United Airlines is one of the major carriers in the United States with its headquarters in Wilis Tower, Chicago, Illinois. It operates flights to domestic and international destinations from 8 different hubs located across the country including San Francisco, Washington–Dulles, Newark, Los Angeles, Houston–Intercontinental, Guam, Denver, and Chicago–O’Hare.
Talking about the fleet capacity, United Airlines currently operates over 850 aircraft manufactured by Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier, and Embraer. The fare classes offered by the airline are United Polaris Business, United Premium Plus, Premium Transcontinental, United First, Economy Plus, Economy, and Basic Economy.
United Airlines also offers a MileagePlus Premier status program that is specially designed to provide an enhanced travel experience to loyal, and frequent flyers. Premier 1K, Premium Platinum, Premier Gold, and Premier Silver are the four levels of the Premier Status program.
In this blog, we will focus on the benefits of United Premier Silver Status along with the eligibility requirements. So, let’s begin with an introduction to the Premier Silver Status.
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What is United Premier Silver Status? (United MileagePlus Premier Status)
Premier Silver is the base level of the United MileagePlus Premier Status program that offers various benefits such as complimentary premier upgrades, complimentary access to economy plus, complimentary checked baggage, and more.
Passengers flying on United flights can earn Premier Qualifying Points (known as PQP in short), and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) to qualify for the various status levels.
With the short intro, let’s move forward to know the requirements for Premier Silver Qualification.
Requirements to Qualify for United Premier Silver Status
United Airlines customers can qualify for the Premier Silver Status via the two types of qualifying activities including Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF), and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP).
United Airlines has announced new reduced requirements for 2023 Premier Status based on the qualifying activity in 2022.
As per the new requirement, passengers need to acquire 8 PQF (must fly at least 8 PQFs), and 3,000 PQP or 3,500 PQP to qualify for Premier Silver status. These numbers must be achieved during the calendar year (January 1 through December 31). Previously, the requirement was 12 PQF, and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP.
| PREMIER STATUS | PREVIOUS REQUIREMENT | NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR 2023 |
| Premier Silver | 8 PQF + 3,000 PQP or 3,500 PQP |
What are PQF, and PQP?
PQF is calculated based on the number of flight segments flown with United Airlines, United Express, Star Alliance Partner Airlines, Connecting airlines, or other partner airlines mentioned below. However, 4 of the flights must be flown on United or United Express.
PQF, and PQP Eligible Airlines for Premier Silver Status
- United Airlines
- United Express
- Star Alliance Partner Airlines
- Connecting Airlines
- Air Dolomiti
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Edelweiss
- Eurowings
- Olympic Air
Likewise, PQP is calculated based on the fare, and a carrier-imposed surcharge of flight purchases along with seating purchases, and paid upgrades.
Passengers can earn PQP (1 PQP for every $1 spent) based on the following flights and purchases.
- Base fare + surcharge
- Economy Plus® seating or Economy Plus subscriptions
- Preferred seat purchases
- MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays
- Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express
- Flights ticketed and operated by our Star Alliance™ partners
If you fly on Star Alliance Partners, other airlines (Air Dolomoti, Azul, Eurowings, Edelweiss, and Olympic) and select MileagePlus Partner airlines, you can earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).
PQP Calculation on Partner Airlines
Star Alliance/Preferred Partner Airlines PQP = Award Miles divided by 5
Select MileagePlus Partner PQP = Award Miles divided by 6
For instance, if you acquire 960 award miles for your flight with Star Alliance/Preferred Partner Airlines, you’ll earn 192 PQP. On the other hand, you’ll earn 160 PQP with 960 Award Miles while flying with a select MileagePlus partner.
The maximum Premium Qualifying Points that can be earned per flight on tickets issued and operated by partner airlines are calculated based on the class of service as mentioned in the table below.
| CLASS OF SERVICE | STAR ALLIANCE PARTNERS | SELECT MileagePlus PARTNERS |
| Economy or Premium Economy | 750 PQP | 500 PQP |
| First or Business Class | 1,500 PQP | 1,000 PQP |
Besides, passengers can also earn PQP by using their MileagePlus Credit cards for making purchases. United Gateway Card, United Explorer Card, United Quest Card, and United Club Infinite Card are the MileagePlus Credit Cards available.
Every $12,000 in Card Spend = 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP)
For instance, you can earn up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) with the United Quest Card which will help you to qualify for the MileagePlus Premier Status.
| UNITED Personal Credit Cards | PREMIER QUALIFYING POINTS (PQP) | BONUS MILES |
| United Explorer Card | Up to 1,000 PQP | 50,000 Miles |
| United Quest Card | Up to 3,000 PQP | 70,000 Miles |
| United Club Infinite Card | Up to 4,000 PQP | 80,000 Miles |
We explored the qualification requirements for the United Premier Silver Status. For detailed information, you can visit the airline’s official website. With that, let’s dig into the benefits of United Premier Silver Status.
Explore the benefits of United Premier Silver Status
United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Status offers various perks such as preferred seating, waived fees, complimentary upgrades, priority travel services, complimentary food, and much more.
The benefits increase as the customers level up from Premier Silver Status. So, what are the major benefits of Premier Silver?
Priority Check-in, Security Screening, and Priority Boarding
Premier Silver Status members are provided with priority travel services that include priority check-in, priority security screening, and priority boarding facility. Passengers receive Premier Access for expedited processes to get through the airport.
Premier Silver passengers are allocated as Group 2 Priority Boarding. The Premier Access service is available for United Airlines, and United Express-operated flights departing from airports around the globe.
Complimentary Checked Baggage in Economy Class
Passengers holding Premier Silver Status can carry 1 Checked Baggage for Free in the Economy fare class, and 3 Checked Bags in Premium Cabin. The weight limitation on each complimentary bag is 70 lbs (32 kg).
The complimentary Checked Baggage facility is applicable on flights with United, and United Express. Passengers can use the Baggage Calculator to check the baggage allowance, and service charges.
Confirmed Flight Changes within 24 hours of departure
Premier Silver passengers can change their flight for free within 24 hours of departure. The same-day flight change confirmation is free only if the flight to be changed is in the same fare class with the same origin, and destination as the original ticket.
CLEAR Discounted Annual Membership
United Airlines passengers with Premier Silver Status receive a $109 discount for the CLEAR annual membership. CLEAR allows passengers to proceed faster through airport security in designated lanes at TSA checkpoints.
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- Premier Silver members get complimentary premier upgrades on the day of departure.
- Other important benefits include
- Complimentary Access to Economy Plus at Check-in for Premier Silver Passenger + 1 Companion
- 7 X Miles earned on every flight (Extra miles per dollar on United, United Express, and select partner airlines)
- Preferred Seating for 8 Travel Companions
- Instant Upgrades to the Premium Cabin on Economy Tickets (Y or B class fares)
- Better Award Availability in Economy
- Priority Award Waitlisting
- Standby for international award flights
- Premier Priority Desk Phone Line
- Complimentary Avis Elite Status
- Extra Benefits when booking a VIP Access property with United Hotels
- United Cruises Onboard Amenities Offer
- TPC Network Golf Course Benefits
- Complimentary Access to Timeshifter – The Jet Lag App
- Bonus miles on car rental with Avis (Upto 1,000 base miles per rental)
Conclusion on Benefits of United Premier Silver Status
United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Status is a loyalty program offered to frequent flyers, and loyal customers. Premier Silver is one of the four levels of the Premier Status program.
Premier Silver is the base level MileagePlus status that requires at least 8 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF), + 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) or 3,500 PQP alone. PQP can be earned by flying on United Airlines, United Express or any other partner airlines. Passengers can use their MileagePlus credit cards to make purchases and earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 in card spending.
The top benefits offered by Premier Silver Status are:
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades
- 1 Complimentary Checked Baggage (70 lbs/32 kg)
- 7x Miles Earned on Every Flight
- Priority Travel Services
- Complimentary Access to Economy Plus at Check-in
FAQs on Benefits of United Premier Silver Status
What does Premier Silver on United mean?
Premier Silver is the base level of the United MileagePlus Premier Status Loyalty Program offered to frequent flyers, and loyal customers. This status level requires at least 8 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) + 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) or 3,500 PQP only.
What does United Premier Silver get you?
The top benefits of United Premier Silver status are Complimentary Premier Upgrades, 1 Complimentary Checked Baggage (70 lbs/32 kg), 7x Miles Earned on Every Flight, Priority Travel Services, and Complimentary Access to Economy Plus at Check-in.
Does Premier Silver get a free checked bag?
With United MileagePlus Premier Silver Status, passengers can carry one free checked baggage. The maximum allowed weight of the complimentary bag is 72 lbs (32 kg).
Does United Silver get you Lounge Access?
United Premier Silver status doesn’t offer Lounge Access or United Club Access.
