Alex Breen, Rewards Analyst
@alex_breen
United MileagePlus Premier status expires on January 31 of the second calendar year after you earn it. For example, if you earn Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, or Premier 1K in June 2025, it will last through January 31, 2027.
How to Keep United MileagePlus Status
The expiration extends each time you requalify by meeting the required number of Premier qualifying flights (PQF) and Premier qualifying points (PQP) in the calendar year after you earn the status. So, if you requalify at any point in 2026, your new expiration will be January 31, 2028.
How to Requalify for United Status
You can requalify for United elite status by combining Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), or by earning enough PQPs alone. PQPs are earned from spending on United tickets, seat or cabin upgrades, award travel, and eligible co-branded card purchases.
Ways to Maximize Your United Elite Status
Earn PQPs with United Credit Cards
United credit cards let you earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) to reach elite status faster. You'll earn 1 PQP for every $15 or $20 spent (up to 28,000 PQPs yearly, depending on your card).
Utilize the MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge
If you have elite status with another airline, United may match it and give you temporary premier status - like Silver, Gold, or Platinum - for about 120 days. To keep it, you'll need to meet certain PQF and PQP requirements during that time, which are usually lower than the normal yearly requirements.
Look for Bonus PQP/PQF Opportunities
United occasionally offers promotions that provide bonus PQP, PQF, or other ways to accelerate earning a higher status level. Keep an eye on your MileagePlus account and email for these offers.
Avoid Economy Fares
Basic economy fares do not earn PQP or PQF and are not eligible for upgrades. Avoid them if you're trying to earn status.
Lifetime Premier Status
United offers Lifetime Premier status through its Million Miler program. Fly 1 million miles for Lifetime Premier Gold, 2 million for Premier Platinum, 3 million for Premier 1K, and 4 million for Lifetime Global Services.
If you want to learn more, check out WalletHub’s in-depth review of the United MileagePlus program.
People also ask
How much are 100,000 United miles worth?
100,000 United miles are worth an average of $1,210, according to WalletHub data. You will get the best value for your United MileagePlus miles when you redeem them for flights, but there are multiple redemption options.
How Much United Miles Are Worth
| Number of United Miles | Average Value |
| 100,000 | $1,210 |
| 90,000 | ... |
How can I earn United MileagePlus Premier status?
To earn United MileagePlus Premier status, you need to accumulate at least 12 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and 4,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) within a calendar year. United Airlines has four elite status levels: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K.
Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) are essentially the number of flight segments you've flown. To qualify for any status, you must fly at least four flight segments on United or United Express. It's...
read full answer by Dan Whitmer, Rewards Programs AnalystDoes the United Explorer Card give you Premier status?
No, the United Explorer Card does not give you Premier status. However, the card can help you earn more PQP (Premier Qualifying Points), which will apply towards Premier status tiers, up to and including Premier 1K. More specifically, you’ll earn 1 PQP for every $20 spent on all purchases, up to a maximum of 1,000 PQP in a calendar year.
Even though the United Explorer Card does not offer Premier status, it still comes with good travel perks,...
read full answer by John Miller, Credit Cards ModeratorDid we answer your question?
Important Disclosures
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.
Advertisers compensate WalletHub when you click on a link, or your application is approved, or your account is opened. Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.