The Guide to United Airlines Premier Elite Status

Economy Plus seats at check-in

Economy Plus seats feature up to 6 inches of extra legroom, are located in front of the economy cabin and offer free food and alcohol. Complimentary access to these seats (for the member and one companion) really comes in handy when you’re traveling internationally, especially since upgrades to these seats have been reported to cost as much as $200. One caveat is that they are not available on Basic Economy tickets, which is United’s most restrictive fare.

Preferred seats at booking

Preferred seats are standard economy seats but are right behind Economy Plus, and ahead of all the other economy seats. As a Silver elite, you can select these seats for free at booking, for yourself and up to eight companions.

Free 70-pound checked bag

You can check one 70-pound bag no matter what ticket you’re flying on. While checked bag fees vary, you can expect to pay $25-$35 for your first bag for a one-way flight, so this perk of Silver status can add up fast.

» Learn more: What do United's increased baggage fees mean for you?

Complimentary premier upgrades day of departure

Although complimentary premier upgrades are possible, the likelihood of getting one is pretty slim, especially since Silver elites are prioritized below customers paying for upgrades and all other elites. If you have a United co-branded credit card, your award tickets will also qualify for complimentary upgrades to business or first class.

Reduced fees

• No change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

Complimentary Hertz Gold Five Star status

Hertz’s Five Star status level is normally attained after 12 rentals or spending $2,400 (excluding taxes and fees) within a 12-month period. The main benefit here is the ability to earn 25% extra Gold Plus Rewards points on rentals and one-class car upgrades. If you rent cars often, this benefit could be useful.

Earn 7x United miles and 25% bonus award miles

Silver elites earn 7x United miles when buying airfare and a 25% mileage bonus. These miles count toward the MileagePlus account balance as redeemable miles but do not count toward elite status. Non-elites earn only 5x miles and no bonus.

United’s next status level offers some benefits beyond Silver, including one very important perk: Star Alliance Gold status.

Star Alliance Gold status

United Gold status corresponds to Star Alliance Gold, which is a really neat perk because it means you will have some aspects of your United elite status recognized when flying on Star Alliance partner airlines. With the exception of the extra baggage allowance, which has some airline restrictions, Star Alliance Gold provides the following key benefits no matter which Star Alliance carrier you fly with:

• Complimentary access to over 1,000 Star Alliance lounges.

• Priority check-in.

• Priority boarding.

• Extra 44-pound baggage allowance (when the weight limit applies) or an extra checked bag (when the quantity applies) on most partner airlines.

Lounge access is generally viewed as the most important perk of Star Alliance Gold. With Star Alliance being the largest global alliance (26 member airlines), you can find a Star Alliance lounge in many airports. Because these lounges have more restrictive entry requirements than Priority Pass lounges, you may have a much quieter experience when visiting a Star Alliance lounge.

Note: Although United Silver correlates to Star Alliance Silver status, the benefits — which include priority waitlist and priority airport standby — are barely worth mentioning.

Economy Plus seats at booking

Gold elites can select Economy Plus seats for themselves and one companion at booking. The main advantage over Silver is that these seats can be selected at booking versus at check-in, providing more opportunities to snag the seat you want, especially if you’re traveling with a companion and want to sit together.

Preferred seats at booking

As a Gold elite, you can select these seats at booking for free for yourself and up to eight companions.

Two free 70-pound checked bags

You can check two 70-pound bags, which is double the amount permitted for Silver members.

Complimentary premier upgrades 48 hours before departure

Gold elites are eligible for complimentary premier upgrades from full-fare economy tickets to business/first class, 48 hours before departure on select domestic and a few short-distance international routes. As a Gold elite, the upgrade probability is better than for Silver members, who can only upgrade the day of departure. If you have a United co-branded credit card, your award tickets will also qualify for complimentary upgrades to business or first class.

Waived / reduced fees

• No change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

• Same-day flight change fees are waived (general members and Silver elites pay $75).

Complimentary Hertz Gold Five Star status

Hertz Five Star status is also provided to Gold elites.

Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status

United Gold elites receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which comes with a host of useful perks like late checkout, extra points earned on stays and room upgrades.

Earn 8x United miles and 50% bonus award miles

Premier Platinum is United’s second-highest elite status, and it offers a key benefit that the previous status levels do not have: access to 40 PlusPoints.

40 PlusPoints

When you reach Platinum status, you receive 40 PlusPoints, which can be used to upgrade your seat. The number of points required varies by destination and what cabin you’re upgrading from and to. PlusPoints expire when your status expires; however, all PlusPoints that were set to expire before July 31, 2022, have been extended through that date. This represents all PlusPoints earned in 2019 and 2020.

These 40 PlusPoints are sufficient for one upgrade from economy to business class on a long-haul flight, or two upgrades from economy to first or business class on short-haul flights.

» Learn more: United adds Premium Plus seating

Economy Plus seats at booking

Platinum elites can select Economy Plus seats at booking for themselves and up to eight companions (versus only one companion for Gold and Silver members). This is an important perk, especially if you’re traveling with family or friends who are also on your reservation and you want to try to have the entire group sit together in Economy Plus.

Preferred seats at booking

As a Platinum elite, you can select these seats for free at booking for yourself and up to eight companions.

Three free 70-pound checked bags

Platinum elites get an additional 70-pound checked bag for free (as compared to two at Silver and one at Gold).

Complimentary premier upgrades 72 hours before departure

Platinum elites are eligible for complimentary premier upgrades from full-fare economy tickets to business/first class 72 hours prior to departure on select domestic and a few short-distance international routes. Since the upgrade window at this level opens three days before departure, your chance of an upgrade is significantly better than for Gold and Silver elites.

Waived / reduced fees

• Platinum members do not have to pay the $25 phone booking fee, which is assessed on all reservations made over the phone in the U.S. and Canada.

• No change or cancellation fees on award tickets.

• Same-day flight change fees are waived (general members and Silver elites pay $75).

Complimentary Hertz Gold President's Circle status

Hertz President’s Circle status level is normally attained after 20 rentals or spending $4,000 (excluding taxes and fees) within a 12-month period. The main benefit here is earning 50% extra Gold Plus Rewards points on rentals, a dedicated President’s Circle phone number and Hertz Valet airport drive-back service up to four times per year.

Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status

Platinum elites receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which comes with a host of useful perks like late checkout, extra points earned on stays and room upgrades.

Earn 9x United miles and 75% bonus award miles

Premier 1K — United’s top-level status — offers the most benefits, including 280 PlusPoints and the Skip Waitlist feature. This level is worth considerably more than the preceding tiers due to PlusPoints, which provide upgrades on pricey long-haul business class routes.

280 extra PlusPoints

When you reach a 1K elite status, you receive an additional 280 PlusPoints. Combined with the 40 PlusPoints earned at Platinum, you could have a total of 320 PlusPoints. This is a significant benefit over Platinum status, and it provides numerous opportunities for upgrading your seats.

Your 320 PlusPoints can go a long way, including these examples:

• 4 long-haul upgrades from discounted economy to business class.

• 8 long-haul upgrades from economy to business class.

• 10 long-haul upgrades from premium plus to business class.

• 16 long-haul upgrades from economy to premium plus.

• 16 short-haul upgrades from economy to first class.

Premier 1K elites will receive an additional 20 PlusPoints for every 3,000 PQP earned.

» Learn more: Your guide to United business class

Skip Waitlist

Exclusive to 1Ks, this feature allows elites to skip the waitlist on select international routes for an additional number of PlusPoints. The upgrade must be requested at least 30 days ahead of departure. For flights that offer Skip Waitlist, 1Ks will be able to request an upgrade using a reduced number of PlusPoints or use additional PlusPoints to confirm an upgrade, even if there is no upgrade space available.

Economy Plus seats at booking

Like Platinum elites, 1Ks can select Economy Plus seats at booking for themselves and up to eight companions.

Preferred seats at booking

Like all other elites, 1Ks can select these seats for free at booking for themselves and up to eight companions.

Complimentary premier upgrades 96 hours before departure

Premier 1K members are eligible for complimentary premier upgrades to business and first class 96 hours before departure on full-fare economy tickets on some domestic and a few short-distance international routes. 1Ks have priority over all other elites, and given that upgrade eligibility opens four days ahead of departure for 1Ks, the likelihood of an upgrade increases considerably.

» Learn more: Guide to United first class

Three free 70-pound checked bags

As a 1K member, you can check up to three 70-pound bags, which is the same allowance afforded to Platinum elites.

Waived fees

• 1K elites do not have to pay the $25 phone booking fee for making a flight reservation over the phone in the U.S. and Canada.

• Award change fees are waived.

• Same-day flight change fees are waived (general members and Silver elites pay $75).

Complimentary Clear membership

Premier 1Ks can get a free membership to the Clear program, which uses biometric technology (i.e., fingerprint and eye scan) to verify your identity. Upon verification, a Clear agent escorts you to the front of the TSA PreCheck or main security line, which is the main benefit of Clear.

Note: Although Clear is priced at $199 per year, Silver, Gold and Platinum elites can currently purchase the membership for $159.

» Learn more: United MileagePlus members can get discounted Clear membership

Complimentary Hertz Gold President's Circle status

Same as Platinum elites, 1Ks also receive a complimentary President’s Circle status level with Hertz.

Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status

Same as Gold and Platinum elites, 1Ks receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, which comes with a host of useful perks like late checkout, room upgrades and extra points earned on stays.

Earn 11x United miles and 100% bonus award miles