United follows Delta and sets spending minimums

Starting in 2014 United will require a minimum level of spending for status.

Today we’re announcing some upcoming changes to our Premier qualification requirements for 2014. We’ve posted complete details and a FAQ at www.mileageplusupdates.com, but I wanted to share an excerpt of the key points with you directly:

Starting in January 2014, Premier qualification for members living in the United States will include a minimum annual spending level. We will track this new requirement with Premier qualifying dollars (PQD) – dollars spent on most United tickets, including partner flights, and Economy Plus purchases. The changes will not affect Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or Premier qualifying segments (PQS). The new criteria will look like this:

• Premier Silver: [25,000 PQM or 30 PQS] and $2,500 PQD
• Premier Gold: [50,000 PQM or 60 PQS] and $5,000 PQD
• Premier Platinum: [75,000 PQM or 90 PQS] and $7,500 PQD
• Premier 1K: [100,000 PQM or 120 PQS] and $10,000 PQD

A minimum of at least four paid flights operated by United, United Express, or Copa Airlines will be needed to qualify for any Premier status.

For 2014, the PQD requirement is waived for Premier Silver, Premier Gold, and Premier Platinum qualification for members whose address with MileagePlus is within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and who spend at least $25,000 in Net Purchases in 2014 on a MileagePlus co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. There is no PQD waiver for Premier 1K qualification.

From UA Insider on Flyertalk

So now Delta and United are both requiring a minimum spend level to be elite and both allow credit card spending in lieu of airfare (limited to Premier Platinum on United).  United also requires 4 paid flights on United which would have really messed me up years I was crediting everything *A to UA but mainly flying on US.  I may have flown 4 flights, but many years I was just about 100% US Airways metal and tickets which meant I would have flown 60 segments with no status.  This change would definitely make me flip to US if I hadn’t already or I’d have to take a couple personal trips on UA if I got to the end of the year and hadn’t flown UA much.

Who is next?  US Airways?  They never met a fee they didn’t like.  American?  One of the international carriers?  Place your bets.