum or 1K status. You’ll need to meet United’s standard Premier qualification requirements to unlock a higher status.
Related: The Best Strategies for Earning United Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) by Flying
When you match your status to United matters
United offers two different lengths of Premier status extensions based on when you complete the challenge requirements:
- If you meet the requirements on or before June 30, 2025, your status will be valid through January 2026.
- If you meet the requirements on or after July 1, 2025, your status will be extended through January 2027.
Thus, you should aim to complete the challenge during the second half of the year to maximize the duration of your matched status. That means waiting until at least July 1 to initiate your status match. But if you need the MileagePlus perks sooner, there's less reason to wait.
How to request a United status match
To request a status match, navigate United's dedicated webpage for the MileagePlus Premier status match. Once there, you'll have to sign in and fill out a form that includes:
- United MileagePlus account number
- Valid email address registered on your MileagePlus account
- Digital copy of your 2025 membership card from the matching airline (with your name, elite status, frequent flyer number, frequent flyer program name, and status expiration date)
Once submitted, United may take 7–14 business days to respond and upgrade your account. Hopefully, your results arrive far sooner than that, though.
United Status Match Key Terms
- Status challenges are unavailable to members who have completed a status match or received a status exception within the last five years.
- Trial or temporary statuses aren't eligible for a MileagePlus Premier status match.
- Members won't receive Premier membership materials and may not have access to all reciprocal Star Alliance partner status benefits during the 120-day period, including Star Alliance lounge access.
- Members who complete the PQP and PQF requirements to retain Premier Platinum status will receive 20 PlusPoints within 7–10 business days.
- If a member fails to meet the status challenge requirements, the matched status will expire, and they may return to a lower status tier or general member status.
- PQF and PQP requirements during the challenge period must be earned via United or United Express flights.
Bottom Line
United has brought back its MileagePlus status match program for 2025. This program allows travelers to pick up United Premier elite status for 120 days and extend it by completing a challenge. While there are some changes this year — like higher qualification thresholds and the new requirement to take an activating flight — it’s still a great opportunity for elite flyers looking to switch airlines.
And if you can time it right, it's possible to unlock elite status through January 2027 — so you should try to wait until mid-year to initiate your match (if you can). And remember, United generally limits members to one status match challenge every five years, so it’s worth having a solid plan on how you'll use your perks before you jump in.
That said, you should consider how much value you’ll get from MileagePlus elite status. Several United credit cards offer similar perks to Premier elite status — all with reasonable annual fees. It's possible that applying for a co-branded credit card might offer the same benefits and savings you value — without the flying requirements.
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Does anyone know how to document AA lifetime status for this challenge? AA stopped issuing elite membership cards years ago and the on-line pages no longer use the word “lifetime”, instead just calling me a “3 Million Miler”. The United status match bot rejects my request because I cannot document an expiration date for my AA Platinum status. I’m finding travel without status on DL and UA is about the same as on AA with status, so would really like to explore UA Elite status.
What is considered an activating flight? Can this be an award flights booked with miles?
Great question. I dug into the terms and award flights should count! The terms say you need to fly a flight that earns PQPs to count as an Activating Flight:
An “Activating Flight” is a flight operated by United or United Express® that is completed within 90-days after the documentation that you submit for this offer is approved and the flight is posted to the member’s MileagePlus account. Flights on tickets that do not earn Premier qualifying credits do not qualify for meeting the requirements of this offer.
And United awards Premier qualifying credits on award flights on United.
Thanks for asking about this. I updated the post to reflect this.
Warning. Did this status match last year. United did not honor it. Met the requirements, but did not keep the status. UA has lost my trust and business.
The link is useless.
Looks like they moved the landing page on us. Link is updated now. Thanks for flagging.
I submitted my son’s Hawaiian airline gold status to United status match, it was denied because the status on Hawaiian expires on 2/28/2023. I was told the status cannot expire from the original airline within the 120 day challenge.
Good info. Thanks for sharing!
Lots of options with elite status UA is a decent airline.
I’ve got AA Plat Pro until April 27 from the status match to Hyatt Globalist. Anyone know if United will accept that for a match for this challenge?
Hi, I submitted everything about a week ago. Still haven’t heard a peep. Is there a way to check up on status of the request besides waiting on hold forever?
Not that we are aware of. Good luck!
did you have problems submitting this? it won’t let me submit anything
The problem with this is you actually have to fly united airlines and their constant delays, embarrassing meals in business class and constant delays/cancellations through newark.
I’ve never had status with any airline, but thinking of going w/ AA and then doing a united status match.
AA you’re making a fool of yourself, United have had some good promotions lately and improving a lot.
My son with AA Platinum is getting first class upgrades 75% whereas I as United Platinum did not get a single upgrade last year. I was often #8 to 20 in upgrade list. Some flights I saw all Prem1K sitting in economy. United sells first class upgrade quite cheap now a days and people buy them. If one flies mostly on United, status match may make sense just to get preferred seats. Don’t expect any upgrades.
This articule was very helpful! I would tried to see if this actually works as AA is not doing so well lately with the AAdvantage program. Hopefully they will see this and try to get back into the game as well!
Good choice United, let’s keep up the promises now!
This is great, though I’m curious how quickly the status match actually gets approved. These days it is difficult to plan ahead since every city’s situation differs. I just sent in my request but my upcoming trip is hitting it a bit close to that 7-14 day mark.
I requested the status match based on my AA executive platinum status sending the email and requested proof last Saturday. Today I got an email granting me United 1K status. It starts the middle of this month (on the first day I have a United flight booked) and ends in the first week of July. I need 15 flights to qualify. I’m going to have to make sure my last flight isn’t until after July 1. (No problem, if I think I’ll hit it too soon, I’ll book a few flights on American or Delta instead.).
The article was so helpful in helping me strategize. Thanks!
I’ll be starting a new contract where United is the only airline that flies to the location. That was disappointing since I have status on American and Delta but not United. I will use this challenge to rectify that. Thanks for the information and hint about the start date to maximize the length of the status.
Interesting that they would have a longer time of elite status for qualifying after July. I wonder what the thinking is behind that. Would have to time it just like one would time the Southwest Companion ticket it seems. I am sure they are betting on this getting more people traveling them if they get status.
I suspect they view July 1st as a new beginning for the travel industry, with most of the American public having been vaccinated by that point. They need to reset the status window at some point, so starting when they believe more travel is possible makes sense.
Wish I was flying enough to use elite status but perhaps next year. For now only the cheap necessary flights for me!
AA are you watching, United has had some good promotions lately.
Perhaps, AA and DL will follow suit? I am hopeful.