Editor’s observe: This can be a recurring publish, repeatedly up to date with the most recent info.

Just a few weeks in the past, United massively devalued the MileagePlus program by rising award charges by as much as 122% with out superior discover. MileagePlus additionally makes use of dynamic pricing (versus award charges), giving the airline whole flexibility to regulate award costs.

Nevertheless, this system nonetheless affords wonderful worth to some members since its miles by no means expire, and you should use PlusPoints and miles to verify long-haul Polaris upgrades.

This information will give you all the required info on this system, together with incomes United miles and standing and learn how to maximize your miles for award journey.

An summary of United MileagePlus

With over 100 million members, United MileagePlus is likely one of the largest loyalty packages on the earth.

MileagePlus members can earn miles by flying United and its companions, in addition to by way of non-flight actions like bank card spending, purchasing and eating. You possibly can redeem your miles for award journey on the airline, amongst different choices.

MileagePlus members may also earn United elite standing by assembly Premier qualifying factors (PQPs). Elite standing contains further advantages, akin to upgrades, most popular and Economic system Plus seating, precedence boarding, and free checked baggage. Moreover, United affords varied cobranded bank cards that may assist members earn miles extra shortly and luxuriate in further perks.

Associated: get most worth from the United MileagePlus program

United Airways companions

You possibly can earn and redeem miles with varied worldwide airways by way of United Airways’ membership within the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance. United Premier members can usually get pleasure from perks like lounge entry and further baggage allowance when touring with these companions.

Right here’s a have a look at United’s present Star Alliance companions.

• Aegean Airways.
• Air Canada.
• Air China.
• Air India.
• Air New Zealand.
• ANA (All Nippon Airways).
• Asiana Airways.
• Austrian Airways.
• Avianca.
• Brussels Airways.
• Copa.
• Croatia Airways.
• Egyptair.
• Ethiopian Airways.
• EVA Air.
• Juneyao Airways (a connecting accomplice).
• LOT Polish Airways.
• Lufthansa.
• SAS.
• Shenzhen Airways.
• Singapore Airways.
• South African Airways.
• Swiss.
• TAP Air Portugal.
• Thai.
• THAI Smile (connecting accomplice).
• Turkish Airways.

United additionally companions with a number of airways outdoors of the Star Alliance:

• Aer Lingus.
• Air Dolomiti.
• Airlink.
• Azul.
• Boutique Air.
• Cape Air.
• Edelweiss.
• Emirates.
• Eurowings.
• Eurowings Uncover.
• Hawaiian Airways.
• JSX.
• Olympic Air.
• Silver Airways.
• Virgin Australia.
• Vistara.

Companions can have their very own limitations relating to MileagePlus members — together with relevant bonuses, eligible fare lessons and excluded routes, so be sure you evaluate United’s airline companions web page for full particulars of every one.

Associated: The very best web sites to seek for Star Alliance award availability

United Airways Premier standing

United Airways has 4 ranges of elite standing: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K. There’s additionally an unique World Companies tier, which you’ll solely earn after finishing 4 million lifetime flight miles or receiving an invite.

To earn United Premier standing, it’s essential to earn PQPs or a mixture of Premier qualifying flights (PQFs) and PQPs. You possibly can earn PQFs and PQPs by flying United or its companions. It’s also possible to earn PQPs by spending on most of United’s cobranded bank cards.

That is what it takes to earn United standing in 2023:

United Premier members get pleasure from perks like bonus miles on paid tickets, free checked baggage and complimentary waitlisted upgrades on most United-operated flights.

Greater tier members obtain perks like complimentary Economic system Plus seating, PlusPoints (which can be utilized to verify upgrades), Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite standing and Star Alliance Gold standing, which comes with perks when flying on different Star Alliance carriers.

Associated: What’s United Airways elite standing price?

earn United miles

You possibly can consult with this information for full info on incomes United miles, however listed below are among the hottest methods to spice up your MileagePlus account.

Fly on United Airways

When flying on United-marketed and operated tickets, you earn MileagePlus miles based mostly in your ticket’s value minus taxes slightly than the gap you fly.

Right here’s what number of miles you’ll earn per greenback spent based mostly in your stage of standing:

• Common member: 5 miles.
• Premier Silver: 7 miles.
• Premier Gold: 8 miles.
• Premier Platinum: 9 miles.
• Premier 1K: 11 miles.

For instance, suppose you purchase a one-way United ticket from San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) with a base fare of $210 and $30 in taxes and charges. In that case, you’d earn 1,050 miles as an everyday MileagePlus member however 2,310 miles if you happen to’re a top-tier Premier 1K member.

These incomes charges additionally apply if you happen to e-book United’s fundamental financial system fare class.

Fly accomplice airways

You possibly can earn United MileagePlus miles when flying with United’s companions, however it may be difficult. In case you e-book a accomplice flight by way of United (indicated by a 016 ticket quantity), you’ll earn miles based mostly in your ticket fare and elite standing.

However if you happen to e-book on accomplice ticket inventory, you’ll earn miles based mostly on the size of your flight and fare class. Typically, you may see your fare class when reserving your flight or in your affirmation e mail. Mileage incomes charges fluctuate by airline, so examine your reserving class and use United’s accomplice airline checklist to find out your award miles. As anticipated, premium cabins earn extra miles than financial system tickets, and Premier members are eligible for bonus miles on choose companions.

Associated: Your final information to United Airways companions

Get and use United Airways bank cards

United’s Chase cobranded bank cards are amongst the most well-liked methods to earn MileagePlus miles. Right here’s a have a look at the sign-up bonuses and incomes charges on a few of our favourite United bank cards:

• United℠ Explorer Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 2 miles per greenback on United purchases, eating and direct lodge purchases and 1 mile per greenback elsewhere.
• United Quest℠ Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 500 Premier qualifying factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 3 miles per greenback on United purchases, 2 miles per greenback on eating, journey and choose streaming providers and 1 mile per greenback elsewhere.
• United℠ Enterprise Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 2 miles per greenback on United purchases, fuel stations, eating (together with eligible supply providers), workplace provide shops, native transit and commuting (together with ride-hailing providers, taxicabs, prepare tickets, tolls and mass transit) and 1 mile elsewhere. You’ll additionally earn 5,000 bonus miles on every card anniversary when you’ve each the United Enterprise Card and a private United bank card.
• United Membership℠ Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier qualifying factors (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The cardboard earns 4 miles per greenback spent on purchases with United and a couple of miles per greenback spent on all different journey purchases, eating and eligible meals supply providers. All different purchases earn 1 mile per greenback spent.

United bank cards with an annual charge help you earn 500 PQPs for each $12,000 you spend on the cardboard, however limits apply. For instance, the Explorer Card earns a most of 1,000 PQPs per calendar yr.

Associated: United’s finest saved elite standing secret: earn PQP quicker with accomplice flights

Switch bank card factors from Chase Final Rewards

You possibly can immediately switch Chase Final Rewards factors to United at a 1:1 ratio, which might be an interesting method to immediately improve your MileagePlus steadiness.

TPG values Chase Final Rewards factors at 2 cents apiece, whereas United miles are price 1.1 cents apiece. For that reason, we advocate solely transferring Chase Final Rewards factors to United MileagePlus when you’ve a selected redemption in thoughts. Particularly since there are extra profitable switch companions like World of Hyatt, with factors price 1.7 cents every.

It’s also possible to redeem your Chase factors within the Chase Final Rewards journey portal. Once you do that, you’ll typically earn United miles since your ticket will code as a paid fare.

Extra methods to earn United miles

Like most airways, United has a web based purchasing portal the place you may earn miles in your on-line purchases.

It’s also possible to earn extra miles with the MileagePlus X app by buying choose service provider present playing cards. Collaborating retailers embody main manufacturers like Walmart, Staples and Panera Bread. Major United credit score cardholders additionally earn a 25% bonus on miles earned from these purchases.

In the meantime, MileagePlus Eating awards as much as 5 miles per greenback if you dine at collaborating eating places and use a linked bank card.

Different methods to earn United miles embody shopping for miles, transferring Marriott Bonvoy factors, and reserving resorts, automotive leases and cruises by way of the United journey portal.

Associated: Flights, bank cards and extra: earn miles with the United MileagePlus program

redeem United miles

United has retired its award charts and now makes use of dynamic award pricing. As talked about, United devalued its worldwide redemptions just a few weeks in the past, which led us to drop our valuation from 1.21 cents to 1.1 cents per mile. Nonetheless, there are methods to get maximize this system.

To redeem United miles, go to united.com or the United app. United Airways credit score cardholders and Premier members can entry further award house on United flights. If in case you have a United bank card or standing, log in to your MileagePlus account earlier than looking for award house.

United additionally has an possibility referred to as Cash + Miles, which affords a hard and fast 1-cent per mile fee. This selection is on the market on the ultimate cost display screen for eligible tickets. When doable, avoid this selection because it’s a suboptimal use of miles.

Greatest makes use of of United miles

You possibly can consult with our information on maximizing the MileagePlus program, however listed below are just a few of our favourite makes use of of United miles.

You may discover award choices beginning round 5,000 miles on high-frequency, short-haul flights. Though these flights nearly at all times price lower than $100, these awards might be a good way to maintain your journey plans versatile since United now not fees redeposit charges if you cancel award flights.

For one thing slightly extra advanced, the United Excursionist Perk is a good way to maximise your United miles when reserving multi-city journeys. Principally, the primary flight inside a area totally different out of your departure and vacation spot areas is free, in the identical class because the previous flight. For instance, if you happen to e-book a round-trip business-class flight from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) and again, you may as well get a “free” business-class flight from London to a different European metropolis, like Brussels Airport (BRU).

This lets you fly to London, then Brussels after which again to Newark for a similar variety of miles as a easy round-trip flight between Newark and London

To e-book, use the “multi-city” search characteristic on united.com. In our expertise, lots of United’s telephone brokers aren’t conversant in this lesser-known candy spot.

Apart from the Excursionist Perk, you may maximize United miles by reserving a transcontinental flight for 15,000 miles for financial system class and 30,000 miles for enterprise class when there’s saver award house. You may additionally contemplate protecting a wholesome “simply in case” sum of miles in my MileagePlus account for last-minute conditions. A yr in the past, I used to be touring in Belgium and needed to return instantly to the US as a result of a household emergency. The pressing nature of the scenario meant that I wanted to be on the primary flight that might get me house to San Francisco.

Purchasing on my telephone for a flight again whereas en path to the Brussels airport by taxi, I discovered a United flight in Polaris enterprise class for 62,800 miles connecting by way of Chicago. Miraculously, this flight was scheduled to depart Brussels in two hours and had the soonest arrival in San Francisco. The money value was over $8,000.

Even with the rise in award costs for close-in bookings, this flight was a cut price, and I prevented paying for an costly last-minute paid fare.

Lastly, you may think about using United miles to fly on prime accomplice carriers — together with merchandise like ANA’s “The Room” enterprise class or EVA Air’s enterprise class, which supply high-end facilities however are available with excessive award charges.

Associated: Seems like top notch: Flying ANA The Room enterprise class from LA-Tokyo

Different makes use of of United miles

You should use United miles for United Membership memberships, inflight Wi-Fi purchases, TSA PreCheck charges, automotive leases and lodge stays. It’s also possible to switch United miles to Marriott Bonvoy. Nevertheless, it’s not advisable, as the worth you’ll get from these redemptions is sort of at all times decrease than the worth of MileagePlus miles for flight redemptions.

The identical might be mentioned for redeeming your miles for present playing cards by way of the MileagePlus X app, retail merchandise, Broadway tickets, newspapers and magazines. These choices typically present lower than 0.5 cents per mile.

Associated: These are the world’s finest United Golf equipment

Backside line

In case you’re a frequent United Airways traveler, sticking with the airline’s loyalty program may make sense. By realizing the intricacies of the MileagePlus program, you may get numerous miles and redeem them for prime worth. And if you happen to fly sufficient, you may get pleasure from all of the elite standing perks.