If you qualified for United Premier status last year, this one is for you. United Airlines recently announced that it would be more difficult to qualify for Premier status in 2023. However, to soften the blow, the airline promised its Premier members a one-time deposit of Premier qualifying points (PQPs) for those who qualified for status in 2022. Now, the offer has returned this year, with United beginning to deposit these one-time PQPs for 2023 Premier members into their MileagePlus accounts for 2024.
So, what exactly are United PQP deposits? These deposits are based on the status level you qualified for in 2023. Here’s what you can expect:
– Premier Silver: 250 PQPs
– Premier Gold: 500 PQPs
– Premier Platinum: 750 PQPs
– Premier 1K: 1,250 PQPs
If you held full Premier status as of February 1, 2024, you are eligible for a PQP deposit according to your status level. For example, if you were a Premier 1K member, you would earn 1,250 PQPs. However, it’s important to note that these PQP deposits are lower in 2024 than they were in 2023 across all four status levels. The deposits have been cut in half from last year.
United explains that the reduction in PQP deposits is due to members largely returning to travel. As travel has picked up, the airline has adjusted the amount of the deposit to reflect this.
While United has kept its elite status requirements the same in 2024, they did make changes to how you earn PQPs on spending with an eligible cobranded United credit card. Starting from January 1, 2024, you will now earn 25 PQPs per $500 spent on an eligible cobranded United credit card, instead of 500 PQPs for every $12,000.
If you are considering buying up to the next United status tier, United’s website explains that you will earn the PQP deposit based on your February 1 status. So, if you purchased the status buy-up before that date, you will receive the PQP deposit from your new status. Otherwise, you can expect a PQP deposit from the status you qualified for in 2023. If you participated in a status match challenge, you should receive a PQP deposit if you successfully qualified for Premier status before February 1, 2024. However, members who hold a trial status or have a challenge in progress are not eligible.
If you are a United lifetime Premier member, you will receive a PQP deposit based on your corresponding status, even if you didn’t fly in 2023.
In conclusion, United’s PQP deposits for Premier members who qualified for status in 2022 are being fulfilled this year. While the deposits have been reduced from last year, they still provide a boost to your PQP balance. United has made these adjustments in response to the increase in travel as members return to the skies. So, be sure to check your MileagePlus account for an entry labeled “Starter PQP.”