United MileagePlus: 227 questions answered
Everything members ask about United MileagePlus, answered from United Airlines' own program pages, terms and help centre. Each answer names its source; 139 answers rely on a secondary source where the airline's page could not be read, and say so.
Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .
Joining and managing your account
Signing up, membership numbers, logins, profiles and closing an account.
How do I join United MileagePlus?
MileagePlus membership is free (United calls it complimentary) and you enrol on united.com; once you have an account, everything from miles pooling to award bookings is managed under MileagePlus > My Account on united.com or in the United app.
Source: United newsroom: Lyft pay-with-miles launch (Apr 2026)
Does it cost anything to join United MileagePlus?
No. United states that membership in MileagePlus is complimentary, and there is no annual fee to keep an account open.
Source: United newsroom: Lyft pay-with-miles launch (Apr 2026)
Is there a minimum age to join United MileagePlus, and can children have their own account?
No. United says there is no minimum age to join MileagePlus, so children can hold their own accounts and earn miles. The only age rule is in miles pooling, where the pool leader must be over 18 but can invite members of any age.
Source: United newsroom: MileagePlus miles pooling launch (Mar 2024)
Where do I find my United MileagePlus membership number?
You do not need the number to sign in: united.com and the United app accept your email address or phone number with your password, and once signed in the My Account page shows your MileagePlus number alongside your balance, Premier progress, wallet and award activity.
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Does United Airlines have an app for managing United MileagePlus, and what can it do?
Yes. The United app is used by more than 84% of United customers on travel days and, beyond holding your MileagePlus number and boarding passes, it added Virtual Gate boarding-progress bars, a real-time bag tracker with Apple AirTag sharing, a United Club recommendation tool, turn-by-turn connection directions and automatic rebooking with personalised alternatives in December 2025.
How do I change the name on my United MileagePlus account after marriage or a legal name change?
United asks for a copy of your marriage certificate or another legal document showing the change, submitted to MileagePlus rather than edited online; the names on your ticket and account must then match for flights to credit.
Source: The Points Guy: updating accounts after a name change (secondary source)
How do I close my United MileagePlus account, and what happens to my miles?
Voluntarily closing your MileagePlus account forfeits the miles in it, and there is no mechanism to reinstate them afterwards, so redeem or pool your balance first.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus expiration and forfeiture rules (secondary source)
What do I do if I am locked out of my United MileagePlus account?
Call MileagePlus customer service on 1-800-421-4655, the number United lists for account information and password resets; flight questions go to United customer service on 1-800-864-8331 instead.
If I join United MileagePlus after a flight, can I still claim miles for it?
Yes. New members can request credit for United-operated flights taken up to six months before their enrolment date, using the normal mileage credit request with the ticket number.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
Does United Airlines have a separate program for small businesses, and can I earn in both?
Yes. United PerksPlus is the company-level program: a business needs at least five verifiable employees and a company tax ID (or equivalent outside the US) and must not be in a competing United corporate product. Points the company earns are, in United's words, separate from and in addition to the MileagePlus miles the individual traveller earns, and the company redeems them for travel certificates, Premier status upgrades and United Club memberships.
Earning on United Airlines flights
What a ticket earns, which fares are excluded, elite bonuses and posting times.
How are miles calculated on United Airlines flights: by fare paid, by distance, or by a fixed amount?
United is revenue-based: on a United-issued ticket, miles are calculated from the base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding government taxes and fees, at a per-dollar rate set by your Premier tier (on standard fares, 3 miles per dollar for a general member up to 9 for Premier 1K) and higher if you hold a United card. Most partner-operated flights instead earn by distance flown and booking class.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
How many miles do I earn per dollar (or per mile flown) on United Airlines?
From tickets bought on or after 2 April 2026, United quotes totals that include card miles: a general member paying with the United Explorer card earns 9 miles per dollar, three times a general member without a card, or 11 with the United Club card; a Premier Gold paying with the Quest card earns 13, more than double a Gold member without one; and a Premier 1K paying with the Club card earns 17.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Do basic economy or light fares on United Airlines earn miles?
Not for every member. Under the changes United announced in February 2026, a general member must hold a United card to earn miles on a Basic Economy ticket, so a general member without one earns no miles on that fare. The announcement does not give Basic Economy earning rates for Premier members.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
What elite bonus do status members earn on United Airlines flights?
Rather than a percentage bonus, each tier has its own per-dollar rate: on standard fares Premier Silver earns 5 miles per dollar, Gold 6, Platinum 7 and 1K 9, against 3 for a general member (as of April 2026).
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
How long after a flight do miles post to my United MileagePlus account?
Miles from United flights typically credit the same day, often within an hour of landing. If nothing has appeared within a week, submit a mileage credit request rather than waiting longer.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus program overview (secondary source)
Do award tickets earn miles or status credit on United Airlines?
Status credit, yes: award flights and seat upgrades on United and United Express earn 1 PQP per 100 miles redeemed, credited to the member who travels, so they count toward Premier status even though you paid in miles. On an award itinerary that mixes United and partner flights, only the United flights earn PQP.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
Which United Airlines tickets earn no miles at all?
The clearest exclusion is Basic Economy: under the changes United announced in February 2026, a general member must hold a United card to earn miles on a Basic Economy ticket, so a general member without one earns nothing on that fare.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Do taxes, fees and surcharges on an United Airlines ticket earn miles?
No. Premier qualifying points are 1 PQP per eligible US dollar of base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges only; government taxes and airport fees are excluded, and the same fare base drives award miles.
Source: AwardWallet: how to earn United PQP on United and partner flights (secondary source)
If I upgrade a ticket on United Airlines, do I earn miles on the original fare or the upgraded cabin?
A paid upgrade is treated as an ancillary purchase: it earns 1 PQP per dollar (excluding taxes and fees) on top of what the original ticket earned, rather than re-rating the ticket as the higher cabin.
Source: AwardWallet: how to earn United PQP on United and partner flights (secondary source)
Earning on partner airlines
Which airlines credit to the program, how much they earn and the rules for booking classes.
Which airlines can I credit to United MileagePlus?
All Star Alliance carriers (Air Canada, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish, SWISS and the rest of the alliance) plus non-alliance partners including Aer Lingus, Air Dolomiti, Airlink, Azul, Cape Air, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, Emirates, Eurowings, Flydubai, Hawaiian Airlines (intra-Hawaii only), JetBlue (most flights), JSX, Olympic Air and Virgin Australia. See the Star Alliance guide.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
How are miles calculated on partner airline flights credited to United MileagePlus?
Partner-issued tickets earn by distance: the flown miles are multiplied by a percentage for the fare class. PQP then come at 1 per 5 award miles on preferred partners (capped at 1,500 per segment in first or business, 750 in economy or premium economy) or 1 per 6 on other partners (caps of 1,000 and 500).
Source: AwardWallet: how to earn United PQP on United and partner flights (secondary source)
Which booking classes on partner airlines earn miles in United MileagePlus, and which earn nothing?
It depends on who issued the ticket. On a partner-issued ticket you earn a percentage of distance flown set by that partner's fare-class chart on united.com (a Lufthansa M fare, for example, earns 100% of miles flown, so LAX to Frankfurt paid 5,806 miles), and some partners restrict earning to specific routes and classes, with deep-discount classes earning nothing. On a United-issued (016) ticket you earn United's usual miles per dollar of fare instead.
Source: The Points Guy: United partners earning guide (secondary source)
Do partner airline flights count toward elite status in United MileagePlus?
Yes, through both counters: a partner flight earns 1 PQF, and PQP at 1 per 5 award miles on preferred partner airlines or 1 per 6 on other MileagePlus partners, with per-flight caps of 750 or 500 PQP in Economy and Premium Economy and 1,500 or 1,000 in First and Business. You still need at least 4 flights operated by United or United Express in the year to qualify.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
Does it matter whether a partner flight is ticketed by United Airlines or by the partner for United MileagePlus earning?
Yes. A ticket issued by United earns 1 PQP per dollar of fare and surcharges even on partner-operated segments, whereas a partner-issued ticket is rated on distance and fare class, with PQP at 1 per 5 or 6 award miles and per-segment caps.
Source: AwardWallet: how to earn United PQP on United and partner flights (secondary source)
Which non-alliance airlines partner with United MileagePlus for earning?
Aer Lingus, Air Dolomiti, Airlink, Azul, Cape Air, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, Emirates, Eurowings, Flydubai, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, JSX, Olympic Air and Virgin Australia. JetBlue earning covers most JetBlue flights, Hawaiian earning is limited to flights within Hawaii, and Emirates and Flydubai only to select Dubai routes ticketed with a United Newark-Dubai flight.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
How long do partner airline flights take to post to United MileagePlus?
Usually within a week, which is why United asks you to wait seven days after most partner flights (14 after Virgin Australia) before filing a missing-miles request; partner tickets are also the ones most likely to post in the wrong fare class, so check the fare code shown against your receipt.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
Do United MileagePlus elite members earn a bonus on partner airline flights?
On tickets issued by United (ticket numbers starting 016), including partner-operated segments, Premier members earn their tier's usual miles-per-dollar rate, just as on a United flight. On tickets issued by the partner airline, earning is by distance and fare class from that partner's chart, and no per-dollar Premier bonus is shown.
Source: The Points Guy: United partners earning guide (secondary source)
Where does United Airlines publish the partner earning charts for United MileagePlus?
On united.com under MileagePlus > Partners > Airline partners, where each carrier has its own page listing the fare classes that earn and the percentage of distance they pay. Read the individual page closely, because some airlines limit earning to specific routes and fare classes.
Source: The Points Guy: United partners earning guide (secondary source)
Can I earn miles on trains, buses or ferries through United MileagePlus?
No rail, bus or ferry partners are listed. The closest non-air earning is United Cruises, which pays up to 4 miles per dollar with a 25,000-mile cap per cruise, and Lyft rides at 1 to 4 miles per dollar.
Source: The Points Guy: United airline, hotel and credit card partners (secondary source)
Missing miles and retroactive claims
What to do when a flight does not post, the claim window, and what the airline needs.
How long after a flight can I claim missing miles from United MileagePlus?
You have 12 months from the flight date. United asks you to wait at least five days after a United or United Express flight, seven days after most partner flights and 14 days after a Virgin Australia flight before submitting the request. See claiming missing miles.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
How do I file a missing miles claim with United MileagePlus?
Sign in to your MileagePlus account on united.com, open the mileage credit request page, and enter the 13-digit ticket number at the bottom of the form. Wait at least five days after a United flight (seven for partners) before filing, and file within 12 months.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
What information does United MileagePlus need for a missing miles claim?
Mainly the ticket number: United's online request is built around the 13-digit e-ticket number (016 for United-issued tickets) together with your MileagePlus number, so keep the receipt or boarding pass that shows it.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
How do I claim missing miles for a partner airline flight in United MileagePlus?
Use the same mileage credit request on united.com, which covers most partner airlines, but wait seven days after the flight first (14 days for Virgin Australia) and have the partner's ticket number to hand. Requests must be made within 12 months of the flight.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
How long does United MileagePlus take to process a retroactive claim?
Allow about 14 business days from the flight before chasing: United tends to decline requests filed sooner, and once a written request is in, follow-ups by the contact form have been answered within a day. Partner flights are the most error-prone, so keep the e-ticket number and fare class from the receipt.
Source: The Points Guy: what to do about missing miles (secondary source)
Can I claim miles for flights taken before I joined United MileagePlus?
Yes, for United-operated flights taken up to six months before you enrolled; submit them through the normal mileage credit request once your account exists.
Source: The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit (secondary source)
What can I do if United MileagePlus rejects a missing miles claim?
Put it in writing rather than calling, since phone agents can do little on the spot: resubmit through the request mileage credit form or the contact us form with the 13-digit ticket number, fare class and boarding passes attached. In one documented Avianca case a second written follow-up got a reply within a day and the fare classes corrected.
Source: The Points Guy: what to do about missing miles (secondary source)
Credit cards and bank transfers
Co-brand cards, transferable points, ratios and timing.
Which banks issue United MileagePlus credit cards, and in which countries?
Chase issues the co-branded United credit cards in the United States (Gateway, Explorer, Quest, Club, plus the United Business and Club Business cards), and since November 2025 Sunrise Banks issues a MileagePlus Debit Rewards Visa card that needs no credit check.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
How many miles per dollar do United MileagePlus credit cards earn?
On United purchases the card bonus stacks with your member rate, so from April 2026 a general member earns 9 miles per dollar with the United Explorer card and 11 with the United Club card, a Premier Gold earns 13 with the United Quest card, and a Premier 1K earns 17 with the United Club card. The Sunrise Banks debit card earns 1 mile per dollar on United and 1 per 2 dollars elsewhere.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
What sign-up bonus do United MileagePlus credit cards typically offer?
As of September 2026 Chase advertises up to 40,000 bonus miles on the no-fee Gateway card, up to 60,000 on the Explorer, up to 70,000 plus 500 PQP on the Quest and up to 90,000 on the Club card, and up to 110,000 miles plus 2,000 PQP on each of the United Business and Club Business cards, all after qualifying activities. Offers change often, so treat these as snapshots.
Source: Chase: United credit cards
Can credit card spending earn elite status or tier credit in United MileagePlus?
Yes. On the United Quest card, for example, Chase awards 1 Premier qualifying point for every $20 of net purchases, up to 18,000 PQP in a calendar year, and those PQP count toward every Premier tier up to and including Premier 1K.
Source: Chase: United Quest card
Which bank points transfer to United MileagePlus, and at what ratio?
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards transfer 1:1 (Bilt minimum 2,000 points). Hotel programs also convert: Marriott Bonvoy 3:1 with a 10,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points, World of Hyatt 2.5:1, Accor 2:1, Choice, IHG and Wyndham 5:1, Hilton 10:1 and Shangri-La Circle 1:1. See transfer partners.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus transfer partners (secondary source)
How long do bank point transfers to United MileagePlus take?
Chase says most Ultimate Rewards transfers to travel partners such as United MileagePlus process by the next business day but can take up to seven business days, and points move in increments of 1,000.
Can I transfer miles back out of United MileagePlus to a bank program?
No. Chase states that point transfers to travel partners are final, so Ultimate Rewards points moved into MileagePlus cannot be sent back to Chase.
Does United MileagePlus run transfer bonuses from bank programs?
Not from banks: the running list of transfer bonuses shows none from Chase or Bilt to MileagePlus, only hotel programs. Marriott Bonvoy offered 25% extra on transfers to United through 30 June 2026 and Wyndham a 100% bonus through 2 November 2025, and similar 15% to 30% hotel bonuses recur most years.
Source: Frequent Miler: current transfer bonuses (secondary source)
Must the bank account and United MileagePlus account be in the same name for a transfer?
Yes. Chase requires the name on your Chase account to match the name on the MileagePlus account you are transferring to. Points move in increments of 1,000, and most transfers process by the next business day (up to seven business days).
Do United MileagePlus credit cards have annual fees, and what perks offset them?
Yes, all except the Gateway card, which has no annual fee. The Explorer is $0 the first year and then $150, the United Business card $150, the Quest $350, and the Club and Club Business cards $695. The fees are offset by free checked bags (the first bag on the Explorer and Business cards, two on the Quest and Club), United Club one-time passes or full Club access, priority boarding, the Quest's $200 United travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount, and partner credits Chase values at over $500 to over $925 a year.
Source: Chase: United credit cards
Do any United MileagePlus credit cards include a companion fare or free flight certificate?
No. Chase lists the United cards' perks as free checked bags, United Club passes or Club access, priority boarding, travel and partner credits and, on the Quest, an annual 10,000-mile award flight discount; none of the six cards (Gateway, Explorer, Quest, Club, Business and Club Business) includes a companion fare or free-flight certificate.
Source: Chase: United credit cards
Is there a business credit card for United MileagePlus?
Yes: the United Business card and the United Club Business card from Chase, both of which have carried 100,000-mile welcome offers, earn PQP toward status and get the cardholder award discounts introduced in April 2026.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Can I get a United MileagePlus credit card if I live outside the United States?
Not a Chase United card: United's annual report says its co-brand agreement with Chase lets MileagePlus members who are residents of the United States earn miles with a Chase-issued MileagePlus credit card.
Earning without flying
Shopping portals, dining, hotels, cars, rideshare, surveys and buying miles.
Does United MileagePlus have an online shopping portal, and how does it work?
Yes. MileagePlus Shopping (shopping.mileageplus.com) has more than 1,100 online stores: click through from the portal with an empty cart, buy without leaving the window, and the miles post to your account in about three to five business days. A browser button flags participating stores as you browse, and new users get 500 bonus miles (1,000 for United cardholders) for spending $25 within two weeks.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus Shopping portal guide (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus have a dining rewards program?
Yes. MileagePlus Dining (dining.mileageplus.com) pays miles for eating and drinking at participating restaurants and bars.
Source: MileagePlus Dining
Which hotel chains earn miles in United MileagePlus, and can hotel points be converted?
Hotel points convert into MileagePlus miles: Marriott Bonvoy at 3:1 (plus 10,000 bonus miles per 60,000 points), World of Hyatt 2.5:1, Accor 2:1, Choice, IHG and Wyndham 5:1, Hilton 10:1 and Shangri-La 1:1, while Best Western pays 250 miles per stay.
Source: The Points Guy: United airline, hotel and credit card partners (secondary source)
Which car rental companies earn miles in United MileagePlus?
Avis and Budget, booked through MileagePlus Travel (mileageplustravel.united.com): 500 miles per rental for general members, 750 for United Chase cardmembers, 1,000 for Premier Silver and Gold and 1,250 for Premier Platinum and above. Miles post 6 to 8 weeks after the rental, and anything over 500 can arrive as a second entry.
Can I earn miles by taking surveys with United MileagePlus?
Yes, through the Opinion Miles Club survey panel, which pays a 300-mile sign-up bonus plus small amounts per completed survey. Miles usually post quickly but the fine print allows up to six weeks.
Source: The Points Guy: earning miles from surveys (secondary source)
Can I buy miles from United MileagePlus, at what price, and is there a yearly cap?
Yes, through points.com at a base price of 3.76 cents per mile, in blocks of up to 50,000 miles per transaction and up to 200,000 miles (bonus included) per calendar year. Purchases are non-refundable, post within about 72 hours and do not count toward Premier status.
Source: LoyaltyLobby: United buy-miles promotion (Sep 2026) (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus run bonus promotions on buying miles?
Constantly. United has run buy-miles bonuses several times a year since 2020, typically up to 100% bonus, which takes the effective price to about 1.88 cents per mile (the September 2026 offer was up to 95 to 100% through 30 September 2026).
Source: LoyaltyLobby: United buy-miles promotion (Sep 2026) (secondary source)
Can I gift miles to another United MileagePlus member?
Yes. United's buy-miles site offers three options: buy miles for your own balance, send a gift of miles to friends and family, or make a one-time transfer of your own miles to another member. Purchased and gifted miles are non-refundable and can take up to 72 hours to post.
Are there phone, internet, energy or subscription partners that earn miles in United MileagePlus?
A few. United's everyday partners include Norton 360 and Emergency Assistance Plus subscriptions, NRG and Reliant energy plans at 2 miles per dollar, and the Timeshifter jet-lag app (500 miles for an annual subscription), alongside dining, shopping and Lyft.
Source: The Points Guy: United partners earning guide (secondary source)
Can I earn miles on fuel or groceries with United MileagePlus?
Groceries yes: United and Instacart launched a partnership in October 2025 giving MileagePlus members rewards and $0 delivery fees on Instacart orders. No fuel partner is listed.
Source: United newsroom: MileagePlus and customer news releases
Can I earn miles on Airbnb, vacation rentals or cruises with United MileagePlus?
Cruises, yes: as of September 2026 United Cruises pays 2 MileagePlus miles per dollar on interior and oceanview staterooms and 4 on balcony cabins and suites, rising to 4 and 7 miles per dollar for MileagePlus cardmembers, with port charges and government taxes excluded.
Does in-flight Wi-Fi, duty free or onboard purchases earn miles on United Airlines?
Yes, when you pay with a United card. As of September 2026, Chase counts inflight food, beverages and Wi-Fi bought from United as United purchases on the United Quest card, earning 4 miles per dollar, and it also returns 25% of food, beverage and Wi-Fi purchases on United and United Express flights as a statement credit.
Source: Chase: United Quest card
Where does United MileagePlus list its current earning promotions?
Sign in at promo.united.com/offers/mileplay: Mile Play is United's targeted promotion hub, where you register for personalised tasks such as 3,000 bonus miles for one trip over $100 or 25,000 for two premium-cabin trips over $500, plus non-flight tasks like linking Lyft. Offers are targeted, not universal, and bonus miles post six to eight weeks after you complete the task; the current round runs to 5 October 2026.
Source: AwardWallet: United Mile Play promotions (secondary source)
Elite status
Tiers, how to qualify, the year cycle, matches and what each level gets.
What are the elite status tiers in United MileagePlus?
Four earnable tiers, Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K, plus invitation-only Global Services above them, and lifetime Million Miler tiers alongside.
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus 2026 changes (secondary source)
How do I qualify for elite status in United MileagePlus: by spending, segments, distance or points?
By spend, with an optional flight count. United's Premier qualification page sets each tier as either a Premier qualifying points (PQP) total on its own or a lower PQP total plus a number of Premier qualifying flights (PQF), and at least 4 of your flights must be operated by United or United Express. United and United Express flights earn 1 PQP per US dollar of base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, and each eligible flight earns 1 PQF.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
What are the qualification thresholds for each United MileagePlus tier?
For status earned in a calendar year: Premier Silver needs 6,000 PQP, or 5,000 PQP plus 15 PQF; Gold 12,000 PQP, or 10,000 plus 30 PQF; Platinum 18,000 PQP, or 15,000 plus 45 PQF; and 1K 28,000 PQP, or 22,000 plus 60 PQF. Every tier also needs at least 4 flights operated by United or United Express.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
When does the United MileagePlus qualification year start and end, and how long does status last?
The qualification year is the calendar year, 1 January to 31 December. Status lasts from the day you qualify to the end of the next program year: United says status reached in 2026 will not expire until 31 January 2028.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
Do partner airline flights count toward United MileagePlus status?
Yes. Partner flights earn PQP from the award miles they earn: 1 PQP per 5 award miles on preferred partner airlines, capped at 750 PQP per flight in Economy and Premium Economy and 1,500 in First and Business, and 1 PQP per 6 award miles on other MileagePlus partners, capped at 500 and 1,000. Each partner flight also earns 1 PQF, but every tier still needs at least 4 flights operated by United or United Express.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
Does United MileagePlus offer a status match or status challenge?
Yes, a status challenge: apply online with proof of status from a non-partner airline (Alaska, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, British Airways and others qualify), take an activating United flight within 90 days, then earn within 120 days 5 PQF plus 1,700 PQP for Silver, 10 plus 3,400 for Gold, 15 plus 5,000 for Platinum or 20 plus 7,500 for 1K. There is no fee, replies take 7 to 14 business days, and you are barred if you did a United match in the past three years.
Source: One Mile at a Time: United status match and challenge guide (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus offer lifetime or million-miler status?
Yes, Million Miler: lifetime Premier Gold at 1 million miles, Platinum at 2 million, 1K at 3 million and Global Services at 4 million, counting only paid flown miles on United and United Express (no awards, partners or cabin bonuses). Each level lets you designate one companion at your home address for matching status, though from 2027 one-million companions get Gold only.
Source: One Mile at a Time: United Million Miler lifetime status guide (secondary source)
If I fall short of requalifying, does United MileagePlus drop me one tier or all the way?
There is no published soft landing. Each Premier tier has its own PQP or PQP-plus-PQF threshold (6,000 PQP for Silver up to 28,000 for 1K in 2026), and on 1 February you hold whichever tier you actually reached in the previous calendar year, which can be general member. The cushion is that status runs through 31 January of the year after next, so status earned in 2025 lasts to 31 January 2027.
Source: The Points Guy: what is United Premier status (secondary source)
What baggage benefits do United MileagePlus elite members get?
Every Premier tier includes free checked bags on United tickets, and Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K also carry Star Alliance Gold, which adds an extra baggage allowance on partner airlines.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Which United MileagePlus tiers get lounge access, and where?
Premier status alone does not include United Club membership, but Premier Platinum, 1K and Global Services members get discounted United Club All Access memberships ($1,300 or 163,000 miles for Platinum, $1,200 or 150,000 miles for 1K, $1,000 or 125,000 for Global Services versus $1,400 standard).
Source: The Points Guy: United Club access and membership changes (secondary source)
Do United MileagePlus elite members get complimentary upgrades, and how are they prioritised?
Yes. All Premier tiers get waitlisted Complimentary Premier Upgrades, and Platinum and 1K also receive PlusPoints (40 and 280 a year respectively) for confirmable upgrades. Since 1 February 2026 both instruments work on award tickets too, and travellers booked in Premium Plus clear ahead of those in economy.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Do United MileagePlus elite members get free seat selection or extra-legroom seats?
Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K get complimentary Economy Plus extra-legroom seating, on top of the free checked bags and upgrade waitlist that every tier receives.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Which fees does United MileagePlus waive for elite members?
The $25 phone award-booking fee is waived for Premier Platinum and 1K. Award change and redeposit fees are already $0 for everyone, and the $125 no-show redeposit fee applies to all tiers.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
What do United MileagePlus tiers map to in the alliance (Star Alliance Gold, oneworld Emerald, SkyTeam Elite Plus)?
Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K carry Star Alliance Gold, which brings lounge access when you travel with Star Alliance partners; Premier Silver does not reach Star Alliance Gold.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Can elite benefits in United MileagePlus be shared with family or a companion?
Only through Million Miler: each lifetime tier lets you designate one companion who lives at your home address (chosen by 30 November for the following year) to receive matching Premier status. Regular annual status is not shareable, though PlusPoints can be exchanged to gift status.
Source: One Mile at a Time: United Million Miler lifetime status guide (secondary source)
Do surplus qualifying points roll over to the next year in United MileagePlus?
Not under United's published rules: the Premier qualification page counts PQP and PQF within each calendar year and lists no rollover. What United did give was a 2026 PQP deposit to everyone holding Premier status on 1 February 2026, except Trial status holders: 300 PQP for Silver, 600 for Gold, 900 for Platinum and 1,400 for 1K.
Source: United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page)
Can I gift or nominate someone for status in United MileagePlus?
Premier Platinum and 1K members can exchange PlusPoints (up to 600 a year across all exchange options) to gift Premier status to someone else, alongside options for TravelBank cash, bonus miles, PQP or PQF.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Can I buy status or top-up missing qualifying points in United MileagePlus?
Buying miles will not do it: United's terms, as printed on Chase's Quest card page, say bonus miles, award miles and other miles earned through non-flight activity do not count toward Premier qualification. One top-up route is card spending: as of September 2026 the Quest card earns 1 PQP per $20 of net purchases, up to 18,000 PQP a calendar year, which count toward every tier up to Premier 1K, plus 1,000 card bonus PQP a year.
Source: Chase: United Quest card
Will United MileagePlus elite benefits be recognised on partner airlines?
Yes. Premier members receive select perks on partner airlines such as lounge access and an extra baggage allowance, delivered through the Star Alliance Silver and Gold recognition that Premier tiers carry.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus offer selectable benefits or milestone rewards for elites?
The nearest thing is PlusPoints: Platinum (40 a year) and 1K (280 plus 20 per extra 3,000 PQP) members can spend them on upgrades or, since 2025, exchange up to 600 a year for TravelBank cash, bonus miles, PQP, PQF or gifting Premier status.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Redeeming on United Airlines
How awards are priced, the cheapest redemptions and the booking rules.
Does United MileagePlus use a fixed award chart or dynamic pricing for United Airlines flights?
Dynamic. United removed its award charts in 2019, so prices vary by flight and date, with Saver Awards as the capacity-controlled floor. Since April 2026 United cardholders pay at least 10% fewer miles on United flights and Premier cardholders at least 15% fewer. See the award chart.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
What is the cheapest award ticket in United MileagePlus?
Short domestic economy saver awards, which are priced dynamically and discounted for cardholders and Premier members: Denver to Washington, for example, priced at 9,500 miles one way for a United Club Card holder and 10,500 or more for other members, while a long-haul business seat can vary from 100,000 to 170,000 miles depending on the account searching.
Source: The Points Guy: how United award pricing varies by account (secondary source)
Can I book one-way awards in United MileagePlus, and are they half the round-trip price?
Yes, one-way awards are priced at half the round-trip amount, and open jaws are permitted.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
How do I search for award seats on United Airlines?
Sign in, click Book on united.com or in the app, enter the route and tick Book with miles; the results show United and partner flights priced dynamically (San Francisco to New York ranged from 15,000 to 27,700 miles by date), and the seven-day and 30-day award calendars help find the cheap dates. Domestic awards show about $5.60 in taxes. See how award availability works.
Source: AwardWallet: how to book a United award (secondary source)
What is the difference between saver and standard (or flexible) awards in United MileagePlus?
Saver Awards are United's lowest-priced award tickets, and United says about a third of flights with Saver fares have Saver inventory reserved for cardholders and Premier members. Polaris business class Saver seats, once open only to Platinum and 1K members, now also go to general members with a United credit or debit card, and are priced from 80,000 miles, or from 72,000 for cardholders with General status and 68,000 for cardholders with Premier status.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Does United MileagePlus allow stopovers or open jaws on award tickets?
No free stopovers since August 2025. United stopped offering the Excursionist Perk, which let members add a one-way award or stopover to a multi-city award ticket, on award tickets issued from 21 August 2025; it announced the change in May 2025 on its What's New with MileagePlus page.
Source: One Mile at a Time: United upgrade and stopover changes (May 2025) (secondary source)
Can I book a mixed-cabin award in United MileagePlus, and how is it priced?
You can, but United prices the whole award at the highest cabin flown rather than pro-rating each segment, so a mixed economy and business itinerary costs the business price.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Can I pay part in miles and part in cash with United MileagePlus?
Yes. United lets you buy tickets with miles or a miles-plus-cash combination; the Money + Miles option values miles at about 1 cent each, which is below most flight redemptions.
Source: United newsroom: Lyft and United partnership (Nov 2025)
How do I add an infant or child to an award ticket in United MileagePlus?
A lap infant on a domestic US award travels free; between the US and Canada, Mexico or the US Virgin Islands you pay taxes and fees only; on other international awards the infant fee is 10% of the fare, capped at $250 plus taxes.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus offer a round-the-world or multi-city award?
No round-the-world award exists: United miles have no round-the-world ticket option, and a round-trip award is limited to four segments in each direction.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
What are the best-value redemptions in United MileagePlus?
Polaris business class Saver awards stand out: under the card discounts United announced in February 2026, they price as low as 72,000 miles for general members with a United card and 68,000 for Premier cardholders, 10% and 15% below the usual 80,000. See value per mile.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Does flying on an award ticket in United MileagePlus earn status or miles?
Award tickets on United and United Express earn 1 PQP for every 100 miles redeemed toward Premier status; they do not earn redeemable miles.
Source: AwardWallet: how to earn United PQP on United and partner flights (secondary source)
Redeeming on partner airlines
Which partners can be booked, online versus by phone, and the partner-specific rules.
Which partner airlines can I book with miles from United MileagePlus?
Any Star Alliance carrier plus Aer Lingus, Air Dolomiti, Airlink, Azul, Cape Air, Discover, Edelweiss, Eurowings, JetBlue (most flights), JSX, Olympic Air and Virgin Australia. Emirates and Flydubai are bookable only on select Dubai routes ticketed with a United Newark-Dubai flight, and Hawaiian only within Hawaii. See booking partner awards.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
Which partner awards can be booked online with United MileagePlus, and which need a phone call?
All of United's partner airlines can be booked directly on united.com or in the United app, so a phone call is rarely needed; agent bookings carry a $25 fee for most members.
Source: One Mile at a Time: redeeming United miles (secondary source)
How are partner awards priced in United MileagePlus?
Partner awards follow a fixed region-to-region chart rather than United's dynamic pricing: from the continental US, economy runs 22,000 miles to the Caribbean and Central America, 44,000 to Europe and the Middle East and 60,500 to Australia and New Zealand one way, with business at 38,500, 88,000 and 110,000. Since November 2025 Premier members see roughly 9% lower partner prices (80,000 for Europe business). See the award chart.
Source: AwardWallet: unofficial MileagePlus partner award chart (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus charge a fee for partner awards?
No partner-specific fee; the only award fees are by channel: nothing online, $25 by phone ($10 at a city ticket office, $50 at the airport), waived for Premier Platinum and 1K.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Which partner airlines add fuel surcharges to United MileagePlus awards?
None. United's annual report says MileagePlus members redeem miles for travel that is free other than taxes and government-imposed fees, and it counts flights on other airlines among those awards, so a partner award carries government taxes and fees but no carrier-imposed fuel surcharge.
Can I combine United Airlines and partner flights on one award in United MileagePlus?
Yes. MileagePlus lets you book United, United Express and several Star Alliance or other partner airlines on the same award reservation.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Do partner airlines release the same award seats to United MileagePlus as to their own members?
Roughly the reverse question is documented: partner programs can only see United's saver-level space, never the dynamic everyday awards or the extra saver seats United opens to its own cardholders and Premier members. In the same way, united.com shows partner space at the saver level the partner releases to Star Alliance, so a partner's own members may see cheaper or extra seats you cannot.
Source: The Points Guy: booking United awards through partners (secondary source)
Which non-alliance airlines can be booked with United MileagePlus miles?
Aer Lingus, Air Dolomiti, Airlink, Azul, Cape Air, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, Eurowings, JSX, Olympic Air and Virgin Australia without restriction; JetBlue on most of its flights; Hawaiian Airlines only within Hawaii; Emirates and Flydubai only on select Dubai-Africa, Middle East and South Asia routes on the same ticket as a United Newark-Dubai flight.
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
Are stopovers allowed on partner awards in United MileagePlus?
No longer. United withdrew the Excursionist Perk, which added a one-way award or stopover to a multi-city award ticket, on all award tickets issued from 21 August 2025, so partner awards no longer come with a free stopover either.
Source: One Mile at a Time: United upgrade and stopover changes (May 2025) (secondary source)
Can I use miles to upgrade a partner airline flight through United MileagePlus?
With PlusPoints, yes: Premier Platinum and 1K can upgrade Lufthansa, ANA and Copa flights for 40 PlusPoints per segment. Pooled miles cannot be used for partner redemptions at all.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Can partner awards booked through United MileagePlus be changed or cancelled online?
The same no-fee rules apply: partner awards booked through MileagePlus can be changed or cancelled with no change or redeposit fee as long as you do it before the scheduled departure, which is why United is a good program for locking in Star Alliance space.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
Which partner airlines are the best value to book with United MileagePlus miles?
Long-haul business class to Africa and Asia: Star Alliance partners such as Ethiopian price at 80,000 to 88,000 miles one way from the US to Africa (Newark to Johannesburg or Marrakech at 80,000), and Los Angeles to Hong Kong at 100,000, all without fuel surcharges. Lufthansa first class is poor value at 165,000 miles when Aeroplan charges 100,000 for the same seat.
Source: One Mile at a Time: redeeming United miles (secondary source)
Taxes, fees and surcharges on awards
What is added on top of the miles, and which fees can be avoided.
Does United MileagePlus add fuel surcharges to award tickets on United Airlines?
No. United's annual report describes MileagePlus award travel as free other than taxes and government-imposed fees, so award tickets carry no fuel or other carrier-imposed surcharges.
Does United MileagePlus charge a booking fee for award tickets?
No booking fee online. Booking by phone costs $25, at a city ticket office $10 and at the airport $50, all waived for Premier Platinum and 1K.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus charge extra to book an award by phone?
Yes, $25 for a phone booking (waived for Premier Platinum and 1K); airport bookings cost $50 and city ticket offices $10.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus charge a close-in or last-minute booking fee for awards?
No. United dropped its close-in booking fee in 2019, though dynamic pricing can quote more miles inside 30 days of departure.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Which award fees does United MileagePlus waive for elite members?
Premier Platinum and 1K skip the $25 phone booking fee. Change and redeposit fees are $0 for all members, and no tier is exempt from the $125 no-show redeposit fee.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
How much are the typical taxes and fees on a United MileagePlus award ticket?
Low, because there are no carrier surcharges: a round-trip business class award from New York to Vienna on Austrian came to 147,000 miles plus just over $62 in taxes and fees, where the same seats through ANA cost about $2,000 in fees. Booking by phone adds $25 for most members.
Source: The Points Guy: taxes and fees on award tickets (secondary source)
How does United MileagePlus handle UK Air Passenger Duty and other high departure taxes on awards?
They are passed on. United's annual report describes MileagePlus travel awards as free other than taxes and government-imposed fees, so UK Air Passenger Duty and other government departure taxes are charged on award tickets, while no carrier-imposed surcharge is added on top.
Are taxes and fees refunded if I cancel a United MileagePlus award?
Yes. When you cancel an award before departure the miles are redeposited and the taxes and fees are refunded to the original card; if you rebook, United charges or credits the difference in miles and taxes.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
How can I reduce the cash cost of a United MileagePlus award?
Hold a United card: cardholders save at least 10% on every United award flight, and Premier members with a United card at least 15%. Then look for Saver space. See award fees.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Changes, cancellations and refunds
Fees, deadlines, redeposits, no-shows and what happens when the airline changes the schedule.
What does United MileagePlus charge to change an award ticket?
Nothing. United advertises no change fees on flight award tickets; you pay or receive only the difference in miles and taxes for the new flights.
Source: United newsroom: Lyft and United partnership (Nov 2025)
What does United MileagePlus charge to cancel an award ticket and redeposit the miles?
$0 for every tier: cancelling an award before departure redeposits the miles free. The exception is a no-show, which costs $125 to get the miles back. See award fees.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to cancel a United flight (secondary source)
How close to departure can I cancel a United MileagePlus award?
Any time before the scheduled departure of the first unflown flight. After departure the ticket is treated as a no-show and a $125 redeposit fee applies.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
What happens to my miles if I no-show a United MileagePlus award?
The miles are not lost, but redepositing them after a no-show costs $125 regardless of Premier tier, so cancel online before departure to keep it free.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to cancel a United flight (secondary source)
How long does United MileagePlus take to redeposit miles after a cancellation?
Instantly for the miles, and the taxes and fees reach your card in about two to three days depending on your bank.
Source: The Points Guy: how long award refunds take (secondary source)
Can I change or cancel a United MileagePlus award online, or must I call?
Online: log in on united.com or the app, open My Trips, choose Cancel Booking and confirm, and the miles go back to your account; changes can also be made in My Trips without a fee.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to cancel a United flight (secondary source)
Are change and cancellation fees waived for United MileagePlus elite members?
There is nothing to waive: award change and redeposit fees are $0 for general members and elites alike. The $125 no-show fee applies to everyone from general member to Premier 1K.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to cancel a United flight (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus offer a 24-hour free cancellation on awards?
Yes. Awards get the same 24-hour grace period as cash tickets when booked at least seven days before departure, though with $0 redeposit fees the window matters little.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to cancel a United flight (secondary source)
Are the change and cancellation rules different for partner awards in United MileagePlus?
No. Awards on partner airlines follow the same MileagePlus rules: no change or redeposit fee before departure, forfeiture (or a $125 no-show redeposit fee) if you miss the flight.
Source: One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees (secondary source)
If I cancel a United MileagePlus award booked with miles that have since expired, do I get them back?
The question does not arise: MileagePlus miles have not expired since August 2019, so redeposited miles simply return to your balance.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
What does United Airlines do if my award flight is cancelled on the day, and can I be rebooked on partners?
If a flight is delayed more than 60 minutes or cancelled, the United app automatically shows whether you have been rebooked and lets you pick other United flights, and eligible customers get hotel, meal or rideshare vouchers on the home screen without asking. You can also call, text or video chat with a United agent from the app; the release does not mention rebooking onto partner airlines.
Source: United newsroom: automatic rebooking and vouchers in the app (2023)
Award availability
When seats are released, holds, waitlists and how to find space.
How far in advance can I book award tickets in United MileagePlus?
United opens its schedule 337 days before departure for both revenue and award bookings.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
When does United Airlines release award seats, and are more added closer to departure?
Award inventory appears when the schedule opens 337 days out, and with dynamic pricing seats stay bookable at varying prices rather than being released in fixed batches; prices can rise within 30 days of departure.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Can I put a United MileagePlus award on hold before paying?
There is no free award hold. United sells FareLock for $10 to $30 on United-operated flights, and otherwise you can rely on the 24-hour free cancellation to book and reconsider.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Do United MileagePlus elite members get extra award availability?
Yes. United opens some Saver Award inventory only to Premier members and United cardholders, and under the changes it announced in February 2026, general members with a United credit or debit card also get Polaris business class Saver space that was previously available only to Premier Platinum and 1K members.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Can I redeem miles for any seat on United Airlines, or only for designated award seats?
United's dynamic pricing quotes a miles price on most United seats, with capacity-controlled Saver Awards as the cheapest tier; Polaris Saver access depends on your Premier tier or United card, while non-Saver seats cost more miles.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
What tools show United MileagePlus award availability across dates?
united.com itself: select the 30-day calendar to see award space in your cabin across dates, and it shows real-time availability on all Star Alliance carriers (it shows which flights have space, not how many seats). ExpertFlyer adds calendar views and email alerts for a specific flight and date.
Source: The Points Guy: searching Star Alliance award availability (secondary source)
Can I set an alert for United MileagePlus award availability?
Not on united.com, but ExpertFlyer lets you set a flight alert for a date and flight number and emails you when an award seat opens on United or a Star Alliance partner.
Source: The Points Guy: searching Star Alliance award availability (secondary source)
Why does United MileagePlus show award space that will not book?
Because of stale data or a communication gap between united.com and a partner's inventory system; United MileagePlus is one of the programs where phantom partner space is regularly reported. Awards on United's own flights are rarely affected, so cross-check partner space in another program, or call MileagePlus to verify before transferring points.
Source: The Points Guy: phantom award space (secondary source)
When is the best time to book a United MileagePlus award?
It depends on the route. Polaris saver space between North America and Europe is over 90% on Monday to Thursday departures and is thickest in winter (January and February) with almost nothing opening in the final two weeks, whereas Asia routes release a noticeable batch of seats within two weeks of departure, so watch them late.
Source: Frequent Miler: trends in United cardholder award availability (secondary source)
How do I find award seats for a family of four in United MileagePlus?
Search for the full party from the start: if you enter four passengers, united.com only returns flights with at least four award seats at that price, so you never see space you cannot use. Miles pooling lets up to five family members combine miles to pay for everyone on one reservation. See family pooling.
Source: The Points Guy: searching Star Alliance award availability (secondary source)
Upgrades
Using miles to move up a cabin, eligible fares, copays and waitlists.
How do I upgrade an United Airlines flight with miles?
Premier members request Complimentary Premier Upgrades automatically and Platinum and 1K members can apply PlusPoints to a booking to confirm or waitlist an upgrade; both now work on award tickets as well as paid ones (since 1 February 2026).
Source: The Points Guy: United Premier status and PlusPoints changes for 2026 (secondary source)
Which fares are eligible for a miles upgrade on United Airlines?
For PlusPoints, standard economy fares (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W) upgrade to long-haul business for 40 PlusPoints, while discounted economy (S, T, L, K, G) costs 80; award tickets became eligible in February 2026.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
How many miles does an upgrade cost in United MileagePlus, and is there a cash copay?
In PlusPoints: 10 from premium economy to short-haul business, 20 from economy to Premium Plus or to domestic first, 30 from Premium Plus to long-haul business, 40 from standard economy to long-haul business and 80 from discounted economy. Fixed prices last until February 2027, when PlusPoints pricing goes dynamic.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Can I use miles to upgrade partner airline flights through United MileagePlus?
With PlusPoints only, on Lufthansa, ANA and Copa at 40 PlusPoints per segment for Premier Platinum and 1K members.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Can I waitlist for a miles upgrade in United MileagePlus?
Yes. PlusPoints requests waitlist when space is not available, with Premium Plus passengers clearing before economy; Premier 1K members can Skip Waitlist up to 30 days ahead for at least double the normal PlusPoints price.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Can I upgrade with miles at check-in or at the gate on United Airlines?
Yes. MileagePlus Upgrade Awards can be requested when booking, when changing a reservation, by phone or at the airport, subject to upgrade space; a typical domestic example is 22,500 miles plus a $125 co-pay each way, with the co-pay waived for Premier members on many routes.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to upgrade on United (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus give elite members upgrade certificates or instruments?
PlusPoints: Premier Platinum receives 40 a year, Premier 1K 280 plus 20 for every 3,000 PQP beyond the threshold, and from January 2026 1K members earn more from United card spend with no cap. They stay valid for the rest of the year earned, the following year and the start of the year after.
Source: AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints (secondary source)
Can I upgrade an award ticket with more miles in United MileagePlus?
Yes, since 1 February 2026 award tickets are eligible for both PlusPoints upgrades and Complimentary Premier Upgrades across all Premier tiers.
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus 2026 changes (secondary source)
Are upgrade miles refunded if the upgrade does not clear in United MileagePlus?
Yes. If a requested upgrade does not clear, the miles are redeposited and any co-pay is refunded to your credit card.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to upgrade on United (secondary source)
Does United Airlines sell cash upgrades or run upgrade auctions, and do they earn miles?
United sells fixed-price upgrades rather than running auctions: online it offers miles plus cash (20,000 miles plus $550 for Paris to Newark in Polaris in one case) and agents can quote a cash-only price at check-in ($595 on that same flight). Whether a purchased upgrade earns extra miles or PQP is not stated.
Source: The Points Guy: United miles-and-cash upgrades (secondary source)
Non-flight redemptions
Hotels, cars, merchandise, seats, bags and other ways to spend miles.
Can I redeem miles for hotels through United MileagePlus, and what is the value?
Yes. United lists hotels among the things miles can be spent on, alongside flights and experiences.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
Can I redeem miles for car rentals through United MileagePlus?
Yes. MileagePlus Travel (mileageplustravel.united.com) lets you pay for any car on the site with miles or with money plus miles, with the miles deducted when you complete the booking. Paying cash instead earns 500 miles per rental (750 for United cardholders, 1,000 for Premier Silver and Gold, 1,250 for Platinum) with Avis and Budget, posting within six to eight weeks.
Can I redeem miles for merchandise or gift cards in United MileagePlus?
Through MileagePlus Exclusives: members bid miles in auctions or redeem at fixed prices for merchandise, dining, sports and entertainment tickets. Miles are not refundable once redeemed and merchandise can be returned only if damaged or defective within 30 days.
Source: MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions
Can I pay for in-flight Wi-Fi or food with miles on United Airlines?
On Starlink-equipped planes there is nothing to pay: United says Starlink Wi-Fi is free for MileagePlus members. More than 400 United aircraft had it in June 2026, United expects close to 1,000 by the end of 2026 and its entire widebody fleet by summer 2027, and it tells you before the flight if your plane is equipped.
Can I redeem miles for lounge access or a lounge membership in United MileagePlus?
Yes. A United Club individual membership costs $750 or 94,000 miles a year, and the All Access membership (United Clubs plus Star Alliance lounges, two guests) costs $1,400 or 175,000 miles, discounted to 163,000 miles for Platinum, 150,000 for 1K and 125,000 for Global Services.
Source: The Points Guy: United Club access and membership changes (secondary source)
Can I donate miles to charity through United MileagePlus?
Yes, through MileagePlus Miles on a Mission, where members donate or pledge miles to charities United has approved (501(c)(3) nonprofits or registered charities in the US or Canada, or ones reached through GlobalGiving). The minimum is set on each campaign page, pledges are irrevocable and donations non-refundable (pledges are returned only if a campaign misses its target), and United gives no advice on tax deductibility.
Source: United: MileagePlus Miles on a Mission terms (May 2026)
Does United MileagePlus offer experiences, events or auctions for miles?
Yes, MileagePlus Exclusives runs auctions and instant redemptions for experiences, sports and entertainment events; bids are binding once confirmed, ties go to the earliest bid, and all experiences are non-refundable.
Source: MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions
Can I convert miles to cash or statement credit in United MileagePlus?
No. United's terms prohibit converting miles into a cash amount paid to you, and redeemed miles are non-refundable. The only cash-like route is for Platinum and 1K members, who can exchange PlusPoints (not miles) for TravelBank credit.
Source: MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions
Which non-flight redemptions in United MileagePlus give the best value per miles?
Poorly compared with flights: a United Club membership at 94,000 miles versus $750 works out to about 0.8 cents per mile, and Money + Miles values miles at roughly 1 cent, whereas Saver flight awards typically return more.
Source: The Points Guy: United Club access and membership changes (secondary source)
Can I use miles to extend status or buy tier credit in United MileagePlus?
Not with miles: purchased miles do not count toward Premier status. Platinum and 1K members can, however, exchange PlusPoints for PQP or PQF.
Source: LoyaltyLobby: United buy-miles promotion (Sep 2026) (secondary source)
Expiry and reactivation
Whether miles expire, what keeps them alive and how to get them back.
Do United MileagePlus miles expire?
No. Since 28 August 2019 MileagePlus award miles never expire, giving members a lifetime to use them on flights, experiences and hotels. See do miles expire.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
What counts as activity to keep United MileagePlus miles from expiring?
None is needed. United announced on 28 August 2019 that MileagePlus award miles never expire, giving members a lifetime to use them on flights, experiences and hotels, so there is no activity clock to keep running. See do miles expire.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
Can expired United MileagePlus miles be reinstated, and at what cost?
There is nothing to reinstate because miles do not expire; miles forfeited for cause (closure, death or rule breaches) cannot be restored.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus expiration and forfeiture rules (secondary source)
Are United MileagePlus elite members or cardholders exempt from expiry?
Everyone is: miles never expire for any member, elite or not, since the 2019 policy change.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
How do I check when my United MileagePlus miles expire?
You do not need to; MileagePlus miles carry no expiry date, so your account shows a balance only.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
What is the cheapest way to keep United MileagePlus miles active?
Nothing is required; miles stay valid indefinitely without activity.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
Does United MileagePlus close inactive accounts?
Not for inactivity alone, but the rules allow United to forfeit miles if a member fails to respond to repeated communications about the account, so keep your contact details current.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus expiration and forfeiture rules (secondary source)
Does a bank transfer or a purchase of miles reset the United MileagePlus expiry clock?
Irrelevant for United: there is no expiry clock to reset, so bank transfers and purchases simply add to a balance that never expires.
Source: United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019)
Baggage, seats, lounges and travel perks
What members and elites get at the airport and on board.
What is the standard checked baggage allowance on United Airlines, and how does status change it?
Without status the first checked bag is a paid extra (prepaying online saves $5) and the limit is 50 lb. Premier Silver gets one free bag at 70 lb domestically and two internationally, Gold two (three internationally), and Platinum and 1K three at 70 lb each; premium cabins get three bags for everyone.
Source: Upgraded Points: United baggage fees (secondary source)
Which lounges can United MileagePlus members access, and how?
United Clubs. United says customers get in with a United Club membership, a one-time pass or Star Alliance Gold status, or by flying in an eligible premium cabin.
Source: United newsroom: fourth United Club in Denver (Jul 2025)
Can I buy lounge access on United Airlines without status?
Yes: a one-time United Club pass costs $59 and now admits you only within three hours of departure (no time limit on connections, and not accepted at grab-and-go Clubs), or buy an individual membership for $750 or 94,000 miles a year.
Source: The Points Guy: United Club access and membership changes (secondary source)
Who gets priority check-in, security and boarding on United Airlines?
Global Services and Premier 1K pre-board with active US military, customers with disabilities and families with children two and under; Group 1 is Premier Platinum, Gold, Star Alliance Gold and premium-cabin passengers; Group 2 is Premier Silver, Star Alliance Silver, United cardholders and anyone who bought Premier Access or Priority Boarding. Since October 2025 Groups 3 to 5 board by seat position (window, middle, aisle) with basic economy last.
Source: Upgraded Points: United boarding groups (secondary source)
Does United Airlines offer same-day changes or standby, and is it free for elites?
Yes. Since 1 January 2021 any United customer can fly standby free on a flight leaving the same day between the same origin and destination airports when space is available, and Premier members from Silver up can confirm a seat free on a different same-day flight between the same cities, in the same fare class, when space is available.
Does United Airlines offer free Wi-Fi to United MileagePlus members?
Yes. Starlink Wi-Fi is free for MileagePlus members and works on several devices at once, such as a phone, tablet and laptop. More than 400 United planes had Starlink in June 2026, United expects close to 1,000 by the end of 2026 and its entire widebody fleet by summer 2027, and you are notified before the flight if your aircraft has it.
Do United MileagePlus elite benefits extend to a companion on the same booking?
Partly. Premier members get preferred seating for up to eight companions on the same reservation, Premier Gold gets complimentary Economy Plus for one companion and Premier Platinum for up to eight, and all tiers get priority check-in, security and boarding.
Source: Upgraded Points: how to get United elite status (secondary source)
Can United MileagePlus elites use partner airline lounges when flying partners?
Yes, from Premier Gold up: Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K members carry Star Alliance Gold status and can use lounges when travelling with Star Alliance partners.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Do I get elite benefits when flying on an award ticket in United MileagePlus?
Yes, and since 1 February 2026 that includes upgrades: Complimentary Premier Upgrades and PlusPoints upgrades now apply to award tickets for every Premier tier.
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus 2026 changes (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus status come with hotel, car rental or other partner status?
Yes, with Marriott: United Premier Gold, Platinum and 1K members get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status (Premier Silver does not), and Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador Elite members get United Premier Silver in return.
Alliances and partnerships
Which alliance the airline belongs to, its non-alliance partners and joint ventures.
Which alliance is United Airlines in, and since when?
Star Alliance, which United's annual report calls the largest and most comprehensive airline alliance in the world. The report lists 24 other members: Aegean, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Copa, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian, EVA Air, LOT, Lufthansa, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS, TAP Air Portugal, THAI and Turkish Airlines, and MileagePlus members earn miles on their flights. ITA Airways has since joined, on 1 April 2026. See the Star Alliance guide.
Which airlines are United Airlines's partners outside its alliance?
Outside Star Alliance, United's 2025 annual report lists independent alliance agreements with Aer Lingus, Air Dolomiti, Airlink, Azul, Cape Air, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, Emirates, Eurowings, flydubai, Hawaiian Airlines, ITA Airways, JetBlue, JSX (JetSuiteX), Olympic Air and Virgin Australia.
Which joint ventures is United Airlines part of, and what do they mean for United MileagePlus members?
Four, according to United's 2025 annual report: a transatlantic joint business with Air Canada and the Lufthansa Group, a transpacific one with ANA, one with Air New Zealand on US to New Zealand routes and a US to Canada transborder one with Air Canada. United says these arrangements integrate the partners' services in each region to give travellers more competitive flight schedules, fares and services.
Which partners has United MileagePlus added or lost recently?
The biggest recent airline addition is JetBlue. Under the Blue Sky collaboration announced in May 2025, with the first benefits due from autumn 2025, MileagePlus members can earn and use miles on most JetBlue flights, book JetBlue on united.com and in the United app, and keep their loyalty benefits (priority boarding, preferred and extra-legroom seats, same-day standby or switch) when flying JetBlue. It is an interline agreement rather than a codeshare, so each airline keeps its own flight numbers.
Source: United newsroom: JetBlue and United Blue Sky collaboration (May 2025)
Which hotel loyalty programs partner with United MileagePlus?
Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Wyndham Rewards, Choice Privileges, Accor Live Limitless, Shangri-La Circle and Best Western, all of which convert points to miles (Best Western pays per stay).
Source: The Points Guy: United airline, hotel and credit card partners (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus partner with any low-cost carriers?
Yes: Eurowings and Flydubai are earning and redemption partners (Flydubai only on select Dubai routes ticketed with a United Newark-Dubai flight).
Source: The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus have rail partners?
No, MileagePlus has no rail partners; its non-air travel partners include United Cruises, Lyft and car rental companies.
Source: The Points Guy: United airline, hotel and credit card partners (secondary source)
Which other frequent flyer programs are best for booking United Airlines flights?
Avianca LifeMiles and Air Canada Aeroplan, both Star Alliance programs with fixed charts: LifeMiles prices short US domestic United awards from 7,500 miles and US to Europe business at 63,000, Aeroplan 55,000 for the same business seat, against United's own dynamic pricing. Singapore KrisFlyer works but is dearer (72,000 to Europe), and all of them can only book United saver space. See booking partner awards.
Source: The Points Guy: booking United awards through partners (secondary source)
Do United Airlines's regional or subsidiary carriers earn and redeem in United MileagePlus the same way?
Yes. United Express flights, operated for United by CommuteAir, GoJet, Mesa, Republic and SkyWest, earn MileagePlus miles just as United flights do, and awards are redeemed across both: members used about 10.9 million flight awards on United and United Express in 2025.
Program rules, ownership and selling
What the terms say about who owns miles, selling, brokers and enforcement.
Who owns United MileagePlus miles: the member or the airline?
United. The rules say mileage is maintained in the account until redeemed or otherwise forfeited, and United can forfeit it for prohibited conduct, legal requirements, closure, death or ignored communications; transfers of rewards need United's prior consent.
Source: AwardWallet: United MileagePlus expiration and forfeiture rules (secondary source)
Do the United MileagePlus terms prohibit selling or bartering miles?
Yes. United's terms state that the sale or barter, or attempted sale or barter, of any rewards is expressly prohibited, and that transfers require United's prior consent; breaking program rules is listed as grounds for forfeiting miles.
Source: MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions
What can United MileagePlus do if it finds miles were sold or awards were bought?
United's MileagePlus Exclusives terms list prohibited conduct, including fraud, attempted fraud and misrepresentation, as grounds for United to remove or cancel any or all accrued mileage in the account. The same terms state that the sale or barter, or attempted sale or barter, of any rewards is expressly prohibited, and that miles are not refundable once redeemed.
Source: MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions
Is it against the United MileagePlus rules to book an award for someone who pays me for it?
Booking for anyone is allowed, but accepting payment turns it into a sale or barter of a reward, which the terms expressly prohibit and which can cost you the miles in your account.
Source: MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions
Can United MileagePlus change its rules or devalue miles without notice?
Yes, and it has. In June 2023 United raised international award prices by 21% to 122% overnight with no advance notice (Honolulu to Nagoya business went from 45,000 to 100,000 miles, mainland US to Japan economy from 35,000 to 55,000), and members learned of it from travel blogs rather than an email.
Source: The Points Guy: United devalues awards worldwide (2023) (secondary source)
Are United MileagePlus miles taxable?
Not in the US when earned by flying or spending: miles are treated as rebates rather than income. The recognised exception is miles paid as interest or a bonus for opening a bank account, which can be reported as income.
Source: One Mile at a Time: can you sell airline miles (secondary source)
Where are the full United MileagePlus terms and conditions?
On united.com under MileagePlus > Program rules (the page needs JavaScript to load); MileagePlus Exclusives redemptions have their own terms at exclusives.mileageplus.com.
How does selling United MileagePlus miles through Points Plug work?
Points Plug buys United MileagePlus miles in balances of 50,000 or more and pays 0.99¢ to 1.18¢ per mile depending on the balance. You get a quote on the United MileagePlus page, our team confirms the details, the miles are used to book travel for our customers through your account, and you are paid within 24 to 48 hours of the booking. The rates page explains how offers are set.
Source: Points Plug: how it works
What are United MileagePlus miles worth?
Published valuations put United MileagePlus miles at 1.20¢ to 1.30¢ each, about 1.24¢ on average, as of 2026-09-22. Premium-cabin partner awards can beat that and merchandise or cash-style redemptions fall below it. The valuation page lists each source and the redemptions behind the range.
Customer service and tools
Reaching the program, security, statements and useful tools.
How do I contact United MileagePlus customer service?
Call the MileagePlus Service Center on 1-800-421-4655 (United general reservations are 1-800-864-8331), or use the online contact form on united.com.
What are the United MileagePlus service centre hours, and is there a dedicated elite line?
United does not publish MileagePlus Service Center hours on the pages that render without JavaScript, but Premier members have a dedicated Premier Priority Desk, and the contact centre offers to text you and help by SMS instead of keeping you on hold.
Source: The Points Guy: contacting airlines on social media (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus offer online chat or messaging support?
Yes. The United app lets you call, text or video chat with a United agent who can do everything an airport agent can, including rebooking, seats, upgrades and standby; at hub airports the Agent on Demand QR codes connect you to the same service from your phone.
Source: United newsroom: automatic rebooking and vouchers in the app (2023)
What do I do if my United MileagePlus account is hacked or miles are stolen?
Call the MileagePlus Service Center (1-800-421-4655) and keep a record of the call. When miles went missing from an account through a United system error, agents logged it and promised the miles back within 72 hours, though it took a second call to get movement, so chase if the redeposit does not appear.
Source: The Points Guy: missing United miles case (secondary source)
How do I see my United MileagePlus activity statement and past redemptions?
Sign in and open My Account on united.com or in the app: it shows your activity with sections for Premier progress, wallet, award activity and upgrade activity, so past redemptions and upgrade requests are listed there.
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus support two-factor authentication?
Only partly: United has been rolling out two-factor authentication to selected MileagePlus members as a test rather than offering it to everyone, so most accounts still rely on the password alone. Use a unique password and check the account activity regularly.
Source: The Points Guy: protecting loyalty accounts from breaches (secondary source)
How do I escalate a complaint about United MileagePlus?
Start with the Help Center on united.com, which routes complaints to the contact centre, a Facebook private message, an X direct message or the app's call, text and video chat; Premier members can escalate through the Premier Priority Desk, which is staffed for elite travellers.
Source: The Points Guy: contacting airlines on social media (secondary source)
Which languages does United MileagePlus customer service support?
The Agent on Demand text chat has built-in translation so customers can write to United agents in more than 100 languages.
Special cases
Infants, unaccompanied minors, pets, medical needs, military and students.
What does an infant cost on a United MileagePlus award ticket?
Free on domestic US awards as a lap infant; taxes and fees only between the US and Canada, Mexico or the US Virgin Islands; 10% of the adult fare capped at $250 plus taxes on other international awards.
Source: AwardWallet: United award travel rules (secondary source)
Can an unaccompanied minor travel on a United MileagePlus award ticket?
Yes, but book carefully. A child ticketed separately on their own miles is flagged as an unaccompanied minor even when travelling with parents, which blocks online check-in and automatic family seating (one family paid about $50 each way for seats). Miles pooling, which lets up to five members share miles with no age limit, avoids this by putting the whole family on one award reservation.
Source: The Points Guy: booking awards with children's miles (secondary source)
Can I pay pet fees with miles on United Airlines, and do pet fees earn miles?
The in-cabin pet fee is $125 per one-way itinerary, plus another $125 when a US itinerary has a stopover over four hours or an international one over 24 hours. The pet policy does not offer payment in miles, and pet fees are not among the purchases listed as earning miles.
Source: The Points Guy: United pet policy (secondary source)
Does United MileagePlus offer military, veteran or government member benefits?
Not as a MileagePlus tier, but United gives active-duty military three free checked bags at up to 70 lb each and military dependents travelling on orders two free bags, and active US military pre-board ahead of Group 1.
Source: Upgraded Points: United baggage fees (secondary source)
How do I request wheelchair or accessibility assistance on a United MileagePlus award booking?
When searching on united.com or the app you can enter your wheelchair's dimensions and the results flag the flights whose cargo door can take it; if that forces you onto a pricier United flight the same day between the same cities, you can claim the fare difference back on a form after travel. Ramp staff get a mobile alert when a wheelchair is on the flight so it is loaded and returned promptly.
Source: United newsroom: improvements for customers who use wheelchairs (2023)
Recent changes and what is coming
Devaluations, renames, new partners and how the program announces changes.
What are the most recent major changes to United MileagePlus?
A major one was announced in February 2026: for tickets bought from 2 April 2026, United cardholders earn more (9 miles per dollar for a general member with the Explorer card, up to 17 for a 1K with the Club card), general members need a United card to earn miles on Basic Economy, and cardholders save at least 10% on United award flights (15% with Premier status), with Polaris Saver seats from 72,000 or 68,000 miles.
Source: United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026)
Has United MileagePlus changed its name or currency recently?
Only in spelling: the program launched in May 1981 as Mileage Plus and became MileagePlus, one word, in June 2011 when it absorbed Continental's OnePass after the merger. The currency has always been miles.
Source: The Points Guy: evolution of frequent flyer programs (secondary source)
When did United MileagePlus last devalue its award prices?
The most recent hit was 2 April 2026, when general members without a United card dropped to 3 miles per dollar and stopped earning award miles on Basic Economy (they still earn PQP). On the redemption side, award charts disappeared in 2019 and domestic floors jumped from 5,000 to 12,500 miles one-way in April 2020.
Source: The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide (secondary source)
What changes has United MileagePlus announced for the coming year?
PlusPoints upgrade pricing goes dynamic in February 2027, varying by route, cabin and demand; from 2027 one-million-mile Million Miler companions receive Premier Gold rather than the member's tier; and tiered Base, Standard and Flexible fares in Polaris and Premium Plus expand to more routes through 2026.
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus 2026 changes (secondary source)
How does United MileagePlus notify members of changes?
Through the What's New with MileagePlus page on united.com: the May 2025 announcement there gave three months' notice of the Excursionist Perk ending (21 August 2025) and six months' notice of the upgrade award chart coming off united.com (24 November 2025). Award price changes, by contrast, have appeared with no notice at all.
Source: One Mile at a Time: United upgrade and stopover changes (May 2025) (secondary source)
What changed most recently in how United MileagePlus elite status is earned?
Thresholds are frozen for 2026, but Premier 1K members now earn extra PlusPoints from card spend (1 January 2026), all tiers can upgrade award tickets (1 February 2026), starter PQP deposits of 300 to 1,400 returned, and card PQP caps moved (1,500 for the Bank of America card, 2,000 for First Hawaiian Bank).
Source: Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus 2026 changes (secondary source)
When was United MileagePlus founded?
In 1981: United celebrated MileagePlus's 40th anniversary in May 2021. It introduced its Premier elite program in 1983 and its first loyalty credit card in 1987, and made award miles non-expiring in 2019.
Pages these answers were read from
- United newsroom: Lyft pay-with-miles launch (Apr 2026) · official page
- United newsroom: MileagePlus miles pooling launch (Mar 2024) · official page
- Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus program guide · secondary source
- United newsroom: new United app features (Dec 2025) · official page
- The Points Guy: updating accounts after a name change · secondary source
- AwardWallet: United MileagePlus expiration and forfeiture rules · secondary source
- MileagePlus Exclusives: contact us · official page
- The Points Guy: retroactive mileage credit · secondary source
- United PerksPlus terms and conditions · official page
- The Points Guy: United MileagePlus program guide · secondary source
- United newsroom: cardholder earning and award discounts (Feb 2026) · official page
- AwardWallet: United MileagePlus program overview · secondary source
- United: how to earn Premier status (Premier qualification page) · official page
- AwardWallet: how to earn United PQP on United and partner flights · secondary source
- The Points Guy: United airline, hotel and credit card partners · secondary source
- The Points Guy: non-alliance airline partners · secondary source
- The Points Guy: United partners earning guide · secondary source
- The Points Guy: what to do about missing miles · secondary source
- Chase: United credit cards · official page
- Chase: United Quest card · official page
- AwardWallet: United MileagePlus transfer partners · secondary source
- Chase: how to transfer Ultimate Rewards points · official page
- Frequent Miler: current transfer bonuses · secondary source
- United Airlines: 2025 annual report (Form 10-K) · official page
- AwardWallet: United MileagePlus Shopping portal guide · secondary source
- MileagePlus Dining · official page
- United: MileagePlus Travel car rentals · official page
- The Points Guy: earning miles from surveys · secondary source
- LoyaltyLobby: United buy-miles promotion (Sep 2026) · secondary source
- United: buy, gift or transfer MileagePlus miles · official page
- United newsroom: MileagePlus and customer news releases · official page
- United Cruises: miles earned on a cruise booking · official page
- AwardWallet: United Mile Play promotions · secondary source
- Upgraded Points: United MileagePlus 2026 changes · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: United status match and challenge guide · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: United Million Miler lifetime status guide · secondary source
- The Points Guy: what is United Premier status · secondary source
- The Points Guy: United Club access and membership changes · secondary source
- AwardWallet: complete guide to United PlusPoints · secondary source
- AwardWallet: United award travel rules · secondary source
- The Points Guy: how United award pricing varies by account · secondary source
- AwardWallet: how to book a United award · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: United upgrade and stopover changes (May 2025) · secondary source
- United newsroom: Lyft and United partnership (Nov 2025) · official page
- The Points Guy: booking premium economy with miles · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: redeeming United miles · secondary source
- AwardWallet: unofficial MileagePlus partner award chart · secondary source
- The Points Guy: booking United awards through partners · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: airline award ticket change and cancellation fees · secondary source
- The Points Guy: taxes and fees on award tickets · secondary source
- Upgraded Points: how to cancel a United flight · secondary source
- The Points Guy: how long award refunds take · secondary source
- United investor relations: MileagePlus miles never expire (Aug 2019) · official page
- United newsroom: automatic rebooking and vouchers in the app (2023) · official page
- The Points Guy: searching Star Alliance award availability · secondary source
- The Points Guy: phantom award space · secondary source
- Frequent Miler: trends in United cardholder award availability · secondary source
- The Points Guy: United Premier status and PlusPoints changes for 2026 · secondary source
- Upgraded Points: how to upgrade on United · secondary source
- The Points Guy: United miles-and-cash upgrades · secondary source
- MileagePlus Exclusives: redemption terms and conditions · official page
- United newsroom: Starlink Wi-Fi rollout (Jun 2026) · official page
- United: MileagePlus Miles on a Mission terms (May 2026) · official page
- Upgraded Points: United baggage fees · secondary source
- United newsroom: fourth United Club in Denver (Jul 2025) · official page
- Upgraded Points: United boarding groups · secondary source
- United newsroom: change fees eliminated (Aug 2020) · official page
- Upgraded Points: how to get United elite status · secondary source
- Marriott Bonvoy: United MileagePlus partnership · official page
- United newsroom: JetBlue and United Blue Sky collaboration (May 2025) · official page
- The Points Guy: United devalues awards worldwide (2023) · secondary source
- One Mile at a Time: can you sell airline miles · secondary source
- United: MileagePlus program rules · official page
- The Points Guy: contacting airlines on social media · secondary source
- The Points Guy: missing United miles case · secondary source
- The Points Guy: protecting loyalty accounts from breaches · secondary source
- United newsroom: Agent on Demand launch (2020) · official page
- The Points Guy: booking awards with children's miles · secondary source
- The Points Guy: United pet policy · secondary source
- United newsroom: improvements for customers who use wheelchairs (2023) · official page
- The Points Guy: evolution of frequent flyer programs · secondary source
- United newsroom: 40 years of MileagePlus (May 2021) · official page