Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

United Airlines to Eliminate PQFs and Base Elite Status Entirely on PQPs in 2027

Megan Coyle reports that starting January 1, 2027, United Airlines is eliminating premier qualifying flights (PQFs) and basing elite status entirely on premier qualifying points (PQPs), while raising the requirement for Premier 1K status to 32,000 PQPs.

tickerUALpersonMegan CoylecompanyUnited AirlinescompanyUnited

The tape

2 quotes

“So starting January 1st, 2027, United Airlines is also changing their program up. They're getting rid of premier qualifying flights that was abbreviated as PQFs... But now status is entirely based on premier qualifying points, PQPs.”

Megan Coyle

“Premier 1K, that's their top level of elite status is going to go from 28,000 to 32,000 PQPs.”

Megan Coyle

Heard on Smart Travel: Upgrade Your Getaways — “Is the Southwest Companion Pass Still Worth Chasing after the 2027 Changes?”, published Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Heardvine summarizes and quotes with attribution and timestamps, and links to the original everywhere.

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