The Guide to United Platinum Benefits

When traveling on the same airline or a group of airlines in the same alliance, frequent flyers can earn status and get rewarded with elite benefits, such as free checked bags, priority airport services and even complimentary upgrades.

United Airlines passengers can qualify for one of the four elite tiers: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K. If you’re considering climbing up the status ladder with United and wondering whether Premier Platinum status is worth it, here’s how to earn it and what benefits you can expect once you qualify.

United’s MileagePlus program provides those with elite status a variety of benefits intended to make flying simpler and more lucrative. Here’s what you get once you reach Premier Platinum status:

• A mileage bonus on airfare: Earn 9 MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on flights operated by United.

• Free checked bags: Check up to three pieces of luggage weighing up to 70 pounds (32 kilograms) each for free.

• Access to Economy Plus: Select Economy Plus or preferred seats for you and up to eight companions at booking.

• Group 1 boarding: Board United flights after customers eligible for pre-boarding, such as customers with disabilities, families with young children or active military members.

• Unlimited upgrades: Complimentary Premier upgrades to first class 72 hours before the flight (excluding basic economy fares).

• Instant upgrades: Receive a guaranteed upgrade with purchase of Y or B fares.

• PlusPoints: Earn 40 PlusPoints per year, which allow you to request seat upgrades to higher cabins of service.

• Priority services: Get access to priority check-in and priority security screening lanes when available.

• Free flight changes: Change your flight for another within 24 hours of departure at no charge.

• Discounted United Club membership: Save $50 or 5,000 miles off an annual United Club membership (normally $650 or 85,000 miles).

• Discounted Clear Plus membership: Save $40 off a Clear Plus annual membership (normally $199).

• Access to expanded award availability: Get access to more award flights bookable at saver level in economy and premium cabins.

• No blackout dates for United award flights: Redeem your miles for any United-operated flight, as long as there’s an empty seat.

• Access to most sold-out flights: Premier Platinum members have the ability to purchase Y fare class flights up to two hours before departure.

• Access to Premier Priority Desk phone line: Get access to a special phone number when calling customer service.

• Waived phone booking service fees: Save the $25 booking service fee any time you book a flight over the phone.

• Star Alliance Gold membership: Receive access to Star Alliance Gold benefits, such as priority airport check-in and boarding, extra baggage allowance and lounge access, when traveling on Star Alliance member-operated flights.

• Marriott elite status: Get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.

• Avis elite status: Get complimentary Avis President’s Club status and earn up to 1,250 bonus miles per rental.

• Extra perks at VIP Access hotels: Book a VIP Access property through United Hotels and receive extra benefits.

• Extra amenities on board cruise ships: Receive extra amenities, such as a complimentary bottle of wine and spa credits, when you book a voyage through United Cruises.

To qualify or requalify for Premier Platinum status with United, you need to complete the following requirements within a calendar year:

• Fly at least four segments with United or United Express.

• Fly at least 36 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and earn 12,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) or earn 15,000 PQPs.

A PQF is determined by the number of flights you’ve taken with United or United Express. Each flight segment within an itinerary counts separately, so if you have a layover on a one-way trip you’ll receive two PQFs, whereas a nonstop flight would earn you one PQF.

The number of PQPs you'll earn is determined by the cost of your ticket (base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges), along with certain eligible upgrades you can purchase.

If you hold an eligible co-branded United credit card, you can earn PQPs through spending on the card.

For example, United Quest℠ Card holders can earn 25 PQPs per $500 spent on the card (up to 6,000 PQPs in a calendar year). United Club℠ Infinite Card holders can earn up to 10,000 PQPs in a calendar year at the same earning rate.

You won’t be able to earn Premier Platinum elite status solely by spending on co-branded credit cards, but you can get partway there with credit card spending and partway by flying with United and its partners.

Keep in mind that you can earn PQFs and PQPs not only on paid flights, but also on award flights booked with MileagePlus miles. Each flight segment is worth 1 PQF, and you'll earn 1 PQP per 100 miles redeemed for your itinerary. So, if you redeem 10,000 United miles for a flight, you’ll earn 100 PQPs.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now

How much is United status worth? In general, airline elite status relies pretty heavily on luxury benefits such as priority check-in and faster access to phone agents that don't have a price tag attached to them.

However, value is in the eye of a frequent flyer. Depending on your flight patterns and upgrade frequencies, you might be getting more or less than $8,982 worth of benefits from the Premier Platinum status.

For example, if you fly hub to hub, you have to compete with other United Premier flyers for the same upgrades. On the other hand, passengers who fly on less popular routes might find themselves flying up front more often without top-tier elites vying for the same upgrade spots.

» Learn more: The complete guide to United MileagePlus

PlusPoints upgrades can be incredibly valuable. Upon earning status, Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints, which can be used to confirm upgrades on flights ahead of time.

Although it’s possible to use those 40 PlusPoints to upgrade two domestic flights to first class (they cost 20 PlusPoints apiece), it’s generally a far better value to use these for a long-haul international flight.

It costs as few as 40 PlusPoints to upgrade from an economy class long-haul flight to United's Polaris business class, which features a lie-flat bed, superior food and drink options, and even pajamas.

Even better, there’s no limit to which flights are eligible, which means those 40 PlusPoints could be used on the longest, most expensive flights, where the price difference between economy and business class can be thousands of dollars.

» Learn more: The beginner’s guide to airline elite status

Although it takes work to earn elite status with an airline, it can often be worth it, especially if you travel often. This is the case with United’s Premier Platinum status, which provides a bevy of benefits to those who invest.

Along with perks such as free checked bags, better seating and complimentary elite status with other partners, Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints, which can be used for incredibly valuable international business class upgrades.

(Top photo courtesy of United Airlines)