United Airways is by far essentially the most world of the “massive three” US carriers, and understandably, lots of people might need to accrue miles with the MileagePlus program, to jet off on adventures. On this publish, I’d prefer to take a (comparatively) transient have a look at MileagePlus miles, and one of the best makes use of of them.
Relating to redeeming miles, I are likely to assume that United MileagePlus is someplace between American AAdvantage and Delta SkyMiles, although sadly most likely nearer to the latter (I worth MileagePlus miles at 1.1 cents every). Let’s discuss among the logistics of redeeming MileagePlus miles, plus what I’d take into account one of the best makes use of to be.
Methods to earn United MileagePlus miles
There are tons of how to earn United MileagePlus miles. In fact the obvious approach is by flying with United and Star Alliance airways, and crediting flights to MileagePlus. Nevertheless, there are many different methods to earn the miles as effectively:
Fundamentals of redeeming United MileagePlus miles
Let me go over the logistics of redeeming MileagePlus miles, from the mileage expiration coverage, to alter charges, and far more.
United MileagePlus miles don’t expire
United MileagePlus miles don’t expire, in order that’s a pleasant coverage. You by no means have to fret about conserving your miles alive, as they’ll proceed to be legitimate, even with out account exercise.
United MileagePlus has no change & redeposit charges
United MileagePlus has no change or cancelation charges, so you may change or redeposit an award without charge, and even get the taxes and charges that you simply paid again. This provides superior flexibility, and is one main upside in comparison with the Star Alliance’s two different most profitable frequent flyer applications, that are Air Canada Aeroplan and avianca lifemiles.
United MileagePlus has dynamic(ish) award pricing
United MileagePlus doesn’t publish an award chart, each for journey on United and for journey on companion airways. So throughout the board, pricing can change at any time.
Award pricing for United flights is in every single place and always fluctuating. Nevertheless, there may be some consistency to companion award pricing, so whereas the costs aren’t revealed, we’ve a normal sense of how a lot a companion award will value. Word that the bottom degree award prices get marginally dearer because the departure date approaches.
United MileagePlus awards depend for elite standing
Should you’re going for elite standing with United MileagePlus, it’s cool that award flights doubtlessly depend towards elite standing. Particularly, if you happen to redeem MileagePlus miles for journey on United or United Specific, you’ll obtain one Premier Qualifying Level (PQP) for each 100 miles redeemed, in addition to one Premier Qualifying Flight (PQF) for each flight accomplished. In different phrases, United is valuing every MileagePlus mile at one cent for these functions.
Word that award flights don’t depend towards MileagePlus lifetime elite standing, which continues to be based mostly on income flight miles.
United MileagePlus has no service imposed surcharges
United MileagePlus doesn’t add service imposed surcharges to award tickets, so that you received’t pay airline imposed charges that within the a whole bunch of {dollars}. In fact taxes on tickets can nonetheless add up, with issues just like the UK Air Passenger Responsibility (APD).
United MileagePlus provides mileage pooling
United MileagePlus is the one one of many “massive three” US loyalty applications to supply mileage pooling. With this, a member can invite as much as 4 household or mates to hitch their pool. The key catch is that pooled miles can solely be used for award flights on United, and never for award flights on companion airways. That limits the usefulness of this characteristic, for my part.
United MileagePlus allows you to redeem on Star Alliance & extra
Since United is within the Star Alliance, you may redeem your miles throughout all Star Alliance airways (topic to availability). You may also redeem your MileagePlus miles on a number of airways that don’t belong to the Star Alliance (in some circumstances because of technicalities), starting from Aer Lingus, to Air Dolomiti, to Azul, to Cape Air, to Uncover Airways, to Edelweiss Air, to Eurowings.
All of those companions could be booked straight via united.com, or the United cellular app. Moreover, I’ve to offer United credit score for constantly and precisely displaying award availability on-line, as that’s one thing that another applications wrestle with.
The problem with United MileagePlus miles
Earlier than we focus on one of the best makes use of of United MileagePlus miles, I needed to speak about what I take into account to be the largest weak point of United MileagePlus miles. Merely put, if you happen to’re trying to redeem for premium cabin journey on Star Alliance airways, MileagePlus typically doesn’t have award pricing that’s aggressive to what you’d discover via Air Canada Aeroplan or avianca lifemiles.
Now, if you happen to’re straight accruing MileagePlus miles (both via flying or a United co-branded bank card), then that’s a moot level, since you may’t switch miles to a different program. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re incomes Chase Final Rewards factors (or one other Star Alliance mileage program), then I’d typically argue that there are applications far more profitable than MileagePlus. For that matter, different applications promote miles at far more engaging prices, all whereas having decrease redemption charges.
For instance, need to redeem miles for Lufthansa firstclass one-way from Frankfurt to Chicago? Air Canada Aeroplan fees 100,000 factors, whereas United MileagePlus fees 140,000 miles. I believe it’s fairly apparent which program provides higher worth
My level is solely to say that even if you happen to’re a United loyalist, don’t essentially assume that you simply’re greatest off transferring your Final Rewards factors to MileagePlus in comparison with one other companion. It’s completely value doing all of your analysis and exploring different applications for redemptions as effectively. I’ve shared what I take into account to be essentially the most helpful applications for award redemptions.
One of the best makes use of of United MileagePlus miles
Usually talking, you’re going to get essentially the most outsized worth to your miles if you happen to’re redeeming internationally in first and enterprise class. If there’s saver degree award availability (which might after all be powerful to seek out), United’s premium cabin pricing is usually okay, however there are often rivals with decrease award charges.
Originating in the USA, there are two companion awards the place I discover United MileagePlus to be one of the best. The primary is flying from the USA to Africa in enterprise class, the place you’ll pay simply 88,000 miles one-way. That’s an incredible value, given the gap of journey, and is healthier pricing than you’ll discover with most different applications.
As a matter of truth, you’ll discover that enterprise class to Africa usually prices lower than enterprise class to Europe, regardless of the itinerary being double the gap. So if you wish to go to Africa, MileagePlus miles are superior.
Whereas that is area of interest, it’s additionally cool how United has a detailed partnership with Copa, and has entry to a whole lot of further award availability on the airline. If you wish to redeem miles for Copa enterprise class, you may typically count on to pay 88,000 miles one-way from the USA to deep in South America. Given the quantity of award availability there may be (which isn’t accessible to different companions), I’d say that’s fairly an excellent alternative.
Aside from that, I’d say most MileagePlus premium cabin awards go into the “meh” class, the place they’re an excellent possibility if there’s saver availability and you’ve got MileagePlus miles, whereas they’re hardly ever one of the best pricing you’ll discover with any program, so subsequently aren’t value transferring factors over.
United does with some frequency launch final minute saver degree enterprise class award availability by itself flights, and that might be an excellent deal. However once more, you’ll discover particularly good worth to Africa. For instance, I’d slightly redeem 80,000 miles one-way for enterprise class from Newark to Johannesburg than from Newark to London.
Whereas it’s not essentially the best worth, I do know that a whole lot of elite MileagePlus loyalists simply find yourself redeeming their miles for flights on United domestically. Despite the fact that the worth isn’t essentially nice, it permits them to remain on the “hamster wheel,” by awarding elite credit score for these flights.
I believe United MileagePlus miles are additionally helpful for speculative bookings, if you happen to’re undecided if you happen to’ll truly take a flight, however you desire a placeholder. Air Canada Aeroplan and avianca lifemiles do have change and cancelation charges, in order that flexibility provided by United is nice.
Backside line
United MileagePlus isn’t essentially the most profitable Star Alliance program on the subject of award pricing. When you’ve got United miles, you may nonetheless get good worth, although if you happen to’re transferring miles to United, I’d assume twice about doing that, and would as an alternative take into account one other program with higher redemption charges.
Should you ask me, the 2 markets the place MileagePlus excels are enterprise class award flights to Africa (simply 80,000-88,000 miles), in addition to award flights to South America on Copa (88,000 miles with an enormous quantity of award availability).
You received’t go mistaken with different redemptions, essentially, however you additionally received’t get outsized worth in comparison with different applications.
What’s your tackle one of the best makes use of of MileagePlus miles?
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