Which United Airlines credit cards provide increased PQP earnings and how do those cards impact status qualification?

United’s co‑branded cards are the primary way to add Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) beyond what you earn from flight spend. The cards that explicitly boost PQP earnings and the way those points feed into status are:

• Bam MileagePlus Visa Infinite Card – Earns 1 PQP for every $20 spended, capped at 1,500 PQP for the 2026 program year  The Gate with Brian Cohen .
• First Hawaiian Bank United World Elite Business Card – Same 1 PQP per $20 spend structure, but the cap is higher at 2,000 PQP  The Gate with Brian Cohen .
• United Explorer Card – Provides 1 PQP per $20 of net purchases, up to 1,000 PQP each calendar year [8].
• United SM Business Card – Grants a one‑time bonus of 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 within the first three months  Your Mileage May Vary .
• United Quest Card – Awards 3,000 PQP after a $4,000 spend in the first three months [9].

How the extra PQP affect status qualification

• PQP are a core component of United’s Premier elite thresholds (e.g., 5,000 PQP + 15 PQF for Premier Silver, 10,000 PQP + 30 PQF for Premier Gold, etc.) [7].
• By adding the card‑earned PQP, you can meet the required PQP totals with fewer qualifying flights, or you can reach a higher tier without having to fly as many segments.
• For members who already have the necessary PQF count, the card bonuses can be the decisive factor that pushes you over the PQP line for the next status level.
• Because the caps are annual, planning your spend early in the calendar year maximizes the benefit and gives you a clear runway toward the year‑end qualification deadline.

In short, the Bam Visa Infinite, First Hawaiian Business, Explorer, SM Business, and Quest cards each give a predictable stream of PQP that directly counts toward the Premier status thresholds, letting you accelerate or secure elite qualification with relatively modest spending.