United MileagePlus

United MileagePlus is the loyalty program of United Airlines, one of the largest and most established global airlines. United operates an expansive route network spanning domestic and international destinations that cover all six inhabited continents from its key hubs: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN), Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

For francophone travelers, United offers flights to Brussels, Dakar, Geneva, Marrakech, Montreal, Nice, Paris, Quebec City, Saint Martin and Tahiti.

While United has devalued its miles by increasing award rates for flights without notice, MileagePlus remains valuable for members thanks to several unique features: United miles never expire, members can use PlusPoints and miles to secure Polaris upgrades on long-haul flights and MileagePlus now allows members to pool miles with others.

The program offers a range of rewards and perks designed to benefit both casual and frequent travelers. Today, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about United MileagePlus.

United MileagePlus overview

What started in 1981, United MileagePlus has grown to one of the largest airline loyalty programs with over 100 million members. It’s free to join and lets members earn miles on United, its Star Alliance partners and various non-flight partners like on rental cars and hotel stays. You can also earn United miles with its Chase cobranded credit cards. You can redeem your miles for a range of rewards, including flights, upgrades, hotel stays and merchandise. 

The program offers tiered Premier elite status, which enhances the travel experience for frequent flyers with benefits like complimentary upgrades, priority boarding and extra baggage allowances.

As a MileagePlus member since 2008, I’ve experienced the program’s benefits both as a general and Premier 1K member. I’ve flown about a million miles with the airline on around 500 flights. I’ve also used the United Club Infinite Card, though I recently switched to the United Quest Card, finding it a better fit for my needs given that I no longer value United Club access as much.

United Airlines partners

As a founding member of Star Alliance, United Airlines lets MileagePlus earn and redeem miles across a broad network of international airlines. To earn miles on a Star Alliance partner, you must travel in an eligible fare class, and to redeem miles on a Star Alliance partner, partner award space must be available. Select Premier members also enjoy benefits such as lounge access and extra baggage allowance when flying with Star Alliance partners.

Here’s a list of United’s current 24 Star Alliance partners:

Juneyao Air is a Star Alliance connecting partner.

United also has some other non-alliance partner airlines:

United Premier status

United Airlines Premier status is the elite tier program for United’s MileagePlus loyalty members. It offers four published levels of elite status. The benefits increase as you progress up the tiers:

To qualify for Premier status, members must earn a combination of Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) within a calendar year. Alternatively, members can qualify by earning a higher number of PQPs alone. Key benefits of Premier status include:

The requirements to earn status for 2026 are:

United recently increased these requirements by around 25%. To qualify, you also must take at least four United or United Express flights.

PQPs are primarily earned through flight spending, while PQFs represent flight segments flown. Some United cobranded credit cards can also help earn PQPs through spending.

Premier status is valid for the remainder of the year in which it’s earned, the entire following year and through January 31 of the year after that. 

If you fly one million miles or more with United, you’ll get Premier status for life.

How to earn United miles

There are numerous ways to earn United MileagePlus miles through flying and non-flying activities. Here are some of the most effective methods:

Fly on United Airlines and partners

The primary way to earn United miles is by flying on United-issued tickets. As a MileagePlus member on most United-issued tickets, you’ll earn:

You earn miles on the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding taxes and fees. You can also earn miles when flying on United’s Star Alliance and other airline partners, though earning rates vary, especially when you buy your ticket from a partner and credit it to United.

Leverage United’s cobranded credit cards

United offers several cobranded credit cards that allow you to earn miles on everyday purchases:

The New United Gateway℠ Credit Card

Take Off with the New United Gateway℠ Card

• No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• 30,000 bonus miles after $1,000 in purchases within 3 months
• 2× miles on United purchases, United Hotels purchases, gas stations, local transit & commuting; 1× mile on all other spend
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months
• 2 free checked bag credits per year after $10,000 in annual spend
• 25% back on United in‑flight food, beverages, Wi‑Fi & Club premium drinks
• Built‑in travel protections including trip cancellation/interruption, rental car coverage & purchase protection

Perfect for flyers who want a no‑cost way to earn United MileagePlus® rewards, this card lets you test an airline card while unlocking free checked bags and in‑flight credits. Manage your miles and perks effortlessly in the Chase Mobile® app, tap to pay with contactless security, and watch your rewards add up on every flight, fill‑up or commute.

Terms apply. Bonus miles, checked bag credits and in‑flight statement credits require qualifying purchases. See full terms at chase.com.

The New United℠ Explorer Card

Unlock Premier United Perks with The New United℠ Explorer Card

• 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 within the first 3 months
• 2X miles per $1 on United purchases, including airfare, baggage fees and seat upgrades
• 2X miles on dining and hotel stays; 1X mile on all other purchases
• $0 intro annual fee for your first year, then $150 thereafter
• First checked bag free for you and one companion on United flights
• Two United Club one‑time passes each year for lounge access
• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit every four years

Whether you fly United frequently or just a few times a year, this card’s robust rewards and travel protections make every trip smoother. Enjoy trip cancellation/interruption insurance, 25% back on in‑flight purchases and a complimentary year of DashPass for DoorDash & Caviar. Manage your account seamlessly in the Chase app and watch your miles add up on every flight, meal and hotel stay.

Terms apply. Bonus miles and benefits require qualifying purchases and enrollment where applicable. See issuer for full details.

The New United Quest℠ Card

Experience Ultimate United Rewards with the United Quest℠ Card

• Earn 70,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $4,000 in purchases within 3 months
• 3X miles on United purchases
• 2X miles on other travel, dining & select streaming services
• 1X mile on all other spending
• $200 annual United flight credit
• 10,000-mile award flight discount each year (plus another 10K after $20K spend)
• Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® credit every four years
• Free first & second checked bags for you and a companion
• Primary rental car coverage
• $350 annual fee; no foreign transaction fees

Designed for frequent United flyers, the United Quest℠ Card unlocks premium perks that more than offset its fee. Earn elevated miles on United flights and everyday essentials, enjoy automatic credits to trim costs, and accelerate toward elite status with PQPs. All managed seamlessly in the United mobile app.

Terms apply. PQP earnings cap applies; credits and perks subject to terms. See Chase for details.

The New United Club℠ Card

Elevate Every Journey with The United Club℠ Infinite Card

• 80,000 bonus miles after $5,000 in purchases within 3 months
• 4X miles per $1 on United purchases
• 2X miles per $1 on dining and all other travel
• 1X mile per $1 on all other purchases
• Complimentary United Club℠ membership for you and eligible guests
• Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion on United flights
• Premier Access℠ airport services, including priority boarding
• Up to $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® credit every four years
• 25% back on in‑flight purchases
• Up to two 10,000‑mile award flight discounts each year
• No foreign transaction fees
• $695 annual fee

Ideal for frequent United flyers, this premium card transforms travel into a seamless experience. Earn accelerated miles on every United purchase and enhance your airport journey with lounge access, priority services and complimentary bags. Annual credits and award discounts help offset the fee, while robust travel protections and intuitive online tools keep you covered and in control. Make every trip more rewarding and comfortable.

Terms apply. Bonus miles, credits and benefits require qualifying purchases. Annual fee applies. See issuer for complete details.

United also offers two business credit cards:

The New United Club℠ Business Card

Elevate Your Business Travels with the United Club℠ Business Card

• 100,000 bonus miles + 2,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months
• 5,000 bonus miles when you add an employee card within 3 months
• 7× total miles on United flights (5× on base fare + 2× on the rest of the ticket)
• 5× miles on hotel stays at Renowned Hotels & Resorts when prepaid via United
• 2× miles on all other eligible United purchases
• 1.5× miles on every other purchase
• Free first and second checked bags on United flights (save up to $360 roundtrip)
• Complimentary United Club℠ membership for you + up to two adult guests (or one adult + children under 21)
• No foreign transaction fees

Perfect for busy executives and entrepreneurs who fly United regularly, this card combines powerful earnings with premium lounge access and travel perks that more than justify the annual fee. Streamline your trips with free checked bags, unlock airport comfort in United and Star Alliance lounges, and accelerate your way to elite status—all while earning miles on every dollar you spend.

Terms apply. Offer and PQP bonus available after $5,000 spend in 3 months; employee card bonus requires addition within 3 months. Annual fee $695. Variable APR 20.49%–28.99%. See issuer terms for full details.

The New United℠ Business Card

Optimize Your United Flying with The New United℠ Business Card

• 100,000 bonus miles + 2,000 Premier Qualifying Points after $5,000 in purchases within 3 months
• 2X miles on United flights, dining (incl. delivery), gas stations, office supplies and local transit
• 1X mile on all other purchases
• Free first checked bag for you and a companion on United flights
• Two United Club one-time passes each year
• Priority boarding for you and your traveling party
• $125 United travel credit after five $100 United flight purchases per calendar year
• Employee cards at no additional cost, with miles pooled into your account
• No foreign transaction fees
• $150 annual fee

Perfect for small‑business owners who fly United often, this card combines generous bonus miles, valuable travel perks and seamless account management via the Chase app. Elevate every trip with complimentary credits, lounge access and priority services tailored to your needs.

Terms apply. Bonus miles and PQP require qualifying spend. Travel credit applies after flight purchases. See full terms for details.

These cards typically offer sign-up bonuses and earn bonus miles on United purchases and other categories.

Transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy

If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Sapphire Reserve or Ink Business Preferred card, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.

Similarly, if you have the Bilt Mastercard^®, you can transfer Bilt Rewards points to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.

And finally, you can convert between 3,000 and 240,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to United MileagePlus miles each day.

For every 3 Marriott points you transfer, you’ll receive 1 United mile. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, you’ll earn a bonus of 10,000 United miles. This means that transferring 120,000 Marriott points to MileagePlus will give you a total of 60,000 United miles.

Shop through MileagePlus Shopping

You can use the United MileagePlus Shopping portal to earn miles on online purchases from hundreds of retailers.

Dine with MileagePlus Dining

You can register credit cards with MileagePlus Dining to automatically earn up to 5 miles per dollar when you dine at participating restaurants. Even if your credit card isn’t a United cobranded credit card, you can miles with MileagePlus Dining.

Book hotels and car rentals

You can also earn miles by booking hotels through United’s hotel partners or renting cars from United’s car rental partners.

Other partnerships

United has partnerships with various companies, including cruise lines, financial services and home services that allow you to earn miles for these purchases or activities.

If you’re looking for another easy way to earn United miles, the MileagePlus X app lets you purchase gift cards from select merchants, including popular brands like Walmart, Staples and Panera Bread. United credit card primary cardholders enjoy an extra 25% bonus on miles earned from these purchases.

Buy or transfer miles

While not always cost-effective, you can purchase United miles directly or transfer them from another member for a fee.

How to redeem United miles

There are many ways to redeem your United miles, but the most valuable way is typically for flights. Here’s how to redeem your United miles:

Fly on United Airlines and its partners

When available, you can redeem miles for:

United uses dynamic pricing for awards, so the miles required can vary based on demand, date and route. Generally, long-haul international flights and premium cabin bookings offer the best value per mile.

For example, a one-way flight from New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) to Chicago O’Hare International Airport is $210.

You can book this same flight for 18,100 miles plus $5.60.

You’d be getting 1.1 cents per mile by using miles on this flight.

Meanwhile, you can book a one-way flight from Naples International Airport (NAP) to Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD) via Zurich Airport (ZRH) on Swiss in business class for $5,056.


You can book this same flight for 88,000 miles plus $5.60.

You’d be getting over 17 cents per mile by using miles on this flight.

When you have flexibility on your travel dates and airports, you’re more likely to find similar high-value redemptions.
Leverage the Excursionist Perk
While not most MileagePlus members will never use the Excursionist Perk, it’s a unique benefit that allows MileagePlus members to add a free one-way flight within a multi-city award itinerary. 

Here are the key points about the Excursionist Perk:

For example, you could book a round-trip from the US to Europe, and add a free one-way flight within Europe (e.g., London to Brussels) as your Excursionist Perk.

This perk can provide significant value, especially when used creatively. It essentially allows you to add an extra destination to your trip without spending additional miles.

Watch for promotions

United occasionally offers discounted award flights. Keep an eye out for these deals, which can offer significant savings on mile redemptions. Historically, these promotions have only been on United metal in economy class.

For example, United normally charges at least 55,000 miles one-way on flights between the continental United States and Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). In August 2024, the airline briefly offered a promotional price of 40,000 miles for primary cobranded card members and 45,000 miles for other members.

Pool your miles

In March 2024, United Airlines introduced a new feature allowing MileagePlus members to pool their miles with friends and family.

Here’s how it works:

Some of the benefits include:

And here are some rules to keep in mind:

The pool leader creates and manages the pool through their United account, but members can contribute miles at any time.

Leverage expanded award space

Primary cardholders of the United Explorer Card, United Business Card, United Quest Card, United Club Infinite Card and United Club Business Card have access to expanded economy-class saver awards on United flights.

United Premier Silver and Gold members also enjoy the same expanded economy-class saver United metal awards. Premier Platinum, 1K, and Global Services members, however, have the added benefit of expanded business- and first-class United metal saver awards.

To see expanded award availability, be sure to sign into your MileagePlus account before searching.

Book last-minute trips

United doesn’t charge close-in booking fees for award tickets, so redeeming miles can be a good option for last-minute travel when cash prices are high.

Other ways to redeem United miles

You can use your miles to purchase seat upgrades on select tickets, but since United often charges steep copays for upgrades, it’s usually a better value to redeem your miles for a premium cabin seat instead.

Additionally, United offers a variety of non-flight redemption options, including hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, gift cards, experiences, charitable donations, magazine subscriptions, and United Club memberships. While these provide flexibility, they typically offer less than 1 cent per mile in value. As a result, redeeming your miles for flights is generally the best choice.

Just remember to compare the cash price to the miles required. Aim for redemptions that provide at least 1.3 cents per mile, which is the average valuation for United miles according to points and miles experts. But ultimately, the best redemption is one that aligns with your travel goals and preferences.

Do United miles expire?

United Airlines miles do not expire, which is a significant benefit for MileagePlus members. United removed its expiration policy in August 2019.

Bottom line

With plenty of ways to earn and redeem, the United MileagePlus program provides no shortage of ways to maximize your travel. Its intricacies like the Star Alliance network, Premier status benefits and unique perks like the Excursionist Perk make it an attractive option for the airline’s flyers. While dynamic pricing and devaluation of miles may occasionally impact value, strategic use of miles for flights, especially international premium cabins, can still offer excellent returns.

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