United Airlines to overhaul MileagePlus loyalty program in 2027

United Airlines is restructuring its MileagePlus loyalty program, effective January 1, 2027. The airline will eliminate Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) as a metric for achieving elite status, moving to a system based entirely on Premier Qualifying Points (PQP).

Under the new rules, members must qualify based on PQPs earned through eligible United flights and spending on participating United credit cards. While members must still complete at least four flights operated by United or United Express annually, the previous ability to reach elite tiers through a combination of flight segments and lower spending thresholds will be discontinued.

The changes will most significantly impact the highest tier, Premier 1K. The requirement for this status will increase from 28,000 PQPs to 32,000 PQPs, representing a 14.3% increase. For travelers earning PQPs primarily through airfare, this equates to approximately $32,000 in eligible annual spending, excluding taxes and fees. Spending thresholds for Silver, Gold, and Platinum tiers are expected to remain unchanged under the new PQP-only method.