Last year I advised United MileagePlus members who were about to lose their status to ask to have it extended. Many elites who hadn’t re-earned their status during 2024 were successful just by asking.
It appears United still has this policy in place. They may first try to sell you status for as much as $12,000 but you should decline and ask to have it extended. The policy appears to be that they’ll do this once every five years. Loyalty Lobby reports success with 1K extensions. So if you missed earning status in 2025, just ask for it.
Many airlines and hotel programs have formal offers for this.
- Alaska Airlines has elite “leave” for new parents where they’ll extend your status a year.
- Hilton offers once in a lifetime Diamond status extension.
- And Delta has ‘reclaim my status’, an offer of temporary status and a challenge to keep that status.
- Meanwhile, it’s far more common elsewhere in the world, especially Europe, for loyalty programs to offer some form of family leave.
While United Airlines doesn’t have a formal, published program to support status extensions, calling or emailing with a request for status extension worked for many last year. If you just saw your status drop February 1, you might reach out to MileagePlus by phone or chat via the app.
- Offer a reason why 2025 was different, like medical issues, that explains why you couldn’t requalify
- They may offer you a buy up first, before offering the extension when you decline the offer to pay.
It’s a lot cheaper for United to keep a customer than to acquire one. You’ve already proven your value and you cannot request this year after year. Without a published policy you aren’t guaranteed a result, but you should certainly ask – and United knows that you’ll appreciate with your loyalty when they grant your request.
Random, but, uh, I expected to drop from Platinum to Gold, after January 31, 2026… yet, I’ve remained Platinum, still on 2/2/26, and received 40 extra PlusPoints (on 12/31/25, oddly)… all without asking… so… um… thanks?
The US government shutdown in 2025 was extremely disruptive to air travel (among many many many things that were disrupted by the 43 day shutdown).
FAA and TSA really need to be separated from usual federal government budgetary matters. If Congress can collect their salaries and benefits, despite doing little to no real work during the shutdown, all federal employees forced to work, should receive pay and benefits.
1990 acting like a freeloader. Quite typical of your politics. Pay your fair share, bruh.
As stated, they’ll only do this once every five years. So if you asked post-COVID, tough luck.
@Palladium Shines Bright — If this is what you call ‘socialism,’ sheesh, it’s pretty weak.
Does this include corporate sponsorships? I dropped down from 1K to platinum, and then our corporate travel desk stepped in to give me one of their 1K allotments for 2025, anticipating I’d travel more and re-qualify naturally. I then got laid off and didn’t re-qualify. Would UA grant it to me this year given these extenuating circumstances? Or did last year count already?
@1990
It’s hard to fathom what drives UA. My belief is that they want your biz. Ask, and you will receive.
My lifetime Premier 1k was just renewed for two years. Go figure. For me, it will keep my Star Gold so I can keep my access to LH Senator Lounges, until I get my LH Senator status by October.
But, whatever UA does, it is vital for all who fly on U. S. Airlines that finally we will receive relief from airlines that rape and pillage American flyers. Go 261!!
@AlanZ — That the thing, I don’t think I asked. Bah! Lifetime 1K is pretty epic. S* is worth it. I’m saving bottles of bubbles for a few things… one is an EU-261 equivalent for the US, the other is… well… you know… (c’mon, cholesterol!)
I decided to stop being loyal. On flights longer than 4 hours I always buy business class or first in the US, as upgrades are pretty much non-existent. I was EP on AA then moved to United for 3 years was 1k, but literally the only benefit was the special desk. Seriously, name me one other benefit I can’t pay for and pay less if I am willing to not stick with one airline.
I just tried through chat and they declined me. Instead offered me the buy up option for $1150. Wow United. Really cool
Most definitely it’s a YMMV thing. I didn’t reach the threshold for a lowly Silver status and speaking with United did not work. They offered the “status lift” offer for $ or $ and miles, but would not budge on extending it.
Found out I have been dropped to member only from gold. Called then and they told me they can only exted my status to silver.
Thanks for this post Gary, never would have thought to call and ask otherwise!
I *JUST BARELY* made Gold this year after 10+ years as Platinum/1K. Called and they offered me a Platinum extension, with the warning that I could only do it once every 5 years and I would not get PlusPoints or the Platinum PQP starting bonus. I did also just make 1 million miler so not sure if that factored in.