More United MileagePlus changes coming, loyalty boss says

Key Points:

• United Airlines will eliminate "Premier Qualifying Flights" as a status metric starting in 2027, shifting exclusively to Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) based on spending, including flights and United credit card use.
• The move aims to simplify status qualification and end last-minute "segment runs," which required frequent flyers to take extra flights solely to maintain elite status.
• In 2026, United heavily favored MileagePlus members who carry its co-branded credit cards by increasing their miles earned, offering lower award redemptions, and easing restrictions on basic economy fares, while reducing benefits for non-cardholders.
• United plans further loyalty program changes aligned with its strategy to incentivize credit card use, with potential updates tied to renegotiations of its Chase credit card partnership, which runs through 2029.
• Jarad Fisher, United’s new MileagePlus head with experience at Apple Card and Delta, aims to make United’s loyalty program the best in the world by focusing on personalized recognition and balancing challenges like upgrade availability and paid premium seats.