Our program is changing beginning January 1, 2020, for Premier status qualification in 2021. As we track your journey to status, we’ll just look at two factors: the number of flights you’ve taken (Premier qualifying flights) and value of the tickets you’ve purchased (Premier qualifying points). To learn more about what’s coming, please visit mileageplusupdates.com. More information is also available on our Premier status qualification page.
Premier status
MileagePlus® Premier® status gives you an elevated travel experience at every step of your journey. Premier members enjoy benefits like complimentary access to Economy Plus® and preferred seating, waived fees, upgrades, priority travel services and more.
We've also introduced PlusPoints, our new, flexible and customizable approach to Premier upgrades. Learn more at mileageplusupdates.com
Our Premier status levels
The distance you travel, flight segments you take, and dollars you spend will help you achieve Premier status. These earnings are shown as Premier qualifying miles (PQM), Premier qualifying segments (PQS) and Premier qualifying dollars (PQD)1. Learn more about how to qualify
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll need to reach each status level:
2019: 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS plus $3,000 PQD
2020: 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
Top benefits:
Eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades
Complimentary access to Economy Plus4 at check-in
1 complimentary checked bag (70 lbs./32 kg)
7x
miles earned on every flight
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2019: 50,000 PQM or 60 PQS plus $6,000 PQD
2020: 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
Top benefits:
2 complimentary checked bags (70 lbs./32 kg)
Complimentary access to Economy Plus4 at booking
Star Alliance™ Gold status
8x
miles earned on every flight
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2019: 75,000 PQM or 90 PQS plus $9,000 PQD
2020: 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
Top benefits:
Complimentary access to Economy Plus4 for you + 8 companions
3 complimentary checked bags (70 lbs./32 kg)
9x
miles earned on every flight
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2019: 100,000 PQM or 120 PQS plus $15,000 PQD
2020: 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP
Top benefits:
Pre-boarding
1 free drink and snack in Economy
11x
miles earned on every flight
Learn more about how to qualify for Premier status in 2020.
Looking for details? Compare the benefits at each level.
Join the MileagePlus program today to start your journey to Premier status — members earn 5X miles for every flight.
MileagePlus Premier status offers an enhanced travel experience at every step
Learn more about how to qualify for Premier status in 2020.
Looking for details? Compare the benefits at each level.
See full benefitsJoin the MileagePlus program today to start your journey to Premier status — members earn 5X miles for every flight.
Join nowMileagePlus Premier status offers an enhanced travel experience at every step
At the airport
Benefits like complimentary checked bags2 and priority check-in, security screening and boarding help make your airport experience smoother and more convenient.3
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Compare airport benefits at each level Benefit Silver Gold Platinum 1K Priority check-in 
availableavailableavailableavailablePriority security screening, where offered availableavailableavailableavailablePriority boarding Boarding Group 2 Boarding Group 1 Boarding Group 1 BoardingPre-board Complimentary checked bags in Economy, 70 lbs. (32 kg) 1 complimentary checked bag 2 complimentary checked bags 3 complimentary checked bags 3 complimentary checked bags 3 complimentary checked bags in premium cabin, 70 lbs. (32 kg) availableavailableavailableavailableUnited Club℠ annual membership discount Not available Not available $50 discount $100 discount Access to most sold-out flights Y-class ticket, at least 24 hrs. before departure Y-class ticket, at least 24 hrs. before departure Y-class ticket, at least 2 hrs. before departure Y- or B-class ticket, at least 1.5 hrs. before departure Same-day flight change fees7 $75 Waived Waived Waived CLEAR® discounted annual membership $109 $109 $109 Waived
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Compare in-flight benefits at each level Benefit Silver Gold Platinum 1K Complimentary Premier Upgrades (as early as) Day of departure 48 hours 72 hours 96 hours Complimentary access to Economy Plus or preferred seating Preferred seating at booking; Economy Plus at check-in At booking At booking At booking Complimentary Economy Plus for travel companions 1 1 8 8 Preferred seating for travel companions 8 8 8 8 Instant upgrades to the premium cabin on Economy tickets Y or B class fares Y or B class fares Y or B class fares Y, B or M class fares PlusPoints Not available Not available 40* +280 additional* 1 free drink and 1 snack in Economy Not available Not available Not available available*PlusPoints will be available starting December 4, 2019, to members who have met all the requirements for Platinum or 1K status. Members can earn incremental PlusPoints when they keep flying beyond 1K status.
We’ve introduced a new, innovative upgrade benefit, replacing Regional Premier Upgrades and Global Premier Upgrades with PlusPoints. For more information, see mileageplusupdates.com
Earning and using miles
As a Premier member, you’ll earn extra miles for every dollar you spend on flights, making it even easier to save up enough miles for your award travel.
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Compare benefits at each level while Earning and using miles Benefit Silver Gold Platinum 1K Earn 500 PQM, even if the flight is under 500 miles availableavailableavailableavailableExtra miles per dollar on United®, United Express® and select partner airlines 7X fare6 8X fare6 9X fare6 11X fare6 No blackout dates for award flights on United and United Express availableavailableavailableavailableBetter award availability in Economy availableavailableavailableavailableBetter award availability in select premium cabins Not available Not available availableavailablePriority award waitlisting availableavailableavailableavailableStandby for international award flights availableavailableavailableavailable
Support and customer service
Our Premier members receive special resources and perks, like a Priority Desk phone line for quick help when it matters most.
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Compare customer service benefits at each level Benefit Silver Gold Platinum 1K Premier Priority Desk phone line Phone booking service fees $25 $25 Waived Waived Award travel change/cancel fees 61 or more days from departure $75 $50 Waived Waived Award travel change/cancel fees 60 or fewer days from departure $100 $75 $50 Waived Close-in award booking fee $50 $25 Waived Waived
Star Alliance partner benefits
Premier members also get Star Alliance Silver or Gold status, meaning you’ll enjoy recognition and benefits on all Star Alliance member airlines. And you’ll earn PQM1 and PQS1 when traveling to more than 1,100 destinations. Star Alliance Gold members also have access to the largest lounge network in the world. Learn more about lounge access.
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Compare benefits at each level for Star Alliance partners Benefit Star Silver Star Gold Priority reservations waitlisting2 availableavailablePriority airport standby3 availableavailablePriority airport check-in3 Not available availableExtra baggage allowance4 Not available availableGold Track (Priority Security and Immigration)5 Not available availableAirport lounge access6 Not available availablePriority boarding3 Not available availableFootnotes
- On eligible fare classes, which vary by Star Alliance member airline.
- Not permitted for Star Alliance award tickets.
- Where available.
- On eligible flights operated by United and United Express as well as most connecting travel on Star Alliance member airlines. Your eligibility depends on the airline you check in with (which is the airline operating your itinerary’s first flight). Please refer to each airline's bag policies for further information.
- To see where Gold Track (Priority Security & Immigration) is available, visit staralliance.com/gold-track
- The following rules and restrictions apply:
- When traveling on a Star Alliance member-operated flight, eligible Star Alliance Gold members (MileagePlus Premier 1K, Premier Platinum and Premier Gold) may visit designated Star Alliance member lounges. United Star Alliance Gold members may access any United Club only when holding a boarding pass for a same-day international Star Alliance member flight. United Star Alliance Gold members may access other Star Alliance member lounges before any departure on a Star Alliance member airline flight.
- Guests must enter with eligible Star Alliance Gold members (MileagePlus Premier 1K, Premier Platinum and Premier Gold) and must depart on a Star Alliance airline, though not necessarily on the same flight as the member. At some destinations, where no member carrier lounge is present, a contract lounge may be available. Star Alliance Gold members may access these facilities when traveling with a Star Alliance member airline that has an agreement with the contract lounge. The same rules and restrictions for member carrier lounge access apply to a contract lounge facility.
The benefits of Star Alliance Silver status and Star Alliance Gold status are subject to change and subject to the rules of Star Alliance.
MileagePlus partners
Premier members enjoy exclusive offers through our partners, like complimentary elite status with Marriott Bonvoy™ and Hertz Gold Plus Rewards®. Many other partners offer preferred rates. Learn more about earning and using miles.
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Compare benefits at each level through MileagePlus parthers Benefit Silver Gold Platinum 1K Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status Not available availableavailableavailableComplimentary Hertz Gold Plus Rewards status Five Star Five Star President’s Circle President’s Circle United Cruises onboard amenities offer availableavailableavailableavailableTPC® Network golf course benefits availableavailableavailableavailableMercedes-Benz incentives availableavailableavailableavailableOffers subject to change. Terms and conditions apply.
MileagePlus rules: The accrual of miles and Premier® qualifying credits, redemption of awards and provision of benefits through the United MileagePlus program, including the Premier Program, are subject to change and are subject to the rules of the MileagePlus program. See the complete rules and details of the MileagePlus program
Terms and conditions
Footnotes
- The fare is the base fare of the ticket plus carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding any government-imposed taxes and surcharges. For tickets purchased in a currency other than U.S. dollars, we will convert the purchase to U.S. dollars using an industry standard exchange rate and then calculate the number of miles you will earn. Please note that the price displayed when purchasing a ticket on united.com includes up to a 7.5% U.S. Federal Transportation Tax on the base amount of the fare on itineraries wholly within the United States. This tax also applies to certain itineraries between the United States and Canada or Mexico. You will not earn PQD, PQP or award miles for the full amount of the displayed price for these itineraries because the U.S. Federal Transportation tax is not eligible to earn PQD, PQP or miles.
- Complimentary checked baggage allowance applicable only on United® and United Express® operated flights, and is determined by Premier status at time of check-in with United. To determine specific checked baggage service charges, please use the Baggage Calculator.
- Customers who do not receive complimentary Premier Access may have the option to purchase Premier Access for a particular flight. A Premier Access purchase includes priority check-in, security lane access (where available) and boarding, but it does not include priority baggage handling.
- Complimentary Economy Plus and preferred seating access is determined by the highest Premier status of the travelers on the reservation. Complimentary Economy Plus seating for travelers on award tickets is based on the traveler's status at booking for Premier Gold and above or at time of check-in for Premier Silver, rather than the status of the member whose miles were used to purchase the award ticket. Complimentary (and paid) access/upgrades to Economy Plus are not valid for tickets containing Basic Economy.
- Upgrades of any type are not allowed for Basic Economy fares or Economy (first bag charge/no changes allowed) fares. This includes Complimentary Premier Upgrades, Instant Upgrades, PlusPoints upgrades, MileagePlus Upgrade Awards, Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, and Paid upgrades.
- United Airlines reserves the right to exclude certain flights, fares, tickets, routes, products and/or programs from earning MileagePlus award miles and/or Premier qualifying credits. Learn more about earning miles on United flights.
- Flight changes are not permitted on tickets containing Basic Economy fares or Economy (first bag charge/no changes allowed) fares, even for Premiers.
- There is a $125 redeposit fee for members who do not show up for their flight and request a redeposit of their miles. This fee applies to all members.
- The benefits of Star Alliance Silver status and Star Alliance Gold status are subject to change and subject to the rules of Star Alliance.
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