United MileagePlus Program: Cracking the Essence of Using Miles

The United MileagePlus is a rewarding loyalty program launched by United Airlines, which is one of the largest airlines in the world. This program lets its frequent flyers earn miles on traveling with United Airlines or its partner airlines, get upgrades, and avail exclusive benefits. This program has been designed to recognize and reward loyal customers for their continued travel with the airline. 

The best part is that these miles never expire and can be redeemed anytime. 

This article takes you through the integral aspects of the MileagePlus program, its benefits, and how to earn and redeem miles. 

Discover more!

How to Join the United Airlines MileagePlus Program?

You can create an account for the United MileagePlus Loyalty Program on the official website of the airline, and there are no charges. You may need to enter details including first name, last name, date of birth, gender, and email id for the same. Once you join the program, you can log into your account using the account credentials. 

However, you may be asked to go through the verification process whether you sign in through the website of the mobile app of the airline. This ensures that the account is being accessed by an authentic user. 

It is worthwhile to mention that you can earn a MileagePlus member status based on the 5 following categories: 

• General Member
• Premier Silver
• Premier Gold
• Premier Platinum
• Premier 1K®

You may keep attaining every next status by fulfilling certain criteria defined by United Airlines. 

Benefits of United MileagePlus Program

There are various exclusive benefits associated with this program. 

• Priority check-in and boarding
• Extra baggage allowance
• Complimentary upgrades to higher class on flights 
• Priority access to airport lounges
• Dedicated customer service phone line
• Deals, offers, and promotions 

How to Earn Miles Using the United MileagePlus Program?

Here is a detailed view of how you can earn miles. 

1. Through United Airlines Flights 

You can earn miles whenever you purchase an eligible ticket to fly with United Airlines. You are required to add your MileagePlus number to your flight booking. The number must be displayed on your boarding pass when you mark your check in at the airport. 

Whatever miles you earn are credited within 48 hours of the landing of your flight operated by United Airlines or United Express. Nevertheless, you may contact the United Airlines team through its website, if miles do not reflect in your MileagePlus account.  

It is important to note that the type of ticket, your MileagePlus status on the date when you need to catch a flight, the ticketing airline, and the operating airline are certain factors that decide how many miles you can earn on your flight.  

Moreover, United Airlines also lets you earn Premier® qualifying points (PQP) in case of some of the flights. But you need to earn MileagePlus Premier status page for the same. 

If you purchase a ticket issued by United Airlines, you are eligible to earn 5 miles on every dollar on the base fare. The miles may go up to a maximum of 75,000 per ticket. This does not include purchases or bonuses from promotional schemes. This is valid for the flights that are run by United and United Express. 

In fact, this rule also remains the same for your flight tickets that are purchased for Star Alliance™ and MileagePlus partner airlines. But they are issued by United Airlines (starting with numbers 016). 

Premier status members can get bonus miles on every flight. But the number of miles depends on the ticket fare and their status level on the date of their flight.

2. Through Star Alliance Partner Network Flights 

Since United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance network, you, as a MileagePlus member, may choose to fly with an airline belonging to this network. This will help you earn miles, which can be used to get Star Alliance Upgrade Awards on some of the defined flights.

MileagePlus® Premier® members can also enjoy Star Alliance™ Silver or Gold status. This status brings you exclusive benefits such as priority airport standby, priority check-in and boarding, free checked bags, and other global benefits, on traveling with a Star Alliance flight. 

Moreover, the Star Alliance Gold status is a great way to enjoy complimentary access to a vast network of lounges comprising over 1000 locations.

So, book a flight with any of these Star Alliance network airlines and earn miles: 

• Aegean Airlines
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• ANA
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca
• Brussels Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• EgyptAir
• Ethiopian Airlines
• EVA Airways
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• SAS
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• Swiss International Air Lines
• TAP Air Portugal
• THAI Airways International
• Turkish Airlines
• Juneyao Air (Star Alliance Connecting Partner)

3. Through Flight Reservations with Partner Airlines 

You can also earn miles if you book flights with any of these airlines that are in partnership with United Airlines. 

• Aer Lingus
• Air Dolomiti
• Airlink
• Azul
• Boutique Air
• Cape Air
• Discover Airlines
• Edelweiss
• Emirates
• Eurowings
• Flydubai
• Hawaiian Airlines
• JSX
• Lufthansa City Airlines
• Olympic Air
• Silver Airways
• Virgin Australia
• Vistara

Please Note: A hold for 24 hours is required in case of some of the partner airlines. You will receive an email when your booking and seat selection with the chosen partner airline gets confirmed.

4. Through United Credit Cards 

You can use any of the following United Airlines Personal Credit Cards from Chase to earn miles. 

• United Gateway^SM Card – 30,000 Bonus miles 
• United^SM Explorer Card – 60,000 Bonus miles  
• United Quest^SM Card – 70,000 Bonus miles + 500 PQP
• United Club^SM Infinite Card – 90,000 Bonus miles 

You can also use any of the following United Airlines Business Credit Cards from Chase to earn miles. 

• United^SM Business Card – 75,000 Bonus miles
• United Club^SM Business Card – 50000 Bonus miles + 1000 PQP

You can pay for hotel stays, car rentals, streaming services, and many more purchases through these eligible cards and earn miles. 

How to Achieve United MileagePlus Premier Status?

There are two qualifying factors counted from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024 i.e., the calendar year. If you fulfil the criterion mentioned in any one of these factors, you will be eligible for the Premier status. Your status will be considered active or valid from the day you qualify for it till the end of the program year i.e., on 31st January 2026.

Let’s take a look at the two qualifying factors: 

1. Combination of PQF and PQP

PQF means Premier Qualifying Flights, while PQP means Premier Qualifying Points. 

So, the status upgrade is based on the number of flight segments. Besides, four flights out of these must be directly run by United Airlines or United Express. This is about PQF. 

Now PQP is related to the base fare and surcharge on flight purchases, as defined by the carrier, along with purchases made for seating and other paid upgrades.

Thus, a combination of the above two conditions can earn you Premier status.

2. Attain a Higher PQP Goal

If you are not able to achieve what is mentioned in Point 1, you may set a goal for PQP. A higher amount of Premier qualifying points as well as at least 4 segments flown on United or United Express can earn you the Premier MileagePlus status.

Thus, considering the above-mentioned criteria, you, as a general MileagePlus member, can earn the next higher status in the Premier Membership category, on the following basis. 

Premier Silver

By earning a combination of 12 PQF and 4000 PQP or 5000 PQP.

Premier Gold

By earning a combination of 24 PQF and 8000 PQP or 10000 PQP. You can enjoy lifetime status on collecting 1 million miles.

Premier Platinum

By earning a combination of 36 PQF and 12000 PQP or 15000 PQP. You can enjoy lifetime status on collecting 2 million miles.

Premier 1K

By earning a combination of 54 PQF and 18000 PQP or 24000 PQP. You can enjoy lifetime status on collecting 3 million miles.

How to Earn Premier® Qualifying Points (PQP)?

As a MileagePlus member, you can earn PQP on flights operated by United® and United Express®; flights operated by the Star Alliance™ and connecting partners of United Airlines; and flights operated by Discover Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Azul, Virgin Australia, Eurowings, Edelweiss, Lufthansa City Airlines, and Olympic Air.

Not only this, even if you purchase Economy Plus® seat or Economy Plus subscription; purchase a preferred seat; get upgrades (paid) done on United® or United Express® operated flights; purchase MileagePlus Upgrade Awards; purchase United® or United Express® operated award flights; or purchase eligible credit cards that are co-branded then also you are eligible to earn PQP. 

You can earn PQP even on bulk tickets as well for flights that are operated by United Airlines. This earning goes as per a formula: the earned award miles are divided by 5.

Important Note: A credit of PQF and PQP is processed to the account of the member who travels. It does not get credited to the account of the member who purchases tickets. For example, if you purchase a MileagePlus Upgrade Award or Economy Plus subscription for gifting purpose then the member who will travel on the flight will get the credit of PQF and PQP. 

How to Check if Your Flight is Eligible for PQP or Not?

You can PQP in case of the following: 

• All the flights that are operated by United and United Express can earn you PQP. It does not matter where you purchased your ticket. These flights may also be marketed by another airline or operation on the ticket of another airline. 

• Even if you redeem your MileagePlus miles for a United or United Express award flight or you pay for your regular shopping or purchases through one of the co-branded credit cards (if eligible) then also you are entitled to earn PQP. You can get 25 PQP for every US$500 spent using any of these cards – United Explorer Card, United Quest Card, or United Club Infinite Card.
• You can earn PQP if you travel on a published revenue ticket that is operated by: 

• Star Alliance partner airline
• Connecting partner airline
• MileagePlus partner airline
• Airlines – Edelweiss, Air Dolomiti, Azul, Virgin Australia, Eurowings, Eurowings Discover, or Olympic Air

Apart from this, PQP can still be earned if: 

• You purchase a ticket using a credit. It could be an electronic travel certificate used as a form of payment.

• When you apply a discount code like a percent-off, dollar-off certificate, offer code etc., while purchasing a ticket.

• When you purchase a flight eligible for PQP, but you are rerouted to a flight that is not eligible to earn PQP.

• When you purchase a basic economy ticket.

Please Note: 

• Tickets that are issued via the website or the mobile app of United Airlines are issued as United tickets (where the ticket number starts with 016). You must mention your MileagePlus number in your flight booking.

• PQP cannot be earned on some types of specialty ticket, which may include unpublished, group, and tour and opaque fares. 

When is PQP Credited?

When you earn PQP through flights and ancillary purchases like Economy Plus, paid upgrades etc., is generally credited to your account 2 days after you catch your flight. 

However, PQP earned from purchases related to Economy Plus subscription are also generally credited to your account 2 days after purchase. In case of recipients of a gifted Economy Plus subscription also, it takes two days after activation to get credited to the account. 

In case of the renewal of the Economy Plus subscription you already have, PQP is credited 2 days after renewal.

How to Check the Amount of PQP Earned?

You need to go to your “My Account” page on the United Airlines website. You can easily check your PQP balance given along with the PQF balance.

The “Account Activity” page shows the PQP you have earned through purchases of eligible flight tickets and other things.

Where to Redeem Miles?

You can use miles to pay for your flight bookings, entertainment, gift cards, and much more. In fact, there is a lot more included from a weekend outing to everyday usage, where you can redeem miles and enjoy a rewarding experience.

Here are some of the major ways to redeem your miles. 

You can use them to:

• Reserve award flights belonging to United Airlines and Star Alliance™ partner airlines. If you are a cardmember, you can redeem your miles for a statement credit by using the card to reserve United flights.

• Reserve a hotel or resort rooms via United Hotels. 

• Rent a car.

• Reserve a cruise via cruise vacations with United Cruises.

• Upgrade an award and get a seat in a cabin belonging to the premium category.

• Pay for seats while you reserve a flight with United Airlines or United Express.

• Pay for bags in advance, up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure of your flight, or pay at the time of check-in on the airline’s website or mobile app, in case of a flight traveling to a domestic destination.

• Pay for the application or renewal fees of TSA PreCheck. 

• Purchase the membership of a United Club lounge and get access to its various locations.

• Make payments at some of the restaurants and bars located at Newark Airport and Houston Intercontinental Airport.

• Pay for meals, snacks, and beverages on a United Airlines flight.

• Pay for using in-flight Wi-Fi on a United Airlines flight. 

• Pay for shopping electronics, household products, and jewelry items from some of the leading brands.

• Pay for purchasing Apple products. 

• Pay for purchasing eGift cards from Starbucks, Walmart, Nike, and many more.

• Pay for the subscription of a local newspaper and a magazine. 

Quick Tip: You can download the MileagePlus X Mobile App to keep making your favorite purchases using miles. The App is available for both iOS and Android users. 

Please Note: Rules, guidelines, and benefits associated with using or redeeming miles are subject to change anytime. You are advised to stay familiar with the latest amendments in the United MileagePlus program. 

What You Can Do More with Miles?

United Airlines lets you buy, gift, multiple, and transfer your miles. 

Buy Miles 

If you need more miles for your next award flight, or you may just need to achieve more balance in your MileagePlus account, you have the option to purchase miles. You need to pay US$35.00 per 1000 miles. Taxes and fees will also be applicable. At least 2000 miles must be purchased. 

Gift Miles

You can gift miles to your dear ones, maybe your family members or friends. Just enter their MileagePlus number, select an amount, and you are good to go.

Multiply Miles

You can increase your miles balance every month by multiplying the miles collected in the previous month by up to 10x. It may be noted that eligible miles reset at the starting of a new month.

Miles by the Month Subscription 

You may choose to register for a subscription for Miles by the Month scheme. In this way, your account will be credited with miles on a monthly basis. If you opt for this plan, you can make savings of a maximum of US$1,680 every year.

Transfer or Share Miles

You are allowed to transfer 500 to 100,000 miles to the account of another MileagePlus member at a cost of US$7.50 per 500 miles. Besides, a processing charge of US$30.00 will be applicable on a per transaction basis.

Donate Miles

You can donate your miles to someone in need, under the Miles on a Mission scheme launched by United Airlines. 

Concluding Words 

We touched upon all the essential aspects of the United Airlines MileagePlus, which is a comprehensive loyalty program rewarding frequent flyers with miles, upgrades, and exclusive benefits like priority boarding, free baggage, dedicated helpline, and more. This program is a status-based system wherein a general member can earn miles and upgrade to the Premier status, which is divided into Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K. 

Knowing the ins and outs of MileagePlus can help you make a choice to register for this program so that you are able to make the most of your flying experience with United Airlines. So, whether you are a frequent traveler or not, get your hands on this detailed guide, and make the best decision aligning with your travel preferences. However, it’s always advised to stay informed about the important terms and conditions connected with this program so that you don’t encounter any trouble later. Happy travels!

Related FAQs

Some of the most commonly asked queries about the United MileagePlus Program are addressed below for your consideration.