Trip Benefits - Perks of Becoming an Airline Member
Earning PQPs and Maximizing Airline Loyalty Status Through Strategic Travel and Credit Card Spending
Brooke's last trip of 2025 was on December 21. She's been researching, writing, and booking ever since, but her next trip is coming up very shortly! She already has seven flights booked for herself for review purposes.
Utilizing this 2025 trip, we thought it would be best to illustrate a key use of PQPs and the benefits of being an airline loyalty member. Brooke is best at writing, so we'll now turn it over to her.
-The Brooke In The Air Travel Team
Everyone Should Be an Airline Loyalty Member
Let me start off by saying, everyone should be an airline loyalty member. Joining any membership is usually free and only takes a few minutes. From Lufthansa's Miles & More program to Air Canada's Aeroplan, Emirates' Skywards loyalty program, and United's MileagePlus program, every airline in the world typically has a membership program to encourage customer brand loyalty.
The PQP Run to Newark - 2025
In late December, I went to Newark on a PQP, or Premier Qualifying Points, run, which netted over 5,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs). These PQPs will push me over the original 2,700 I needed for Premier 1K status for 2026/early 2027.
This trip was important for the aforementioned PQP reasoning and to build up miles for 2026-27.
This trip was completely in business class, and the reviews are up!
I traveled in the 757-200T (T is short here for "Transcon") and the new layout in the 787-9 Dreamliner. It is affirmed that business-class trips are the easiest to use to acquire PQPs, as Premier Qualifying Points are based on dollars spent. This is a premium route that specializes in the 757-200T alone.
The 787-9 is in a brand-new Polaris Suite class, which is on a shakedown trial run, destined for true international trips starting in March 2026, notably SFO-LHR (San Francisco to London-Heathrow).
How PQPs Are Earned
You can acquire PQPs on mileage purchases as well, as PQPs are based on money spent; for every $20 spent, one PQP is earned, as long as it is done with a United Chase QUEST credit card.
It is key to note that Basic Economy fares do not garner points or miles. Standard Economy does, Economy Plus gains more, yet Domestic First or international business, aka Polaris, nets the most. Again, PQP is based on any and all money spent with the United co-branded credit cards by Chase, whether gassing up your car or buying groceries. As long as it's done with your Chase card, it counts.
PQPs are also earned on fellow Star Alliance member airlines and most partner airlines. I say most because new partners such as JetBlue and Emirates are excluded, and trips to Dubai, unless on a United flight, are not counted (Emirates), nor are New York-JFK (JetBlue) or Boston (BOS, JetBlue).
Global Services: The Invite-Only Tier
Global Services, the invite-only status tier offered by United Airlines and the highest membership status that can be attained, has long been a mystery in terms of attainability. However, while the criteria are unlisted, the basis is money spent. If you attain Premier 1K status four, five, or six years in a row, you'll gain the attention of United's GS invitation service. They look at who spends $30,000, $40,000, or $50,000 a year, and this spending aspect is the key deciding factor in terms of who earns Global Services status for that annual basis. The key is high and, most of all, consistent spending.
You can increasingly use your United card for everyday purchases, including rent, medical copays, and groceries. This will rapidly increase your mileage.
Until next time, and remember to book your vacation itineraries at Brooke In The Air Travel through brookeintheairtravel.net!
