I did silly things for the elite status of airlines and hotels. I made it running mileage (flights to nowhere basically) and hotel reservations that I don’t really want or need. It costs me money, time and maybe a bit of sanity. And while I’m not particularly proud of those, I decided they made sense at the time.
For years, I’ve tried to keep myself from repeating some of the silliest and most wasteful things, but last year, I felt a pull. Grab United’s Valuable Top Level 1K it’s almost unbelievable to me – and now that I’ve lived almost a year of the “good life”, I still don’t want to let it go.
I want those again 280 Bonus Points comes with gaining Platinum status which I can use for domestic and international upgrades for myself and my family, free (admittedly rare) upgrades, snacks and drinks included, better and faster service when I crash, bonus miles, actually early boarding and more.
With only about two months to go in the year and a few more trips to go, I’m relatively close to qualifying for United’s 1K spot again. But close doesn’t do that – closing the door just makes you frustrated and outside looking in.
I’ve flown enough sectors (aka flights) with United this year to meet the top status flight requirement (apart from the Invite Only Worldwide Service). Today, however, the status of United and many other airlines is not just about how often you fly, but how much you spend.
And as it stands, I’m just over 2,157 Premier qualifying points (aka $2,157 spent on United), missing the 13,500 PQP needed to go with my 36 flights to win United 1K status .
If you want to see how much extra you have to travel when it comes to additional United trips you’ve booked, United can show you that if you choose the option to include future flights. By that calculation, with flights booked, the shortfall drops to PQP 1,668, assuming all those booked flights go as planned.
If you’re currently short of the United position you’ve been wanting to earn this year, here’s my plan to close the gap and qualify for United’s elite status before the end of the year – and some strategies that can help. can operate others in similar situations.
Related: What is United’s 1K status really worth?
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Spend on United credit card
One of the easiest ways to make money United PQPs without flying by spending on your United credit card.
I have both United Club Infinite Cardand United business card℠ which I can use to earn 500 PQP after spending $12,000 on purchases in a calendar year (up to 4,000 PQP per year). I made 1,000 PQP this year that way, but I have some big year-end expenses coming up (such as annual property taxes and paying off the balance on a cruise) that will cost me extra. a round of 500 PQP consignment.
Here are some annual PQP limits on some United credit card.
There’s no tracking tool to see how close you are to your next spending threshold, so you just need to pull out your statement and do some math. I last had 500 PQP from card spending sent in May, so I just totaled my card spending since then to see how far I have to go to reach my next $12,000. follow.
Because I also need to spend on my Hyatt card to get elite status. Globalist status is there with dollars charged, it’s unlikely I’ll make 500+ PQP this way when I hit the next $12,000 charged on my United card.
With the hope of 500 PQP in hand, I reduce it to 1,168 PQP still earnable.
Related: Credit cards that help you achieve elite status
Buy upgrades on existing flights
Since I already hit the number of United flights I need for the year, it’s more attractive to earn PQP by “buying” domestic first class on my existing, planned flights rather than adding too many more flights than necessary my year-end schedule.
Yes, it still involves extra spending, but by doing it purposefully on the United flights I’m taking, I’m earning more PQP than just sticking to an economy class seat pine.
I did this on a recent flight to Denver where I purposely booked a flight operated on a wide-body United with flatbed seats. Buying first class for $149 on that flight was a treat – and as you can see, that dollar spent gets me closer to qualifying for 1K status.
While booking first class isn’t my normal spending and booking behavior for a two-hour flight, it feels like I’ve gotten some real value in return I spent. I will likely need to do the same on a few flights that I will be taking in November and December where $149 upgrades are also available.
Assuming I do it two more times before the end of the year and earn another 298 PQP in the process, the gap narrows to the required 870 PQP.
Related: How to upgrade when flying on major US airlines
Earn United PQF segments
This isn’t something I personally need to do this year as I already hit this part of the flight number requirement, but in case you find yourself falling short in this category, here are some idea.
A United Premier qualifying flight is just a fancy word for a take-off/landing flight. If I were to fly round-trip from Houston to Colorado Springs with a two-way connection in Denver, that would equal four PQFs. This year, you need 36 PQF (in addition to the PQP earned from spending) for 1K status.
Last year, when I had some short segments at the end of the year, I added a connection to some nonstop trips and took a one day trip around Texas to visit Dallas and Austin to close out the year. those segments, because the length of the flight doesn’t matter.
Related: Credit card that earns you airline elite status
Book more United flights
With two months to go in the year, you still have time to book more flights.
I personally know of at least one more trip to New York City that I need to book in advance that doesn’t count towards my current total. While I don’t know exactly how much that will cost yet (since the exact date hasn’t been set), it’s likely safe to assume I’ll make around 300 PQP at 1 to 1 dollar of the fare. basically because I’ll be flying during business days and hours and it probably won’t be the super cheap fares.
That would bring me down to about 570 PQP more when I count the actual flights I need and anticipate doing through December 31st.
There’s no way I’d miss a year of 1K status by only going 96% of the way and coming to 570 PQP. I’m still planning any company in case some necessary business trips come up, but if that doesn’t happen, I’ll book a $570 flight (plus taxes and fees) to a fun place like Vegas for the night.
It might mean paying for a more expensive fare than I normally book, but luckily you can see how many PQPs you’ll earn before you book if you click the “View MileagePlus Earnings” button under “Total Earnings” amount due” screen.
Because I also need more Hyatt nights, and have lots of ways to get those cheap in VegasAll can go pretty well.
Related: Last Minute Strategies to Achieve United Premier Elite Status
Earn PQP through United partner flights
There is a way to potentially earn PQP faster than 1 per dollar qualifying spend with United if you switch to partner Reservations. Partner earnings are based on a combination of flight distance, fare class, and whether or not it’s a preferred partner.
It works best for priority partner flights that fly both long distances and are relatively cheap for fare class. Cheap is great, but personally I don’t have the time or preference to take a trip that far at this time of year.
If you go this route, you need to diligently read the fine print around the charts and fare types, as many people make less than 100% with United. It is possible to go ahead and earn a little faster and cheaper PQP with some United partners, but only if you are very careful about what you place.
Related: Secret to United’s Elite Status: How to Earn PQP Faster with Partner Flights
Buy PQP instantly
I’m not sure I would do this myself, but you can simply buy United PQPs right out of the box.
If you plan on future trips to United this year, log into your account and find your booking. You may see the “Reward Accelerator” option listed when you are viewing your trip details. You may also see this option pop up when checking in for United flights. While most of the Rewards Accelerator options are simply the redeemable United miles you’re buying at a flat cost, some of the more expensive plans include PQP.
In my example below, I could buy 6,000 redeemable United miles and 400 PQP for $560. TPG rating UK mileage at 1.21 cents per mile, earning 6,000 miles is worth about 72 dollars. By that math, you’re paying about $488 more for 400 PQP. Instead, you can earn that 400 PQP by spending $400 on United base fare, seat upgrades, etc.
Related: Should you buy a hotel or an elite plane?
Key point
Airline elite status is a trap, and not always worth it.
I’ve had months this year where my United 1K status resulted in no upgrades – even when trying to apply PlusPoints. As domestic first-class upgrades are available for sale from $149 in many cases, it’s cheaper to just buy it when you want it and not mess with the pursuit of elite status beyond those. what you naturally earn.
Before Pandemic caused by covid-19, I’ve been the middleweight United Gold for many years, and it was only because of the pandemic’s loosening of standards and promotion rules that I found myself hitting 1K last year. I only have one attempt to keep it this year as some raises and bonuses were given to existing elites at the beginning of the year.
If things return to “normal” in 2023, I expect to drop from 1K status at United back to Platinum or even Gold. I will do some silly things for the sake of status, but only to a degree. However, I’m too far away from the hunt for 1K status this year – so with just two months to go, everything is ready for me.
