Would you like 120 days of complimentary Star Alliance status and a shortcut to keeping your status for an even longer period? The United Airlines MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge could be perfect for you.

United is a Star Alliance member. So you’ll get to enjoy the benefits of MileagePlus Premier status across the Star Alliance network.

This offer is back for 2024 and is valid for applications until 20 December 2024. Here’s how it works…

Who is eligible for a United Airlines status match?

The United status match challenge is available to frequent flyers who already hold an equivalent elite status tier with another competing airline. This status must be valid during the current calendar year and cannot be a trial status. Status with other airlines that you’ve earned by flying, completing another promotion or through lifetime status is eligible.

The United Airlines website contains a partial list of carriers whose elite status is accepted for the purposes of a United MileagePlus status match in 2024. This list includes other US carriers like American Airlines, Delta, Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Status with many other international airlines including Qantas is also accepted.

In the past, Virgin Australia Velocity status was also accepted. However, now that United partners with Virgin Australia, Velocity status is unlikely to be accepted. United also does not match the status of its Star Alliance partners.

Matches are available to United Premier Silver, Gold and Platinum status. You’ll be offered a level that is equivalent to your existing status with another airline. For example, Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold status will match to United Premier Gold, which is equivalent to Star Alliance Gold.

Prior to COVID-19, United MileagePlus members only had 90 days to enjoy their trial status and complete the required amount of flights to retain their matched United status. But since 2021, this period has been increased to 120 days (four months).

In general, you may only request a United status match challenge a maximum of once every five years.

How to request a United status match

It takes just a few minutes to request a MileagePlus Status Match Challenge on the United Airlines website. After reading through the requirements, you can submit your application by completing a Status Match Challenge Form.

You’ll need to include either a copy of your current membership card with the frequent flyer program you’re matching from, or your most recent activity statement. Your name, current status level and expiry date must be clearly shown.

Obviously, you’ll also need to have an active United MileagePlus account number and email address.

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you’ll receive an email 1-2 weeks after applying to advise that your account has been upgraded. This marks the start of your trial period.

How to complete the United status challenge

Once approved, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of United and Star Alliance status for 120 days.

To renew your status beyond the 120-day trial period, you’ll need to earn a minimum amount of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) on flights operated by United Airlines and/or United Express.

The requirements depend on the status level you’ve been matched to:

• Premier Silver status – renew by earning 4 PQF & 1,300 PQP in 120 days
• Premier Gold status – renew by earning 8 PQF & 2,600 PQP in 120 days
• Premier Platinum status – renew by earning 12 PQF & 4,000 PQP in 120 days

One PQF is earned for every United flight taken, regardless of the class of travel – except for Basic Economy tickets which don’t earn PQFs.

For travel on United Airlines, one PQP is earned for every US Dollar spent, excluding taxes.

Therefore, to complete a Premier Gold status challenge, you would need to take at least eight United-operated flights and spend at least USD2,600 before taxes (~AU$3,900 at today’s exchange rate) with United Airlines. This would be possible, for example, if you booked a return trip from Australia to the United States in Business or Premium Plus (United’s version of Premium Economy) and also took six internal flights while in the USA.

The best time to request a United status match challenge

If you complete a United Status Match Challenge any time between January and June 2024, your status will be renewed until the end of January 2025. But if you completed your challenge after 1 July 2024, you’d get to keep your status until January 2026. Therefore, July is the best time to complete your status challenge. You’ll receive the benefits of your status for the longest time!

This is based on the time when you complete a challenge, not when you start it. Therefore, you could still start a challenge any time from March 2024 until June 2024 and enjoy the benefits of your status until January 2026. This is provided you completed the PQF and PQP requirements after 1 July 2024.

It takes anywhere from 1 to 14 days for your United MileagePlus account to be upgraded after you submit an online request. The 120-day trial period will begin immediately once the request is approved.

For the 2024 offer, the latest date that you can begin a challenge is 3 September 2024. If you start on this date, it will end on 31 December 2024. You can still request a challenge until 20 December 2024, but if you begin after 3 September, your start date will be backdated to then (and any United flights taken after that date will be counted).

Benefits during the 120-day challenge period

You’ll receive most of the usual United MileagePlus status tier benefits during your trial period when you travel on United Airlines. These include:

• Lounge access for international flights
• Waitlisting for complimentary upgrades on domestic flights
• Free Economy Plus (extra legroom) seat selection
• Two complimentary checked bags
• Priority check-in, baggage & boarding

The offer terms and conditions state that some benefits of your status may not be available on other Star Alliance partner airlines during the challenge period. In our experience, this is not necessarily the case.

Although it’s not guaranteed, you should still be able to enjoy status benefits across the Star Alliance network during the trial period. You’ll just need to add your United MileagePlus number to your reservation. You may also be able to enjoy benefits on other United partners, including Virgin Australia. However, you won’t be issued with a physical membership card or pack until you’ve completed your challenge. (In the meantime, you’ll have access to a digital membership card which is marked as being a “trial” status.)

If you’re planning a trip to the United States, you could use the United MileagePlus status match challenge as a shortcut to Star Alliance status. This is useful when flying on any Star Alliance carrier including Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways or Air Canada.

Even if you don’t plan to complete the challenge, it’s an easy four months of free Star Alliance Silver or Gold status.

Matt Graham

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.