United MileagePlus Guide: Earning and Redeeming Miles, United Partners, and Getting Premier Status

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Despite changes and devaluations in the past few years, United Airlines MileagePlus remains one of the most accessible and easy-to-use frequent-flyer programs.

United overhauled its system for earning Premier elite status in 2019, and more changes are coming in 2027. Award pricing has also undergone significant changes. United has increased MileagePlus award rates on its partner airlines several times, and we've also seen an increased range of dynamic prices for United awards. Despite these changes, though, MileagePlus still offers value.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to earn United MileagePlus miles, the best ways to redeem them, and how to make the most of MileagePlus Premier elite status.

Why Join United MileagePlus?

United MileagePlus members can earn frequent flyer miles by flying with United and its extensive network of partner airlines. Even if United isn’t your favorite airline, it offers a plethora of options for redeeming your miles, and it's a great idea to create a free account to make sure you don’t miss out.

You can create your United MileagePlus account using this link. Once you've signed up, you can add it to AwardWallet to help keep track of your miles. Although United doesn't allow AwardWallet to check your balance automatically through its website, you can track your account by connecting your email, forwarding United emails, or updating your balance manually.

Don't have an AwardWallet account yet? Sign up for free and track unlimited rewards programs and travel plans.

Related: How To Track Delta, Southwest, and United Accounts in AwardWallet

MileagePlus Partner Airlines and Destinations

United is one of the biggest U.S. airlines with service to nearly 250 domestic destinations. Hub airports include Chicago (ORD), Newark (EWR), Houston (IAH), Washington D.C. (IAD), Denver (DEN), San Francisco (SFO), and Los Angeles (LAX).

But perhaps the best feature of MileagePlus is its extensive international route network. United is a founding member of Star Alliance — the largest airline alliance with over 20 member airlines. United also has a fantastic array of non-alliance partners, making MileagePlus one of the most versatile currencies when it comes to redeeming flight awards.

Star Alliance partners

As a Star Alliance member, you can book flights on United's website with partners, including:

Independent partners

In addition to its Star Alliance partners, MileagePlus partners with more than a dozen airlines. This means you have more than 40 airline options when you go to redeem your United miles!

Keep in mind that earning and redemption options vary by partner, so not every partnership works the same way.

Credit: Adam Khan/Unsplash

Check out our guide on United award travel rules for a complete list of MileagePlus partners.

How To Earn United Miles

Years ago, the primary way to earn United MileagePlus miles was by flying. These days, you can find numerous ways to accrue miles without spending time on airplanes.

Some of the key ways to build your miles balance include earning with a United credit card, transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards, and making purchases with United’s shopping, dining, and travel partners.

Related: Do United Airlines Miles Expire?

Earn MileagePlus miles with a United credit card

Signing up for a Chase United credit card is one of the easiest ways to build up a significant MileagePlus balance. United Airlines partners with Chase in the U.S. and offers several co-branded cards for personal and business use, ranging from a no-annual-fee option to premium cards with United Club access.

These credit cards come with lucrative sign-up bonuses. Depending on the current offer, you could earn tens of thousands of bonus miles after meeting the spending requirements.

Although other rewards cards may offer a better return on everyday spending, United cards can be worth keeping for their travel benefits. Even if you only fly United a few times per year, perks like free checked bags can help offset the annual fee.

Related: United Airlines Credit Cards: Best-Ever Offers and When You Should Apply

Here are the United cards that are currently accepting new applications:

United℠ Explorer Card

Apply Now

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities.

United℠ Explorer Card

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities.

Annual Fee:$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150

Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

The United℠ Explorer Card is Chase's mid-tier United card, providing an excellent mix of functional benefits and value. Notable perks include a credit of up to $120 every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^®, or NEXUS fees​​, priority boarding​​, and a free first checked bag for the cardmember and a traveling companion on the same reservation, offering up to $200 in savings. Additionally, cardholders receive 25% back on inflight purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights​​, and two one-time United Club℠ passes annually​​.

• Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
• 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, Group 2 priority boarding on United® flights.
• 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
• Over $500 in partner credits each year
• Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

• Earn at least 9X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
• 3X miles on all other eligible United purchases
• 2X miles on dining and direct hotel stays
• 1X on all other purchases

The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:

• 6x miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
• 3x miles on United purchases with the United℠ Explorer Card

The United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees) is the most popular, arguably providing the best value for your money. It has a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 annual fee.

Some of its standout benefits include:

• Free first checked bag on United flights — up to $200 savings per round trip
• Two United Club one-time passes per year
• Earn up to 1,000 Premier qualifying points each year through card spending

United Quest℠ Card

Apply Now

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities and 500 PQP after first purchase.

United Quest℠ Card

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities and 500 PQP after first purchase.

Annual Fee:$350

Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

The United Quest Card offers a great mix of benefits that should easily cover the cost of its annual fee over the long term. Unique perks include a $200 United travel credit, annual 10,000-mile award flight discount, 2 free checked bags, and priority boarding.

• Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities and 500 PQP after first purchase
• 10x total miles on eligible United flights and 4x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
• 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each year, awarded within 8 weeks of February 1, starting in the calendar year following your account open date.
• Free first and second checked bags--a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply)
• Receive a $200 United® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
• Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

• Earn at least 10X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
• 5X miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
• 4X miles on eligible United purchases
• 2X miles on all other travel, select streaming services and dining
• 1X on all other purchases

The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:

• 6X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
• 4X miles on entire United purchases with the United Quest℠ Card

If you are chasing elite-level United benefits without a premium price tag, the United Quest Card (Rates & Fees) strikes the perfect balance between utility, luxury, and affordability. The annual fee is $350.

The card features some standout benefits:

• $200 United travel credit
• 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
• Earn up to 18,000 Premier qualifying points each year through card spending

United Club℠ Card

Apply Now

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities.

United Club℠ Card

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities.

Annual Fee:$695

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The United Club is the top-tier United co-brand card, and offers some great perks like United Club℠ membership, priority check-in, security screening (where available), boarding and baggage handling privileges. If your not an elite, holding this card means you'll be treated like one of United's most loyal and valuable customers. If you already hold MileagePlus Premier status, the card also grants access to Complementary Premier Upgrades on United flights.

• Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles
• 11x total miles on eligible United flights and 5x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
• 2x miles on dining and all other travel
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• Unlimited United Club℠ access for you and a guest - a $750+ value per year
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services.
• Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts annually
• Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

• Earn at least 11X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
• 5X miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
• 5X miles on eligible United purchases
• 2X miles on dining and all other travel
• 1X on all other purchases

The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:

• 6X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
• 5X miles on entire United purchases with the United Club℠ Card

The United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees) comes with the highest price tag, but it also delivers elite perks for the most frequent of travelers. Key among them is a United Club membership for as long as you hold the card. The card carries a $695 annual fee.

Here are a few of the best benefits you'll get:

• United Club lounge membership
• 10% United Economy Saver Award discount for awards within the continental U.S. and Canada
• Earn up to 28,000 Premier qualifying points through card spending
• United elites become eligible for upgrades on award tickets

United Gateway℠ Card

Apply Now

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 50,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities. Plus, get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then, a Variable APR of 19.99% - 28.49% will apply)

United Gateway℠ Card

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 50,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities. Plus, get a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases (then, a Variable APR of 19.99% - 28.49% will apply)

Annual Fee:$0

Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

The United Gateway℠ Card is the entry-level United card, offering 2X miles on United purchases (5X total miles on eligible United flights), gas stations, and local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Additionally, it provides 25% back as a statement credit on inflight and Club premium drink purchases with United. This card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, enhancing its value for international travel. Other notable features include Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance.

• Earn up to 50,000 bonus miles
• 0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases & no annual fee.
• 5x total miles on eligible United flights and 2x miles on all other eligible United® purchases
• 2x miles at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
• Earn 2 first standard checked bags after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year
• Save 10% or more on flights booked with miles after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
• Member FDIC

• Earn at least 5X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
• 2X miles on eligible United purchases
• 2X miles on gas stations, local transit and commuting
• 1X on all other purchases

The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:

• 3X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
• 2X miles on entire United purchases with the United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees) card is the no-annual-fee option amongst United cards. Although it doesn't offer as many perks as its higher-priced counterparts, it still has a few useful benefits:

• Earn 2X miles on United purchases, gas, local transit, and commuting
• 25% back on eligible United inflight purchases
• Earn two checked bag certificates after spending $10,000 in a calendar year

United℠ Business Card

Apply Now

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after qualifying activities.

United℠ Business Card

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after qualifying activities.

Annual Fee:$150

Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

Cardholders earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases (8x total miles on eligible United flights), dining, gas stations, office supply stores, and on local transit and commuting, alongside 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases​​. Key benefits include a free first checked bag on United flights, potentially saving up to $200 per roundtrip​​, a $125 United travel credit after qualifying purchases​​, and two one-time United Club℠ passes each year​​. Additional perks include 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases​​, priority boarding on United-operated flights​​, and no foreign transaction fees​​. Plus, if you also hold a personal United credit card, you earn a 5,000-mile anniversary bonus​​.

• Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
• $150 Annual Fee.
• 8x total miles on eligible United flights.
• 2x miles on all other eligible United® purchases. 2x miles on 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 $200 per roundtrip (terms apply), 2 United Club℠ one-time passes per year, and priority boarding privileges.
• Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

• Earn at least 8X total miles on eligible United flights (excluding Basic Economy and other base fares)*
• 2X miles on eligible United purchases
• 2X miles on dining and all other travel
• 1X on all other purchases

The earning for spending on eligible United flights breaks down as follows:

• 6X miles on the primary cardmember’s fare from United as a MileagePlus member
• 2X miles on entire United purchases with the United℠ Business Card

The United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees) is a great option for business owners, echoing many benefits of the United Explorer Card. You can enjoy the following benefits with the card:

• 5,000 bonus miles each year if you also hold a United personal credit card
• $125 United travel credit after making five United flight purchases of $100 or more each calendar year
• Earn up to 4,000 Premier qualifying points through card spending
• United elites become eligible for upgrades on award tickets

United Club℠ Business Card

How to Apply

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after qualifying activities.

United Club℠ Business Card

Welcome Bonus Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after qualifying activities.

Annual Fee:$695

Finally, the United Club℠ Business Card is the premium business option for regular United flyers. It has many of the same benefits as the United Club. The card has a $695 annual fee.

Here's a glimpse into the benefits you'll enjoy:

• Premier Access priority check-in, boarding, and baggage handling
• United Club lounge membership
• Earn up to 28,000 Premier qualifying points each year through card spending
• United elites become eligible for upgrades on award tickets

Transfer flexible rewards to United

United is one of the 14 Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. You can convert Ultimate Rewards points to United miles at a 1:1 ratio in increments of 1,000 miles.

The United co-brand cards are worth getting for their various benefits when flying United and a lucrative sign-up bonus. However, you'll generally earn more miles by using a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards for your everyday spending.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card earns bonus points on travel and dining, which you can transfer to United. You can also combine points earned with eligible no-annual-fee Chase cards to maximize your earnings, as long as you have a card that allows transfers to airline partners.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Apply Now

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

Welcome Bonus Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Annual Fee:$95

Show moreWhy We Like ItHighlightsEarning Rates

Our #1 recommended beginners rewards card featuring a 75,000-point signup bonus after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This card comes with great benefits and earns valuable Ultimate Rewards points.

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes at top brands, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation, and more.
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 - a value of $180.
• Complimentary DashPass membership, a $120 value for 12 months. Enjoy $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders, plus exclusive Chase savings on grocery, everyday essentials, and more. Activate by 12/31/29.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs.
• Member FDIC

• 5X points on Lyft rides through September 2027
• 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 3X points on dining at restaurants worldwide
• 3X points on gas and EV charging
• 3X points on vacation homes at top brands like Airbnb, Vrbo and more
• 3X points on eligible streaming services
• 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points on all other travel
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Chase isn't your only option. If you're a member of Bilt Rewards, you can transfer Bilt Points to United miles at a 1:1 ratio, with a minimum transfer of 1,000 or 2,000 points, depending on your Bilt status.

It's also possible to transfer Marriott Bonvoy points to United MileagePlus. Thanks to the RewardsPlus partnership, Marriott members get an enhanced transfer rate to United. If you transfer 60,000 Bonvoy points, you'll receive a total of 30,000 United miles after a 10,000-mile bonus. That's an appealing 2:1 transfer rate.

Other hotel points programs also transfer to United, but these don't provide much value. You can compare the options in the table below or read our complete guide to United MileagePlus transfer partners.

Related: 22 Different Ways To Redeem Ultimate Rewards

Earn miles on United flights

The number of miles you’ll earn for a United-operated flight is based on your elite status, whether you hold a United credit card, and how much you paid for your ticket. Unlike distance-based programs, United calculates earnings based on the cost of your airfare.

MileagePlus members earn a base rate of 3 United miles for each dollar of airfare, excluding taxes and fees. If you hold United elite status, you'll earn a higher multiplier.

Here are the current earning rates:

Basic economy tickets have separate earning rules. General MileagePlus members without a United credit card or Premier status earn no miles on these tickets.

United caps earnings at 75,000 miles per ticket. Also, United Gateway cardholders must spend at least $10,000 in a calendar year to unlock the higher cardmember earning rates.

This revenue-based earning system works well for shorter, more expensive itineraries. However, it isn't very rewarding if you fly long, inexpensive United flights. If you routinely fly long-haul international economy with other Star Alliance airlines, it might be worth crediting your flights to another program.

Earn miles with MileagePlus partner airlines

For flights ticketed and operated by partner airlines, MileagePlus uses a more traditional, distance-based calculation. The best way to tell if you'll earn miles under the partner rules is to look at your ticket number. United-issued tickets start with “016” and earn miles based on the revenue-based system explained above. Partner-issued tickets (with the exception of JetBlue) earn miles based on distance flown and fare class.

Earning rates vary by airline and fare class. As an example, here is the Lufthansa partner accrual chart:

This chart applies to Lufthansa flights credited to United MileagePlus without a “016” ticket number.

Depending on the fare class, Lufthansa flights can earn up to 200% of the distance flown. However, a few discounted fares earn less miles — or none at all.

Make sure you review the partner earning chart for your ticket's fare class before deciding to credit a flight to United MileagePlus. You can also check WhereToCredit.com, a great resource for estimating earnings across programs based on the airline you're flying and your ticket's fare class.

If you have United elite status, you'll earn even more redeemable award miles. Elites get the following bonus on partner flights:

• Premier Silver: 25%
• Premier Gold: 50%
• Premier Platinum: 75%
• Premier 1K: 100%

Every frequent flyer program has its own earning rules, so you'll want to compare your options before deciding where to credit your flight.

Related: How To Credit Airline Miles to Partner Frequent Flyer Programs

MileagePlus travel partners

Flights aren't the only way to earn United miles on travel. You can build your MileagePlus balance with car rental and other transportation partners. For example, you can earn up to 1,250 miles on qualifying Avis and Budget rentals, while United's Lyft partnership lets members earn up to 4 miles per dollar on eligible rides.

United Cruises offers yet another way to earn miles. Earning rates depend on your cabin type and whether you hold an eligible United credit card.

United Airlines shopping portal

The United Airlines shopping portal is a great way to earn miles on your online purchases. With more than 1,100 participating retailers, you can earn bonus miles on purchases you'd make anyway. United also occasionally offers additional bonuses when you reach certain spending targets.

Use the United MileagePlus shopping portal to earn miles on all your online purchases!

Similarly, the United MileagePlus X app offers bonus miles on in-store purchases. So, if the shopping portal doesn't have what you're looking for, consider downloading this nifty shopping app.

Earn miles through United Airlines Dining

You can also earn United miles through the MileagePlus Dining program. Simply register a credit card and use it at participating restaurants to earn up to 5 miles per dollar spent, depending on your membership level. These miles are earned on top of your regular credit card rewards, making it an easy way to boost your MileagePlus balance.

Screenshot of MileagePlus Dining

Related: Beginner's Guide to Dining Programs

Buy United MileagePlus miles

You can buy United miles if you're hard-pressed to earn enough for an award you want to book. But with so many easy ways to accumulate miles, we generally don't recommend this option — the price rarely makes it worth it.

However, it may sometimes make sense, particularly during a United buy-miles promotion or when you need a few extra miles for a valuable award redemption. Just compare the cost of buying miles against the cash price of your flight before purchasing.

Earn MileagePlus miles with promotions

You can also earn United MileagePlus miles through promotions. One example is United Mile Play, which offers targeted bonuses for completing certain activities, such as booking and taking eligible flights. Some promotions require you to complete specific tasks to earn a predetermined number of miles. Offers vary across accounts, ranging from simple to complex and from a few miles to quite a stash.

Can you transfer MileagePlus miles to other people?

You can transfer your miles to other members, but it's rarely worth it. The cost is $7.50 per 500 miles transferred, plus a processing fee of $30. As an example, if you transfer 60,000 miles — that's enough to book a round-trip ticket between the U.S. and Europe in economy — you'll pay a whopping $930 to transfer the miles! This can easily be more expensive than a cash fare between the two continents.

Fortunately, you can redeem United miles for anyone. There is no reason to transfer miles to your friend to book a ticket in their name. Just book the ticket from your account and enter your friend's name as the passenger.

Another option is United's miles pooling feature, which lets up to five members combine their miles for free. You can use pooled miles to book any flight through MileagePlus, even partner award flights.

Redeeming United MileagePlus Miles

You can redeem MileagePlus miles to fly with United and over 40 partner airlines. The sheer number of partners is a huge reason why United miles are so useful for getting you wherever you want to go. United MileagePlus can get you to nearly every corner of the globe.

You can redeem miles for United incidentals, experiences, and other perks, but you'll get the most value by using them for airfare.

United Polaris business class seat. Credit: Max Prosperi/ AwardWallet

How many United miles do you need for a flight?

Long gone are the days when United published an official award chart listing how many miles you need for flights to each destination. Since 2019, MileagePlus has used a dynamic pricing model, meaning the number of miles required varies based on factors such as travel dates, demand, and availability.

This makes it harder to predict how many miles you'll need for a particular flight, especially since United has increased award rates several times. However, you can still find excellent value on certain itineraries, particularly when your travel dates are flexible.

Our unofficial United MileagePlus award chart can help you get an idea of how many miles you might need for United and partner flights.

Related: How Many Miles Do You Need for a Free Flight?

Finding United MileagePlus awards

The best way to search for award flights with United Airlines and its partners is at United.com. Most partner awards show up in the online search tool, including all Star Alliance partners. You can start your award search from United's home page by checking the “Book with miles” box.

Check the “Book with miles” box to initiate an award search.

After clicking “Find flights,” you'll need to log in to view award options. Otherwise, United will display cash fares instead.

If you want to perform a more complicated search, such as a multi-city ticket, you'll need to use the “advanced search” feature. It lets you include nearby airports, choose specific connection cities, and search by fare class. These filters can help you narrow down hundreds of flight options.

United's award search is among the best of any frequent flyer program. That's why we often recommend using United's website for preliminary research when using other types of Star Alliance miles. It's nearly always my first stop.

Related: The Basics of Booking an Award Flight with United

Mixed-cabin awards

When searching for awards with United miles, you may occasionally see “mixed-cabin” awards displayed. These tickets include some segments booked in a lower class of service. For example, you may find a business-class award with one or more flights in economy. Look for the words “Mixed Cabin” under the award price.

United MileagePlus prices itineraries based on the highest class of service. That means you could pay the same number of miles for an itinerary with an economy connection as you would for one entirely in business class.

Look for the words “Mixed Cabin” to see what awards include segments in a lower class of service

While mixed-cabin awards might sound like a bit of a rip-off, we think it's a great thing to have the option. Sometimes, the first-class cabin on a short connecting domestic flight will be sold out, but you can still book a business-class seat on the longer flight. Living outside a major city, most of my long-haul business-class awards booked through United MileagePlus include a one-hour connecting segment in economy. I'd be extremely frustrated if United didn't offer mixed-cabin awards.

Just check the cabin for each flight before booking. You don't want to pay business-class prices only to discover that your longest flight is actually in economy.

United award availability

Award availability (or award space) refers to the seats on each flight that you can pay for with miles instead of cash. Thanks to dynamic pricing, you can often find an award seat on United-operated flights — it just might not be at a price you can stomach.

United labels its lowest-priced awards as “Saver Awards.” Look for “(X)” fare class in economy and “(I)” fare class in business or first class. If you're searching for United award flights to book with partner miles, you generally need to find Saver space.

United will indicate which are “Saver” awards. Look for (X) class space in economy.

For partner-operated flights, award availability depends on the operating airline. Some partners release ample award seats, while others are much more restrictive. Our guide to finding partner award availability explains how to search for these flights and confirm they're bookable before transferring points.

Related: What Flights Can I Book with Miles?

Do United MileagePlus elites and Chase cardholders get extra award options?

United MileagePlus continues to offer additional award inventory to elite members and eligible United credit cardholders. This includes expanded economy Saver availability (XN) and business-class Saver availability (IN). These seats aren't available to members booking through partner programs such as Air Canada Aeroplan or Avianca LifeMiles.

As of April 2026, eligible United cardholders also receive at least 10% off United-operated award flights, while those with Premier status and an eligible card save at least 15%. United also expanded access to certain Polaris business-class Saver awards that were previously reserved for higher-tier elites.

You'll need to log in to your MileagePlus account to see your available awards and discounts. Our guide to expanded United award availability explains how to find these additional seats.

United's Excursionist Perk

United officially eliminated the United Excursionist Perk in August 2025.

Best ways to use United MileagePlus miles

The sweet spots for United miles typically involve premium cabin awards. However, you can also find good value in economy awards. Domestically, using miles for flights to expensive regional airports is a great strategy. Internationally, business-class awards can offer particularly good value.

Here are some of our favorite United MileagePlus redemption opportunities:

• United States/Canada to Europe for as few as 80,000 miles in United Polaris business class
• United States/Canada to Europe for 88,000 miles in Star Alliance partner business class
• United States/Canada to central and southern Africa in business class for 88,000 miles with partner airlines
• U.S. to South America for 60,000 miles in business class
• Flights within Australia and New Zealand starting at 12,500 miles in economy

Eligible United credit cardholders can receive additional discounts on United-operated award flights.

Related: How To Redeem United Miles for Maximum Value

MileagePlus upgrade awards

In addition to booking standard award tickets, you can use United miles to upgrade a paid ticket to a higher cabin class. Upgrade pricing varies based on factors such as route, demand, and cabin.

You can request an upgrade through United when booking an eligible flight or by accessing an existing reservation. Upgrade awards are subject to availability, and some require a cash co-pay. If your upgrade doesn't clear, your miles and applicable co-pay will be refunded. You cannot upgrade United basic economy tickets or award tickets using this method.

Some upgrade awards require a cash co-pay in addition to the miles you redeem. In many cases, you may find better value redeeming miles for a saver award ticket, rather than buying a cash fare to upgrade with miles. Do the math before you book.

Other ways to redeem United miles

You can redeem United miles for hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, merchandise, gift cards, and experiences. You can even use your miles for a United Club membership, in-flight WiFi, TSA PreCheck, or your United credit card's annual fee.

In general, these redemption options are a bad deal. For example, you can redeem 10,000 miles to apply for TSA PreCheck. The application cost varies but pricing works out to around just .8 cents per mile. Better still, check out our list of rewards cards that will reimburse you for the TSA PreCheck application fee.

Redeeming for a United Club membership is even more awful, giving you around only 0.8 cents per United mile. Even a relatively poor flight redemption should get you at least 1 cent per mile, so we don't recommend redeeming United miles for nonflight awards.

What are United miles worth when booking award flights?

The value of United miles varies depending on how you redeem them. Based on actual AwardWallet users' redemptions, here's what you can expect when booking different types of flights:

• Average value for United miles: 2.16¢
• Short-haul economy and premium economy flights: 1.39¢
• Short-haul business and first class: 2.04¢
• Long-haul economy and premium economy flights: 1.77¢
• Long-haul business and first class: 3.45¢

Long-haul business- and first-class award tickets remain the best way to use your United miles.

How To Earn United Elite Status

United MileagePlus Premier elite status is based primarily on Premier Qualifying Points, which you can earn through eligible flights, award tickets, certain travel purchases, and United credit card spending. In 2026, you can qualify by earning enough PQP alone or by combining PQP with Premier Qualifying Flights.

However, United is eliminating PQFs as a qualification metric in 2027, meaning members will qualify based on PQP alone. You'll still need to fly at least four segments on United or United Express each year to earn Premier status.

MileagePlus elite tiers

MileagePlus has four Premier elite status levels. Here's what you'll need to qualify in 2026:

• Premier Silver: 5,000 PQP plus 15 PQF OR 6,000 PQP
• Premier Gold: 10,000 PQP plus 30 PQF OR 12,000 PQP
• Premier Platinum: 15,000 PQP plus 45 PQF OR 18,000 PQP
• Premier 1K: 22,000 PQP plus 60 PQF OR 28,000 PQP

You'll also need to complete at least four flights on United or United Express to qualify for any Premier tier.

United also awards a limited number of members with Global Services elite status. This invitation-only status comes with exclusive benefits. You need to spend heavily with United Airlines to get an invitation. United doesn't publish specific qualification requirements.

You can earn PQP through spending on several United credit cards. The United Quest Card is one of the best options for earning PQP if you want to go this route, as it lets you earn up to 18,000 PQP annually (1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases), while the United Club℠ Card earns 1 PQP for every $15 spent, up to 28,000 PQP.

United Premier Benefits

Once you reach elite status, you'll have access to benefits that can make your travel experience more enjoyable. Depending on your Premier tier, these include complimentary checked bags, priority boarding, Economy Plus seating, and complimentary upgrades. Higher-tier members also receive PlusPoints, which can be used to request premium cabin upgrades.

United MileagePlus Million Miler

United offers a Million Miler program that rewards loyal MileagePlus members with lifetime Premier Gold elite status after they hit one million miles. You can earn a higher lifetime status as you hit additional million-mile milestones. One fantastic aspect of United's Million Miler program is that you can designate a companion to share your status each year. However, only eligible flight miles on United and United Express count toward these milestones.

Final Thoughts on United MileagePlus

Even with its recent devaluations, United MileagePlus remains one of our favorite frequent flyer programs. United miles are easy to earn with a United credit card, by transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points, or through United's dining, shopping, and travel partners.

When it comes time to redeem, MileagePlus offers extensive global coverage through its network of over 40 airline partners. Award travel is subject to availability, but if you’re willing to invest a little time to learn about this program, you’ll find excellent value.

And while Premier elite status offers valuable perks for frequent flyers, you don't need it to get the most out of MileagePlus. An eligible United credit card can offer many similar benefits, along with additional award discounts and opportunities to earn elite status through spending.

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 Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United Gateway℠ Card (Rates & Fees), United℠ Business Card (Rates & Fees), and Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card (Rates & Fees)