United Launches Newest Elite Status Promotion [2022 Status]

Update: The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

If you’ve been following the news, you likely already know that Delta has chosen to extend its members’ elite status through January 2023. American, meanwhile, has opted to allow those who spend a minimum amount on flights in the final quarter of 2021 to retain their status. Now, United has also launched its latest promotion — unfortunately, it’s more in line with American, not Delta. Let’s take a look.

Promotion Details

United ORD Ticket Counter — United’s newest promotion can help you earn or re-qualify for elite status. Image Credit: United Airlines

United has chosen to offer 2 different tracks towards elite status, titled Fly to the Finish and Breakout Bonus.

Fly to the Finish

This offer is only available to existing elite members (as of July 27, 2021), and allows you to re-qualify by flying a certain amount, which varies according to your elite status, through November 30, 2021.

The first option can be met by flying a certain amount of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) combined with earning a certain amount of Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs). These are good for those flying expensive, short-haul tickets, like business travelers.

Additionally, United MileagePlus credit cardholders can earn 1 PQF for every $4,000 spent across their cards, up to a maximum of 2 PQF during the promo period.

The other option involves achieving a higher level PQP only. If you’ve already got elite status, you’ll see that this offer mimics United’s standard elite status earning options.

Status Level as of July 27, 2021	Option 1 Premier Qualifying Flights + Premier Qualifying Points		Option 2 Premier Qualifying Points Only
	PQF	PQP	PQP
Premier Silver	4	600	700
Premier Gold	6	1,200	1,400
Premier Platinum	8	1,800	2,000
Premier 1K	10	2,700	3,000

By accomplishing United’s Fly to the Finish promotion, you’re essentially able to re-qualify for elite status into 2023 by meeting just 20% of the standard requirements through November 30, 2021.

Keep in mind that United calculates PQPs earned based on the cash cost of your ticket: 1 dollar spent equals 1 PQP. This essentially means that in order to earn Premier 1K, you’ll need to spend $3,000 on flights. Of course, this applies only to flights sold and ticketed to United — flight tickets issued on other airlines and credited to United earn PQPs under a different system.

Hot Tip: United is also giving a 1-time bonus of 400 PQPs to anyone whose company has an affiliation with United.

Breakout Bonus

United’s second offering is similar to one it offered earlier this year, where you earned bonus PQPs on up to 3 flights during the promotion period. This is available to non-elite members and those who’ve already re-qualified for elite status:

Status Level	Trip 1	Trip 2	Trip 3
General	250	75	75
Premier Silver	350	100	100
Premier Gold	700	175	175
Premier Platinum	1,000	250	250
Premier 1K	1,500	375	375

Like Fly to the Finish, you’ll also need to complete these flights on or before November 30, 2021. United will also automatically enroll elite members who failed to complete the Fly to the Finish program into Breakout Bonus.

This means if you’re a Premier 1K who takes 3 flights but doesn’t earn the 3,000 PQPs associated with Fly to the Finish, once these promotions end you’ll instead receive a deposit of 2,250 PQPs.

Final Thoughts

This is good news for anyone looking to earn United elite status this year. Although it’s not as generous as Delta, United has done a lot to help its members along the way, including decreasing requirements, depositing 1-time bonuses, and offering 3 separate promotions throughout the year to bolster PQPs earned. This final promotion should help tip most, if not all, of its elite members into re-qualification for 2022.

Stay abreast of which popular airlines are extending elite status and miles in our guide, Coronavirus (COVID-19): Airline Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Updates.

6 comments

Tom October 18, 2021

They’re completely screwing their corporate clients. I’ll be looking for a new program when my company opens up business travel in January.

Tony Jones December 14, 2021

Another pathetic ploy by United.

Grumpy 1k million miler December 22, 2021

I pay for my tickets and spent $34k with United this year on real flights. It’s beyond annoying to have not been able to use a single plus point as so many renewed 1ks and globals ahead of me continue to get free status for two years despite flying 10% of my level of flying and bumping them ahead of me. Giving extra plus points is a joke as they are worth a cent to me. Never been able to use one. I hear of these ways to use more to confirm at ticketing but these are never free on long haul routes from sfo. So basically the upgrade options offered by United are worthless. It’s time to move to foreign carriers that have better foods, better wines, better service, and give up on loyalty programs as they are pretty worthless.

Bryan 1K April 10, 2022
Could not agree more. I’ve been 1k for years and have never been able to use plus points since I don’t fly between non hub cities. If you fly from SFO or EWR then united 1k / a jillion plus points is useless. There is exactly zero benefit to bing 1k with United. Well, there used to be a 1K phone line. That’s it.
Reply

Albert L. Papp, Jr. January 24, 2022

Tried to access 2022 750 bonus miles at “united.com/Unleash2022Bonus” IT DOESN’T WORK!!
Please update your website OR send me a telephone number to register!! Thank You.

Christine Krzyszton January 24, 2022
Hello Albert. Sorry for the inconvenience. As mentioned at the beginning of the article, this offer has expired.
Reply

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[Expired] United Launches Newest Elite Status Promotion [Qualify for 2022]

Promotion Details

Fly to the Finish

Breakout Bonus

Final Thoughts

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6 comments

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Promotion Details

Fly to the Finish

Breakout Bonus

Final Thoughts

About Carissa Rawson

6 comments

Any thoughts or questions? Comment below! Cancel reply

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