United to drop flight segments from elite status rules in 2027

United Airlines said on October 13, 2026 that it will stop counting the number of flights taken as a route to elite status in its MileagePlus program beginning January 1, 2027, CNBC reported.

Under the change, the Chicago-based carrier will award Premier status solely on Premier qualifying points, which members accumulate through ticket and upgrade purchases, award redemptions and spending on United credit cards issued with Chase. CNBC, which reviewed an email sent to members, said the airline framed the shift as a way to make status easier to understand.

The lowest tier, Premier Silver, had been reachable either with 15 flight segments plus 5,000 points or with 6,000 points alone; only the 6,000-point route will remain. Thresholds for Gold and Platinum are unchanged from the existing points-only option, while the top Premier 1K tier will require 32,000 points, compared with 28,000 for the 2026 qualification year. Members must still fly at least four United or United Express flights during the year.

Jarad Fisher, president of MileagePlus, described the segment count as an "old relic" in an interview with The Points Guy.

United also said cardholders with status will begin each year credited with 5% of the points required for the tier they earned the prior year.

This story was first reported by CNBC.