The Guide to United Premier 1K Status

Though expensive to earn, United 1K features extensive benefits that, together, get you a 69% return on investment.
Carissa Rawson
By Carissa Rawson 
Updated

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United Premier 1K status is the highest publicly published elite status available to members of United Airlines MileagePlus frequent flyer program, and it comes with a plethora of perks for those who fly United often.

Earning it is neither cheap nor easy — expect to spend about an estimated $19,000 just for the privilege. But once you have, the benefits are among the best of any airline elite status program.

Let’s take a look at the perks available to United 1K members, how to become a 1K member and how much this elite status is worth.

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United 1K benefits

United’s Premier 1K benefits include some incredible perks. These include:

  • Priority check-in. Premier 1K members have access to a separate check-in line than standard guests, even when flying in economy.

  • Increased earnings. Premier 1Ks get 11 miles per dollar spent on flights.

  • PlusPoints. There are 320 PlusPoints per year valid toward flight upgrades.

  • Free drink and snack. When flying in economy, 1Ks get one free drink and snack per flight.

  • Priority security screening. Available in certain airports, those with 1K can skip the regular security line and instead head to a dedicated line.

  • Preboarding. You’ll board before everyone else with preboarding access.

  • Complimentary checked bags. No matter your fare class, with 1K you’ll be able to check up to three 70-pound bags free of charge.

  • United Club annual membership discount. Premier 1Ks get a $100 discount on United Club membership.

  • Confirmed flight changes. Free of charge within the same fare class starting at 24 hours prior to departure.

  • Clear membership. Complimentary Clear membership, which helps you speed through security.

  • Access to most sold-out flights. Access to Y or B fares when booked at least 1.5 hours prior to departure.

  • Complimentary upgrades. Premier 1K member upgrades start clearing up to 96 hours in advance of the flight.

  • Complimentary Economy Plus seats. Available at booking and for up to eight companions.

  • Instant upgrades to a premium cabin. This benefit is available to 1K customers on Y, B or M fares.

  • Waived fees. Premier 1K members get waived fees on phone bookings.

  • Marriott elite status. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status.

  • Avis elite status. Complimentary Avis President’s Club elite status.

  • Star Alliance status. As a 1K, you’ll have Star Alliance Gold status.

How to become a United Premier 1K

To steps to becoming a United Premier 1K member are a bit confusing and dictated by a series of alphabet soups. Rather than meeting a certain mileage requirement to earn elite status — as is the case with many other airline elite status programs — you’ll earn Premier Qualifying Points, or PQPs, and Premier Qualifying Flights, or PQFs, whenever you fly United or a partner airline.

But, these PQPs and PQFs aren't necessarily based on miles flown. Here's how they work and how to earn them.

🤓Nerdy Tip

You can request a MileagePlus Upgrade Award either while booking your flight or after. To request an upgrade award during booking, select "Advanced search options" and choose “MileagePlus Upgrade Awards” for your upgrade type.

Earning PQPs and PQFs

Premier Qualifying Points are earned on a variety of spend that you make with United. This includes:

  • Economy Plus purchases.

  • Flights operated by United.

  • Flights operated by a Star Alliance partner airline and connecting United partners.

  • Flights operated by Air Dolomiti, Azul, Edelweiss, Eurowings and Olympic Air.

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays.

  • Most preferred seating purchases.

  • Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express.

Premier Qualifying Flights are much simpler. These are the number of flight segments that you’ve flown. You’ll need to have flown a minimum of four segments with United to qualify for status.

You can earn United Premier 1K status with a mix of PQPs and PQFs. You’ll need 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs to earn status with this method.

Earning PQPs with a United credit card

Those who hold a qualifying co-branded United credit card can earn PQPs based on their spending. Eligible holders of United MileagePlus cards from Chase earn 25 PQP per $500 spent. Some limits apply. See our guide to United premier elite status for details. Among United credit card options:

Chase United Airlines Mileage Plus Credit Card
United℠ Explorer Card
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Chase's website

Chase United Quest Credit Card
United Quest℠ Card
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Chase's website

Chase United MileagePlus(R) Club Card Credit Card
United Club℠ Infinite Card
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Chase's website

United Gateway Card
United Gateway℠ Card
NerdWallet Rating
Apply now

on Chase's website

Annual fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $95.

$250.

$525.

$0.

Earning rates

• 3 miles per $1 on United purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 on all other travel (including other airlines, hotels, car rentals and more), dining (including takeout and delivery) and select streaming services.

• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

• 4 miles per $1 on United purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 on dining and all other travel.

• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.

• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases, at restaurants and hotels (when booked directly with the hotel).

• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.

Other benefits

• First checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.

• 2 United Club one-time passes each year.

• Credit of up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.

• Priority boarding.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.

• $125 United purchase credit per year (good on airfare).

• Two 5,000-mile award flight credits per anniversary year.

• Credit of up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.

• Priority boarding.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.

• Access to United Club airport lounges.

• Credit of up to $100 every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.

• Priority boarding.

• No foreign transaction fees.

• No foreign transaction fees.

Bonus offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

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Earnings PQPs only

You can bypass the PQF and PQP combination strategy by simply earning enough PQPs.

If you tend to fly fewer but more expensive flights, you can earn United Premier 1K status by earning 24,000 PQPs in a calendar year.

How much is United Premier 1K status worth?

In NerdWallet’s annual analysis of the best airline elite status programs, we sought to determine how much value the major U.S. airline loyalty programs deliver to flyers. Here's how United MileagePlus did.

Silver

Gold

Platinum

1K

Value of tier

$1,743.

$4,868.

$8,982.

$18,963.

Cost to earn

$6,173.

$12,346.

$18,519.

$29,630.

Elite earning rate

28%.

39%.

49%.

64%.

What else you need to know

Take advantage of United promotions

United will occasionally offer promotions to targeted individuals, allowing them to earn additional bonus miles. While this isn’t applicable to everyone, you’ll always want to check and see if you’ve been targeted for the promotion.

Achieving million miler status

Once you’ve flown a million miles with United, you’ll earn permanent elite status.

  • At a million miles, you’ll get Premier Gold for life.

  • At two million miles, you’ll receive Premier Platinum status for life.

  • At three million miles, you’ll get Premier 1K for life.

  • At four million miles, you’ll receive lifetime Global Services elite status.

Status match

Although United doesn’t typically accommodate direct status matches, they’re pretty good about offering status match challenges. In these cases, you’ll provide United with evidence of your existing elite status on another airline.

In return, they’ll grant you elite status after earning a truncated amount of PQPs/PQFs within a 120-day period.

Learn more about applying for a United status match here.

How long does United 1K status last?

United Premier 1K status can be earned at any point in the year. Once you’ve earned it, the status is valid for the remainder of the year, as well as the entirety of the following year.

This means that if you earned the status in January, you’d have 1K status for nearly two years.

Is United Premier 1K status worth it?

If you’re a frequent United flyer, becoming a Premier 1K member may be a good idea for you. Although it’s costly, the benefits you’ll receive are expansive, including complimentary upgrades, free United checked baggage, Marriott elite status and more.

For folks who are airline agnostic but demand the best of the best, the United MileagePlus program very well could be it.

Photo courtesy of United Airlines.


How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

United Cards from our Partners
Chase United Airlines Mileage Plus Credit Card

on Chase's website

United℠ Explorer Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-2x

Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases

Miles

Intro offer

50,000

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Miles
Chase United Mileage Plus Explorer Business Credit Card

on Chase's website

United℠ Business Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
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1x-2x

Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

Miles

Intro offer

100,000

Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

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Chase United Quest Credit Card

on Chase's website

United Quest℠ Card
4.6
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1x-3x

Earn 3x miles on United® purchases, 2x miles on dining, select streaming services & all other travel, 1x on all other purchases

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60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

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