I fly frequently, over 70 segments a year, and generally continue to prefer United as my main airline.
However, I am struggling to understand the logic behind earning zero Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) on a base Polaris fare that costs around $6,000. It also appears that the fare does not earn a reduced MileagePlus accrual rate either, which is unexpected.
What is particularly confusing is that this “base” fare is what appears in initial search results and on platforms like Google Flights, so there is no clear indication during price discovery that the earning structure is different.
While the price difference between options may not always be significant in Polaris, it becomes much more noticeable in Premium Plus, where fare differences between base and standard tickets can exceed $1,000.
I understand that fare classes affect upgrade eligibility and MileagePlus benefits, but I do not fully understand why a base Polaris fare would earn zero PQF, especially given its high price point.
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