
Premier qualifying points terms and conditions
- Members must fly at least four paid flight segments operated by United or United Express ® during a calendar year to qualify for any Premier status.
- These Frequently Asked Questions contain certain information relating to the United MileagePlus Program and/or the Premier Program, including the PQP requirement. ...
How do I earn United Premier qualifying points (PQPs)?
The primary way to earn PQPs is by flying on United or its Star Alliance partners. But you can also earn PQPs on the ground. Eligible United credit card holders can earn a limited number of PQPs by spending on their co-branded airline credit card. Each method of earning Premier qualifying points works a bit differently.
How do I earn miles on United Airlines?
MileagePlus miles Every time you purchase an eligible fare and travel on flights operated by United or United Express ®, you earn miles that are deposited into your MileagePlus account. How you earn miles depends on the type of ticket purchased, ticketing airline and operating airline. Earning based on the fare
How do I earn United SM MileagePlus Premier 1K status?
For the 2021 program year, MileagePlus members who are also primary United SM MileagePlus Chase Cardmembers are eligible to earn PQP based on their annual credit card spend. Members can now apply PQP earned through co-branded MileagePlus credit cards toward Premier 1K status.
How are MileagePlus Premier qualifying points calculated?
For ticket numbers beginning with numbers other than 016, MileagePlus members will earn Premier qualifying point (s) equal to the total award miles 7 earned for the flight divided by 5 if you’re flying on a preferred partner; divided by 6 if you’re flying on another MileagePlus partner.
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How do you earn Premier qualifying points?
How do I earn Premier® qualifying points (PQP)?Most flights operated by United and United Express. ... Most flights operated by a Star Alliance partner airline and connecting partners.Most flights operated by Air Dolomiti, Azul, Edelweiss, Eurowings, and Olympic Air.Most Economy Plus® purchases.More items...
How do you accrue PQP on United?
The primary way to earn PQPs is by flying on United or its Star Alliance partners. But you can also earn PQPs on the ground. Eligible United credit card holders can earn a limited number of PQPs by spending on their co-branded airline credit card.
How do I get 3000 PQP on United?
Earn up to 3,000 PQP: The United MileagePlus® Select Card and United Quest℠ Card earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 3,000 PQP in a calendar year.
What are United Premier qualifying dollars?
If you earn $6,000 PQD and fly the four-segment minimum, but earn only 30,000 PQM , you will qualify for Premier Silver status. If you earn 65 PQS and fly the four-segment minimum, but earn only $3,000 PQD , you will qualify for Premier Silver status.
How many PQP will I earn per flight?
You'll receive 1 Premier qualifying point (PQP) for each U.S. dollar you spend. Only the base fare of your flight earns PQP. Taxes and fees don't count toward your spend requirements.
Do United upgrades count as PQP?
Basic Economy tickets and award travel tickets do not earn PQFs. Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): This is based on the base fare of the flight, including carrier-imposed surcharges but excluding taxes and other fees. Seating purchases and paid upgrades are included in this number.
Does United Premier status reset every year?
United uses the term “program year” to refer to the timeline in which your United MileagePlus elite status is valid. The program year with United Airlines runs through Jan. 31 of the following year. Thus, your status is good for the year you earn it, all of the following year and a month into the next year.
Do PQP points expire?
PQP earned from your eligible United MileagePlus® credit card — including the United Explorer Card — count toward Premier 1K® status. All PlusPoints that expire on July 31, 2022, or January 31, 2023, will automatically be extended by six months.
What is Premier status on United?
MileagePlus® Premier® status gives you an elevated travel experience at every step of your journey. Premier members enjoy benefits like complimentary access to Economy Plus® and preferred seating, waived fees, upgrades, priority travel services and more.
How can I get United Status fast?
Premier qualifying flights To qualify for any status with United, you must fly at least four paid segments on United or United Express in a calendar year. Those four paid flights will also count as PQFs but cannot be booked in basic economy.
Do United Credit Card miles count towards status?
Until this year, MileagePlus members couldn't use PQPs earned through credit card spending to earn Premier 1K status. Thankfully, the PQPs you earn through credit card spending now count toward Premier 1K status.
What are PQP points on United?
Your PQP will be equal to award miles earned divided by 5 if you're flying on a preferred partner; for other MileagePlus partner airlines, it will be award miles earned divided by 6.
Does United Premier status expire?
United uses the term “program year” to refer to the timeline in which your United MileagePlus elite status is valid. The program year with United Airlines runs through Jan. 31 of the following year. Thus, your status is good for the year you earn it, all of the following year and a month into the next year.
Do PQP points expire?
PQP earned from your eligible United MileagePlus® credit card — including the United Explorer Card — count toward Premier 1K® status. All PlusPoints that expire on July 31, 2022, or January 31, 2023, will automatically be extended by six months.
Do United Credit Card Miles count towards status?
Until this year, MileagePlus members couldn't use PQPs earned through credit card spending to earn Premier 1K status. Thankfully, the PQPs you earn through credit card spending now count toward Premier 1K status.
How many flights do you need to fly to be a Premier?
Members must fly at least four paid flight segments operated by United or United Express ® during a calendar year to qualify for any Premier status.
What airlines earn PQP?
You will earn PQP on the following: Most flights operated by United and United Express ®. Most flights operated by a Star Alliance partner airline and connecting partners. Most flights operated by Air Dolomiti, Azul, Edelweiss, Eurowings, and Olympic Air. Most Economy Plus ® purchases.
How long does it take to get PQP from Economy Plus?
PQP from Economy Plus subscriptions credit to the holder of the subscription within 48 hours of payment. The PQP you earn will be equal to the price of the purchase or subscription.
How long does it take for PQP to be credited?
PQP from Economy Plus subscription purchases will usually credit to your account two days after purchase, or for recipients of a gifted Economy Plus subscription, two days after activation. If you have an existing Economy Plus subscription, PQP will credit two days after the renewal is purchased.
Can PQP be applied to Platinum?
All PQP earned on eligible card spend and Flex PQP can be applied up to Platinum. For the 2021 program year, Flex PQP will continue to be applied up to Platinum status, while the card-earned PQP can be applied to 1K status if the Cardmember meets the PQF requirement for 1K.
Can you earn PQP on Star Alliance flights?
Additionally, members can earn PQP on flights ticketed and operated by our Star Alliance partners. For flights operated by a Star Alliance partner, connecting partner, or Air Dolomiti, Azul, Edelweiss, Eurowings, or Olympic Air (tickets not beginning with 016), the flight will earn PQP based on a partner-specific formula, ...
Does PQP affect Premier?
No. The PQP requirement for Premier qualification will not affect any Premier status earned by being a Million Miler. However, if you are a Million Miler and want to qualify for a higher Premier status, the PQP qualification requirements will apply.
What is award miles on codeshare?
The award miles accrued on codeshare flights are based on the operating carrier and their equivalent fare class. This could result in differences between the purchased booking class and the booking class flown.
Is international economy eligible for Premier?
International Basic Economy tickets on Air Canada, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS are ineligible for Premier qualifying flights. International Basic Economy may be booked in various fare classes. The fare is the base fare of the ticket plus carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding any government-imposed taxes and surcharges.
How do Premier members earn miles?
As a Premier member, you’ll earn extra miles for every dollar you spend on flights, making it even easier to save up enough miles for your award travel.
How many segments do you need to fly to qualify for Premier status?
1. Learn more about how to qualify. In addition to flying a minimum of 4 flight segments on United or United Express, here’s what you’ll need to qualify for 2022 Premier status, based on your travel activity in 2021: 8 PQF and 3,000 PQP or 3,500 PQP.
How many segments do you need to fly on United?
You’ll still need to fly a minimum of 4 flight segments on United or United Express ® to qualify for Premier status, but here’s a breakdown of the other requirements:
What does Premier mean on Star Alliance?
Premier members also get Star Alliance Silver or Gold status, meaning you’ll enjoy recognition and benefits on all Star Alliance member airlines. And you’ll earn Premier qualifying credit
Does United Airlines have miles?
United Airlines reserves the right to exclude certain flights, fares, tickets, routes, products and/or programs from earning MileagePlus award miles and/or Premier qualifying credits. Learn more about earning miles on United flights.
Does United Airlines have a baggage allowance?
Complimentary checked baggage allowance applicable only on United ® and United Express ® operated flights, and is determined by Premier status at time of check-in with United. To determine specific checked baggage service charges, please use the Baggage Calculator.
Do you have to have the same fare class for same day confirmation?
In order for same-day confirmation to be free, flights must be in the same fare class with the same origin and destination as the original ticket .
What is Premier qualifying points?
Premier qualifying points (PQP) are based on the cash portion of the base fare paid.
How long does it take to get miles on United Airlines?
The miles you earn for flights operated by United and United Express should credit to your account 48 hours after your travel is completed.
What airline has a ticket number starting with 016?
Flights operated by a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline for tickets issued by United (ticket number starting with "016")
How much is United Airlines tax?
The price displayed when purchasing a ticket on united.com includes up to a 7.5% U.S. Federal Transportation Tax on the base amount of the fare on itineraries wholly within the United States. This tax also applies to certain itineraries between the United States and Canada or Mexico. You will not earn PQD or miles for the full amount of the displayed price for these itineraries because the U.S. Federal Transportation tax is not eligible to earn PQD or miles.
What is PQD on United Airlines?
Members earn Premier qualifying dollars (PQD) for the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges on eligible flights operated by United and United Express. Certain specialty tickets, including but not limited to unpublished, consolidator/bulk, group, tour and opaque fares, do not earn PQD.
Can you earn PQD for flights?
You will not earn PQD or miles for the full amount of the displayed price for these itineraries because the U.S. Federal Transportation tax is not eligible to earn PQD or miles. Flight distance is defined as the miles scheduled for a specific flight, as determined solely by United.
When will Premier travel credits be awarded?
For travel on or after January 1, 2020, Premier qualifying credits will be awarded based on spend and flights taken. There will be no fare class multipliers in the new program.
When will United Airlines start offering elite status?
Beginning in 2020, customers will qualify for United elite status based primarily on Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), although you can also qualify with a mix of PQPs and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) if you wish.
How much is the United Explorer card?
The $95 annual fee is waived for the first year.
What credit cards does United offer?
United currently offers four cobranded credit cards that are issued by Chase: the United Explorer Card, the United Explorer Business Card, the United Club Card and the United Club Business Card. All four of these cards will offer the ability to spend your way to bonus PQPs, as described above, in 2020. Over the years United has changed its credit ...
Which airlines require elite status?
For the last several years, the three major U.S. airlines — United, Delta and American — have all included a revenue requirement for customers to qualify for elite status. In addition to flying a certain number of miles or segments per year, customers also need to earn Premier/Medallion/Elite qualifying dollars which roughly correspond to ...
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Does United have a presidential card?
Over the years United has changed its credit card offerings, leaving many cardholders with legacy products that are not currently open to new applicants, such as the United SM Presidential Plus SM Card. Some of these customers will also have the ability to earn up to 1,000 bonus PQPs. United will be communicating that information directly to eligible cardholders.
Some background
Like many carriers, United has removed a member’s distance flown from its annual requirements for earning elite status. Nowadays, the carrier largely awards elite status to members with high annual spending — at least when you earn status on United’s own flights.
The basics of earning United elite status with partners
Air Canada’s business class is one of the best partner PQP-earning opportunities. (Photo by Zach Griff/The Points Guy)
Example United partner bookings
Now that you know how to calculate the number of PQPs you’ll earn on a partner award ticket, here are some examples of earning PQPs with Star Alliance partners. These were found when writing this story and may no longer be available, but they’re here to serve as inspiration for finding your own partner itineraries to maximize PQP-earning.
Bottom line
No matter which cabin you travel in, each of these examples lets you earn significantly more than the 1 PQP per dollar you would earn on United- and United Express-operated flights. Even if you’re starting from scratch, you can earn a healthy stock of both PQPs and MileagePlus miles on partner flights.
What is United miles based on?
When purchasing miles on united.com outside of check-in, offers are based on the total remaining flights in your reservation.
How much does it cost to get 1,000 miles?
Personal Miles cost $35 USD per 1,000 miles. In addition, any applicable taxes are included in the displayed price. Your credit card will be billed immediately for this transaction.
How long does it take for PQP to be credited?
PQP or PQF purchased through Premier Accelerator will credit to your MileagePlus account within 24 hours of purchase.
How long does it take for MileagePlus to credit?
Miles will credit to your MileagePlus account within 24 hours of purchase. Award Accelerator is only available for purchase until you board your return flight and cannot be purchased after that. If your itinerary is for one-way travel, then Award Accelerator is only available until you board your flight.
What is Premier Accelerator?
Premier Accelerator℠ helps you achieve Premier® status faster by allowing you to purchase additional Premier qualifying points (PQP) or Premier qualifying flights (PQF). Premier Accelerator is available when purchased in combination with Award Accelerator. If you would like more information about your progress toward Premier status, please visit mystatus.united.com
How long does it take for miles to be credited to your account?
These miles will be credited to your MileagePlus account within 48 hours of purchase.
How many times can you buy the Accelerator?
Award Accelerator can only be purchased once per itinerary.
Can you buy a flight ticket separately?
You can only buy them in conjunction with a booked flight (paid or award), not separately. You can buy them at any time between ticketing and traveling, more or less.
Can you get PQMs to 1K?
Purchased PQMs are fine for 1K, it's FEQMs that can't get you to 1K.
