United Airlines
MileagePlus
Status tiers
Premier Silver
= Star Alliance SilverNo lounge access at this tier
Premier Gold
= Star Alliance GoldPremier Platinum
Above Star GoldPremier 1K
Above Star GoldHow to earn status
Qualifying requirement
Premier Gold: 50,000 PQP or 24 PQF in calendar year
Status year
Calendar year (1 Jan – 31 Dec)
Earning shortcuts
- 1
United credit cards (Chase) earn PQP directly — up to 1,000 PQP/year via card spend
- 2
International Business/First Class tickets earn 3–4× PQP vs Economy
- 3
Star Alliance partner flights on qualifying carriers count towards PQF
Which lounges this unlocks
Airports with Star Alliance lounges in our database. Clicking an airport shows all lounges there — use the lounge page to filter by access type.
Earning strategies
Premier Gold requires 50,000 PQP or 24 PQF — 24 one-way flights is highly achievable for US domestic travellers
Revenue-based PQP system means premium cabin tickets on expensive routes qualify faster
United Club day passes and membership purchasable separately for casual users
Star Alliance Gold = worldwide Business Class lounge access on all 26 member carriers
How long status lasts
Status valid through 31 January of the year after qualifying. Must re-qualify by hitting thresholds within the calendar year.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Premier Gold's 50,000 PQP threshold is achievable for moderate US domestic travellers
- Star Alliance Gold unlocks 1,000+ Business Class lounges worldwide
- Strong US domestic route network makes qualifying straightforward
- Free to join with no annual fee
Cons
- Revenue-based PQP system penalises cheap fare purchases
- Not well-suited for India-based travellers with limited India–US frequency
- Qualifying complexity increased since 2020 PQP/PQF change
Is this programme right for you?
Best for
US-based travellers and US routes
Skip if
You travel primarily within Asia or do not fly US routes regularly
Start earning
MileagePlus
United Airlines · Free
Start earning with United Airlines →Loungely is not affiliated with United Airlines. Verify current programme terms on the official website before joining.
Other Star Alliance programmes
Singapore Airlines
KrisFlyer
KrisFlyer Elite Gold (= Star Alliance Gold)
Lufthansa Group
Miles & More
Senator (= Star Alliance Gold)
ANA (All Nippon Airways)
Mileage Club
Platinum (= Star Alliance Gold), Diamond (Suite/First lounges)