United Changes Elite Status Requirements for 2027
United Airlines is making a big change to MileagePlus elite status starting in 2027.
The airline is getting rid of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) as a way to earn status. Going forward, elite status will be based on Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) only. That means how many flights you take will no longer help lower the PQP requirement.
Right now, United gives members two ways to qualify. You can earn status with PQPs alone, or you can combine a lower PQP requirement with a certain number of qualifying flights. That second option disappears next year.
Here’s what the 2027 requirements will look like:
| Premier Status | 2026: PQP + PQF Option | 2026: PQP-Only Option | 2027 Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQPs + 15 PQFs | 6,000 PQPs | 6,000 PQPs |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQPs + 30 PQFs | 12,000 PQPs | 12,000 PQPs |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQPs + 45 PQFs | 18,000 PQPs | 18,000 PQPs |
| Premier 1K | 22,000 PQPs + 60 PQFs | 28,000 PQPs | 32,000 PQPs |
For Silver, Gold and Platinum, the existing PQP-only thresholds stay the same. But anyone who normally qualifies using lots of flights plus fewer PQPs will need to spend more starting next year.
The biggest change is for Premier 1K. The PQP-only requirement jumps from 28,000 PQPs to 32,000 PQPs, an increase of about 14%. Someone who currently qualifies using 60 flights and 22,000 PQPs would need 10,000 more PQPs under the new system.
United is still keeping one small flying requirement. Members will need to take at least four flights operated by United or United Express during the year to qualify for Premier status. Partner flights don’t count toward those four.
There’s also a new head start for some members. Eligible United credit cardholders will receive PQPs equal to 5% of the requirement for their current elite tier at the beginning of 2027:
- Silver: 300 PQPs
- Gold: 600 PQPs
- Platinum: 900 PQPs
- 1K: 1,600 PQPs
Members who open an eligible United card by December 31 can also qualify for the 2027 head start. Check out more details here.
Guru’s Wrap-Up
This is definitely worse for people who fly United a lot but don’t necessarily spend a ton on each ticket.
If you were already earning status entirely through PQPs, Silver, Gold and Platinum don’t really change. But the option to qualify with more flights and fewer PQPs is disappearing, and 1K is getting more expensive no matter how you qualified before.
