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The United Airlines MileagePlus program is one of the most popular and easy-to-use frequent flyer programs. There are many ways to earn miles, and finding and booking award flights is pretty straightforward.
Today, we'll go over the basics of how the United award chart works. Then, we'll show you the step-by-step process for finding and booking award flights with United miles. Finally, we will show you how to earn MileagePlus miles.
Page Contents
How Much Do United Award Flights Cost?
United uses a dynamic pricing model, meaning the prices can change from day to day. Take a look at the picture below, and you'll see that a flight from San Francisco to New York costs 15k one day, 19.4k another day, and 27.7k a different day.
This is important to remember when looking to book award flights with United. You can save a lot of miles if you're flexible with your dates! Thankfully, you can view both seven-day and 30-day charts, which will show you the cheapest flight dates.
Extra availability for cardmembers
MileagePlus Premier members and qualified MileagePlus Chase Cardmembers are eligible for exclusive award travel availability. So, those with a United credit card or United elite status get access to extra award seats that aren't available to everyone else.
Partner award rates
When it comes to booking an award flight on a partner airline, prices can be all over the place. It depends on dates, times, connections, which partner airline, and more. To provide some clarity, we have compiled an unofficial United award chart.
How to Book United Award Flights Using Miles
Now it's time to book your United award flight! If you have earned miles directly with United, they're already in your account. If you have earned points through a credit card with flexible points, you should find flights before transferring your points to your United account. We generally do not recommend speculatively transferring points as you can't transfer them back if there's an award devaluation.
To book an award flight, log on to your MileagePlus account. Then, click “book” and fill out the search information. Make sure to select “book with miles.” When you've filled all of that out, click “find flights.”
The next screen shows all of your flight options. At this point, we suggest clicking either the seven-day or 30-day calendar to show the surrounding dates and prices. This is very helpful if you're able to adjust your dates to save some miles. Next, select both your departing and returning flights (if it's a round-trip booking).
After selecting your flights, enter all of your personal information. Make sure that your MileagePlus number is included. You can also include your TSA PreCheck information (if you have it) and any special travel requests.
Finally, you will see a breakdown of the cost and be able to pay for your flight. And when you pay the award taxes and fees, don't forget to use a card offering travel insurance benefits.
How to Earn United MileagePlus Miles
Before you can book United award flights, you need to earn United miles. To do that, ensure you've signed up for a free United MileagePlus account. If you haven't yet, you can do that here. This will be where all your United miles go, so you can use them to book award flights. You can use AwardWallet to track your United account for new miles you earn, bookings you make, and more.
When it comes to earning miles, you have many options. Let's review each one.
United personal credit cards
An easy way to earn United miles is to open one of its co-branded cards from Chase. There are six options total: four personal cards and two business cards. After qualifying spending, each of these cards has a sign-up bonus that can help jumpstart (or boost) your stash of United miles, putting you on your way to booking an award flight.
Related: Which United Credit Card Is Right for You?
The entry-level United Gateway Card earns 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then, a Variable APR of 20.49% - 28.99% will apply). Here's how you'll earn United miles when using this $0-annual fee card:
- 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
The New United℠ Explorer Card is by far the most popular United card — for good reason! You earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. This card's annual fee is $150 ($0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150) and the benefits far outweigh the nominal annual fee.
- First checked bag free for you and a companion
- Two United Club one-time passes each year
- Up to $120 TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, or Global Entry fee application credit
- Earn up to 1,000 Premier Qualifying Points toward United status through credit card spending
Here's how you'll earn miles using the United Explorer Card:
- 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
The mid-tier The New United Quest℠ Card will earn you many miles and more perks — with an annual fee that reflects it. You can earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier Qualifying Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. The annual fee is $350. If you are a frequent United flyer, this card may be a good choice for you due to these perks:
- Two free checked bags for you and a companion
- A $200 United travel credit after account opening and on each account anniversary
- Receive a 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
- Up to $120 TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, or Global Entry fee application credit
- Earn up to 18,000 Premier Qualifying Points through spending
Plus, earn miles on purchases at the following rates:
- 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
The New United Club℠ Card is made for United loyalists. New applicants can earn 90,000 bonus miles bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
This card charges a hefty $695 annual fee, but there is one big benefit that may make it worth it: lounge access! This card comes with an annual subscription to United Club, which is valued at $750. In addition to your United Club subscription, you will get:
- Two free checked bags for you and a companion
- Premier Access travel services such as priority check-in, security screening, plus priority boarding and baggage handling
- Up to $120 TSA PreCheck, NEXUS, or Global Entry fee application credit
- Earn up to 28,000 Premier Qualifying Points through spending
- Automatic IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite status
Earn United miles on purchases at the following rates:
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
United small business credit cards
In addition to the four personal cards above, United also has two business cards.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- 2x miles on United® purchases, dining including eligible delivery services, at gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting.
- 1x mile on all other purchases. Plus, employee cards at no additional cost - miles earned from their purchases accrue in your account so you can earn rewards faster.
- Receive a 5,000-mile "better together" bonus each anniversary when you have both the United℠ Business Card and a personal Chase United® credit card.
- Enjoy a free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
- Receive a $125 United travel credit after making 5 United® flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year with your United℠ Business Card.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 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
The New United℠ Business Card offers the following benefits:
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee
- First checked bag free
- Two United Club one-time passes each year
- 2 miles per $1 spent on United, local transit and commuting and at gas stations, office supply stores and restaurants. Plus, earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Earn up to 4,000 Premier Qualifying Points through spending
United Club℠ Business Card has an annual fee of $695. Like the name says, it comes with lounge access! Benefits include:
- Annual membership to United Club
- 80,000 bonus miles plus 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- Two free checked bags for you and a companion
- Premier Access travel services
- Earn up to 28,000 Premier Qualifying Points through spending
Transferring points to MileagePlus
Another way to earn United miles is to transfer flexible reward points from other programs to United. You have three options for transferring points to United to boost your mileage balance.
Chase Ultimate Rewards
The first is Chase Ultimate Rewards. Because United is one of Chase's transfer partners, you can transfer points from Chase to United at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 1,000 (1,000 Ultimate Rewards equals 1,000 United miles). Several credit cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. However, you'll need one of three cards to access Chase's transfer partners — Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. Transfers are typically immediate.
- Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
- Rates & Fees
- 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year
- 1X point per $1 on all other purchases
Related: How To Transfer Chase Points to United MileagePlus
Bilt Rewards
You can transfer points from Bilt Rewards to United at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 2,000. To earn Bilt Rewards, you need to pay your monthly rent through Bilt or hold The Bilt Mastercard® — or do both. This card has a $0 annual fee (Rates & Fees) and can be used to pay rent with no transaction fees, plus you'll earn 3x on dining and 2x on travel. Just be sure to use the card five times each statement period to be eligible to earn points.
- 3x points on dining
- 2x points on travel
- 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee (up to 100,000 points each calendar year)
- 1x points on other purchases
Marriott Bonvoy
You can also transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to over three dozen airlines, and United may offer the best deal among them. Transfers happen at a 3:1 ratio, plus you'll get 10,000 bonus miles for transferring 60,000 Marriott points. That means you'll end up with 30,000 United miles in the end. It involves an extra step, but any credit card earning Marriott points can effectively earn United miles.
Note that transfers can take up to five days.
- Earn up to 135,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points. Earn 85,000 points after you spend $5,000 and an extra 50,000 points after you spend an additional $2,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Marriott Bonvoy® 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy®.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy® member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- Plan It® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 6X points on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
- 4X points on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per year at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets
- 2X points on all other eligible purchases
Travel on United and Star Alliance partners
Obviously, you can earn United miles when flying with United or one of its Star Alliance partners.
When you book a flight on United, enter your MileagePlus number (the membership number from the free account you've created) during checkout. You will then earn 5x miles for every dollar you spend, not including taxes and fees. If you have any status with United, your earning rate goes up. Here are the current earning rates:
| MileagePlus status | Base miles earned (based on fare) | Premier bonus miles earned (based on fare) | Total miles earned (based on fare) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Member | 5 x fare | - | 5 x fare |
| Premier Silver | 5 x fare | 2 x fare | 7 x fare |
| Premier Gold | 5 x fare | 3 x fare | 8 x fare |
| Premier Platinum | 5 x fare | 4 x fare | 9 x fare |
| Premier 1K | 5 x fare | 6 x fare | 11 x fare |
Additionally, when you fly on a Star Alliance partner, you can enter your United MileagePlus number to earn United miles.
Travel partners
Along with earning miles from flying, you can book rental cars and cruises through United's transportation partners. United partners with more than 25 cruise lines, and you can earn up to 45,000 points on sailings. United also partners with Avis and Budget rental cars, providing up to 1,250 award miles per qualifying rental (depending on your United status). It is important to include your MileagePlus number when booking travel through a travel partner, otherwise you won't earn miles.
United MileagePlus Shopping
Buying something? You can earn miles when you shop through the United MileagePlus Shopping portal.
Click the shopping portal link and sign into your MileagePlus account. Then, search for the store you want to shop at. Once you find the store you want, click on it and go to the store's website to shop like you normally would.
United tracks the purchase, and you will earn miles based on how much you spend. You'll earn different rates at different stores, and rates can change often — 0.5 to 20 miles per $1 spent. Shopping portals like United's are an easy way to earn miles for shopping that you would already be doing.
Related: Beginner's Guide to Shopping Portals
United MileagePlus X app
You can download the MileagePlus X app to use for in-person and online shopping. In the app, you'll essentially buy a gift card to the store you're shopping at, pay with that, and then earn five miles per $1 spent. If you have a United credit card, you'll earn 25% more.
Buy United miles
One final option for earning United miles is to buy them. Occasional United buy miles promotions may let you snag miles at a low rate, but be sure to consider your other options before pulling out your credit card to buy miles.
Bottom Line
Despite several devaluations over the last few years, United miles are relatively easy to come by, and it's easy to book award flights with the MileagePlus program. Additionally, there are a ton of partner airlines that help make booking award travel an easy and affordable option to countless destinations.
What's your favorite award flight you've booked with United miles? Let us know in the comments.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The New United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), and Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees)
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