What happened
United MileagePlus will base elite status solely on Premier Qualifying Points from flights and cobranded-card spend starting in 2027, dropping how many flights a member takes as a metric.
The change applies to every member. United says a single spend metric is simpler and will stop last-minute segment runs. In 2026 it already raised flight earning for cobranded cardholders and cut miles for members without a United card. Cardholders also get the lowest award redemptions and some basic-economy exceptions. MileagePlus president Jarad Fisher said a cobranded card is the best way to engage and that the program will keep shifting toward that model.
Commercial chief Andrew Nocella said United is changing what it can now under its Chase cobrand contract, which The Points Guy previously reported runs through 2029. Flyers who qualified on segments will find PQP-only status harder.
Plan 2027 status around PQP spend and watch for more card-tied changes before 2029.
- Numbers
- 2027 year: Premier Qualifying Flights dropped as a status metric
- 2029 year: United-Chase cobrand contract runs through
- Who qualifies
- All MileagePlus members for the 2027 PQP-only status change; extra flight miles, lowest award space and some basic-economy exceptions apply to United cobranded cardholders
- Takeaway
- United regulars should plan 2027 status around PQP spend, weigh a cobranded card for the earning and award perks already in place, and watch for more card-tied changes before the Chase deal ends.