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United Airlines remains a popular airline among award travelers, despite several devaluations over the years. The ability to book awards on United as well as plenty of Star Alliance partners make it a program not to be ignored. Plus, its generous change and cancellation policy make it perfect when you need flexibility.
Despite removing all award chart information from the web, United still has a rough award chart for award flights. And through this unadvertised award chart, United MileagePlus still offers plenty of value. Here we highlight some of the routes that stand out for United Airlines MileagePlus flight redemptions.
Page Contents
- Domestic U.S. Flights From 5,000 Miles
- U.S. East Coast to Europe From 24,600 in Economy
- Star Alliance Partner to Europe (44K Economy/88K Business)
- U.S. to Africa From 80,000 Miles in Business Class
- Flying Around Oceania Starting at 12,500 Miles
- United States to the Caribbean (6.8K/35K Economy/Business)
- Intra-Japan From 7,000 Miles
- Earning United MileagePlus Miles
- Final Thoughts
Domestic U.S. Flights From 5,000 Miles
Short, inexpensive flights within the United States can be cheap and easy to book through United.
They have a sweet spot with both low mileage cost and minimal taxes and fees — charging as few as 5,000 miles each way plus the government-mandated $5.60 taxes and fees. This San Francisco (SFO) to Ontario (ONT) flight is one such example.
For flights like this, make sure to check the cash rate as well. Even if the miles cost is very low, the cash price might be such that it makes sense to pay cash out of pocket. For this example, flying basic economy is $39 and economy only $69.
These United flights can also be booked through other programs, such as Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan. Unfortunately, those programs are now usually charging around 10,000 miles plus higher fees than United. So unless you are taking advantage of a transfer bonus, booking these short-haul flights may be best when booking directly with United.
U.S. East Coast to Europe From 24,600 in Economy
You can find non-stop award flights from the East coast — hubs like Newark (EWR) and Boston (BOS) — to Western European cities starting at 24,600 miles in economy and 50,000 in premium economy. Destinations such as Iceland (KEF), Madrid (MAD), Dublin (DUB), London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Rome (FCO) are achievable at this rate.
Star Alliance Partner to Europe (44K Economy/88K Business)
Not only can flying United metal to Europe be a sweet spot, but there are decent prices traveling on Star Alliance partners as well. For example, this Los Angeles (LAX) to Zurich (ZRH) flight on SWISS Airlines costs 44,000 miles in economy and 88,000 miles in business class. Recently, those prices dropped to 40,000 and 80,000 miles respectively, but that was a temporary award rate cut. You can see from the screenshot below, however, that those lower prices are available for United cardholders.
Although you can find the same Star Alliance partners for fewer miles through programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca Lifemiles, be aware that the fees may be higher and the cancellation terms more punitive.
U.S. to Africa From 80,000 Miles in Business Class
Africa can be notoriously difficult to get to using points and miles, but United comes to the rescue here. You can fly on United's own planes to destinations like Marrakesh (RAK) for 80,000 miles in business class.
Thanks to their Star Alliance partner Ethiopian Airlines, there is always decent availability to popular South African cities Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT), among others. These flights come in at 88,000 miles in business class. Just be aware that most 787-8 Dreamliner planes that Ethiopian flies have an older 2-2-2 business class seat configuration.
Just like with North America, specific flights within Africa cost a surprisingly low number of United miles. In several instances, some of the shorter, less expensive flights that include Star Alliance partner hub airports (think Johannesburg or Addis Ababa) start at just 12,500 miles. Taxes and fees on these routes are minimal as well.
Flying Around Oceania Starting at 12,500 Miles
Getting to Australia and New Zealand is an adventure in itself, not to mention once you get there. The sheer size of these Oceanic countries make flying a must.
You can fly United partners Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia to hop within the countries, starting at 12,500 miles in economy.
Plus, you can fly between the two for 17,500 miles like this Auckland (AKL) to Sydney (SYD) flight. This can be a great use of miles for fairly lengthy and expensive flights around the region.
United States to the Caribbean (6.8K/35K Economy/Business)
The islands of the Caribbean offer vacationers countless opportunities for relaxing or thrill-seeking in the sun. Luckily for award travelers, United flies to a wide array of Caribbean destinations. What makes this sweet spot extra sweet is that despite a “standard” saver price of 20,000 United miles for flights between North America and the Caribbean, United's dynamic award prices often result in much lower economy award prices.
For instance, flying between Newark (EWR) and Punta Cana (PUJ) costs as few as 6,800 United miles in economy and 35,000 in business class for certain dates this winter:
Intra-Japan From 7,000 Miles
Visitors to Japan might instantly think of a ride on the bullet train for any travel between big cities in the country. However, the domestic flying experience in Japan is just as seamless and efficient.
United miles allow travelers to fly within Japan for as low as 7,000 miles. Should you want to head north to ski in Hokkaido, this Tokyo (HND) to Sapporo (CTS) flight can get you there.
Shorter flights to and from Tokyo to spots like Osaka (ITM) or Kyoto (KIX) will cost slightly less, at 6,000 miles.
Earning United MileagePlus Miles
Anyone looking to take advantage of United sweet spots will want plenty of United MileagePlus miles.
Earning United miles through United credit cards
Thankfully, earning United miles is almost too easy, courtesy of several co-branded United credit cards and even a new miles-earning United debit card. Sign-up bonuses for United credit cards currently reach as high as 90,000 bonus miles, letting travelers with absolutely no miles build up a balance quickly. Better yet, almost every United card offers MileagePlus members expanded United award availability.
- 2X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 5 miles per $1 spent at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
- 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants
- 2 miles per $1 spent on select streaming services
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- 2x on United® purchases
- 2x on local transit and commuting — including train tickets, taxicabs, mass transit, tolls and ride share services
- 2x at gas stations, restaurants and office supply stores
- 1x on all other purchases
Transferring points from other programs
In addition to United co-branded credit card bonuses, Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer directly to United at a 1:1 rate. That means a hefty stash of Ultimate Rewards points could become a hefty stash of United miles with one immediate transfer.
Pair one of the five Chase cards allowing access to transfer partners with the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees) — which earns 1.5x points or more on all purchases — to expedite earnings of points to transfer to United.
Likewise, Bilt Rewards has added United as a transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio. So whether you are earning Bilt points through rent payments or through the Rakuten shopping portal, this is another easy way to earn United miles.
In the case that a MileagePlus redemption is just out of reach, remember that Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to United at a ratio of 3:1. But when converting at least 60,000 Bonvoy points at once it triggers a 10,000-mile bonus. That means a transfer of 60,000 Bonvoy points turns into a total of 30,000 United miles — an effective 2:1 transfer rate.
In addition to these top transfer options, United MileagePlus members can transfer points from several other programs:
Other ways to earn United miles
Take advantage of the mile-earning potential of the shopping portal, dining programs, and other opportunities to earn United miles. You can also buy United miles. With these, diligent MileagePlus members will rack up miles in no time.
Related: Do United MileagePlus miles expire?
Final Thoughts
As you can see, United should definitely be a program to look at no matter where you are traveling in the world.
Whether short-haul domestic or international flights across the ocean, United miles help travelers see more places using fewer miles. These sweet spots are not limited to a single cabin of travel, either. With economy and business class sweet spots, United miles have a use however you like to fly.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Freedom Unlimited® (Rates & Fees)
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