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United Changes Award Pricing for Partner Flights, Including Some Lower Prices

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Ryan Smith
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Ryan Smith

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Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publicat...
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Juan has extensive experience in writing and editing content related to credit cards, loyalty programs, and travel. He has been honing his expertise in this field for over a decade. His work has been ...

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United Airlines has updated its award pricing numerous times over the past few years. Typically, “updates” are synonymous with devaluations, meaning you need more miles to book an award ticket after the changes.

However, the most recent update includes both price increases and price decreases. The most interesting feature of flights requiring fewer miles now is that the list includes both short-haul and long-haul partner flights.

Here’s what travelers should know about the latest changes for redeeming their United miles.

United Airlines Award Price Changes for Partner Flights

If you’ve followed United Airlines’ MileagePlus program at all in the past few years, you know that any announcement about changes to award charts is usually chock full of bad news. The question is often, “How bad is it this time?”

Earlier this year, United increased pricing for business class flights within Europe (from 27,500 to 33,000 miles) and first class awards between the U.S. and Europe (from 121,000 to 154,000 miles). The latest changes are more nuanced, however, and aren’t an overall devaluation.

This time, United has adjusted its pricing for partner awards — flights where you’re redeeming United miles to fly on another airline, such as Air Canada or Lufthansa, as first noticed by DansDeals.

For short-haul flights on Air Canada, flights under 1,500 miles in distance are now cheaper. Previously, these awards cost 20,000 miles per person, but the new price is 17,500 miles.

United partner award Air Canada YVR YYC
After the latest United update, some awards are now cheaper in economy but more expensive in business class. Image Credit: United

It’s not all good news, though. Business class got more expensive on these under-1,500-mile flights, jumping from 33,000 to 45,000 miles per person on these redemptions.

And if you’re flying more than 1,500 miles in business class in Canada, you’ll now pay a whopping 65,000 miles per passenger on these awards — up from the previous 33,000 miles. That’s nearly double the old price.

United partner award Air Canada YYZ YYC
That’s a hefty price for a 4-hour flight. Image Credit: United

The most interesting change includes partner award flights leaving North America. Previously, you could expect to pay cheaper prices on United’s own flights or pay more on partner airlines — even if they were both operating a nonstop flight on the same route on the same day.

That elevated partner pricing has gone away, however. You’ll now pay the same number of United miles regardless of the airline you’re booking.

United and partner award IAD FRA logged in
Partner award pricing matching flights on United. Image Credit: United

However, you’ll only see that preferred pricing if you’re logged in and have elite status with United or a United Airlines credit card. Otherwise, you’ll still see the old pricing — pricing where United’s flights are cheaper than the partner flights, using Lufthansa in this example.

United and partner award IAD FRA not logged in
Partner awards are more expensive when I’m not logged in. Image Credit: United
Bottom Line:

Flights departing North America on partner awards should now cost the same as United’s own flights, assuming you have a United credit card or elite status. Flights within Canada are a mixed bag of changes, with some being cheaper and some more expensive.

Final Thoughts

United Airlines reshuffles its award pricing regularly. The latest changes include some positives, such as short-haul flights within Canada getting cheaper and the long-haul partner award pricing matching flights on United — assuming you have the right credit card or elite status.

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About Ryan Smith

Ryan completed his goal of visiting every country in the world in December of 2023 and now plans to let his wife choose their destinations. Over the years, he’s written about award travel for publications including AwardWallet, The Points Guy, USA Today Blueprint, CNBC Select, Tripadvisor, and Forbes Advisor.

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