How to Earn & Use United Miles

As a prominent member of the Star Alliance and one of the largest carriers in the United States, United Airlines provides travelers with access to a vast network spanning 42 partner airlines.

You can accumulate United miles through various channels – the easiest way of flying with United and its partners to using United credit cards to earn miles fast!

Discover the best ways to maximize your miles redemption, from scoring business class award tickets to avoiding less valuable options.

 The easiest and best way to earn United miles is by booking flights with United Airlines. You accumulate miles based on the cost of your ticket and your status within the MileagePlus program. 

Basic members earn 5 miles per dollar spent on airfare, while elite members like Premier Silver can earn up to 7 miles per dollar. Note that miles are earned only on airfare and airline fees, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees. 

Earning United Airlines MileagePlus miles is effortless while flying. Make sure to add your unique MileagePlus number to all your flight reservations to receive miles seamlessly.

The more you fly, the more miles you earn, bringing you closer to exciting rewards and unforgettable adventures!

Members can accumulate miles not only by flying with United Airlines but also by booking flights with any of its 40+ airline partners, with 25 of them being part of the esteemed Star Alliance. 

Plus, United Airlines affiliates with 17 other non-Star Alliance members, opening up vast opportunities for earning miles, thanks to the extensive coverage provided by its partner airlines. 

When you book flights through United’s partner airlines, miles are awarded based on a calculation involving the ticket price, class, and flight distance. Thus, it’s essential to review the mileage policy of the respective airline. 

For instance, a flight with Air Canada earns miles based on specific rates. So, if you fly with Air Canada and spend $200 on a round-trip ticket in economy class, you might earn 5 miles per dollar spent, resulting in  1,000 miles credited to your MileagePlus account.

The quickest way to earn significant United miles is by applying for co-branded United credit cards – issued by Chase. United offers four personal and two business cards, with generous welcome bonuses, solid rewards, and excellent perks.

You can pick a credit card that aligns with your spending habits and preferences to make the most of it. Besides earning miles for United Airlines purchases, you can also earn miles on specific spending categories with United cards.

Here’s a breakdown of how you can earn United miles:

Earn United miles by staying at participating hotel partners. Some hotels allow you to earn United miles instead of hotel points, offering a choice between the two.

With the United’s hotel portal, members earn 2 miles per $1 spent, along with special bonus earning opportunities. Make sure to explore the MileagePlus shopping mall for additional opportunities to earn United miles on hotel bookings.

You can also earn anywhere between 1,000 to 10,000 points per night while booking hotel stays through Rocketmiles, depending on the hotel’s rate.

Make sure to add MileagePlus number during the reservation process to accumulate valuable United miles. The table below shows the transfer ratio of some of the popular hotel partners of United Airlines:

United Airlines offers a unique opportunity that lets you earn miles through your Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, all thanks to the RewardsPlus partnership.

This allows you to transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to United miles at a 3:1 transfer ratio. Plus, you receive a 10,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred, boosting the value significantly.

Marriott Bonvoy comes with various credit cards catering to different preferences, each with its own benefits and welcome offers. Consider the following cards for the transfer:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® credit card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
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It can be beneficial for topping up your United miles balance for specific award bookings, especially in premium cabins. Additionally, Marriott Vacation Club owners can also exchange their points for United miles, offering another way to earn miles.

Earning United miles through Chase Ultimate Rewards is a smart strategy due to the seamless 1:1 points transfer ratio. Chase offers a range of credit cards that help you accumulate Ultimate Rewards points, including:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
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Simply, log into your Chase account, navigate to the Ultimate Rewards page, and select ‘Transfer to Travel Partners.’ Choose United from the list, add your MileagePlus details, and link your accounts for future transfers.

You can swiftly accumulate United miles to enhance your travel experience by transferring your points in increments of 1,000.

Members can effortlessly earn United miles by shopping online through the MileagePlus Shopping portal. The portal frequently runs bonuses with certain spending thresholds, allowing you to accumulate extra miles.

How to earn United miles while shopping? Just register for an account using your MileagePlus number to explore the wide range of participating merchants. Once logged in, search for your desired store and click on its offer to see the earning rate.

For instance, a $200 purchase at Bloomingdale would earn you 400 United miles at 2x miles per $1. Your miles typically post within three to five days after the transaction is completed.

Furthermore, you can earn United miles on in-store purchases by selecting ‘in-store miles’ and entering your ZIP code to find participating stores nearby.

For added convenience, install the United Miles Shopping browser button add-on to receive notifications of earning rates when visiting online retailers.

Earn United MileagePlus miles while enjoying delicious meals at your favorite restaurants through the MileagePlus Dining program. Sign up for a MileagePlus Dining account and link a debit or credit card to your profile.

What’s great is that, even without a United co-branded credit card, you can use any card you have! Whenever you dine at participating establishments, pay with the card linked to your profile, to automatically earn miles.

New members often receive a sign-up bonus, with United currently offering up to 500 bonus miles for spending $25 on a dining or takeout order within the first 30 days.

Premier frequent flyers can earn an additional 500 bonus miles i.e., a total of 1,000 United miles.

The number of miles earned per dollar spent varies based on your status level, ranging from 1 mile per $2 spent for basic members to 5 miles per $1 spent for VIP members, providing a 5% return on your bill.

So, do not forget to check the MileagePlus Dining website to locate participating restaurants near you before heading out to eat. It helps you maximize your miles while indulging in your favorite dishes!

People who love to travel have the opportunity to earn United miles by booking Reserve Vacation Homes through Vrbo. For example, while booking a stay through Vrbo, travelers can earn up to 1 mile per $1 spent on qualifying reservations.

Much like Airbnb, Vrbo offers a variety of accommodation options, including houses, condos, cabins, and yurts. Miles are earned post-stay and are based solely on the rental cost, excluding additional fees such as taxes and cleaning charges. 

Consider booking through Vrbo when opting for vacation rentals over traditional hotels to enjoy the flexibility while maximizing your rewards with United miles!

United Airlines also allows its customers to earn United MileagePlus miles by booking vacation packages through their platform.

Booking a vacation package includes flights, accommodations, car rentals, etc., allowing travelers to earn a significant number of miles based on the total cost of the package.

For example, a traveler booking a vacation package worth $2,000 might earn around 5,000 United MileagePlus miles. The exact number of miles earned varies depending on the specific package and promotions available at the time of booking.

So, if you prefer the convenience of bundling your travel itinerary, United’s Vacation Package portal is an ideal solution! Not only does it streamline the booking process, but it also rewards you generously.

Moreover, paying with a United credit card from Chase can further boost your miles earnings with an extra 2 miles for every $1 spent on bookings. Book your vacation today to enjoy seamless travel planning while maximizing your rewards!

Members can even opt to buy United miles to boost their mileage balance. It should typically be best reserved for specific scenarios due to their high cost.

We recommend you purchase United miles primarily for adding to your account to book an award flight, securing first- or business-class awards that are cheaper with miles, or preventing your existing miles from expiring.

To conveniently earn United miles, utilize the United MileagePlus X app ( available on all smartphones). This app provides a seamless way to accumulate miles on the go, offering various earning opportunities in one place.

You can earn United miles through MileagePlus eGift card purchases through the MileagePlus X app. Additionally, United credit cardholders can enjoy a 25% card member bonus with potential earnings of up to 5 miles per $1 spent on all purchases made through the app.

Earn United miles while financing your home with Rocket Mortgage (formerly Quicken Loans). United offers 25,000 MileagePlus miles for closing or refinancing a home through Rocket Mortgage.

While selecting a mortgage lender, prioritize finding the best rate. Although earning miles is a bonus, it should not be the sole deciding factor for such a significant financial decision.

You can even accumulate United Airlines miles when you buy wellness products from Therabody – an online store! It enhances your overall travel experience by offering a range of items designed to maximize your comfort during flights.

From LED light therapy masks to SmartGoggles for in-flight sleep and neck massagers, their selection ensures a stress-free journey.

Plus, members can earn 6 United miles for every $1 spent when they shop with Therabody. Explore their collection today and prioritize relaxation while earning miles to fuel your next adventure with United.

Indulge in your passion for wine while racking up United Miles for future travel with Vinesse, an online wine club. You can sign up today and receive 5,000 miles, equal to about $50 in value.

This bonus is spread over two shipments, with 2,000 miles awarded after your initial delivery as a welcome bonus and an additional 3,000 miles following your second shipment.

Furthermore, members earn an additional 5 miles for every dollar spent on their Vinesse purchases.

Redeeming United miles for booking flights on United Airlines is an excellent way to utilize your MileagePlus rewards. You enjoy many opportunities for award travel with a vast network spanning over 330 destinations globally and 4,500 daily departures. 

You can choose your seats and filter your options easily on United’s website. There’s also a feature called Money + Miles, where you can use your miles with cash to book flights – at a fixed rate.

Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, United Airlines has numerous possibilities for redeeming your hard-earned miles.

How to redeem United miles for flights? Just log in to your MileagePlus account on the United website, select ‘Book with miles’ while searching, and choose your desired flight with an option to pay with miles.

The value of redemption varies depending on factors such as route, class of service, and demand. 

Generally, when you book a United flight with miles, the value of a mile equals 1.2 cents. We recommend comparing the cash price of the ticket with the number of miles required for redemption to ensure you are getting a good value.

Being a Star Alliance member, United teams up with 25 member airlines and 17 other Non-Star Alliance airlines, providing travelers with a vast international route network for both earning and redeeming United miles.

Some popular United Airlines partnerships include Lufthansa Group, Singapore Airlines, Air China, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Vistara. Apart from expanded travel options, it offers cost savings and flexible redemption options.

You can easily book award tickets for all United partner airlines through their official website. What’s great is that you don’t have to pay extra fuel surcharge fees when you use your miles for these tickets, unlike some other programs. 

Members can also use their United Airlines miles to upgrade their flights. This applies to United and United Express flights, allowing passengers to enhance their cabin class for a combination of miles and cash. 

The number of miles required for an upgrade is based on your selected fare class and destination.

Whether you’re aiming for premium economy or business class, United Upgrade with Miles offers members the chance to elevate their journey with added comfort and luxury.

United Airlines allows you to redeem your miles for hotel stays through United’s hotel booking portal, thanks to its partnership with various hotel chains.

The value obtained from redeeming United miles for hotel stays varies depending on factors, such as the hotel category, location, and demand.

It is a convenient way to utilize accumulated miles for accommodations, especially for those who may have excess miles or prefer using them for travel-related expenses other than flights.

However, it may not always offer the best value, providing 0.5 to one cent per mile.

Utilize the MileagePlus X app to redeem your United Miles to pay for MileagePlus X Gift Cards. The app allows you to purchase gift cards from various retailers using your miles, helping you effectively convert your miles into tangible gift cards.

For example, you can purchase a $25 Starbucks gift card for 2,500 United miles or buy a $50 Amazon gift card for 5,000 United miles. The value of redemption is relatively low and varies depending on the retailer and the value of the gift card.

Another option to redeem your United miles is by donating them to various charitable organizations. This is a meaningful way to make a positive impact on society and support causes like medical missions.

With a minimum donation requirement of just 1,000 miles, you have the opportunity to contribute to different causes through donate.mileageplus.com.

United partners with organizations like- the American Red Cross, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Feeding America. 

You can check the website for details on how to donate miles and the number of miles needed as it depends on the organization and the specific cause.

It’s essential to weigh the value of donating miles against making a cash donation, ensuring that your contribution makes a difference.

Redeeming United Miles for shopping and gift cards allows members to use their accumulated miles as a form of payment for online purchases, including various merchandise and gift cards. 

This provides flexibility in using miles instead of cash for purchases at participating retailers, both online and in stores. You can opt for United Airlines gift cards from popular brands like Starbucks, Old Navy, Amazon, etc. 

It might not offer the most optimal value compared to travel redemptions but caters to different preferences and needs, ensuring your miles don’t go to waste if you’re not traveling.

You have the option to use your United miles for magazine or newspaper subscriptions, such as the Financial Times – with excellent redemption value. 

For instance, a 24-week subscription to the eEdition of the Financial Times costs $49 or 1,960 miles, equating to a redemption value of 2.5 cents per mile.

The United Airlines MileagePlus program also allows you to redeem your earned miles for car rentals. It provides flexibility and convenience with global reach for transportation and 24/7 support for travelers planning a vacation.

How to use United Miles for renting cars? Just visit cars.mileageplus.com/ and enter details of your trip with location and dates to get car options from rental partners like Avis and Budget. You can pay with miles or a combination of miles & cash.