Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Partner ticket PQP calculator
Beginning in 2020, if you fly a partner airline (not UA metal) and your ticket is on the stock of another airline (not 016 ticket), you will earn PQP as a fraction of the distance flown. That fraction is determined by your fare class, and can be found in the tables below.
Other Partner Airlines (not Star Alliance)
Warning: It is strongly recommended that you consult the United earnings page for your airline and confirm the earning rate here, as they have been to known to change without notice and apply retroactively to tickets purchased before the change.
GREEN background is a "preferred" partner.
Updated PQP calculator with new per-segment earning cap
More Information on earning PQP and PQF
Archive: Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal {Archive}
Partner Earning
Beginning in 2020, if you fly a partner airline (not UA metal) and your ticket is on the stock of another airline (not 016 ticket), you will earn PQP as a fraction of the distance flown. That fraction is determined by your fare class, and can be found in the tables below.
The way to derive this fraction is to go to the United earnings page for your airline and determine the RDM (not PQM) earning rate for your fare class. Then divide this number by 5 for "preferred partners" and 6 otherwise.
If the fare class of a non-016 *A partner flight allows RDM earnings (and therefore PQDs), the flight also earns Premier Qualifying Flight (PQF) credit.
Preferred Partner Airlines: AC AD AV CA CM EN EW LH LX NH NZ OS SN VA WK
Other Partner Airlines (status earning): A3 AI BR ET HO LO MS OA OU OZ SA SK SQ TG TK TP ZH
Other Partner Airlines (NO Premier credit): 3M 4B 9K EI HA UK VW
Note that for the third category you will earn RDM but no PQP, regardless of ticket stock (this is no change from before when you would not earn PQM).
For flights on or after July 1, 2020, the maximum Premier qualifying points that can be earned per flight {segment} on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines are as follows:
MileagePlus members who purchased tickets on eligible partners prior to these new rules may submit receipts showing tickets were issued prior to April 29, 2020, to [email protected] with the subject line "OA PQP Review" to be considered for PQP earning under the prior rules. Receipts should not be submitted until after travel is completed for flights on or after July 1, 2020.
UA Capping PQP Earn with Partners (update -- per flight segment)
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I fly a United-operated segment on a non-United ticket? You will earn PQP equal to the portion of the fare assignable to that segment. This information is transmitted from the ticketing carrier to United, and will be a somewhat arbitrary number between 0 and the full value of the fare component which includes that segment**. (This is the same as earning PQD on such a segment today.)
**Many reports of this not working even this well, and the potential number being outside this range.
What about codeshare segments? As before, codeshares do not matter. Only the operating carrier (metal) of each segment and the stock of the ticket determine your earnings.
How do I get a non-016 ticket? Any ticket purchased directly from another airline will be a partner-issued ticket, even if it has United segments. (Any ticket purchased from United will be an 016 ticket, even if it has no United segments.) Tickets purchased from an agency will usually have a stock of the marketing carrier of the most significant segment ("first long segment" usually).
What's the trick here? Because PQP are earned as a fraction of the distance flown, flying long distances on low-priced fares can earn more PQP than dollars spent. For any given journey, you should consider where you are earning a favorable ratio of PQP to dollars of at least 1.0 when ticketing this way, and consider ticketing with United if you are not.
What about BULK fares? Bulk fares will also earn PQP by distance, as noted in the table below. This is the only way to earn by distance on United metal.
Earnings Tables
Last updated in the image on 17-Nov-23.
To use: Determine the flight miles of your trip, then multiply by the applicable percentage based on the fare class of the ticket. That is your PQP for that segment. Example: 1000 mile flight on Air Canada booked in W fare code: PQP = 1000*.15=150).
Note that values >= 20% are rounded to the nearest 1%, and smaller values are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. If precise calculations are needed, you should always use the original source material (United website).
Star Alliance Airlines
Warning: It is strongly recommended that you consult the United earnings page for your airline and confirm the earning rate here, as they have been to known to change without notice and apply retroactively to tickets purchased before the change.
Note: There are special rules for AC branded Economy fares on 014 tickets.
GREEN background is a "preferred" partner.
Preferred Partner Airlines: AC AD AV CA CM EN EW LH LX NH NZ OS SN VA WK
Other Partner Airlines (status earning): A3 AI BR ET HO LO MS OA OU OZ SA SK SQ TG TK TP ZH
Other Partner Airlines (NO Premier credit): 3M 4B 9K EI HA UK VW
Note that for the third category you will earn RDM but no PQP, regardless of ticket stock (this is no change from before when you would not earn PQM).
For flights on or after July 1, 2020, the maximum Premier qualifying points that can be earned per flight {segment} on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines are as follows:
MileagePlus members who purchased tickets on eligible partners prior to these new rules may submit receipts showing tickets were issued prior to April 29, 2020, to [email protected] with the subject line "OA PQP Review" to be considered for PQP earning under the prior rules. Receipts should not be submitted until after travel is completed for flights on or after July 1, 2020.
UA Capping PQP Earn with Partners (update -- per flight segment)
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I fly a United-operated segment on a non-United ticket? You will earn PQP equal to the portion of the fare assignable to that segment. This information is transmitted from the ticketing carrier to United, and will be a somewhat arbitrary number between 0 and the full value of the fare component which includes that segment**. (This is the same as earning PQD on such a segment today.)
**Many reports of this not working even this well, and the potential number being outside this range.
What about codeshare segments? As before, codeshares do not matter. Only the operating carrier (metal) of each segment and the stock of the ticket determine your earnings.
How do I get a non-016 ticket? Any ticket purchased directly from another airline will be a partner-issued ticket, even if it has United segments. (Any ticket purchased from United will be an 016 ticket, even if it has no United segments.) Tickets purchased from an agency will usually have a stock of the marketing carrier of the most significant segment ("first long segment" usually).
What's the trick here? Because PQP are earned as a fraction of the distance flown, flying long distances on low-priced fares can earn more PQP than dollars spent. For any given journey, you should consider where you are earning a favorable ratio of PQP to dollars of at least 1.0 when ticketing this way, and consider ticketing with United if you are not.
What about BULK fares? Bulk fares will also earn PQP by distance, as noted in the table below. This is the only way to earn by distance on United metal.
Earnings Tables
Last updated in the image on 17-Nov-23.
To use: Determine the flight miles of your trip, then multiply by the applicable percentage based on the fare class of the ticket. That is your PQP for that segment. Example: 1000 mile flight on Air Canada booked in W fare code: PQP = 1000*.15=150).
Note that values >= 20% are rounded to the nearest 1%, and smaller values are rounded to the nearest 0.1%. If precise calculations are needed, you should always use the original source material (United website).
Star Alliance Airlines
Warning: It is strongly recommended that you consult the United earnings page for your airline and confirm the earning rate here, as they have been to known to change without notice and apply retroactively to tickets purchased before the change.
Note: There are special rules for AC branded Economy fares on 014 tickets.
GREEN background is a "preferred" partner.
Other Partner Airlines (not Star Alliance)
Warning: It is strongly recommended that you consult the United earnings page for your airline and confirm the earning rate here, as they have been to known to change without notice and apply retroactively to tickets purchased before the change.
GREEN background is a "preferred" partner.
Updated PQP calculator with new per-segment earning cap
I created a updated version of the PQP calculator to handle the upcoming per segment PQP earning limits. It also calculates RDM:
https://pqp.economiles.com/
https://pqp.economiles.com/
More Information on earning PQP and PQF
Earning PQP on flights ticketed and operated by a Star Alliance Partner
Members can also earn Premier qualifying points on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines. Your PQP will be equal to award miles earned divided by 5 if you’re flying on a preferred partner; for other MileagePlus partner airlines, it will be award miles earned divided by 6.
Please note award miles is your base award miles earning plus your fare class bonus award miles earning, if eligible. Premier bonus miles earned are not included within this calculation and are ineligible for Premier qualifying points accrual.
For Star Alliance airlines as well as Air Dolomiti, Azul, Eurowings, Edelweiss, and Olympic:
Preferred partner PQP: Award miles divided by 5
MileagePlus partner PQP: Award miles divided by 6
For example, if you earned 360 award miles for your flight, you’ll receive 72 PQP if you flew with a preferred partner, and 60 PQP if you flew with a MileagePlus partner.
PQP Calculator with option to apply max PQP per flight:
https://pqp.economiles.com/
For flights on or after July 1, 2020, the maximum Premier qualifying points that can be earned per flight on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines are as follows:
MileagePlus members who purchased tickets on eligible partners prior to these new rules may submit receipts showing tickets were issued prior to April 29, 2020, to [email protected] with the subject line "OA PQP Review" to be considered for PQP earning under the prior rules. Receipts should not be submitted until after travel is completed for flights on or after July 1, 2020.
For more information on PQP accrual for a specific airline, visit our airline partner pages.
Members can also earn Premier qualifying points on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines. Your PQP will be equal to award miles earned divided by 5 if you’re flying on a preferred partner; for other MileagePlus partner airlines, it will be award miles earned divided by 6.
Please note award miles is your base award miles earning plus your fare class bonus award miles earning, if eligible. Premier bonus miles earned are not included within this calculation and are ineligible for Premier qualifying points accrual.
For Star Alliance airlines as well as Air Dolomiti, Azul, Eurowings, Edelweiss, and Olympic:
Preferred partner PQP: Award miles divided by 5
MileagePlus partner PQP: Award miles divided by 6
For example, if you earned 360 award miles for your flight, you’ll receive 72 PQP if you flew with a preferred partner, and 60 PQP if you flew with a MileagePlus partner.
PQP Calculator with option to apply max PQP per flight:
https://pqp.economiles.com/
For flights on or after July 1, 2020, the maximum Premier qualifying points that can be earned per flight on tickets issued and operated by Star Alliance partners and select MileagePlus partner airlines are as follows:
MileagePlus members who purchased tickets on eligible partners prior to these new rules may submit receipts showing tickets were issued prior to April 29, 2020, to [email protected] with the subject line "OA PQP Review" to be considered for PQP earning under the prior rules. Receipts should not be submitted until after travel is completed for flights on or after July 1, 2020.
For more information on PQP accrual for a specific airline, visit our airline partner pages.
Archive: Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal {Archive}
Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal
#181
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, MR Titanium
Posts: 459
Thanks very much. The 1500 PQP max is indeed a bummer, but I would still come out ahead. Easier to get extra PQPs on irrops rather than booking a trip I really don't need to take.
#182
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: HNL
Programs: United Gold
Posts: 1,581
Could someone please check my PQP calculations for a first class (A) NRT-HNL roundtrip ticket on ANA that I purchase from ANA?
a. Distance NRT-HNL 3819 = 3819
b. 300% bonus for A class = 11457
c. Divide by 5 since ANA is a preferred partner = 2291
d. Max of 1500 on preferred partners = 1500
So for the roundtrip I'll earn 3000 PQP?
Thanks in advance!
a. Distance NRT-HNL 3819 = 3819
b. 300% bonus for A class = 11457
c. Divide by 5 since ANA is a preferred partner = 2291
d. Max of 1500 on preferred partners = 1500
So for the roundtrip I'll earn 3000 PQP?
Thanks in advance!
#183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
#184
Join Date: Sep 2021
Programs: IHG Diamond UA 1K
Posts: 19
I am trying to understand some specifics of UA PQP earned by flying on non-016 ticket on partner airlines.
In general, the earning accrual for each segment is as per the operating carrier's earning rules and their arrangement with UA. But what happens if the itinerary ticketed and issued by the partner involves a segment that is on UA metal (i.e. for that segment, UA is the operating carrier)? Since the fare is not broken out segment by segment, the UA portion can't be revenue based as is normal for UA 016 tickets. So how is it calculated?
As an example, I built out an itinerary on AC which had most segments operated by AC but a few by UA. Then I plugged it in the PQP economiles calculator by putting the operating carrier for the Airline field. Here's the output.
1. CID-ORD UA-Y (PQP 39)
2. ORD-YUL AC-Z (PQP 262)
3. YUL-LHR AC-P (PQP 975)
4. LHR-YUL AC-P (PQP 975)
5. YUL-ORD UA-B (PQP 150)
6. ORD-CID UA-Y (PQP 39)
Status:1K
Is this correct? I'd appreciate if the experts can chime in on this. (Note that this is just an example - I am not trying to buy this ticket! The fare quoted by AC is $3181.)
Thanks in advance.
In general, the earning accrual for each segment is as per the operating carrier's earning rules and their arrangement with UA. But what happens if the itinerary ticketed and issued by the partner involves a segment that is on UA metal (i.e. for that segment, UA is the operating carrier)? Since the fare is not broken out segment by segment, the UA portion can't be revenue based as is normal for UA 016 tickets. So how is it calculated?
As an example, I built out an itinerary on AC which had most segments operated by AC but a few by UA. Then I plugged it in the PQP economiles calculator by putting the operating carrier for the Airline field. Here's the output.
1. CID-ORD UA-Y (PQP 39)
2. ORD-YUL AC-Z (PQP 262)
3. YUL-LHR AC-P (PQP 975)
4. LHR-YUL AC-P (PQP 975)
5. YUL-ORD UA-B (PQP 150)
6. ORD-CID UA-Y (PQP 39)
Status:1K
Is this correct? I'd appreciate if the experts can chime in on this. (Note that this is just an example - I am not trying to buy this ticket! The fare quoted by AC is $3181.)
Thanks in advance.
#185
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,852
....
As an example, I built out an itinerary on AC which had most segments operated by AC but a few by UA. Then I plugged it in the PQP economiles calculator by putting the operating carrier for the Airline field. Here's the output.
1. CID-ORD UA-Y (PQP 39)
2. ORD-YUL AC-Z (PQP 262)
3. YUL-LHR AC-P (PQP 975)
4. LHR-YUL AC-P (PQP 975)
5. YUL-ORD UA-B (PQP 150)
6. ORD-CID UA-Y (PQP 39)
Status:1K
Is this correct?.....
As an example, I built out an itinerary on AC which had most segments operated by AC but a few by UA. Then I plugged it in the PQP economiles calculator by putting the operating carrier for the Airline field. Here's the output.
1. CID-ORD UA-Y (PQP 39)
2. ORD-YUL AC-Z (PQP 262)
3. YUL-LHR AC-P (PQP 975)
4. LHR-YUL AC-P (PQP 975)
5. YUL-ORD UA-B (PQP 150)
6. ORD-CID UA-Y (PQP 39)
Status:1K
Is this correct?.....
#186
Join Date: Sep 2021
Programs: IHG Diamond UA 1K
Posts: 19
Thanks for the prompt reply!
So if the UA segments are fare-based, how would I estimate the PQP on the UA-segments. The AC ticket quotes fares for the total outbound itinerary and the total inbound itinerary. Is there any way to know what the fare for the UA segments are so that the PQP can be estimated for those segments and the PQP calculator used for other segments?
Thanks again!
So if the UA segments are fare-based, how would I estimate the PQP on the UA-segments. The AC ticket quotes fares for the total outbound itinerary and the total inbound itinerary. Is there any way to know what the fare for the UA segments are so that the PQP can be estimated for those segments and the PQP calculator used for other segments?
Thanks again!
#187
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
Thanks for the prompt reply!
So if the UA segments are fare-based, how would I estimate the PQP on the UA-segments. The AC ticket quotes fares for the total outbound itinerary and the total inbound itinerary. Is there any way to know what the fare for the UA segments are so that the PQP can be estimated for those segments and the PQP calculator used for other segments?
Thanks again!
So if the UA segments are fare-based, how would I estimate the PQP on the UA-segments. The AC ticket quotes fares for the total outbound itinerary and the total inbound itinerary. Is there any way to know what the fare for the UA segments are so that the PQP can be estimated for those segments and the PQP calculator used for other segments?
Thanks again!
#188
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
I had an AC business ticket to JNB with the first leg ORD-YYZ operated by United, and the PQP was $25....
#190
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,201
One takeaway from the Delta announcement was their ability to grab fare details from partners, eliminating any status fast track using partner flights.
This will probably tempt United to make another attempt to do the same and put non 016 tickets on earning parity.
This will probably tempt United to make another attempt to do the same and put non 016 tickets on earning parity.
#191
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: SEA/NYC/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 1,921
I think it's more likely UA will follow DL and raise the 1K PQP figure to something like 54S+28k PQP or 35k PQP outright.
#192
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
I assume when you'd credit a non-016 ticket to UA, UA would get all of the fare details from the ticket carrier. How else would they know how much to credit on a non-016 ticket with UA segments?
#193
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
In my limited experience, I've found it's only (economically?) advantageous to credit partner flights for 3 airlines though, AC/NH discount P fares, and SK PY fares when you factor in the cap on PQP earnings per segment. I've researched this pretty extensively at this point, and I've found UA has done a pretty good job at maintaining PQP/$ parity with partners.
#194
Join Date: Sep 2021
Programs: IHG Diamond UA 1K
Posts: 19
#195
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305