

Priority check-in, security, baggage handling and Group 2 boarding United utilizes a revenue-based scheme for awarding miles, and Premier Silver flyers will earn 7 miles per dollar spent, 2 more than a non-status member $4,500 in spending equates to roughly 9,000 additional miles, worth $108.90. Unfortunately, with long waitlists, many Premier Silver members are unlikely to receive any complimentary upgrades. Complimentary Premier upgrades also don’t apply to award tickets unless you also have a cobranded card like the United Explorer Card, so I’ll peg this perk just below the value we assigned to the comparable benefit on Delta. These typically won’t clear until the day of departure, and you’ll be prioritized behind all other elite members. You’ll also be eligible for complimentary upgrades to first class as a Premier Silver traveler, which applies to domestic flights and flights to Hawaii (from the West Coast only), Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
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However, they don’t provide additional benefits (like you’d get with Delta’s Comfort+), so they’re most similar to Alaska Premium-class seats - but Economy Plus seats don’t include free drinks, so I’ll value this perk a bit lower. Economy Plus seats are available on most United-operated flights and offer additional legroom near the front of the coach cabin. Premier Silver members can select Economy Plus seats for themselves and one companion (only available at check-in) and select preferred seats for them and up to eight companions (at the time of booking). Here’s our analysis: United Premier Silver: $475Ĭomplimentary access to Economy Plus/preferred seats This raises the question of how much each United Premier status tier is worth.

Preferred seating for up to nine travelersįirst-class upgrades at the time of bookingįirst-class upgrades on select routes as early asĢ80 (in addition to the 40 once you meet Platinum requirements).īetter award availability in select premium cabins United offers four status tiers besides its unpublished ultra-exclusive tier, Global Services.
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Related: United’s best-kept elite status secret: How to earn PQPs faster with partner flights United Premier status tiers With all that said, let’s hit the friendly skies. In addition, I’m rounding all of the individual benefit valuations to the nearest $5. Two final bits of information: For this analysis, I’m valuing any bonus miles earned based on TPG’s most recent valuations, which peg United miles at 1.21 cents apiece. At the same time, some domestic road warriors purchasing low-fare economy tickets may need dozens of PQFs to achieve entry-level Premier Silver status. Those who travel in paid first or business class internationally will likely spend significantly more and thus earn more PQPs across fewer PQFs. At least four of your PQFs are operated by United or United Express (a prerequisite for earning any level of United Premier status).īe sure to adjust these numbers based on your given travel patterns.You complete at least the minimum number of PQFs to earn the given status level.You earn 10% more PQPs than the minimum required for the given status level.You reach United Premier status through the combination metric (PQFs plus PQPs).Instead, you must fly a certain number of segments (known as Premier qualifying flights, or PQFs) and spend a certain amount of money (to earn Premier qualifying points, or PQPs), or you can just spend a certain amount of money (to earn PQPs).įor the sake of this analysis, I’m making the following assumptions: Distance flown is no longer a factor, except in the case of lifetime status. It’s worth pointing out that United changed how it awards status a few years ago. To hit a value for benefits, I have to assume a certain amount of flying and a corresponding amount of spending. This brings me to the third and final, critical part of this analysis: the underlying assumptions I’m making. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. I would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions.
