• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Credit Cards • United Airlines  >  Details: How Credit Card Spending Will Count Toward United Airlines Elite Status
Credit CardsUnited Airlines

Details: How Credit Card Spending Will Count Toward United Airlines Elite Status

Matthew Klint Posted onNovember 14, 2020November 14, 2020 9 Comments
My dear readers, some links on this site pay us referral fees for sending business and sales. We value your time and money and will not waste it. For our complete advertising policy, click here. The content on this page is not provided by any companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone.

Earlier this week, United Airlines announced that co-branded credit card spending would be applicable toward elite status next year, but did not provide many details. Now we have a better idea of how you can earn United elite status with your credit card in 2021.

United Airlines Reduces Elite Status Thresholds In 2021

First, recall that United is reducing thresholds for earning elite status in 2021 (for status through 2022). PQP (essentially $ spending) will be reduced by about 1/3 over prevailing levels with a 25% boost for current elites and a lucrative first quarter promotion.

  • Premier Silver – 3,000 PQP + 8 PQF or 3,500 PQP
  • Premier Gold – 6,000 PQP + 16 PQF or 7,000 PQP
  • Premier Platinum – 9,000 PQP + 24 PQF or 10,000 PQP
  • Premier 1K – 13,500 PQP + 36 PQF or 15,000 PQP

United explained that select credit card spending would also count toward the PQP goal, but failed to provide many details. But now United has clarified how credit spending will play in.


> Read More: United Airlines Makes Elite Qualification Easier In 2021


United Airlines Credit Card Spending: Up To 1,000 PQP Per Card For Up to Five Cards

I received the following email from United:

Matthew, we’d like to share key program updates that apply to United MileagePlus Cardmembers for the 2021 program year.

NEW for the 2021 program year, your card-earned PQP can be applied to Premier 1K status if you, the primary Cardmember, meet the Premier qualifying flight (PQF) requirement (36 PQF).

Earn up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) on card spend
You earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spend, up to 1,000 PQP in a calendar year, with UnitedSM Explorer Cards, United ClubSM Cards, United MileagePlus Awards Cards and United MileagePlus Cards with annual fees.

Additionally, you can now earn up to 1,000 PQP per card, not just a total of 1,00o PQP.

As of January 1, 2021, if you have more than one qualifying United MileagePlus Card, you can combine the PQP earned from all of your eligible cards, up to 5,000 PQP in the calendar year.

Ok, so it is not as lucrative as we hoped for, but more lucrative than we assumed. If you do happen to have multiple United cards, be sure to run a cost/benefit analysis on the tradeoff between putting additional spending on United versus directing that spending to more lucrative credit cards.

Those with grandfathered cards (Presidential Plus Card and Presidential Plus Business Card) are excluded from the 5,000 PQP cap.

CONCLUSION

I’m just not thinking about 2021 just yet. There’s all sorts of trip I hope to take, but with the world as it is now…I am just not getting my hopes up. If you don’t have a United card, consider signing up for a United Explorer Card, which currently comes with a  sign-up bonus of up to 70,000 miles.

How much credit card spending will you place on your United co-branded credit card next year?


If you are considering signing up for a new credit card please click here and help support LiveAndLetsFly.com.


Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Previous Article South Africa + Bali Prepare To Reopen To International Tourists
Next Article Review: Lufthansa First Class Lounge Frankfurt – Pandemic Edition

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • United Airlines Cuts Los Angeles – Tokyo Narita Route Ahead Of Haneda Launch

    February 6, 2023
  • United Airlines Steakhouse Cheeseburger

    Steakhouse Cheeseburger On United Airlines

    February 4, 2023
  • United Airlines Newark Collision

    United Airlines 787-9 Collides With 757-200 At Newark Airport

    February 3, 2023

9 Comments

  1. Ron Reply
    November 14, 2020 at 6:58 am

    So, spend from the United Business Card doesn’t qualify?

  2. Jason Reply
    November 14, 2020 at 7:43 am

    You wrote up to 1,00. I think you meant 1,000. Details matter

    • Rory Reply
      November 14, 2020 at 12:42 pm

      Ur such a bore. People must really hate u. Just say thanks and shutup.

      • Matthew Klint Reply
        November 14, 2020 at 12:43 pm

        He’s a little OCD, but details matter and I don’t mind constructive criticism.

  3. Sexy_kitten7 Reply
    November 14, 2020 at 9:27 am

    Wow. So you can now MS your way to UA Status a la DL?

    • Matthew Klint Reply
      November 14, 2020 at 10:04 am

      Not really, but it can help you get there.

  4. UA-NYC Reply
    November 14, 2020 at 9:39 am

    @Matthew – those of us w/the legacy UA Platinum Class Visa can also earn up to 3,000 PQP ($72K spend), grandfathered.

  5. Matthew Klint Reply
    November 14, 2020 at 12:43 pm

    That’s a lot of spending to put on a United credit card…

    • UA-NYC Reply
      November 14, 2020 at 4:20 pm

      Yup I don’t disagree…but if I hadn’t earned enough PQP this year via CC spend, would have missed out on the fresh batch of PPs at $9K. YMMV.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • Waterboarding Turkish Bath
    I Got Waterboarded At A Turkish Bath In Jordan February 7, 2023
  • 11 Hours In KLM 787-10 Economy Class… February 7, 2023
  • Delta Promises Louis Vuitton Bag Won’t Get Damaged. It Does. February 7, 2023
  • Petra Photo Essay
    Photo Essay: The Ancient City Of Petra, Jordan February 7, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • Hotel Worker entered room
    Woman Demands $3,000 In Compensation After Hotel Worker Walked Into Her Room At Midnight January 24, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023
  • United Airlines Polaris Meal Service: The Sad State Of Affairs January 27, 2023

Archives

February 2023
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.