United MileagePlus miles will not be as helpful as they as soon as had been, however they’ve their place. You need to use them for United Airways and Star Alliance accomplice awards with no gasoline surcharges, saving you tons of of {dollars} per ticket.
Although the airline operates utilizing dynamic pricing, you possibly can nonetheless discover low-cost home award tickets and cheap pricing on long-haul worldwide business-class tickets operated by United. Due to this, it is a superb program for factors and miles newcomers who need to earn and redeem miles.
On this article, I am going to present you the perfect methods to earn United miles — lots of which do not even require stepping on a airplane.
Associated: United Airways MileagePlus: Information to incomes and redeeming miles, elite standing and extra
Earn United miles by flying
As you’d anticipate, you possibly can earn United miles by flying with the provider or one in every of its companions. Nevertheless, the way you earn United miles depends upon a number of elements, together with the airline working the flight, the way you booked the flight and your fare class. Let’s take a better look.
Flying on United
Over time, United has modified the way you earn miles when flying on United-operated flights. As a substitute of incomes miles based mostly on distance flown, you now earn miles based mostly in your ticket’s base value (not together with taxes and charges). You may additionally earn further miles when you have MileagePlus elite standing — the upper your standing, the extra miles you earn.
This is what number of miles you may earn per greenback spent based mostly in your stage of standing (these charges apply even if you happen to’re booked into United’s primary financial system fare class):
- Normal member: 5 miles
- Premier Silver: 7 miles
- Premier Gold: 8 miles
- Premier Platinum: 9 miles
- Premier 1K: 11 miles
This is an instance of how this works: In case you purchase a one-way United ticket from Chicago to Philadelphia with a base fare of $310 and $30 in taxes, you may earn 1,550 miles ($310 instances 5 miles per greenback) as a MileagePlus traveler with out standing. Nevertheless, if you happen to’re a top-tier Premier 1K member, that incomes jumps to three,410 miles ($310 instances 11 miles per greenback) .
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United flights additionally depend towards incomes Premier standing. You may earn standing based mostly on a minimal variety of Premier qualifying factors or a mix of PQPs and Premier qualifying flights. PQPs are based mostly on spending, and PQFs are based mostly on the variety of segments you fly on United or its accomplice airways.
Associated: Stunning issues I did to earn top-tier United standing
Flying on Star Alliance companions
You may earn United MileagePlus miles when flying any of United’s Star Alliance or nonalliance companions; you may earn miles based mostly on the size of your flight and fare class. Nevertheless, if you happen to e book a accomplice flight by means of United (indicated by a 016 ticket quantity), you may earn miles based mostly in your ticket fare and elite standing.
The mileage incomes charges additionally range from airline to airline. For extra particulars, try our full information to incomes MileagePlus miles with United’s companions.
United elite standing on accomplice flights
United Premier members routinely qualify for Star Alliance elite standing — which means you may get elite advantages not simply on United flights, however if you fly on any of United’s Star Alliance companions. Some Premier members can even entry elite perks like free checked baggage and precedence check-in, boarding and baggage supply on choose non-Star Alliance companions. To grasp your advantages, head to United’s accomplice web page and click on the airline you are fascinated with.
Top-of-the-line methods to qualify for United Premier standing is by flying on long-haul, premium-cabin Star Alliance tickets. As talked about, you usually earn round 1 PQP per greenback spent on United flights. Nevertheless, on accomplice airways, you possibly can generally earn over 3 PQPs for every greenback you spend. Check with our information on incomes PQPs with accomplice flights to find out how flying with United’s companions may help you qualify for United standing. Simply remember that United requires no less than 4 paid flights on United or United Categorical per 12 months to qualify for any standing stage.
Let’s unpack this by an actual instance of a Lufthansa-ticketed and -operated flight. We’ll begin with United’s incomes chart for Lufthansa, which yow will discover on United’s airline accomplice web page.
For example you are flying from New York to Munich. Your flight is booked in Z-fare enterprise class, which means you may earn 150% of the mileage flown. The flight from New York to Munich clocks in at 4,038 miles, so that you’d earn 6,057 redeemable miles (4,038 instances 1.5). As famous above, a United Premier Gold member would earn a further 50% of the standard miles earned, giving them 9,086 complete miles for this instance (6,057 instances 1.5).
To find out the space between two airports, use gcmap.com and enter your departure and arrival airport codes.
Associated: Your information to Star Alliance airways, lounges and elite standing
Earn United miles with bank cards
One other approach to earn United miles is by spending on United cobranded bank cards. You may rapidly rack up miles utilizing these playing cards to pay in your on a regular basis purchases, they usually supply profitable welcome bonuses that can provide you a hefty chunk of miles proper off the bat — as long as you meet the minimal spending requirement. A number of of those playing cards present enhanced award availability when it is time to redeem your hard-earned miles, in addition to further perks like free checked baggage, precedence boarding and lounge entry.
This is a have a look at among the finest United playing cards you should use to earn MileagePlus miles:
- United Quest℠ Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. Plus, you may earn 3 miles per greenback spent on United purchases; 2 miles per greenback spent on eating, journey and choose streaming companies; and 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases.
- United℠ Explorer Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. The cardboard earns 2 miles per greenback spent on United purchases, eating and direct lodge purchases, and 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases.
- United Membership℠ Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The cardboard earns 4 miles per greenback spent on United purchases; 2 miles per greenback spent on all different journey, eating and eligible meals supply companies; and 1 mile per greenback spent on different purchases.
- United℠ Enterprise Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open. Plus, earn 2 miles per greenback spent on United purchases, eating (together with eligible supply companies), fuel stations, workplace provide shops and native transit and commuting, and 1 mile per greenback spent on all different purchases.
Associated: The most effective bank cards for reserving flights
Switch factors to United MileagePlus
One other approach to increase your United miles steadiness is by transferring different loyalty currencies to your MileagePlus account. Let’s take a better have a look at United’s switch companions: Chase Final Rewards, Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy.
Switch Chase Final Rewards factors
Chase Final Rewards factors are a well-liked transferable forex. Though there are a lot of methods to redeem Final Rewards factors, essentially the most profitable is to switch factors to one in every of Chase’s airline or lodge switch companions, which embody United.
You may switch Chase factors to United at a 1:1 ratio, successfully turning 1,000 Final Rewards factors into 1,000 United miles, and most transfers occur immediately. Final Rewards has varied different switch companions, together with Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways Govt Membership and World of Hyatt. This added flexibility is why we suggest incomes Final Rewards factors over United miles. Plus, Chase’s suite of Final Rewards-earning bank cards could also be a greater match in your pockets as a result of they’ve broader bonus classes than United’s cobranded playing cards.
Associated: The ability of the Chase Trifecta: Sapphire Reserve, Ink Most popular and Freedom Limitless
Switch Bilt Rewards factors
The opposite bank card factors program that presently affords transfers to United is Bilt Rewards. This program is comparatively new to the factors and miles world, but it surely’s been steadily including lodge and airline switch companions, together with United. As with Chase Final Rewards, you possibly can switch your Bilt Factors to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio, and the method often takes minutes.
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Switch Marriott Bonvoy factors
One among Marriott Bonvoy’s finest perks is that you would be able to switch factors to this system’s many airline companions. You may switch Marriott factors to most airline companions at a 3:1 ratio, and you will get a 5,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 factors you switch. Nevertheless, United has a most well-liked switch charge because of the airline’s RewardsPlus partnership with Marriott, so you may get a ten,000-mile bonus for each 60,000 Marriott factors you switch to United. Meaning 60,000 Marriott factors will grow to be 30,000 United miles.
To switch Marriott factors to United, log in to your Bonvoy account, head to the “Switch Factors to Miles” web page and click on the “Switch Factors” button. Then, choose United from the airline drop-down menu, enter your United MileagePlus quantity and enter what number of factors you’d prefer to switch. Click on the “Proceed” button on the backside of the window to provoke the switch, and the miles will sometimes seem in your United account inside 48 hours.
Associated: When does it make sense to switch Marriott factors to airways?
Earn United miles with journey companions
Past airways and bank card rewards packages, United has a handful of different journey companions like cruise strains, lodges and rental automobile corporations with which you’ll earn further miles.
For example, the MileagePlus cruise portal helps you to earn as much as 4 United miles per greenback spent if you e book a crusing (or as much as 7 miles per greenback if you happen to’re a United cardholder). It is commonplace to earn as much as 45,000 bonus miles per reserving, even on low-cost cruises. It’s also possible to redeem United miles towards sailings by means of the portal, however this usually will not offer you a lot worth in your miles, so we do not suggest it.
United has a set of lodge companions, too, which helps you to earn United miles as an alternative of lodge factors in your keep. This usually will not offer you as a lot worth as incomes lodge factors, however this selection might be helpful if it is a chain you not often go to or if you happen to’re quick just a few United miles for an upcoming redemption. See our full information to United’s companions for what number of miles you possibly can earn at varied lodges.
When you have your eye on an unbiased lodge the place you would not in any other case earn rewards, you possibly can earn miles in your keep utilizing the United Accommodations portal or Rocketmiles. However costs range, so at all times be certain to match the price of the keep by means of the portal with reserving immediately.
On the subject of rental automobiles, United ended its partnership with Hertz in 2021 and now has a relationship with Avis and Price range. MileagePlus members can earn as much as 1,250 miles per qualifying rental (generally extra if there is a promotion) and save as much as 35% off base charges at Avis and Price range. To make use of these perks, e book by means of United’s automobile rental web page along with your MileagePlus loyalty quantity and Avis Worldwide Low cost quantity A791500 or Price range Buyer Low cost quantity B204900.
Associated: Methods to by no means pay full value for a rental automobile
Earn United miles with different partnerships
MileagePlus additionally has a number of non-travel-related companions. Listed below are a few of our favorites that can assist you earn additional United miles.
MileagePlus Purchasing
Like most airways, United affords an on-line purchasing portal the place you possibly can earn miles for making on a regular basis purchases on-line. Simply join a MileagePlus Purchasing account and discover your service provider on the positioning earlier than making a purchase order.
Beginning at this portal moderately than on the retailer’s web site gives you additional miles in your purchases along with the rewards you may earn utilizing your bank card of selection. This may be a good way to earn 1, 2 and even 5 further miles per greenback spent when purchasing on-line. As well as, MileagePlus Purchasing incessantly runs vacation and seasonal promotions. Maintain a watch out for these promotions and use them to earn much more in your on-line purchases.
Nevertheless, you could possibly earn extra on a purchase order at a unique purchasing portal. We suggest utilizing a purchasing portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor to see which portal affords the perfect return in your purchases.
Associated: The last word information to incomes miles with the United MileagePlus Purchasing portal
MileagePlus X app
Obtain the MileagePlus X app to earn United miles on the go. Merely put, you earn a set variety of miles per greenback spent if you use the app to purchase reward playing cards at choose retailers. The reward playing cards can be found instantly, and you should purchase them in any quantity. Taking part retailers embody main manufacturers like Walmart, Staples, Lowe’s, Regal Cinemas and Panera Bread.
This may be a good way to earn miles on purchases the place you would not usually earn a lot. For example, REI does not fall into any frequent bank card bonus classes and is not out there on most purchasing portals, however you possibly can earn bonus United miles per greenback spent if you purchase an REI reward card by means of MileagePlus X and use it to pay in your REI buy. Even higher, main United Chase cardmembers earn a 25% bonus on miles earned from MileagePlus X.
Top-of-the-line issues concerning the MileagePlus X app is that miles are awarded immediately usually. So if you happen to’re ever just a few miles away from a redemption, merely purchase a present card to a retailer or restaurant you frequent.
MileagePlus Eating
Like most different home carriers (and a few lodges), United has a eating rewards program: MileagePlus Eating.
In brief, this can be a purchasing portal for consuming out. Simply join an account and hyperlink the bank cards you employ for eating. You may earn as much as 5 miles per greenback spent (relying in your membership tier) if you swipe a linked card at taking part eating places. These earnings are along with what you earn on the bank card you employ, so you’ll want to use one that provides a bonus on eating purchases.
Primary MileagePlus Eating members earn only one mile per $2 spent, however you possibly can simply attain the following tier (Choose) by opting in to obtain e-mail communications. Doing so will increase your incomes charge to three miles per greenback spent. As soon as you’ve got made 11 eating purchases in 12 months, you may attain VIP standing and begin taking dwelling 5 miles per greenback spent.
Associated: Can I earn factors and miles from 2 eating rewards packages concurrently?
Small companies can earn rewards with PerksPlus
United’s PerksPlus program lets companies earn factors (totally different from MileagePlus miles) when their staff journey on United, United Categorical and choose companions. You may redeem these factors for United elite standing for workers, award journey certificates, United Membership memberships and extra. You need to use these to cut back worker journey prices or improve their journey expertise. PerksPlus factors are earned along with the miles an worker earns when touring, so each events win. Take a look at United’s PerksPlus web site to be taught extra and enroll.
Purchase United miles
In case you want United miles in a pinch, you should purchase them from the airline. Sadly, that is often fairly costly.
The usual value for United miles is $35 per 1,000 miles, which comes out to three.5 cents apiece — nicely above TPG’s September 2024 valuation of 1.35 cents — so it is not often price it except it’s essential purchase a small variety of miles to prime up for an award. This value might go down if you happen to can benefit from a promotion on shopping for factors or miles, however generally, we suggest shopping for miles solely when you could have a selected redemption in thoughts and have already discovered bookable award house.
Associated: When does it make sense to purchase factors and miles?
Backside line
As you possibly can see, there are a lot of methods you possibly can earn United miles. Essentially the most strong method is to make use of some or all the above strategies in tandem — you may unlock some terrific incomes charges that may rapidly get you inside placing distance of your subsequent award journey.
