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As of today, September 8, 2025, United MileagePlus members can earn and redeem miles on ITA Airways flights, and vice versa. This is one of many steps in integrating ITA Airways into Star Alliance after the airline left SkyTeam earlier this year.
Here's everything you need to know about the new partnership, including flight options that are already available.
You Can Now Earn and Redeem MileagePlus Miles on ITA Airways Flights
United MileagePlus members will have even more flexibility on how to earn and redeem their miles with the new partnership with ITA Airways. Although ITA is not yet a Star Alliance member, this partnership is great news for frequent flyers.
Earning MileagePlus miles on ITA flights
To earn award miles and Premier qualifying credits (both Premier Qualifying Points and Premier Qualifying Flights) on an ITA Airways flight, you'll need to add your MileagePlus number to your reservation and ensure it is on your boarding pass when you check in.
If you buy your ticket from ITA Airways or a travel agency, you will earn miles based on the distance flown and fare class:
- Business (J, C, E): 200%
- Discount Business (D, I): 150%
- Premium Economy (P, U): 150%
- Discount Premium Economy (A): 100%
- Full-fare Economy (Y, B, M, H, K, V): 100%
- Economy (T, N, S): 75%
- Discount Economy (Q, X, W): 50%
- Deep discount Economy (L, O): 25%
You won't earn any miles if you fly in fare classes R, G, Z, or F.
You can also buy your ticket directly from United, where you will earn based on the fare price and your level of status:
- Member: 5 miles per dollar
- Premier Silver: 7 miles per dollar
- Premier Gold: 8 miles per dollar
- Premier Platinum: 9 miles per dollar
- Premier 1K: 11 miles per dollar
In addition to the opportunity to earn bonus miles, Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K members can access ITA Airways lounges when flying on ITA Airways-operated flights. There are only a handful of these lounges sprinkled throughout Italy, but every new lounge option is helpful.
Redeem MileagePlus miles on ITA flights
You can also redeem your United MileagePlus miles for ITA Airways flights online now. However, this isn't a cost-effective option on select routes.
For instance, this flight from Newark (EWR) to Geneva (GVA) with a layover in Rome (FCO) would cost 70,000 miles, plus $26.70 in taxes and fees, in economy. United operates the first leg, while ITA operates the second leg.
Alternatively, you could fly nonstop on United for just 38,900 miles, plus $5.60 in taxes and fees.
However, ITA Airways-operated flights aren't always more expensive. You can fly from Boston (BOS) to Rome (FCO) with a layover in Zurich (ZRH) for just 88,000 miles in business class. The first segment is operated by SWISS, and the second segment is operated by ITA Airways.
A comparable United-operated flight would cost upwards of 140,000 miles for a business-class seat.
Related: AwardWallet's Roundup of Airline and Hotel Program Sweet Spots
Earn ITA Volare Points on United Flights
You can also opt to book a United-operated flight through ITA Airways to earn Volare points. Here's how many Volare points you'll earn for flights operated by United:
- Business (J, C, D): 200% of miles flown
- Business (Z, P): 150% of miles flown
- Premium Economy (O, A): 150% of miles flown
- Premium Economy (R): 100% of miles flown
- Economy (Y, B, M, E, U, H): 100% of miles flown
- Economy (Q, V, W): 75% of miles flown
- Economy (S, T, L, K): 50% of miles flown
- Economy (G, N): 25% of miles flown
This is largely similar to the distance-based earnings if you book an ITA Airways-operated flight through United. Plus, Volare Premium and Executive members will have access to United Club lounges when flying on United flights.
Unfortunately, if you want to redeem your Volare points for a United flight, you can only do so through the contact center. Hopefully this will change whenever ITA becomes a full-fledged member of the Star Alliance sometime next year.
Final Thoughts
The new partnership between United Airlines and ITA Airways signifies a big step in integrating the Italian airline into the Star Alliance. You'll now have even greater flexibility for earning and redeeming your United miles. If you want to score an affordable business class ticket to Italy, booking an ITA Airways-operated flight through United might be the perfect solution. Only time will tell if there will be even more ways to earn and redeem when ITA joins Star Alliance next year.
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