After raising spending requirements to earn status with the airline last year, United is holding pat this time around. But there will still be some pain for United flyers – especially for those banking on upgrading to a lie-flat seat … or trying to use transferable points to book those seats.
The Chicago-based airline unveiled its plans for next year's MileagePlus program on Monday. The headline for travelers chasing United status? The airline isn't increasing the spending (or flying) requirements to climb each tier of MileagePlus status.
That's a big win, though earning status will still be a costly endeavor: You'll need to spend at least $5,000 each year just to unlock lowly Silver status … and as much as $28,000 for top-tier United 1K status. United flyers with current status can still get a head start next year as well as through everyday spending on co-branded Chase United cards.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg of what's in the works at United. Take a look.
No News is Good News for Earning 2026 Status
United followed Delta's lead and won't raise the spending requirements to earn MileagePlus status next year.
From low-level Silver to top United 1K, United flyers can earn Premier status through either a combination of flying (Premier Qualifying Flights, or PQFs) and spending with United (Premier Qualifying Points, or PQPs), or just by spending outright. Meet those requirements next year, and you'll keep the perks of status all the way through 2026 and 2027 – expiring Jan. 31, 2028.
With no changes in store for next year, here's what that'll look like.
- Premier Silver: 5,000 PQP + 15 PQF or 6,000 PQP
- Premier Gold: 10,000 PQP + 30 PQF or 12,000 PQP
- Premier Platinum: 15,000 PQP + 45 PQF or 18,000 PQP
- Premier 1K: 22,000 PQP + 60 PQF or 28,000 PQP
Under this system, you'll need to spend at least $6,000 with United, or $5,000 and take 15 United flights in 2026 to earn even the lowest United Premier Silver status – and as much as $28,000 to earn top-tier 1K status. To qualify for status through PQPs alone, you'll also need to take at least four United or United Express flights before the end of the year.
None of that is a change. The head start PQPs you get for currently having status aren't changing, either:
- Premier Silver members will get 300 PQPs
- Premier Gold members get 600 PQPs
- Premier Platinum members get 900 PQPs
- Premier 1K members get 1,400 PQPs
Travelers with a top-tier co-branded United card also get an automatic boost. And anyone with one of those cards can earn more PQPs on everyday spending: You'll earn 1 PQP for every $15 you spend on the top-tier United Club℠ Card or the United Club℠ Business Card, and just 1 PQP per $20 spent on all other eligible United cards like the United℠ Explorer Card or the United Quest℠ Card.
United is doing everything it can to make holding one of those credit cards (or status) essential. It's becoming even more important if you want to redeem your miles.
More Biz Class Awards for Status & Cardholders
United has offered increased “saver” awards to cardmembers and travelers for years, enticing them with lower award rates than those available to everyday travelers. That'll only continue.
The airline announced that it will offer cardmembers even more saver-level business class awards in 2026 and beyond, saying: “United Chase Cardmembers, Premier Silver and Premier Gold members are now eligible for increased access to Polaris Saver Award fares.”
Translation? If you don't have United status or one of those co-branded cards, don't count on seeing one of those 70,000-mile United Polaris business class awards over to Europe or a tad more to Asia. You'll likely only see award rates north of 100,000 miles, and possibly more.
It's a continuation of a strategy United has been chasing for a year and change: To drive credit card signups and additional spending toward status by making loyalty – through status, a credit card, or both – a critical linchpin of its program. That's why United has begun teasing these lower, cardholder-exclusive rates to all MileagePlus members.
Nothing makes those cards more attractive than saving 85,000 miles on a business class redemption to Hawaii, right? That's also why you'll see virtually no United Polaris business class award space bookable through partners like Air Canada Aeroplan, ANA Mileage Club, and others: They're holding onto the award space they previously doled out to partners, making the pull of being loyal to United – and only United – even more powerful.
Big Changes for Upgrades in 2027
Don't sound the alarm yet, but big (and likely) bad changes for redeeming PlusPoints toward upgrades with United are on the horizon.
United introduced PlusPoints before the pandemic, replacing an old-school certificate system for top-tier elites to apply toward cabin upgrades. Exactly how many PlusPoints you'd need to bump up to premium economy or Polaris business class depends on the ticket you booked and where you're going, but there's a fixed cost … albeit to join a waitlist for the upgrade, not immediately clear.
Those days are numbered. Come February 2027, United says it will “retire the fixed chart for PlusPoints upgrade amounts and transition to a dynamic system.”
Avid award travelers know all too well that “dynamic system” is a code word for “charge you more.” Of course, there can be an upside, as Delta has shown for its routinely dirt-cheap upgrade rates, whether you're using cash or SkyMiles.
On the plus side, top United 1Ks will continue racking up additional PlusPoints for their credit card spending … with no limit, starting Jan. 1, 2026. I'd just make a concrete plan to put those upgrade points to use before the year is over.
Bottom Line
After hiking spending thresholds last year, United is leaving current requirements in place for its loyal, status-chasing customers next year.
That's the good news. But United is continuing to tweak how it handles award rates, tilting further toward rewarding customers with a co-branded card or status with better deals. And looming changes to how United handles upgrades spell further trouble.
