United’s MileagePlus program has made some current modifications, resembling devaluing first-class accomplice redemptions in 2024 and overhauling its cobranded bank cards earlier this yr. Nonetheless, since United miles by no means expire, PlusPoints and miles can be utilized to substantiate long-haul Polaris upgrades and MileagePlus now permits you to pool miles, this system nonetheless has many vibrant spots.
This information will offer you all the mandatory info on this system, together with methods to earn United miles and standing and methods to maximize your miles for award journey.
Associated: Finest frequent flyer applications for US vacationers
United MileagePlus overview
With over 100 million members, United MileagePlus is likely one of the largest loyalty applications on the earth.
MileagePlus members can earn miles by flying United and its companions, in addition to by spending on their bank cards, buying and eating. You may redeem your miles for award journey on the airline in addition to its Star Alliance companions.
MileagePlus members can even earn United elite standing by assembly a sure threshold of Premier qualifying factors. Elite standing consists of further advantages, resembling upgrades, most well-liked and Economic system Plus seating, precedence boarding and free checked baggage. Moreover, United gives numerous cobranded bank cards that may assist members earn miles extra rapidly and luxuriate in further perks.
Associated: The way to get most worth from the United MileagePlus program
United Airways companions
You may earn and redeem miles with numerous worldwide airways by way of United Airways’ membership in Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. United Premier members can typically get pleasure from perks like lounge entry (relying on standing) and additional baggage allowance when touring with these companions.
This is a take 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 accomplice)
- LOT Polish Airways
- Lufthansa
- 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 Star Alliance:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Dolomiti
- Airlink
- Azul Brazilian Airways
- Cape Air
- Uncover Airways
- Edelweiss
- Emirates
- Eurowings
- FlyDubai
- Hawaiian Airways
- JSX
- Lufthansa Metropolis Airways
- Olympic Air
- Silver Airways
- Virgin Australia
Companions can have their very own limitations concerning MileagePlus members — together with relevant bonuses, eligible fare courses and excluded routes — so you’ll want to evaluation United’s airline companions web page for full particulars of every one.
Associated: The very best web sites to seek for Star Alliance award availability
United Airways Premier standing
MileagePlus has 4 ranges of elite standing: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K. There’s additionally an unique International Providers tier, which you’ll be able to solely earn after finishing 4 million flight miles or receiving a private invitation.
There are two methods to earn United Premier standing: With a mix of Premier qualifying factors and Premier qualifying flights or by incomes PQPs alone. To earn any degree of standing, you need to additionally take a minimum of 4 United or United Specific flights.
You may earn PQFs and PQPs by flying United or its companions. You too can earn PQPs by spending on most of United’s cobranded bank cards.
That is what it takes to qualify for United standing in 2025 (legitimate by way of Jan. 31, 2027):
| Tier | Premier qualifying factors + Premier qualifying flights | Premier qualifying factors solely |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQPs + 15 PQFs | 6,000 PQPs |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQPs + 30 PQFs | 12,000 PQPs |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQPs + 45 PQFs | 18,000 PQPs |
| Premier 1K | 22,000 PQPs + 60 PQFs | 28,000 PQPs |
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.
Greater-tier members have entry to extra invaluable perks like complimentary Economic system Plus seating, PlusPoints (which can be utilized to substantiate upgrades), Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite standing and Star Alliance Gold standing (which offers advantages like lounge entry, precedence boarding, additional baggage and extra while you fly on different Star Alliance carriers).
Associated: United unveils large Premier standing, PlusPoints modifications for 2025
The way to earn United miles
You may check with our information on methods to earn United miles for the whole image, however listed here are a few of 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 (as much as 75,000 miles per ticket) based mostly in your ticket’s value minus taxes and your MileagePlus standing moderately than the gap you fly.
This is what number of miles you will earn per greenback spent based mostly in your degree of standing:
- Basic 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 $200 and $30 in taxes and costs. In that case, you’d earn 1,000 miles as a daily MileagePlus member however 2,200 miles for those who’re a top-tier Premier 1K member.
These incomes charges additionally apply for those who ebook United’s fundamental financial system fare class.
Fly on United accomplice airways
You may earn MileagePlus miles when flying with United’s companions, however it may be difficult. In case you ebook a accomplice flight by way of United (indicated by a 016 ticket quantity), you will earn miles based mostly in your ticket fare and elite standing.
However for those who ebook on accomplice ticket inventory, you will earn miles based mostly on the size of your flight and fare class. Typically, you possibly can see your fare class when reserving your flight or in your affirmation e-mail. Mileage-earning charges range by airline, so examine your reserving class and use United’s accomplice airline checklist to find out your award miles. As anticipated, premium cabin tickets earn extra miles than financial system tickets, and Premier members are eligible for bonus miles on choose companions.
Associated: United’s best-kept elite standing secret: The way to earn PQPs sooner with accomplice flights
Get and use United Airways bank cards
United’s cobranded bank cards issued by Chase are among the many hottest methods to earn MileagePlus miles (and, on some playing cards, PQPs). This is a take a look at the present welcome bonuses on a few of our favorites:
Associated: Why somebody in your loved ones wants a United bank card
Switch bank card factors
There are two transferable currencies that accomplice with United MileagePlus: Chase Final Rewards and Bilt Rewards. You may switch factors from both program to your MileagePlus account at a 1:1 ratio, and transfers normally occur immediately — making this a simple solution to increase your stability for a United redemption.
Associated: The way to switch Chase Final Rewards factors to United
Extra methods to earn United miles
Like most airways, United has a web based buying portal the place you possibly can earn miles on your on-line purchases. The MileagePlus X app offers one other solution to earn bonus miles on on a regular basis purchases, each in-store and on-line.
In the meantime, MileagePlus Eating awards as much as 5 miles per greenback while you dine at taking part eating places and use a linked bank card.
Different methods to earn United miles embrace shopping for miles and transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors, in addition to reserving accommodations, automotive leases and cruises by way of the United journey portal.
Associated: Earn MileagePlus miles with United’s airline, resort and bank card companions
United Miles pooling
In 2024, United introduced the addition of miles pooling, which is able to permit MileagePlus members of all ages to share and redeem miles in a single account.
That is particularly helpful for households. Since there is no such thing as a age restriction on becoming a member of MileagePlus, children can earn miles and pool them with their mother and father’ miles towards a bigger redemption. A pool can have as much as 5 members. You may select what number of of your miles to place in a pool, and there’s no restrict to what number of miles you possibly can contribute.
To get began pooling, you should be a minimum of 18 years outdated to create a pool and change into the “pool chief.” You will then have the facility so as to add different members and determine which members have redemption privileges.
There are just a few stipulations. While you’re contributing miles to a pool, you’ve got 24 hours to reverse a transaction, after which you can’t get your pooled miles again. You too can solely function in a single pool at a time. In case you exit a pool, there is a 90-day “cooling” interval earlier than you possibly can be part of one other pool or earlier than a brand new member can be part of your outdated pool.
Lastly, you can’t pool Premier qualifying factors, and pooling miles doesn’t have an effect on your Premier standing.
Associated: Airways that permit households to pool miles
The way to redeem United miles
United has retired its award charts and now makes use of dynamic award pricing. Nonetheless, there are methods to maximise this system.
Typically, you will get essentially the most worth out of your miles while you redeem them for flights, which is straightforward to do on United’s web site or app. United bank card holders and Premier members can entry further award house on United flights, so you’ll want to log into your MileagePlus account earlier than trying to find award flights for those who fall into these classes.
United additionally has a fee possibility referred to as Cash + Miles. Nonetheless, we do not suggest this as a result of it gives a set price of 1 cent per mile — properly beneath our April 2025 valuation of 1.35 cents for United miles.
The identical goes for many different methods to redeem United miles, resembling with United Membership memberships, inflight Wi-Fi purchases, TSA PreCheck charges, automotive leases, resort stays, retail merchandise and present playing cards. The worth you will get from these redemptions is nearly at all times considerably decrease than what you will get on an award ticket.
Associated: The way to change your undesirable present playing cards for United miles
Finest makes use of of United miles
You would possibly discover award choices beginning round 5,000 miles on high-frequency, short-haul flights. Though these flights nearly at all times price lower than $100, these awards may be a good way to maintain your journey plans versatile since United not fees redeposit charges while you cancel award flights.
You too can discover transcontinental flights beginning at 15,000 miles in financial system class or 30,000 miles in enterprise class when there’s saver award house. You would possibly take into account retaining a wholesome “simply in case” stash of miles in your MileagePlus account for last-minute conditions.
For one thing a bit of extra advanced, the United Excursionist Perk is a good way to maximise your United miles when reserving multicity journeys. Mainly, the primary flight inside a area completely different out of your departure and vacation spot area is free in the identical class because the previous flight. For instance, for those who ebook a round-trip business-class flight from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and again, you can too get a “free” business-class flight from London to a different European airport, resembling Brussels Airport (BRU).
Lastly, you possibly can think about using United miles to fly on prime accomplice carriers — together with these with merchandise like ANA’s “The Room” enterprise class or EVA Air’s enterprise class, which provide high-end facilities however include excessive award charges.
Associated: Wonderful first-class seats you possibly can ebook with factors and miles
Backside line
Since United has a large community — and provides new routes ceaselessly — it is easy to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles on flights. In case you dwell close to a United hub or wish to benefit from the perks of elite standing, sticking with the MileagePlus loyalty program may make sense. Even for those who do not fly United fairly often or do not care about elite standing, you should still discover it helpful to switch miles from this system’s bank card switch companions.
Whichever kind of United flyer you’re, understanding the intricacies of the MileagePlus program may be rewarding.
