In 2023, United Airlines made significant changes to its MileagePlus program, notably increasing award redemption rates, which led to what many considered a devaluation of the program. These changes, with award rates increasing by up to 122% without prior notice, and the implementation of dynamic pricing, have changed how members perceive value. Dynamic pricing, unlike fixed award charts, gives United the flexibility to adjust award prices based on demand and other factors.
Despite these adjustments, the United MileagePlus program still holds substantial value for its members. Key advantages remain, such as United miles that never expire, the ability to use PlusPoints and miles for confirmed Polaris upgrades on long-haul flights, and the introduction of MileagePlus mile pooling, which allows families and groups to combine their miles.
This guide aims to provide you with a thorough understanding of the United MileagePlus program, focusing especially on United Mileage Partners. We will cover everything from earning United miles and achieving elite status to strategically maximizing your miles for award travel, particularly with partner airlines.
Understanding United MileagePlus: An Overview
With a membership base exceeding 100 million, United MileagePlus stands as one of the world’s premier loyalty programs. It offers numerous avenues for members to accumulate miles, not only through flights with United and its partners but also through everyday activities such as credit card spending, online shopping, and dining programs. These miles can then be redeemed for award travel across United’s extensive network and its partners within the Star Alliance.
Furthermore, MileagePlus provides opportunities to earn United Premier elite status by reaching specific Premier qualifying points thresholds. Elite status unlocks a range of benefits designed to enhance the travel experience, including upgrades, preferred and Economy Plus seating, priority boarding, and complimentary checked baggage allowances. To expedite mile accumulation and gain access to additional travel perks, United also offers a variety of co-branded credit cards.
Related: Maximizing Your United MileagePlus Miles: A Guide to Getting the Most Value
Exploring United Airlines Partners: Expanding Your MileagePlus Horizons
United Airlines’ membership in the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, significantly broadens the scope for earning and redeeming miles with numerous international carriers. This network of united mileage partners allows MileagePlus members to access a global range of destinations and flight options. For United Premier members, traveling with these partners often comes with added benefits such as lounge access and increased baggage allowances, enhancing the travel experience beyond just mileage accrual.
Below is a list of United’s current Star Alliance partners, each offering opportunities to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles:
- 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 Airways
- Juneyao Airlines (connecting partner)
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines
In addition to the Star Alliance, United also partners with several airlines outside of this alliance, further expanding your options for earning and using miles with united mileage partners:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Dolomiti
- Airlink
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Boutique Air
- Cape Air
- Discover Airlines
- Edelweiss Air
- Emirates
- Eurowings
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JSX
- Olympic Air
- Silver Airways
- Virgin Australia
- Vistara
It’s important to note that partnerships can have specific terms and conditions for MileagePlus members. These may include variations in bonus mile eligibility, applicable fare classes, and route exclusions. Therefore, it’s always recommended to consult United’s airline partners page for the most detailed and up-to-date information on each partnership.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Searching for Star Alliance Award Availability Online
United Airlines Premier Status: Elevating Your Travel Experience with Partners
United Airlines offers four published tiers of elite status: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K. An even more exclusive tier, Global Services, is also available, obtainable through invitation only or by accumulating 4 million flight miles.
Qualifying for United Premier status necessitates flying at least four segments on United or United Express, along with earning either Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) or a combination of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and PQPs. Importantly, PQFs and PQPs can be accrued not only on United flights but also when flying with united mileage partners. Furthermore, PQPs can be earned through spending on most United co-branded credit cards.
Here are the qualification requirements for United Premier status in 2025:
| Tier | Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) + Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) | Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) Only |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 4,000 PQPs + 12 PQFs | 5,000 PQPs |
| Premier Gold | 8,000 PQPs + 24 PQFs | 10,000 PQPs |
| Premier Platinum | 12,000 PQPs + 36 PQFs | 15,000 PQPs |
| Premier 1K | 18,000 PQPs + 54 PQFs | 24,000 PQPs |
United Premier members enjoy a variety of perks, including bonus miles on paid tickets, free checked bags, and complimentary waitlisted upgrades on most United-operated flights. Higher tiers receive enhanced benefits such as complimentary Economy Plus seating, PlusPoints for confirmed upgrades, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, and Star Alliance Gold status. Star Alliance Gold status is particularly valuable when flying with united mileage partners, offering benefits like lounge access worldwide, priority check-in, and extra baggage allowance.
Related: Understanding United Premier Status: Benefits and How to Earn It
Maximizing Mile Earnings with United and its Partners
For a comprehensive guide, refer to our dedicated article on how to earn United miles. However, here are some key strategies to boost your MileagePlus balance, particularly focusing on how united mileage partners play a role.
Flying United Airlines
When you fly on tickets marketed and operated by United, you earn MileagePlus miles based on the ticket price (excluding taxes) and your MileagePlus status, rather than the distance flown.
Here’s the earning structure based on your status level:
- General 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
For instance, a United ticket from San Francisco (SFO) to Los Angeles (LAX) with a $210 base fare and $30 in taxes would earn a general member 1,050 miles, while a Premier 1K member would earn 2,310 miles. These rates are consistent even when booking United’s basic economy fares.
Flying with Partner Airlines
Earning United MileagePlus miles by flying with united mileage partners is possible, but the process can be slightly more complex. If you book a partner flight through United (indicated by a 016 ticket number), mile earnings are based on the ticket fare and your elite status, similar to United flights.
However, if you book directly with a partner airline, mileage accrual is typically based on the flight distance and the fare class. Your fare class is usually visible during booking or in your confirmation email. Earning rates differ by partner airline, so it’s crucial to check your booking class and consult United’s partner airline list to determine the exact miles you’ll earn. Premium cabin tickets generally earn more miles than economy tickets, and Premier members may receive bonus miles on select partners.
Related: Your Essential Guide to United Airlines Partners
Leveraging United Airlines Credit Cards
United’s co-branded credit cards, issued by Chase, are a highly effective way to accumulate MileagePlus miles rapidly. These cards offer attractive sign-up bonuses and ongoing earning rates on purchases. Furthermore, spending on these cards can also contribute to earning Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).
United credit cards with an annual fee often offer 1 PQP for every $20 spent (or 1 PQP for every $15 spent with the United Club Infinite Card), subject to annual limits. For example, the United Explorer Card allows you to earn up to 1,000 PQPs per calendar year through card spending.
Related: Unlock Elite Status Faster: United’s Best-Kept Secret with Partner Flights and PQPs
Transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards Points
A valuable option for instantly increasing your MileagePlus balance is to transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United at a 1:1 ratio. This transfer is immediate, providing quick access to more miles for redemption.
The Points Guy values Chase Ultimate Rewards points slightly higher than United miles (2.05 cents per point vs. 1.35 cents per mile). However, the flexibility and immediate transferability make this a useful strategy. You can also redeem Chase points directly for United flights through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, typically earning United miles on these bookings as they are processed as paid fares.
Additional Ways to Earn United Miles
Like most airlines, United operates an online shopping portal where you can earn miles for online purchases made through the portal. The MileagePlus X app offers another earning avenue by providing miles for purchasing gift cards from select merchants, including major retailers and restaurants. United credit card holders often receive bonus miles on these purchases.
MileagePlus Dining allows you to earn up to 5 miles per dollar spent at participating restaurants when you pay with a linked credit card. Other methods to accrue United miles include purchasing miles directly, transferring Marriott Bonvoy points, and booking hotels, car rentals, and cruises through the United travel portal.
Related: Comprehensive Strategies: Earning Miles with the United MileagePlus Program
United MileagePlus Pooling: Sharing Miles within Your Network
In 2024, United introduced MileagePlus pooling, a feature that enables MileagePlus members of all ages to combine and redeem miles from a shared account. This is particularly beneficial for families, allowing miles from children or infrequent travelers to be pooled and used more effectively.
A pool can consist of up to five members, and there’s no limit to the total miles that can be contributed. To create and manage a pool as the “pool leader,” you must be at least 18 years old and can only be part of one pool at a time. While members can join or leave pools as needed, a 90-day “cooling period” is enforced after leaving a pool before joining another. Contributions to a pool can be reversed within 24 hours, but after this period, miles transferred are non-refundable. United has confirmed that mile pooling does not affect individual Premier status qualification. While pooling itself doesn’t directly impact earning with united mileage partners, it enhances the usability of miles earned across a family or group, including those earned from partner flights.
Redeeming United Miles: Smart Strategies for Maximum Value
United has moved away from traditional award charts to dynamic award pricing, making it crucial to understand how to maximize the value of your miles. To redeem United miles, visit united.com or use the United app. United credit cardholders and Premier members gain access to expanded award availability on United flights. Always log into your MileagePlus account before searching for award flights to access these benefits.
United also offers a “Money + Miles” option, providing a fixed value of 1 cent per mile. This option is presented at the final payment stage for eligible tickets. It’s generally advisable to avoid this option as it represents a less optimal use of your miles compared to award flight redemptions.
Top Redemption Options for United Miles
Refer to our guide on maximizing the MileagePlus program for detailed strategies. Here are some of the most effective ways to use your United miles:
Short-haul flights, especially on high-frequency routes, can sometimes be found for as low as 5,000 miles. While these flights may often be under $100 in cash price, award redemptions offer flexibility, especially since United has eliminated redeposit fees for canceled award flights.
The United Excursionist Perk is a powerful tool for maximizing miles on multi-city trips. It essentially offers a free one-way flight within a region different from your origin and destination, in the same class of service as your preceding flight, when booking a round-trip award. For example, a business class round-trip from Newark (EWR) to London (LHR) could include a “free” business class flight from London to another European city like Brussels (BRU). This allows you to visit multiple destinations for the miles of a single round trip. Book these itineraries using the “Multi-city” search tool on united.com.
Transcontinental flights within the U.S., when available as saver awards, can be an excellent value at 15,000 miles in economy or 30,000 miles in business class. Keeping a reserve of miles for last-minute travel needs is also a prudent strategy.
Finally, redeeming United miles for flights on premium united mileage partners can unlock exceptional experiences. Consider flights on partners like ANA, featuring “The Room” business class, or EVA Air, known for its Royal Laurel business class. While award rates may be higher, these redemptions offer access to top-tier amenities and services.
Related: Review: Flying ANA “The Room” Business Class from Los Angeles to Tokyo – A First Class Experience
Other Redemption Options
United miles can also be used for United Club memberships, in-flight Wi-Fi, TSA PreCheck application fees, car rentals, and hotel stays. Transferring United miles to Marriott Bonvoy is also possible, but generally not recommended due to the lower value received compared to flight redemptions. Similarly, redeeming miles for gift cards, retail products, or entertainment through the MileagePlus X app usually offers less than 0.5 cents per mile in value, making these less attractive options.
Bottom Line: Leveraging United MileagePlus and its Partners
For frequent travelers on United Airlines and its partner network, the MileagePlus program remains a valuable asset. Understanding the nuances of the program, especially how to effectively earn and redeem miles with united mileage partners, is key to maximizing its benefits. By strategically utilizing the various earning methods and focusing on high-value redemptions, particularly with partner airlines and through features like the Excursionist Perk, you can derive significant value from your MileagePlus miles. For those who fly often enough to achieve Premier status, the added perks further enhance the travel experience, making loyalty to United MileagePlus a rewarding choice.
