Earlier today, United unveiled a mixed bag of good and “better read the fine print” news about its 2026 version of MileagePlus. On the bright side, the thresholds to earn elite status remain unchanged and ugprading award tickets will become easier. On the other hand, upgrades, perks, and PlusPoints are being re-wired, and MileagePlus elites are going to find the new landscape a lot more unpredictable.
Premier Platinum still awards 40 PlusPoints. Premier 1K still starts with 280. Beginning January 1, 2026, 1K members will be able to earn additional PlusPoints via eligible spending on cobranded United credit cards. That is new: PQP earned through eligible United credit card spending will now count toward earning additional PlusPoints, with no limits.
As previously announced, United is expanding what PlusPoints can be used for beyond cabin upgrades. Options will include things like bonus miles, TravelBank credit, gifting status, or even converting to PQPs or PQFs. For travelers frustrated that their upgrades never cleared, this offers more paths to extract value from PlusPoints.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Live and Let's Fly.
