United Airlines is significantly raising the bar for elite status qualification in 2027, placing greater emphasis on revenue spent than flights flown.
The carrier is phasing out the Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) metric starting in 2027. Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)—which are primarily earned through purchases of United tickets and activity with United-branded credit cards—will become the exclusive yardstick for elite status.
Additionally, the PQP requirement for Premier 1K elite status will increase from 28,000 to 32,000.
Here is what travelers need to know about United’s elite status changes.
2027 United Premier elite status requirements
Starting in 2027, the level of United elite status earned will be solely based on PQP. Travelers must still fly at least four flights with United or United Express to remain eligible.
Here is how the new requirements compare to the current standards:
| Elite status tier | 2026 requirements | 2027 requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQP and 15 PQF Or 6,000 PQP |
6,000 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQP and 30 PQF Or 12,000 PQP |
12,000 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQP and 45 PQF Or 18,000 PQP |
18,000 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 22,000 PQP and 60 PQF Or 28,000 PQP |
32,000 PQP |
These changes will hit hardest for those who relied on the PQP and PQF combination to earn elite status. That method offered the ability to earn status by flying more but spending less with the carrier.
If you were already earning status through the PQP-only option, the changes are not as impactful. For the Premier Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers, the 2027 requirements are the same as the 2026 PQP-only thresholds.
However, the biggest jump comes for those chasing Premier 1K status. Those who relied on the PQP and PQF option will now need to earn 10,000 more PQP than before, a 45% increase. PQP-only qualifiers will need an additional 4,000 PQP, representing a 14% increase.
United will offer starter PQP for some
For 2027, United will continue to deposit starter PQP for those who achieved elite status the prior year. However, you will now need to hold an eligible United credit card by Dec. 31, 2026, to be eligible to receive the headstart deposit.
The starter PQP you receive will be equivalent to 5% of the amount needed to re-qualify for your earned status:
- What do these changes mean for United flyers?
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If you’ve been following United and the broader airline industry, these changes won’t come as a shock, even if they might hurt for United frequent flyers.
Both American Airlines and Delta Air Lines ditched the number of flights flown with the airline as an elite status metric years ago.
Plus, these changes are clearly meant to push United frequent flyers to open a United credit card. That’s evident by requiring status members to hold an eligible card to receive the starter PQP deposit.
Depending on the card you hold, you’ll earn PQP based on your spending, at a rate of up to 1 PQP per $15 spent. Each card comes with a cap on the number of PQP you can earn, although United said it would raise the cap on its most expensive card to the 32,000 PQP required for Premier 1K status.
Earlier this year, United also overhauled how you earn miles with the airline, making it more rewarding for people who hold one of its cards. It also started offering award discounts for eligible cardholders that even Premier members cannot access without the card.
How to maximize your rewards
Benjamin Din is a lead travel writer at NerdWallet. He previously was a technology reporter at Politico, where he authored a daily newsletter covering tech and telecom policy.
Benjamin Din is a lead travel writer at NerdWallet. He previously was a technology reporter at Politico, where he authored a daily newsletter covering tech and telecom policy, and reported from three continents for outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle and The (Johannesburg) Star, as well as covered two Olympics with NBC Sports.
Benjamin loves to travel — both for work and for fun. He’s reported from three continents and visited more than 55 countries. His goal is to visit a new country and a new state each year. You can follow his adventures on Instagram and TikTok.