United Airlines is leaving qualification targets for elite status alone next year and making changes to the price of upgrades. They’re also making new limits on awards for non-elites who don’t have the credit card official.
Status Thresholds To Earn Status In 2026
Last year, United increased the requirements to earn status by 20%. This year, like Delta, they are leaving these requirements alone:
| Status | Requirements | |
| Silver | 5K qualifying points + 15 flights or 6K qualifying points | |
| Gold | 10K qualifying points + 30 flights or 12K qualifying points | |
| Platinum | 15K qualifying points + 45 flights or 18K qualifying points | |
| 1K | 22K qualifying points + 60 flights or 28K qualifying points |
Existing Elites Have An Easier Time Requalifying Than Those Earning First-Time Status
Once again, existing elite members will get an automatic deposit of qualifying points to help them re-earn status in the coming year.
- Silvers: get 300 qualifying points
- Golds: get 600 qualfiying points
- Platinums: get 900 qualifying points
- 1Ks: get 1,400 qualifying points
American Airlines makes it easier for existing elites to earn status as well, since the points earned from flights are based on status and elite bonuses count towards status.
PlusPoint Upgrades Will Move To Dynamic Pricing
United will “retire the fixed chart” for PlusPoints upgrades and move to dynamic pricing starting in February 2027.
This change will allow the number of PlusPoints required for an upgrade to better reflect factors like demand, cabin, and more, providing members with greater flexibility.
Right now you know the price of an upgrade. There’s a published chart. You aren’t often going to get a confirmed upgrade, but the theoretical price is listed. United isn’t saying what pricing to expect in the future, but it’s broadly expected to be a devaluation.
When United first introduced PlusPoints in fall 2019, I wrote that this opened up the possibility of changes to upgrade pricing. It used to be that one certificate equaled one upgrade, but PlusPoints let them price upgrades more variably. It’s taken six years, but that’s where we wound up.
Since most flyers today find PlusPoints impossible to use for upgrades, United also now lets elites convert these points to travel cash, status credits, and miles instead if they wish.
Better Business Class Award Availability For Elites And Co-Brand Cardmembers
This is another way of saying that those without status or the credit card shouldn’t expect to see saver awards in United business class.
They actually largely cut off access to business class saver awards for members who don’t have status or the credit card (and also to members redeeming miles in partner frequent flyer progams) back in early September.
Last month United increased the price of awards booked close to the date of travel even for elite members and credit card customers. So United’s thrust isn’t about offering better pricing for elites. They’re just charging everyone else more (if they offer the seats at all, as in the case of partner mileage members).
All Elites Can Upgrade On Award Tickets
Starting February 1, complimentary and PlusPoints upgrades become available to all elites on award tickets. This is no longer limited to higher status members
“Right now you know the price of an upgrade. There’s a published chart. You aren’t often going to get a confirmed upgrade, but the theoretical price is listed”
This is basic economics of price-fixing. Fix the price and availability adjusts. Fix the availability and the price adjusts. In the first case you are certainof the price – of nothing if it is below the market price. In the latter you are certain to get the item, but at a market price that supply and demand will determine.
*Incoming* TPG to tell us how this is the greatest thing ever… sellout shills, who can’t even ‘handle’ a comment section. *ptooey*
@ Gary — AA and now UA are out for me. Leaves DL, only due to long-term history and geo-location, and AS, but AS is getting more sketchy by the day. At the rate things are changing, I figure I’ll be staying home in 10-15 years, just in time for getting old. By then, that may even be the hot new trend!
United (and other airlines) would be well-served to drop the lower tiers outright. Start with “Platinum” requirements and go from there…
Make Elite Status Elite Again!
About two hours ago, before I saw this blog, I was curious and went on-line to see what “special” pricing Premier 1-K pricing I could now get. (Not that we are planning to go back to U.S. any time soon.) I can save 30% on biz class, (also 60% off on another flight the same day)22% on economy.
All in all, a good deal. I get that they want to keep their elites flying their metal.
@Alan Z — As long as we can still get that ‘Christmas roast goose’ on LH, I’ll consider it.
Denver Refugee says: Make Elite Status Elite Again!
Priceless