United Airways MileagePlus: Information to incomes and redeeming miles, elite standing and extra

In 2023, United massively devalued the MileagePlus program by growing award charges by as much as 122% with out advance discover. MileagePlus additionally makes use of dynamic pricing (versus award charts), giving the airline complete flexibility to regulate award costs.

Nevertheless, this system can nonetheless be precious to its members since United miles never expire, you’ll be able to use PlusPoints and miles to verify long-haul Polaris upgrades and MileagePlus now lets you pool miles.

This information will give you all the mandatory data on this system, together with learn how to earn United miles and standing and learn how to maximize your miles for award journey.

United MileagePlus overview

With over 100 million members, United MileagePlus is likely one of the largest loyalty applications on the planet.

MileagePlus members can earn miles by flying United and its companions, in addition to by non-flight actions like bank card spending, buying and eating. You’ll be able to redeem your miles for award journey on the airline in addition to its Star Alliance companions.

MileagePlus members may also earn United elite status by assembly a sure threshold of Premier qualifying factors. Elite standing consists of extra advantages, similar to upgrades, most popular and Economy Plus seating, precedence boarding, and free checked baggage. Moreover, United presents varied cobranded credit cards that may assist members earn miles extra shortly and revel in extra perks.

Associated: How to get maximum value from the United MileagePlus program

United Airways companions

You’ll be able to earn and redeem miles with varied worldwide airways by United Airways’ membership within the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. United Premier members can usually get pleasure from perks like lounge entry and further baggage allowance when touring with these companions.

This is a have a look at United’s present Star Alliance companions.

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• Aegean Airways
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• All Nippon Airways
• Asiana Airways
• Austrian Airways
• Avianca
• Brussels Airways
• Copa Airways
• Croatia Airways
• Egyptair
• Ethiopian Airways
• EVA Airways
• Juneyao Airways (a connecting companion)
• LOT Polish Airways
• Lufthansa
• Scandinavian Airways
• Shenzhen Airways
• Singapore Airways
• South African Airways
• Swiss
• TAP Air Portugal
• Thai Airways
• Turkish Airways

United additionally companions with a number of airways exterior of the Star Alliance:

• Aer Lingus
• Air Dolomiti
• Airlink
• Azul Brazilian Airways
• Boutique Air
• Cape Air
• Uncover Airways
• Edelweiss
• Emirates
• Eurowings
• Hawaiian Airways
• JSX
• Olympic Air
• Silver Airways
• Virgin Australia
• Vistara

Companions can have their very own limitations concerning MileagePlus members — together with relevant bonuses, eligible fare lessons and excluded routes, so be sure you evaluation United’s airline partners page for full particulars of every one.

Associated: The best websites to search for Star Alliance award availability

United Airways Premier standing

United Airlines has four levels of elite status: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K. There’s additionally an unique Global Services tier, which you’ll solely earn after finishing 4 million flight miles or receiving a private invitation.

To earn United Premier standing, you could take no less than 4 United or United Specific flights and both earn PQPs or a mix of Premier qualifying flights and PQPs. You’ll be able to earn PQFs and PQPs by flying United or its companions. You can even earn PQPs by spending on most of United’s cobranded credit cards.

That is what it takes to qualify for United standing in 2025:

United Premier members get pleasure from perks like bonus miles on paid tickets, free checked baggage and complimentary waitlisted upgrades on most United-operated flights.

Larger-tier members obtain perks like complimentary Financial system Plus seating, PlusPoints (which can be utilized to verify upgrades), Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Star Alliance Gold status, which comes with perks when flying on different Star Alliance carriers.

Associated: United Premier status: What it is and how to earn it

earn United miles

You’ll be able to seek advice from our information on how to earn United miles for the entire image, however listed here are among the hottest methods to spice up your MileagePlus stability.

Fly on United Airways

When flying on United-marketed and -operated tickets, you earn MileagePlus miles based mostly in your ticket’s value minus taxes and your MileagePlus standing somewhat than the gap you fly.

This is what number of miles you will earn per greenback spent based mostly in your degree of standing:

• Common member: 5 miles
• Premier Silver: 7 miles
• Premier Gold: 8 miles
• Premier Platinum: 9 miles
• Premier 1K: 11 miles

For instance, suppose you purchase a one-way United ticket from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) with a base fare of $210 and $30 in taxes and charges. In that case, you’d earn 1,050 miles as a daily MileagePlus member however 2,310 miles in the event you’re a top-tier Premier 1K member.

These incomes charges additionally apply in the event you e book United’s basic economy fare class.

Fly on companion airways

You’ll be able to earn United MileagePlus miles when flying with United’s companions, however it may be difficult. Should you e book a companion flight by United (indicated by a 016 ticket quantity), you will earn miles based mostly in your ticket fare and elite standing.

However in the event you e book on companion ticket inventory, you will earn miles based mostly on the size of your flight and fare class. Typically, you’ll be able to see your fare class when reserving your flight or in your affirmation e mail. Mileage-earning charges fluctuate by airline, so examine your reserving class and use United’s partner airline list to find out your award miles. As anticipated, premium-cabin tickets earn extra miles than economic system tickets, and Premier members are eligible for bonus miles on choose companions.

Associated: Your ultimate guide to United Airlines partners

Get and use United Airways bank cards

United’s cobranded credit cards issued by Chase are among the many hottest methods to earn MileagePlus miles. This is a have a look at the sign-up bonuses and incomes charges on a few of our favourite United bank cards:

• United℠ Explorer Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 2 miles per greenback on United purchases, eating and direct lodge purchases, and 1 mile per greenback elsewhere.
• United Quest℠ Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 3 miles per greenback on United purchases (instantly after incomes your $125 annual United buy credit score); 2 miles per greenback on eating, journey and choose streaming providers; and 1 mile per greenback elsewhere.
• United℠ Business Card: Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 2 miles per greenback on United purchases, gasoline stations, eating (together with eligible supply providers), workplace provide shops, native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing providers, taxicabs, practice tickets, tolls and mass transit), and 1 mile elsewhere. You may additionally earn 5,000 bonus miles on every card anniversary when you have got each the United Enterprise Card and a private United bank card.
• United Club℠ Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The cardboard earns 4 miles per greenback spent on purchases with United, and a pair of miles per greenback spent on all different journey purchases, eating and eligible meals supply providers. All different purchases earn 1 mile per greenback spent.

United bank cards with an annual price help you earn 25 PQPs for every $500 you spend on the cardboard, however limits apply. For instance, the Explorer Card earns a most of 1,000 PQPs per calendar yr.

Associated: United’s best-kept elite status secret: How to earn PQPs faster with partner flights

Switch bank card factors from Chase Final Rewards

You’ll be able to immediately transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United at a 1:1 ratio, which may be an interesting option to immediately improve your MileagePlus stability.

TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2.05 cents apiece, whereas United miles are price 1.4 cents apiece. You can even redeem your Chase factors for United flights within the Chase Final Rewards journey portal. While you do that, you will usually earn United miles since your ticket might be coded as a paid fare.

Extra methods to earn United miles

Like most airways, United has an online shopping portal the place you’ll be able to earn miles on your on-line purchases.

You can even earn extra miles with the MileagePlus X app by buying choose service provider reward playing cards. Taking part retailers embrace main manufacturers like Walmart, Staples and Panera Bread. Main United bank card holders additionally earn a 25% bonus on miles earned from these purchases.

In the meantime, MileagePlus Dining awards as much as 5 miles per greenback whenever you dine at taking part eating places and use a linked bank card.

Different methods to earn United miles embrace buying miles, transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors and reserving lodges, automobile leases and cruises by the United journey portal.

Associated: Flights, credit cards and more: How to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program

United MileagePlus pooling

In 2024, United announced the addition of miles pooling, which is able to enable MileagePlus members of all ages to share and redeem miles in a single account.

Since there isn’t any age restriction on members having the ability to join a MileagePlus account, further and unused miles from children, as an illustration, can be utilized in a single account. As much as 5 members may be added to a pool, and there’s no restrict to the variety of miles you’ll be able to contribute to a pool.

Nevertheless, you should be no less than 18 years outdated to create a pool and change into the “pool chief.” You can even solely function in a single pool at a time, so that you can’t be part of a number of swimming pools.

Some stipulations exist; you’ll be able to enter and exit a pool at your individual discretion, however the airline will implement a 90-day “cooling” interval whenever you exit a pool, so you will have to attend earlier than becoming a member of one other one.

While you’re contributing miles to a pool, you have got 24 hours to reverse a transaction. After 24 hours have handed, you can not get the miles you contributed to a pool again.

United additionally acknowledged that pooling miles won’t have an effect on a member’s Premier standing.

redeem United miles

United has retired its award charts and now makes use of dynamic award pricing. Nonetheless, there are methods to maximize the program.

To redeem United miles, go to united.com or the United app. United Airways bank card holders and Premier members can access additional award space on United flights. Should you maintain a United bank card or Premier standing, log in to your MileagePlus account earlier than looking for award house.

United additionally has an possibility referred to as Cash + Miles, which presents a hard and fast charge of 1 cent per mile. This selection is accessible on the ultimate fee display for eligible tickets. When attainable, avoid this selection since it is a suboptimal use of miles.

Finest makes use of of United miles

You’ll be able to seek advice from our guide on maximizing the MileagePlus program, however listed here are a couple of of our favourite makes use of of United miles.

You may discover award choices beginning round 5,000 miles on high-frequency, short-haul flights. Though these flights nearly all the time price lower than $100, these awards may be a good way to maintain your journey plans versatile since United not prices redeposit charges whenever you cancel award flights.

For one thing a little bit extra advanced, the United Excursionist Perk is a good way to maximise your United miles when reserving multicity journeys. Principally, the primary flight inside a area totally different out of your departure and vacation spot areas is free in the identical class because the previous flight. For instance, in the event you e book a round-trip business-class flight from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and again, you may also get a “free” business-class flight from London to a different European airport, similar to Brussels Airport (BRU).

This lets you fly to London, then Brussels after which again to Newark for a similar variety of miles as a easy round-trip flight between Newark and London.

To e book, use the “Multi-city” search characteristic on united.com. In our expertise, a lot of United’s cellphone brokers aren’t acquainted with this lesser-known United sweet spot.

In addition to the Excursionist Perk, you’ll be able to maximize United miles by reserving a transcontinental flight for 15,000 miles for economic system class and 30,000 miles for enterprise class when there’s saver award house. You may also take into account protecting a wholesome “simply in case” sum of miles in your MileagePlus account for last-minute conditions.

Lastly, you’ll be able to think about using United miles to fly on high companion carriers — together with merchandise like ANA’s “The Room” business class or EVA Air’s business class, which provide high-end facilities however are available with excessive award charges.

Associated: Feels like first class: Flying ANA The Room business class from LA-Tokyo

Different makes use of of United miles

You need to use United miles for United Club memberships, inflight Wi-Fi purchases, TSA PreCheck fees, automobile leases and lodge stays. You can even transfer United miles to Marriott Bonvoy. Nevertheless, it is not advisable, as the worth you will get from these redemptions is sort of all the time decrease than the worth of MileagePlus miles for flight redemptions.

The identical may be stated for redeeming your miles for reward playing cards by the MileagePlus X app, retail merchandise, Broadway tickets, newspapers and magazines. These choices usually present lower than 0.5 cents per mile.