United ditches flight segments, raises bar for 1K in Premier status shakeup

Key Points:

• Starting in 2027, United Airlines will eliminate Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) as a factor for earning elite status, requiring MileagePlus members to qualify solely through Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) earned via spending on flights and United credit cards.
• The threshold for reaching United’s top-tier 1K status will increase from 28,000 to 32,000 PQPs, making it significantly harder to achieve, especially for those who previously relied on flight segments combined with spending.
• MileagePlus members must still take a minimum of four United flights annually to be eligible for Premier status, and members with eligible United credit cards will receive a 5% PQP head start toward their current status level in 2027.
• These changes primarily affect frequent flyers who earned status by accumulating many flight segments, as they will now need to spend more money to reach the same elite tiers, while those who already qualify through spending will see minimal impact.
• United’s loyalty chief described the changes as a simplification of the program, aligning with industry trends where airlines like American and Delta emphasize spending over flight segments to reward their most engaged customers.