United Announces 2024 Elite Status Requirements, Increased Status Earnings From Credit Card Spending, But Is Elite Status Still Worth It?

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Elite status requirements will remain unchanged:

United’s 2024 elite status requirements will remain unchanged in 2024.

That’s a very different approach than Delta, which massively hiked requirements before partially walking them back after a customer revolt.

However while American and Delta have moved to a single elite status earning metric, United will continue to operate with earning elite status via PQFs (premier qualifying flights) and PQPs (premier qualifying points).

Each flight segment on United or a partner airline will earn 1 PQF. Basic economy fares won’t earn PQFs. You will also need a minimum of 4 PQFs on United flights in order to earn status, though basic economy, does count towards that requirement.

Each dollar (except taxes) that you spend on United flights will earn 1 PQP. You will earn PQPs on basic economy fares. Additionally, economy plus seat and subscriptions, preferred seat purchases, upgrades, and upgrade award co-pays will earn 1 PQP per dollar spent.

You’ll also earn 1 PQP for every 100 miles redeemed, so if you redeem a flight for 25,000 miles, you’ll earn 250 PQPs. You will also earn 1 PQF for every award flight segment. Unfortunately, you will only earn PQFs and PQPs for United award flights, and not for award flights on other airlines.

You’ll also only earn PQFs and PQPs when you redeem United miles, and not partner miles for a flight. Additionally, award flights still won’t count towards earning lifetime status.

If you want Silver status, you’ll either need to earn 5,000 PQPs from spending $5,000 on United flights or earnings from partner flights or credit card spending, or you can get a reduced requirement of 4,000 PQPs if you also have 12 flight segments.

1K will require a whopping 24,000 PQPs or 18,000 PQPs if you also have 54 flight segments.

Even if you use the PQP only option for status, you’ll still need to fly on 4 United operated flight segments.

You’ll have from 1/1/24-12/31/24 to earn those.

 

You can view the benefits of having elite status here.

Bonus PQPs for current Premiers for 2024, though down from 2023

While some blogs reported that current premier would earn the same number of 2024 starter PQPs as they did in 2023, United confirmed to DansDeals that it will be half the amount that was granted in 2023.

Current premier members (who don’t have temporary trial status) will get a bonus on 2/1/24 as follows:

 

Earn unlimited PQPs from credit card spending.

United has dragged their feet in offering status earning via credit card spending compared to AA and Delta, but things are improving once again.

Back in 2022 you could only earn up to 5,000 PQPs from across multiple United credit cards. In 2023 that cap was increased to 15,000 PQPs.

And for 2024, that cap will be removed completely!

In 2023, you weren’t able to use PQPs from credit card spending to earn 1K status unless you also had 54 PQFs, but that restriction is removed for 2024.

Note that the requirement to fly on 4 United flights in order to earn elite status remains in place for 2024.

Earn more PQPs from credit card spending.

  • The no annual fee United Gateway card does not earn PQPs.
  • The United ExplorerBusiness, United Club Business, and Awards cards currently earn 500 PQPs for spending $12K annually or up to 1,000 PQPs for spending $24K annually.
    • Under the 2024 program these cards will earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQPs for $20,000 of 2024 spending.
  • The United Quest℠ Card currently earns 500 PQPs for every $12K spent annually, up to 6,000 PQPs for spending $144K spent annually.
    • Under the 2024 program this card will earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent, up to a maximum of 6,000 PQPs for $120,000 of 2024 spending.
  • The United Club℠ Infinite Card currently earns 500 PQPs for every $12K spent annually, up to 8,000 PQPs for spending $192K spent annually.
    • Under the 2024 program this card will earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent, up to a maximum of 10,000 PQPs for $200,000 of 2024 spending.
  • The grandfathered United Select and Platinum cards currently earn 500 PQPs annually for every $12K spend, but these cards can earn up to 3,000 PQPs annually.
    • Under the 2024 program these cards will earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent, up to a maximum of 3,000 PQPs for $60,000 of 2024 spending.
  • The grandfathered United Presidential Plus cards currently earn 500 PQPs annually for every $12K spend, but these cards can earn up to 10,000 PQPs annually. Grandfathered Flex PQPs can only be applied to earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.
    • Under the 2024 program these cards will earn 25 PQPs for every $500 spent, up to a maximum of 10,000 PQPs for $200,000 of 2024 spending.
  • That means if you don’t meet the PQF requirements, you will need to spend:
    • $100K to earn Silver status (or fly 12 segments to lower requirements)
    • $200K to earn Gold status (or fly 24 segments to lower requirements)
    • $300K for Platinum status (or fly 36 segments to lower requirements)
    • $480K for 1K status (or fly 54 segments to lower requirements)

Of course, you’ll also need to have enough United cards and spread the spending across multiple cards as each card has an earnings cap.

That’s a much higher bar than what American requires to earn status through credit card spending, though American may still raise that threshold for next year.

Of course if you fly United enough to earn the required PQFs and are just shy on the PQPs, credit card spending will come in handy at all levels.

Return of the mileage run?

In the past, some passengers would fly with extra connections to fly more miles to earn status. The need for that went down with the elimination of mileage based status, but with PQFs offering big discounts on PQP requirements and  award segments counting for status, are people going to book awards with as many connections as possible in order to qualify for higher levels of status combined with flight or credit card spending?

Does any of this matter?

Airlines love to keep passengers on the elite status hamster wheel. However airlines used to liberally give away first class seats to elite members and now they typically sell those seats at a discount to anyone, leaving few first class upgrades available to elite members.

Other elite status perks like free award redeposits and waived close-in fees are now available even if you don’t have elite status.

Sure, it’s now easier to earn status via credit card, but that comes at a major opportunity cost as you can earn many more miles by spending on non-airline branded cards.

Elite status may get you extra legroom seating and faster agent access, but it can be tough to make the case that it’s worth losing out on boatloads of miles or cash back (in addition to spending hefty annual fees) just to earn status that isn’t even a shell of what it used to be.

Will you spend more on United cards to earn status?

HT: Gvann, via DDF

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26 Comments On "United Announces 2024 Elite Status Requirements, Increased Status Earnings From Credit Card Spending, But Is Elite Status Still Worth It?"

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

Max

United has doubled the reward requirements for mileage tickets! A one way mileage ticket to TLV in February 2024 is now pricing at 95,000-100,000 miles when just a few months ago it was 45,000. My global services perks are definitely not worth it.

Michael

So chase just shut me down only for personal bank and cc. Right when I got notified I spent 75k to get the extra pqp. anhthing I can do for 2024 to earn many pqp with cc that is not chase? Or maybe a business chase or maybe even under my wife cc?

Harry

I don’t see how anything has changed much from 2023 outside the fact the credit card spend making it easier to earn small amounts of PQP’s as opposed to $12,000 for 500

YG

Any chance United will lower qualification requirements for 1K with for members in Israel who aren’t traveling due to war and may not reach the required PQPs before 12/31?

yelped

If the threshold was easier I would spend to get Silver status, as SDC, economy plus (only at checkin), free baggage up to 70lbs even without paying with United CC and much better service is a good perk. But probably easier to spend my way to Marriott Titanium status for that.

SR

Anyone who does not have the old cards can’t earn more than 18,000 PQPs ?

Shimon

Hi, Dan. What would be the easiest way to get Marriott Platinum in order to get United Silver as its benefit?

cb

https://www.dansdeals.com/credit-cards/limited-time-offer-earn-100000-points-marriott-bonvoy-business-amex-stack-elite-night-credits-marriott-consumer-cards/
Stackable elite night credits: You’ll also get 15 elite night credits for having the card.
You can get 15-25 elite night credits for having a Marriott consumer card and 15 elite night credits for having this Marriott business card, for a total of 30-40 elite nights.

Alexander

Thought credit card spending does not count towards 1K status!

DovidF

I’m already United Platinum. How much is the value of 1K?

MK

Hi,

Im missing 2,000 PQP to retain 4K is it worth spend $3,000 Purchase PQP

Chacham

@dan Just received an email with the following statement. It does not distinguish between Gateway card and the others. Are you sure that the Gateway card does not earn PQPs??
“• Cardmembers will now earn 25 PQP for every $500 in qualifying card spend on MileagePlus credit cards. At this new rate, Cardmembers can earn PQP faster and more frequently through qualifying purchases on their card.”

Jim

I don’t really understand why anyone tries for status anymore. If your employer is paying for it sure, but otherwise the airlines want more and more while giving less and less. I was Diamond with Delta, but went free agent after the September devaluation. Looked at other programs, but none offer anything better in my view. I’m racking up Chase and AmEx points instead and can’t wait to try new airlines that want my business.

Jake

For someone who is 6 4 and lives In Denver, Gold status means not having my knees destroyed.

AE

Unless you are flying a ton, or have millions of dollars of discretionary spend, it doesn’t seem worthwhile to chase status. For $125 per year (net) (Quest), you get (up to) 4 free checked bags, priority boarding (which also allows you to take carry-on bags in Basic Economy), and access to saver awards. If you want lounge access, pay $450/$525 for the Club.

The biggest difference between that and status is the access to upgrades, which nowadays seem more like one of those legendary things that all the old-timers fondly remember from their youth (like soda-jerks).

DovidF

Premium seating is a big benefit if you fly often

Alex

@dan with the new requirements for being able to hit 1k through credit card spend on any card. Do you think there is any reason to keep the grandfathered United presidential plus card over getting the club card?

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