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The Complete Guide to the United MileagePlus Program
Advertiser disclosure


YOU’RE OUR FIRST PRIORITY.
EVERY TIME.

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THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE UNITED MILEAGEPLUS PROGRAM

United is a U.S.-based airline and its MileagePlus loyalty program allows
passengers to earn and redeem miles.
By Gregory Karp 

Gregory Karp
Senior Writer | Credit cards, personal finance, credit scores
Gregory Karp is a former NerdWallet writer and an expert in personal finance and
credit cards. A journalist for more than 30 years, he has been a newspaper
reporter and editor, authored two personal finance books and created the
"Spending Smart" syndicated newspaper column. His awards include national
recognition several times from the Society for Advancing Business Editing and
Writing.
Learn More
,  Elina Geller 

Elina Geller
Lead Writer | Airline miles, hotel points, travel insurance
Elina Geller is a Lead Travel Writer at NerdWallet specializing in airline and
hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. Her passion for travel rewards
began in 2011 when she flew first class to London and Amsterdam on British
Airways and used hotel points to stay in both cities. In 2019, Elina founded
TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Elina's work has been featured
by AwardWallet. She’s a certified public accountant with degrees from the London
School of Economics and Fordham University.
Learn More
and  Sally French 

Sally French
Lead Writer/Spokesperson | Travel, credit cards
Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She
previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its
sibling site, Wirecutter.
Outside of work, she loves fitness, and she competes in both powerlifting and
weightlifting (she can deadlift more than triple bodyweight). Naturally, her
travels always involve a fitness component, including a week of cycling up the
coastline of Vietnam and a camping trip to the Arctic Circle, where she biked
over the sea ice. Other adventures have included hiking 25 miles in one day
through Italy's Cinque Terre and climbing the 1,260 steps to Tiger Cave Temple
in Krabi, Thailand.
She lives in San Francisco.
Learn More
 
Updated Aug 31, 2023 8:15 a.m. PDT
Edited by Meghan Coyle  

Meghan Coyle
Assistant Assigning Editor | Travel rewards, Credit cards
Meghan Coyle started as a web producer and writer at NerdWallet in 2018. She
covers travel rewards, including industry news, airline and hotel loyalty
programs, and how to travel on points. She is based in Los Angeles.
Learn More



Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate
us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product
appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our
opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make
money.



Table of Contents

 * What is United MileagePlus?
 * United Airlines frequent flyer sign-up
 * How much are United miles worth?
 * How to earn United miles
 * How to redeem United miles
 * United elite status
 * United Airlines partners
 * Credit cards that earn United MileagePlus miles
 * Flying on United
 * Need more help deciding?


Show More
MORE LIKE THISTravelAirline Credit Cards

Table of Contents

 * What is United MileagePlus?
 * United Airlines frequent flyer sign-up
 * How much are United miles worth?
 * How to earn United miles
 * How to redeem United miles
 * United elite status
 * United Airlines partners
 * Credit cards that earn United MileagePlus miles
 * Flying on United
 * Need more help deciding?


MORE LIKE THISTravelAirline Credit Cards

United Airlines is among the largest airlines in the U.S. and the world, with
domestic hubs in Chicago, Houston, Newark, Denver, San Francisco,
Washington-Dulles, Los Angeles and Guam. MileagePlus is the name of the
airline’s loyalty program.

The airline operates 4,500 daily flights to more than 300 cities across five
continents. In addition, United has partnerships with 14 airlines and is also a
member of Star Alliance, which has 26 member airlines. These relationships mean
you can earn and redeem miles on 39 airlines, and travel to so many
destinations.

If your home airport is a United stronghold, you’ll want to familiarize yourself
with its frequent flyer program so you can start reaping the benefits of the
airline’s vast reach.

Follow along as we discuss ways to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles, elite
status, the best United credit cards and the airline’s Star Alliance and other
airline partners.


WHAT IS UNITED MILEAGEPLUS?

MileagePlus is United Airlines' frequent flyer loyalty program. When you fly on
paid tickets on United Airlines, its airline partners and its Star Alliance
partners, you can earn MileagePlus miles. You can also earn miles in many other
ways, including using a United credit card, transferring from Chase Ultimate
Rewards, dining, shopping and much more.

Once you’ve accumulated enough miles, you can redeem them for free flights in
first, business class and economy seats on United and its partner airlines. You
can also redeem miles for flight upgrades.

Get up to 80,000 miles with our favorite United cards
Check out our nerdy picks for the best United credit cards and find the right
card for you.
BROWSE CARDS




UNITED AIRLINES FREQUENT FLYER SIGN-UP

Before you can start earning miles with United Airlines, you’ll need to sign up
for a MileagePlus frequent flyer account. It’s free to join, and you can
register for an account here.

Back to top


HOW MUCH ARE UNITED MILES WORTH?

Based on our most recent analysis, NerdWallet values United MileagePlus miles at
1.2 cents apiece. To determine the value of reward miles, we compared cash
prices and reward redemptions for economy round-trip routes across several
destinations and dates. We divided the cost of the cash ticket by the cost of
the reward ticket to determine a “cent per mile” value for each flight, then
averaged this value across several flights and dates. Read more about how we
arrived at these figures.

Therefore, this is a baseline value for United miles, based on real-world data
collected from hundreds of economy routes, not a maximized value. In other
words, you should aim for award redemptions that offer 1.2 cents or more in
value from your United miles.

To determine the value of your miles for specific flights, divide the cash value
of the ticket (less any applicable taxes/fees if you redeem miles) by the number
of miles required for the flight. So if the ticket costs either $100, or 15,000
miles + $10 in taxes/fees, the math would be as follows:

($100 – $10) / 15,000 = 0.006, or 0.6 cent per mile.


UNITED MILEAGEPLUS MILES VALUE OVER TIME

During NerdWallet's last valuation, United MileagePlus miles increased in value
for the first time.


Back to top


UNITED AIRLINES VS. COMPETITORS: HOW IT STACKS UP IN 2023

While United MileagePlus can pay dividends for some travelers, here’s the bad
news: United Airlines came in seventh place out of nine in our most recent
analysis on the best airline loyalty programs. Sure, it beat out notoriously
controversial airlines like budget carriers Spirit and Frontier, but it’s the
worst among the legacy carriers.



United came in last in two categories: basic economy tickets, and flying with
pets. While United’s basic economy tickets are cheap, the extra fees are
abundant, so you might pay just as much as a higher fare class anyway. United
won’t let your pet fly in cargo, and it’s even restrictive (and expensive) if
you bring your furry friend in the main cabin.

It did manage to make the podium for good elite status benefits. If you spend a
lot or fly a lot, United can work for you, but it’s far from the best for
infrequent or budget-conscious travelers.

Here's a closer look at how MileagePlus competed across categories:

 * Last in rewards (mile) value.

 * Second to last in operations.

 * Tied for second in elite status benefits.

 * Tied for third in terms of total fees.

 * United tied for last with Delta when looking closer at the best basic economy
   tickets.

 * Sixth in in-flight experience.

 * Last place in most pet-friendly airlines.



Back to top



HOW TO EARN UNITED MILES

You can earn miles when you fly on United or its partner airlines, by using a
United Airlines credit card and by shopping and dining with partners.

MileagePlus miles can be redeemed for award flights and many other uses, though
none of which are as fruitful.


EARN MILEAGEPLUS MILES WHEN YOU FLY

The miles you'll earn for a flight depend on how much you spent on the ticket
and your status level within the MileagePlus program. All statuses above basic
membership earn mile bonuses.

For example, the basic member rewards rate is 5 miles per dollar. But at Premier
Silver level, you earn a 40% bonus, which turns your rate into 7 miles per
dollar. We'll have more on status levels below — or you can jump ahead to that
part now.

Status level

Miles earned

Status bonus

MileagePlus member (basic)

5 miles per $1 spent.

None.

Premier Silver

7 miles per $1 spent.

40% bonus compared with basic.

Premier Gold

8 miles per $1 spent.

60% bonus compared with basic.

Premier Platinum

9 miles per $1 spent.

80% bonus compared with basic.

Premier 1K

11 miles per $1 spent.

120% bonus compared with basic.

NOTE: You earn miles only on airfare and airline fees. Government-imposed taxes
and fees do not earn miles. Generally, the most you can earn on a ticket is
75,000 miles.

Earning on other airlines: When the ticket is issued by United (ticket number
starting with 016), you’ll earn miles based on the cost of the fare. But if your
ticket is booked through one of United’s partners, miles are awarded based on a
calculation involving the price and class of the ticket and the flight distance.


EARN UNITED MILEAGEPLUS MILES WITH A CREDIT CARD

United Airlines offers co-branded credit cards through Chase. Bonuses between
cards vary, so if you’re considering a credit card, take a look at its bonus
history to take advantage of a high welcome offer.

» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now


NerdWallet rating 
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula
incorporates coverage options, customer experience, customizability, cost and
more.
Apply Now
Read Review


NerdWallet's favorite credit card for the MileagePlus program is the United℠
Explorer Card. It gives you 2 miles per dollar spent at restaurants, on hotel
stays and on purchases from United, and 1 mile per dollar on all other
purchases.

You get a great sign-up bonus to start: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend
$3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. The annual fee
is $0 intro for the first year, then $95 — but the checked bag benefit on this
card can make up for it quickly. The first checked bag is free for you and a
companion traveling on your reservation.

Here are some more resources for shopping United credit cards:

 * The best benefits of United credit cards

 * Is a United credit card worth it?

 * Can you have 2 United credit cards?

» JUMP AHEAD to other credit cards that earn MileagePlus miles


EARN UNITED MILEAGEPLUS MILES THROUGH PARTNERS

 * Hotels. You can earn additional MileagePlus miles at most major hotel chains.
   In some cases, you earn 1 or 2 miles per dollar spent; in others, you earn a
   flat number of miles per stay. See partner hotels and the earning rules here.

 * Dining. Register a credit card with MileagePlus Dining, and every time you
   use that card at a participating restaurant, club or bar, you'll earn up to 5
   miles per dollar spent. There are more than 11,000 participating locations.

 * Auto rentals and other transportation. Hertz-owned rental agencies, including
   Dollar and Thrifty, offer the option to earn MileagePlus miles. See the rules
   here. Amtrak rail service and select shuttles and car services are also
   partners.

 * Shopping. When you shop online through the MileagePlus Shopping mall, you
   earn miles for every dollar you spend at more than 850 retailers.

 * Financial partners. Earn miles when doing business with lending and insurance
   partners, among others. Details here.


BUY UNITED MILES

If you want to buy United miles, you can do so on the MileagePlus website, but
this is generally not a good idea. You'll pay far more than the 1.2 cents per
mile at which NerdWallet values MileagePlus miles. However, if you need a few
thousand miles to top up your account for a valuable award, it could make sense.

» Learn more: How to earn United MileagePlus miles

Back to top



HOW TO REDEEM UNITED MILES

MileagePlus miles are redeemable for flights on United Airlines, on Star
Alliance airlines and on United’s independent airline partners. Star Alliance
has 26 member airlines and United has partnerships with 14 airlines. All of this
means that you can use United miles to fly on 39 airlines, creating so many
opportunities for traveling the world.

🤓Nerdy Tip

MileagePlus members can pay for domestic United flights using a combination of
miles and cash, called Money + Miles. You'll earn miles on the cash portion of
the payment, excluding taxes and fees.

United has a user-friendly search engine, which means that In most cases, you
can redeem miles directly on United’s website. Choose a flight, and you'll see
what the price is in cash as well as miles.


UNITED AWARD TICKETS

United offers several levels of award seats, requiring more miles for more
desirable seats and cabins. Flights can be booked as one-way tickets or round
trips, and there is no benefit of booking a round-trip ticket.

Generally, there are two kinds of award redemptions:

 * Saver Awards seats are cheaper in terms of miles required to book them —
   ranging from 5,000 to 12,500 miles for domestic economy, for example. But
   they are scarcer and might not be available for the flight you want.

 * Everyday Awards seats are more available than Saver Awards seats but require
   more miles. Flyers with elite status, which United calls Premier, and
   eligible holders of MileagePlus credit cards have unrestricted access to book
   seats — even the last seat on the plane — at the Everyday Awards level.

United discontinued its published award chart for flights on Nov. 15, 2019, and
does not have a set amount of miles required for each flight anymore. You can
generally expect that prices that are cheaper with cash will also be cheaper
with miles. It’s always best to compare the cost of each before booking.

Note that if you pay for a flight with miles, you don’t earn frequent-flyer
miles for that flight.

GOOD REDEMPTION OPTIONS

 * Free flights. Because we value MileagePlus miles at an average of 1.2 cents
   each, redemptions that give you at least that much value are a decent option.
   For example, break-even would be a flight that costs $480 or 40,000 miles
   (40,000 miles * .012 per mile). If you can book a $480 flight for 25,000
   miles, that’s a better use of miles (1.9 cents per mile). United has many
   opportunities for sweet spot redemptions.

 * Upgrades. Upgrading your seat to a premium class can be another good use of
   miles because doing so can return value greater than 1.2 cents per mile. Some
   upgrades to business or first class require payment in the form of a cash
   co-pay as well as miles. As with award seats, upgrades are based on one-way
   flights. The price of an upgrade depends on the fare class of your current
   ticket — upgrading from a cheaper fare will generally cost more.

» Learn more: How the United upgrade clearing order works

BAD REDEMPTION OPTIONS

Generally, redemptions at a value lower than 1.2 cents per mile aren’t good.
Other redemption options include United Club membership fees, hotel stays, car
rentals, cruises and gift cards. These options tend to offer a lower value than
1.2 cents per mile, so we recommend avoiding them.

» Learn more: The complete guide to redeeming United Mileageplus miles

Back to top


UNITED ELITE STATUS

Anyone can sign up for the MileagePlus program. It's free to join. With basic
membership, though, pretty much all you get is a frequent-flyer number and an
account where your points accumulate.

The real goodies come when you fly or spend enough to earn United Airlines elite
status. There are four levels of United MileagePlus elite status, which are (in
order from lowest to highest):

 * Silver.

 * Gold.

 * Platinum.

 * 1K.

Here’s what each level entails, and what it takes to get there:


MILEAGEPLUS ELITE LEVELS AND BENEFITS

On United, elite statuses are called Premier levels.

With Premier statuses, you’ll qualify for mileage bonuses, seat upgrades,
priority check-in, complimentary checked baggage, better award-seat
availability, discounted and waived fees and other benefits. And if you get Gold
status or better, you’ll also have lounge access when traveling internationally.
Here’s a full list of all the perks you’ll receive at each level.

Note that some of the most valuable elite status perks are available through
some of the airline’s co-branded credit cards. They include free checked bags,
priority boarding, better access to award seats and even United Club airport
lounge access.

» Learn more: 5 things to know about United Airlines lounges


HOW TO GET ELITE STATUS ON UNITED

To earn MileagePlus Premier elite status, you need to do things the airline
cares about as a business: fly often, fly far and spend money. This will earn
you a combination of Premier qualifying points (PQPs) and Premier qualifying
flights (PQFs).

 * PQPs are earned on the base fare, carrier surcharges, economy plus seats or
   subscriptions, preferred seat purchases, upgrade award co-pays, paid upgrades
   and flights ticketed and operated by Star Alliance partners.

 * A PQF is one flight. Each segment flown (except basic economy) will count as
   one PQF. Flights taken in basic economy will not earn any PQFs.

» Learn more: Guide to United Airlines Premier elite status

You don’t need to track all this math yourself; United does that and displays it
in your online MileagePlus account. But the chart below shows how it works.
United, like other airlines, labels fare classes with letter codes. For example,
F is first class, Y is full-fare economy and N is basic economy. Your fare class
for each flight segment is displayed during booking and when viewing a ticketed
itinerary on united.com.

PQPs and PQFs are all credited to the person flying, not the person paying for
the tickets. And if you used frequent flyer miles to pay for a flight, you won’t
earn any PQPs or PQFs.


UNITED ELITE STATUS REQUIREMENTS

To become an elite member, you need a specific number of PQFs and PQPs or PQPs
only. Here are the requirements to earn status starting in 2023:

Status level

PQF + PQP

PQP only

Premier Silver

12 PQF + 4,000 PQP.

5,000 PQP.

Premier Gold

24 PQF + 8,000 PQP.

10,000 PQP.

Premier Platinum

36 PQF + 12,000 PQP.

15,000 PQP.

Premier 1K

54 PQF + 18,000 PQP.

24,000 PQP.

Since United can’t determine how much money you spend on flights with Star
Alliance partners, if you choose to earn United miles on those flights, PQPs
will be earned based on an airline’s designation as a “Preferred” or
“MileagePlus” partner:



Earning Premier status is based on flying and spending during the previous
calendar year. Once you qualify for a Premier status, it is valid from the date
you qualified through the end of the following program year. So, it could last
more than 12 months. For example, if you qualify for Premier Silver status in
June 2023, you’ll keep your status through Jan. 31, 2025.

🤓Nerdy Tip

You can request a United status match up to United Premier Platinum for 120
days.

Back to top


UNITED AIRLINES PARTNERS

The United Airlines website identifies these as its partner airlines.


STAR ALLIANCE MEMBERS

In general, you can earn MileagePlus miles on flights with Star Alliance
partners and redeem your miles for flights on Star Alliance airlines.

Star Alliance member airlines

 * Aegean Airlines.

 * Air Canada.

 * Air China.

 * Air India.

 * Air New Zealand.

 * All Nippon Airways (ANA).

 * Asiana Airlines.

 * Austrian Airlines.

 * Avianca.

 * Brussels Airlines.

 * Copa Airlines.

 * Croatia Airlines.

 * EgyptAir.

 * Ethiopian Airlines.

 * Eva Air.

 * Lot Polish Airlines.

 * Lufthansa.

 * Scandinavian Airlines.

 * Shenzhen Airlines.

 * Singapore Airlines.

 * South African Airways.

 * Swiss.

 * TAP Air Portugal.

 * Thai.

 * Turkish Airlines.

 * United Airlines.

» Learn more: Plan your next redemption with our airline partner points tool


OTHER PARTNER AIRLINES

On airlines outside the Star Alliance, your ability to earn and/or redeem miles
is more limited. For example, you may be able to earn miles but not redeem them,
or you may be able to redeem only for certain flights.

Other partner airlines

 * Aer Lingus.

 * Aeromar.

 * Air Dolomiti.

 * Airlink.

 * Azul Brazilian Airlines.

 * Boutique Air.

 * Cape Air.

 * Edelweiss.

 * Eurowings.

 * Hawaiian Airlines.

 * JSX.

 * Olympic Air.

 * Silver Airways.

 * Virgin Australia.

 * Vistara.

» Learn more: The guide to United Airlines partners: earning and redeeming miles

Back to top


CREDIT CARDS THAT EARN UNITED MILEAGEPLUS MILES

United Airlines co-branded credit cards are issued by Chase. Cards that earn
MileagePlus miles include:

United Gateway℠ Card

 * 2 miles per dollar on eligible United Airlines purchases, gas, local transit
   and commuting.

 * 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases.

 * Annual fee: $0.

United℠ Explorer Card

 * 2 miles per dollar on eligible United Airlines purchases, hotel stays and at
   restaurants.

 * 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases.

 * Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95.

United Quest℠ Card

 * 3 miles per dollar on eligible United Airlines purchases.

 * 2 miles per dollar on restaurants, select streaming services and all other
   travel.

 * 1 mile per dollar spent on other purchases.

 * Up to $125 in annual United credit.

 * Annual fee: $250.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

 * 4 miles per dollar spent on United purchases.

 * 2 miles per dollar spent on dining and all other travel.

 * 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.

 * United Club membership.

 * Annual fee: $525.

United℠ Business Card

 * Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on restaurants, gas stations, office supplies
   stores, transit and United purchases.

 * Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.

 * Annual fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $99.

United Club℠ Business Card

 * 2 miles per dollar on United ticket purchases.

 * 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase.

 * Annual fee: $450.

Another United co-branded card for consumers, the United℠ TravelBank Card, does
not earn MileagePlus miles.

Back to top


FLYING ON UNITED

The United fare classes are (in order from finest to most basic) are:

 * United First Class.

 * United Polaris.

 * Business.

 * Premium Economy.

 * Economy Plus.

 * Economy.

 * Basic Economy.

All United fare classes (aside from basic economy) allow you to pick your own
seat. Here’s your ultimate guide to selecting seats on United.


UNITED BAG FEES

On United, your free baggage allowance depends on factors including your elite
status, whether you paid with a United credit card, your route and the fare type
you’ve purchased.

Typically, economy class passengers on domestic flights owe $35 (or $30 if
prepaid) for the first checked bag and $45 ($40 if prepaid) for the second
checked bag on domestic flights. Business and first class passengers typically
receive up to two checked bags free of charge.

» Learn more: United Airlines bag fees: How they work and how to avoid them


IF YOU NEED TO CHANGE OR CANCEL A UNITED FLIGHT

If you need to cancel a United flight, terms vary by the type of airfare you
bought. Most United tickets are technically nonrefundable, but there’s an
exception if the cancellation request is made within 24 hours of booking.

Some tickets are refundable, but you may need to pay a cancellation fee.

With most United nonrefundable tickets (except basic economy), there’s also a
silver lining: Typically, you can apply the value of your ticket toward the
price of a new ticket. If you cancel your nonrefundable ticket, you'll receive
United travel funds that you can apply toward a new reservation. Flight credits
expire a year after the original issue date of the ticket, and you can find
travel funds in your United account's Wallet.


IF UNITED CANCELS YOUR FLIGHT (OR JUST DELAYS IT)

If the canceled flight was United’s choice, not yours, you have more options.
You’re entitled to a full refund on flights canceled by United, regardless of
fare class, if you choose to not take another flight when the airline cancels.
If you still need to get to your destination, United will accommodate you on
another departing flight at no additional cost — even if the cash fare is more
expensive.

If you opt not to fly and want a refund, contact United customer service by
calling the airline at 800-864-8331.

If your flight is canceled, you can rebook on United's website or app by
choosing an alternate flight or sometimes another departure or arrival airport
other than your original one.

If your United flight is delayed, you’re not necessarily entitled to
compensation; it depends on the situation. Sometimes United will cover a hotel
room night (or at least a discount). It also doesn’t hurt to ask to join the
standby list of other flights or to switch to another flight to another nearby
airport, as United will typically accommodate such requests for no additional
charge.

Frequently asked questions
How do I redeem my United miles?

The simplest way to redeem United miles is to use them for award flights on
United and its partner airlines. You will need to log in to your United
MileagePlus account to search for available flights. Other ways to use United
miles include: flight upgrades, hotel bookings, shopping and gift cards.

Can United miles be transferred to partner airlines?

No, you cannot transfer your United miles to other airlines. However, you can
use your United miles to book flights on partner and Star Alliance airlines.

How many miles does it take for a free flight on United?

United no longer has an award chart and instead uses dynamic pricing, so the
price of an award ticket fluctuates based on the date of travel and the airline.
To see a list of the lowest award fares, check out United’s flight award deals
to various destinations for as low as 5,000 miles.

Can you use United miles to pay for part of a flight?

Yes, in November 2021, United launched a Money + Miles payment option, giving
flyers the ability to pay for domestic United flights using a combination of
miles and cash. If you’re short on miles when paying for an award ticket, choose
the Money + Miles option when submitting your payment info and designate the
amount of miles you want to use. The remaining amount can be paid for in cash,
which will also earn miles.

When should you use miles instead of paying?

NerdWallet values United miles at 1.2 cents each, which means that 10,000 United
miles are worth $120. Although there is no hard and fast rule that applies in
every instance, generally it makes sense to use your miles when you can extract
a value greater than 1.2 cents from each mile. So, if a flight costs 10,000
miles or $50, you’d be better off paying cash. However, if that same 10,000-mile
flight costs $200, it would be preferable to use your miles.

Is United Mileageplus free?

It's completely free to join United’s MileagePlus loyalty program. All you need
to do is head over to United’s website and sign up for an account.

How do I redeem my United miles?

The simplest way to redeem United miles is to use them for award flights on
United and its partner airlines. You will need to log in to your United
MileagePlus account to search for available flights. Other ways to use United
miles include: flight upgrades, hotel bookings, shopping and gift cards.



Can United miles be transferred to partner airlines?

No, you cannot transfer your United miles to other airlines. However, you can
use your United miles to book flights on partner and Star Alliance airlines.



How many miles does it take for a free flight on United?

United no longer has an award chart and instead uses dynamic pricing, so the
price of an award ticket fluctuates based on the date of travel and the airline.
To see a list of the lowest award fares, check out United’s

flight award deals

to various destinations for as low as 5,000 miles.



Can you use United miles to pay for part of a flight?

Yes, in November 2021, United launched a Money + Miles payment option, giving
flyers the ability to pay for domestic United flights using a combination of
miles and cash. If you’re short on miles when paying for an award ticket, choose
the Money + Miles option when submitting your payment info and designate the
amount of miles you want to use. The remaining amount can be paid for in cash,
which will also earn miles.



When should you use miles instead of paying?

NerdWallet values United miles at

1.2 cents

each, which means that 10,000 United miles are worth $120. Although there is no
hard and fast rule that applies in every instance, generally it makes sense to
use your miles when you can extract a value greater than

1.2 cents

from each mile. So, if a flight costs 10,000 miles or $50, you’d be better off
paying cash. However, if that same 10,000-mile flight costs $200, it would be
preferable to use your miles.



Is United Mileageplus free?

It's completely free to join United’s MileagePlus loyalty program. All you need
to do is head over to

United’s website

and sign up for an account.




NEED MORE HELP DECIDING?

We've covered all the basic details of the United Airlines MileagePlus program.
But if you still aren't sure whether a frequent flyer program is worth the
effort, see our absolute beginner's guide to frequent flyer programs.

Back to top

The information related to the United℠ TravelBank Card and United Club℠ Business
Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by
the issuer of this card.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR REWARDS

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are
our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023, including those best for:

 * Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred®
   Card

 * No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

 * Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

 * Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

 * Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

 * Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

About the authors

Gregory Karp
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Greg Karp is a former NerdWallet writer and an expert in personal finance and
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Elina Geller is a Lead Travel Writer at NerdWallet specializing in airline and
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Sally French
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Sally French is a travel rewards expert who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She
previously wrote about travel and credit cards for The New York Times and its
sibling site, Wirecutter. She also has worked for MarketWatch and The Orange
County Register. She loves fitness, and her travels have included cycling up the
coastline of Vietnam and over the sea ice in the Arctic Circle. Sally studied
journalism at the University of Missouri. Twitter: @SAFmedia. Read more

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On a similar note...


Best Travel Credit Cards

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How Much Are Travel Points and Miles Worth in 2023?

Dive even deeper in Travel


WHAT’S THE VALUE OF UNITED MILES? (CALCULATOR)

by Sam Kemmis


Read more


BEST UNITED AIRLINES CREDIT CARDS

by NerdWallet


Read more


UNITED AIRLINES CHECKED BAG FEES: HOW THEY WORK, HOW TO AVOID THEM

by Ariana Arghandewal, Elina Geller


Read more

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