I just achieved airline elite status for the first time—and there’s no looking back now.

I'm writing this from the first-class cabin of a United Boeing 737, en route to Houston, Texas (IAH) from Cancun, Mexico (CUN). My upgrade was confirmed while I was grabbing coffee at the airport.

On my previous flight, I had already settled into an Economy Plus seat chosen during check-in when I received the news that my upgrade had gone through.

I attained entry-level United Premier Silver status in September, and since then, I've been bumped up to first class three times. I haven't had to sit in a regular economy seat yet.

By the time this flight touches down, I will have reached the milestone of Premier Gold.

At TPG, it's not unusual to find yourself surrounded by individuals boasting the highest levels of status with various airlines and hotels. It can start to feel like, if you're not Titanium Elite or Premier 1K, what's even the point?

However, after flying with United Premier Silver status for just a few months, I can confidently say it's worth pursuing if you're close— even if it means only reaching the first tier of elite membership.

My Journey to Elite Status

I've been lucky enough to enjoy the benefits of elite status in the past, but I've never actually earned it myself.

I hold status with Marriott and Hilton thanks to credit cards, and I obtained Hyatt Explorist status after winning a round of travel-themed pop culture trivia—no kidding. At one point, I even held Accor's second-highest Platinum status, but I only stayed at an Accor property once during that period (my Platinum membership was a gift, and I've watched my status decline over the years).

However, after just a few flights at the start of 2021, I discovered that reaching United Silver status was well within my grasp, especially with points promotions and reduced qualification thresholds due to the ongoing pandemic.

Focusing on Achieving United Status

I live merely 15 minutes away from Newark Liberty International (EWR), which is United's hub in the New York City area.

This proximity means I frequently opt to fly with United. Once I realized status was attainable, I occasionally chose a slightly pricier United fare over a better-priced competitor—plus, flying United is almost always the most convenient choice.

Now that I have achieved status, opting to fly with United is the clear choice. I know I'll be among the first to board (Premier Gold travelers enjoy priority in the airline's various boarding groups, and even Premier Silver members board before the majority of other passengers) and I won't have to compete for overhead bin space.

Moreover, once I attained Silver status, I could choose Economy Plus seats for free at check-in, along with access to preferred seating at no additional cost during booking. With Gold status, I can now select Economy Plus seats for free at the time of booking. Even entry-level status places me on the upgrade list for complimentary Premier upgrades — which clear more frequently than you might expect.

While there are additional perks that might not individually justify racing toward elite status, I'm still glad to have them.

I typically avoid checking a bag unless absolutely necessary, but that did happen once I reached Silver, and I was thankful to have the baggage fee waived.

Those with elite status also accumulate bonus miles on United flights, bringing me closer to earning award flights with each journey.

Achieving entry-level status

Thanks to the new requirements, I only had to complete eight Premier-qualifying flights and accumulate 3,000 Premier-qualifying points (PQPs) to attain United's first tier of status (or earn 3,500 PQPs through points alone). Typically, the requirement is 12 PQFs and 4,000 PQPs, totaling 5,000 PQPs.

I also benefited from United's Breakout Bonus promotion, which offered MileagePlus members bonus PQPs on three flights. Since I didn't have status when the promotion started, I received 250 PQPs after my first flight and 75 PQPs on each of the next two flights. Before long, I was on track for Premier status, and with some careful planning, I booked enough flights in 2021 to qualify.

Strategies for maintaining my status

As travel demand continues to rise, securing a first-class seat may not be as easy for me in the future. Sometimes, merely having entry-level Silver status won't cut it.

During a recent flight to London, there were so many United 1K members (the airline's highest published Premier status level) utilizing preboarding that the gate agents were visibly taken aback, repeatedly asking passengers to confirm their membership in that group.

Needless to say, I was far from a Polaris seat, despite being waitlisted for an upgrade with Plus Points by a friend.

Nonetheless, in April, I need to fly to California — while I could save a significant amount by choosing another airline, I'm planning to stick with United for my flights.

With Premier Gold status, I can book an Economy Plus seat at check-in and secure a better position on the upgrade list. Even if this flight costs a bit more, it will help me get closer to requalifying in 2022, which could be more challenging if the airline reverts to its previous requirements.

I'm also thinking about getting a United cobranded credit card, like the United Quest Card, which provides 500 PQPs for every $12,000 spent (up to 3,000 PQPs per calendar year) for an added boost if I need it.

Final thoughts

Some of my colleagues are racing towards 1K status right now, though I realize that achieving anything beyond Gold is probably out of reach at this point in the year. (But then again, this is TPG — stranger things have happened.)

Prior to obtaining Silver status with United, the idea of reaching elite status felt completely unattainable. I managed just fine alongside everyone else in the back of the proverbial bus.

However, having experienced elite status for the first time, I now understand why so many people strive to reach those higher tiers. And it seems I can now count myself among them.

Photo credit: Zach Griff/Dinogo.