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As is customary for this time of year, airlines are updating requirements to earn elite status for the following program year, and tweaking the benefits elite members receive. Fortunately, the changes coming to United MileagePlus in 2026 are largely positive, and the negative changes don't get implemented until 2027, so you have plenty of time to plan accordingly.
Here's everything you need to know about the United MileagePlus updates for next year.
Page Contents
What Is Staying the Same With United MileagePlus?
If you want to earn United MileagePlus Premier status, you'll be happy to hear that there are no changes to the Premier qualification thresholds for 2026. If you recall, the 2025 program year saw a 25% increase in required Premier qualifying activity to reach status compared to 2024. This made status substantially harder to reach this year, but it'll take the same effort next year.
As a refresher, here's how many Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) you'll need to earn to reach status in 2026:
| Elite Tier | Path 1: Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) | Path 2: Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQPs + 15 PQFs | 6,000 PQPs |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQPs + 30 PQFs | 12,000 PQPs |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQPs + 45 PQFs | 18,000 PQPs |
| Premier 1K | 22,000 PQPs + 60 PQFs | 28,000 PQPs |
If you earned status this year, you'll get a head start to earning Premier elite status next year. The PQP deposit will be the same as it was for the 2025 program year:
- Premier Silver: 300 PQPs
- Premier Gold: 600 PQPs
- Premier Platinum: 900 PQPs
- Premier 1K: 1,400 PQPs
It's not much, but it does help you jumpstart your path to status.
More Ways to Earn PlusPoints
Beginning January 1, 2026, Premier 1K and above members will be able to earn additional PlusPoints through eligible United credit card spending.
PlusPoints can be used to request upgrades, or can be exchanged for TravelBank cash, bonus miles, additional Premier Qualifying Points or Premier Qualifying Flights, or to gift Premier status. When you reach Premier Platinum, you receive 40 PlusPoints, and when you reach Premier 1K, you receive an additional 280 PlusPoints.
Premier 1K members can earn 20 more PlusPoints for every 3,000 PQPs they earn after reaching status. Prior to this update, PQPs earned through credit card spending were not eligible to count towards bonus PlusPoints.
The ability to count PQPs earned through credit card spending makes it even more enticing to become a United credit card holder. There's no limit to the amount of bonus PlusPoints you can earn, but there are limits to the number of PQPs you can earn through credit card spending.
Here are some of the co-branded United credit cards that allow you to earn PQPs on spending that are currently open to new applicants:
- United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees): Earn 1 PQP per $20 spent, up to 1,000 PQPs each year
- United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees): Earn 1 PQP per $20 spent, up to 18,000 PQPs each year
- United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees): Earn 1 PQP per $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQPs each year
- United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees): Earn 1 PQP per $20 spent, up to 4,000 PQPs each year
- United Club℠ Business Card: Earn 1 PQP per $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQPs each year
- 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
Expanded Polaris Saver Award Availability
If you are a United Chase credit card holder or a Premier member, you will have increased access to Polaris saver award fares. This means you'll spend fewer miles to book the most comfortable seat in United's fleet. If you've been holding off on flying in luxury, being able to book a saver award is a great way to stretch your miles as far as possible.
Related: Get Access to Hidden Award Space with United Credit Cards
Upgrades on MileagePlus Award Tickets
Come February 1, 2026, all Premier members will be eligible for upgrades, even on award tickets. That includes complimentary Premier upgrades and upgrades using PlusPoints.
If you frequently book flights using United MileagePlus miles, this is fantastic news. Now, you'll (potentially) be able to enjoy a higher level of service regardless of your payment method.
PlusPoint Upgrades to Move to Dynamic Pricing
Now for the bad news — the fixed chart for PlusPoint upgrades is moving to a dynamic system beginning February 2027. When it takes effect, the number of PlusPoints required for an upgrade will be based on demand, cabin, and more.
In other words, it's going to be much more challenging to predict how many PlusPoints you'll need for an upgrade.
Although it's hard to know for certain, this could lead to a devaluation of your PlusPoints. They might get more challenging to use for maximum value, espeically during peak travel seasons.
Right now, an upgrade can cost anywhere from 10 PlusPoints for an upgrade to business on a short-haul flight to 80 PlusPoints to upgrade from a discounted economy ticket to United Polaris on a long-haul flight. The fixed chart allows you to know exactly how many points you'll need and helps you plan ahead.
Dynamic pricing, more often than not, is bad news for frequent travelers.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the changes coming to the United MileagePlus program in 2026 are largely positive. Premier members have increased access to Polaris saver award availability and are eligible to receive upgrades on award tickets. If you make it to Premier 1K status and are an eligible United credit card holder, you'll be able to earn bonus PlusPoints to put toward more upgrades through credit card spending.
However, PlusPoint upgrades moving to dynamic pricing is disappointing, to say the least. Luckily, you have plenty of time before February 2027 to take advantage of the fixed PlusPoint upgrade chart. Check out our complete guide to earning United MileagePlus Premier status for more detailed information on earning and enjoying status.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), and United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees)
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