How To Earn 100k+ United MileagePlus Miles [in 90 Days]

Despite being subject to a few devaluations over the years, United MileagePlus miles still pack a ton of value for both international and domestic award travel.

Since the airline is a part of the Star Alliance, you can redeem miles for award tickets on partners such as Lufthansa, SWISS, and Singapore Airlines. Each of these incredible partners offers great first and business class products, letting you travel the world in style with your hard-earned United MileagePlus miles.

But if you’re new to the MileagePlus program, starting to earn enough miles for a big redemption may seem like a daunting task. Thankfully though, the reality is quite the opposite — there are a ton of easy ways to earn United miles, and to prove it to you, we’ll show you how to earn 100,000+ MileagePlus miles in just 90 days.

We’ll start out by looking at earning with credit cards and then examine other ways to quickly collect miles. But before we dive in, make sure to head to the United website and create a free MileagePlus account if you don’t already have one.

Let’s get started!

Why Would You Want To Earn 100,000 United Miles?

OK, OK, we get it. Before we dive into the guide, we should probably answer 1 burning question: “Why would I want to earn so many miles?!”

As discussed in the intro — and as seen in our guide to the best United MileagePlus redemptions — United miles can be redeemed for amazing first and business class experiences around the globe.

For example, this means that you could book Chicago (ORD) to London (LHR), book London to Prague (PRG), and then book Prague to Newark (EWR) for the same price as a standard round-trip award ticket between the U.S. and Europe. Plus, you can mix and match airline partners, letting you experience different business class products.

And since Star Alliance — of which United is a member — is the world’s largest airline alliance, the list of options for using your miles is practically endless! You’ll be able to fly all over the U.S. and to hundreds of destinations across the world with United miles. It’s simply a matter of banking those miles as quickly as possible so you can get traveling. Plus, United miles don’t expire, so it’s always worth having some lying around to help you book your next trip.

How To Earn 100,000 United MileagePlus Miles

1. Use Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards

Your best option for earning United miles is actually to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These points instantly transfer to United MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio, so 100,000 Ultimate Rewards equals 100,000 United miles.

Ultimate Rewards-earning credit cards often come with several bonus categories that can help boost your earning potential — for example, you can earn 3x points per dollar spent on dining and 2x points per dollar spent on travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card.

Even better, welcome bonuses for these cards often vary between 15,000 and 80,000 points (sometimes, even 100,000 points!) with the premium cards having the higher bonuses. To earn the welcome offer, you must meet a minimum spend requirement. Once you do so, points generally post to your account when your statement closes, but it can take up to 8 weeks.

Keep in mind that you must have at least 1 of the premium Ultimate Rewards cards (i.e. 1 with an annual fee) to be able to transfer all your points to your United account. However, you can transfer points from a lower-end card, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited^®, to a premium card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, and then transfer to United or another travel partner.

Here’s a look at all the best Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards:

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

BEST FIRST TRAVEL CARD

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

75,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,500

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.24% - 27.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, gas, EV charging, vacation homes, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance and emergency evacuation. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), gas, EV charging, vacation homes (such as Airbnb and Vrbo), and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, 3x on vacation homes, 3x on gas & EV charging, 3x on top streaming services and online groceries (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs), 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
• Earn up to $100 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase Travel
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Emergency Evacuation and Transportation and more
• Get a year of complimentary Apple TV when activated by December 31, 2026 – a value of $156.
• Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for 12 months when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
• Receive one statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card for a Global Entry, TSA Precheck^® or NEXUS application.
• Transfer points to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 27.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

100,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,000

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.49% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary subscriptions to Apple TV and Apple Music for a minimum of one year when activated by June 22, 2027, a value of $288 annually.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.49% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Business owner? See our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

2. Use Chase United Credit Cards

Another easy way to earn United miles is by using a United MileagePlus co-branded credit card. There are both personal and business variants of these cards, and we’ve listed them — alongside their benefits and welcome bonuses — in the table below.

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

United℠ Explorer Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Up to 60,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$150

APR

19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 9x total miles per $1 on eligible United flights
• 3x miles per $1 on all other eligible United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays when booked with the hotel

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
• NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases.
• 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United^® flights.
• 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
• Over $500 in partner credits each year
• NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

United Quest℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Up to 70,000 miles + 500 PQP

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$840

Annual Fee

$350

APR

19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

Enter: the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.

With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Club℠ Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total miles per $1 on United flights
• 5x miles on stays through Renowned Hotels and Resorts
• 4x miles per $1 on other United purchases

Cons

• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Does not offer airport lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP
• NEW! 10x total miles on eligible United flights and 4x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases
• 2x miles on dining, select streaming services, and all other travel
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• Get a jump start on earning Premier status with 1,000 Card Bonus PQP each year, awarded within 8 weeks of February 1, starting in the calendar year following your account open date.
• Free first and second checked bags--a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply)
• Receive a $200 United^® travel credit and 10,000-mile award flight discount on each account anniversary
• NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

United Club℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Card

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Up to 90,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,080

Annual Fee

$695

APR

19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The United Club℠ Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.

United frequent flyers will find that the United Club card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• NEW! 11x total miles on eligible United flights and 5x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on dining and other travel purchases
• Complimentary United Club membership

Cons

• $695 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 90,000 bonus miles
• NEW! 11x total miles on eligible United flights and 5x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases
• 2x miles on dining and all other travel
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• Unlimited United Club℠ access for you and a guest - a $750+ value per year
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $440 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access^® travel services.
• Earn up to 20,000-miles in award flight discounts annually
• NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

United Gateway℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.

Up to 40,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$360

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 19.74% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x total miles per $1 on United flights
• 2x miles per $1 on other United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit

Cons

• If you are a frequent United flyer, other cards offer more perks
• It does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn up to 40,000 bonus miles
• 0% intro APR for the first 12 months from account opening on purchases & no annual fee.
• 5x total miles on eligible United flights and 2x miles on all other eligible United^® purchases
• 2x miles at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
• Earn 2 checked bags after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year
• NEW! Save 10% or more on flights booked with miles after spending $10,000 in a calendar year
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 19.74% - 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

LIMITED TIME OFFER

United Club℠ Business Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles and 2,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

Up to 110,000 miles + 2,000 PQP

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,320

Annual Fee

$695

APR

19.74% to 28.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.

From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• At least 8x total miles on eligible United flights
• 2x miles per $1 spent on other United purchases
• 1.5x miles per $1 spent on all other purchases

Cons

• $695 annual fee
• Earning rate for United purchases is poor compared to other United cards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 10,000 bonus miles when you add an employee card in the first 3 months your account is open.
• Earn 8x total miles on eligible United flights
• Earn 2x miles on other United purchases
• Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases
• Earn 5x miles on stays purchased through Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United^® Cardmembers
• Employee cards at no additional cost
• United Club℠ membership included – at least a $750 value per year – with the ability to unlock United Club All Access Membership
• Earn 2 global Economy Plus^® seat upgrades each year
• Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, save up to $320 per round-trip
• Up to $50 in credits on United FareLock purchases annually
• Up to $200 in credits on Renowned Hotels and Resorts for United^® Cardmembers annually
• Up to $150 in credits on rideshare purchases annually
• Up to $100 in United travel credits on Avis or Budget purchases annually
• Up to $200 in credits on JSX purchases annually
• 25% back on United inflight purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Complimentary Instacart+ Membership (terms apply)
• Up to $240 in Instacart credits annually (terms apply)

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.74% to 28.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

Depending on the card, you may qualify for a welcome offer of 30,000 to 50,000 miles after you reach the minimum spending threshold. Periodically, Chase offers elevated bonuses worth an extra 20,000 to 50,000 miles, for 50,000 to 100,000 miles total, which can provide huge value.

If you’re lucky enough to apply for a card during such a promotion, you can be halfway (or further) to your goal of 100,000 miles within just a few months. Get a personal and business card, and you can meet (or beat) your goal as soon as you spend the required amount (just note that these cards are subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule).

It can take up to 6 to 8 weeks for bonus miles or a statement credit to appear after you meet the spending requirements, but points usually post to your MileagePlus account much sooner than that.

3. Use the MileagePlus^® Debit Rewards Card

Using a credit card to earn United miles can result in more miles quickly, but earning miles with the MileagePlus Debit Rewards card, issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A., is possible, and there is no credit check required to apply for an account. This debit card earns 1 mile for every $1 spent on United purchases and 1 mile per $2 spent on all other qualifying purchases. There is a welcome offer on the MileagePlus Debit Rewards card, which can help you reach the 100k mile mark, and if you maintain at least a $2,000 average monthly account balance, the $4 monthly fee is waived.

4. Shop Online

You have 2 terrific opportunities to earn United MileagePlus miles for online shopping.

United MileagePlus Shopping Portal

Choose from more than 850 participating retailers (like Apple, Best Buy, Nike, and many others) and make a purchase through the portal to earn 2x to 15x miles per $1 spent, plus occasional bonuses. These miles are on top of the miles or points you earn with your rewards credit card.

Just sign up for an account and link your MileagePlus account. Then, search for your merchant on the United shopping portal and click through its link before you make a purchase. You’ll automatically earn bonus points on your purchases — they usually post to your account within a few weeks. Clicking through these links takes you to the retailer’s normal website and won’t cost you anything extra — making it a no-brainer for purchases you were going to make anyway.

Hot Tip: Learn more about using the United MileagePlus shopping portal in our full guide!

Other Retail Partners

Mercedes-Benz, FTD, and LifeLock are just 3 of the retail partners that offer miles for each purchase. You can view specific details for each of these partners on United’s retail partner website.

5. Earn More Miles In-store With the MileagePlus X App

Prefer brick-and-mortar shopping? Check out the MileagePlus X app!

This app lets you purchase gift cards for a variety of different stores around the U.S., including Panera Bread, Starbucks, Foot Locker, Bed Bath & Beyond, and more. Some online merchants — including Airbnb, eBay, and Uber — also offer gift cards on MileagePlus X.

Each of these merchants offers a different amount of miles per dollar spent. This ranges from 0.5x miles per dollar spent to 5x+ miles per dollar spent, so make sure to check the app for your favorite merchants before you make a purchase.

Better yet, you can stack online MileagePlus X purchases with the United shopping portal. Just click through the shopping portal before using your MileagePlus X gift card at a merchant of your choice.

Hot Tip: Giving digital gift cards for holiday gifts? Buy them through MileagePlus X and earn bonus miles!

You can purchase a gift card in whichever denomination you’d like and you’re given the code immediately; the purchase process takes just a few seconds. This means you can use MileagePlus X gift cards in-store without issue — just purchase the gift card after you know your purchase’s total.

Further, the purchase category codes as the merchant you’re buying the gift card from, NOT as a purchase from United. This means that if you purchase a Panera Bread gift card through MileagePlus X with a credit card that earns bonus miles on dining, you’ll get bonus rewards without issue.

Depending on how much you spend through MileagePlus X, you can make pretty solid progress towards your 100,000-mile bonus over the course of 90 days.

6. Book Hotels Through Rocketmiles or United Hotels

Planning a vacation? Consider booking your hotel through United’s Rocketmiles hotel booking portal.

Rocketmiles has partnered with United Airlines to offer United miles on hotel bookings around the world. You’ll earn miles on each night of your stay, with more expensive hotels generally earning you more miles. As you can see in the screenshot above, 1 night at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel earns 8,000 United miles per night (with a room rate of $409 per night).

The site partners with thousands of hotels worldwide to offer points on hotel bookings. We’ve found that its pricing is usually comparable to booking directly with a hotel, so you might as well earn United miles in the process.

Just note that stays at major hotel chains — think Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton — will likely not earn hotel points or honor elite status benefits when you book through Rocketmiles. In this case, consider whether earning United miles or hotel points is more worthwhile for your stay.

Further, United runs a promotion for first-time Rocketmiles users. You can earn a 3,000-mile bonus for your first Rocketmiles booking — and this is in addition to the miles you’ll earn on your hotel stay. This points bonus is another nice boost towards your 100,000-mile goal.

Alternatively, you can also book hotel rooms through United Hotels and earn miles.

Hot Tip: United has a handful of other hotel partners, too — you can view the full list on United’s website.

7. Book Vacation Rentals through Vrbo

United MileagePlus members who book a Vrbo vacation rental through the United/Vrbo portal will earn 3x United miles per $1 spent. MileagePlus miles are only awarded on the cost of the rental amount. Taxes, cleaning fees, and any other service fees or extra charges won’t earn bonus points.

The last name of the primary traveler on the Vrbo booking must match the last name on the United MileagePlus account in order to receive miles.

The bonus miles are not associated with having a United co-branded credit card, so you can pay with any credit card to earn even more rewards.

8. Book Rental Cars

Like many airlines, United has a handful of rental car partners that you can use to earn miles on rental cars. The airline currently partners with Avis and Budget.

United elite members, United co-branded credit card holders, and general United MileagePlus members can earn between 500 and 1,250 miles when you credit Avis and Budget car rentals to your United account. For more info and special discounts for MileagePlus members, book through this link.

Bottom Line: Depending on how often you book rental cars, this can help you earn a bunch of bonus miles towards your 100,000-mile goal. This is especially true if you rent through Avis and Budget and have your rentals reimbursed through work.

9. Switch Home Utility Providers (With Caution)

United partners with a handful of home utility providers around the U.S. When you switch to one of these providers, you’ll generally earn a nice welcome bonus and a set number of United miles per dollar spent on your monthly utility bill.

Here’s a list of the available providers, their welcome bonuses, and areas of service:

• NRG: 12,500 miles after 2 months of active service and 2x miles for every $1 you spend on the supply portion of your electric and natural gas bills each month. Available in parts of Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Also available in all of New Jersey.
• Reliant: 15,000 bonus miles at sign-up and 500 bonus miles each month for 2 years, giving you a total of 27,000 miles over 2 years. Only available in Texas.

There’s no doubt that these are pretty nice welcome bonuses, but keep 1 thing in mind: these utility companies generally charge a premium over standard utility companies. This is because — generally — they piggyback off of local service providers and resell services. In our experience, this isn’t a huge surcharge, but it may outweigh the long-term mileage earning.

With that in mind, we recommend signing up for these services and getting the welcome bonus. Then, switch back to your local utility provider if you find that the higher cost of NRG or Reliant isn’t worth the mileage earning after the welcome bonus.

10. Refinance (or Finance) Your Home With Rocket Mortgage

If you’re looking to refinance your home, you may be able to earn some United miles in the process if you choose to refinance with Rocket Mortgage.

You can receive a 25,000 United mile bonus for closing on a new home or refinancing a home loan with Rocket Mortgage.

To take advantage of this offer, request a quote for your mortgage using this Rocket Mortgage link. As always, be sure to price-compare your Rocket Mortgage loan rate with offerings from other companies — earning a few extra miles should never warrant paying a higher interest rate. The value of your United miles will be worth nothing compared to if you got a lower interest rate through another company.

11. Enroll in United MileagePlus Dining

Like many airlines, United has its own dining program. With this program — dubbed United MileagePlus Dining — you’ll earn bonus United miles when you dine at participating restaurants around the U.S., in addition to miles you earn with your credit card.

You’ll earn up to 5x miles per dollar spent at the restaurants that participate in the MileagePlus Dining program. You’ll earn 3x miles per dollar spent if you opt-in to email notifications from United MileagePlus Dining and 5 miles per dollar spent once you reach VIP status. This status is earned after 11 dines at United MileagePlus Dining restaurants, cafes, or bars. All other members earn 1x mile per dollar spent.

To start earning MileagePlus miles with United MileagePlus Dining, do the following:

1. Navigate to the MileagePlus Dining website.
2. Register a MileagePlus Dining account with your MileagePlus account number.
3. Select “Add a card” in your account and enter the details of any credit or debit card you’d like to use at restaurants — preferably 1 that earns bonus miles on dining.
4. Use the location search at the top to look for restaurants near you or near somewhere you’re traveling.
5. Use the credit card you registered with MileagePlus Dining to pay for purchases at participating restaurants — you’ll earn bonus miles automatically.

Further, United offers a welcome bonus for new United MileagePlus Dining members. As of the time of writing this article, the bonus is 500 miles after performing the following tasks:

• Spend $25 or more at participating restaurant in the first 30 days of signing up
• Review your dining experience via the link to the restaurant review in your account center or benefit confirmation email

Bottom Line: Depending on how much you dine out, you can make nice progress towards your goal of 100,000 United miles. This is especially true if you frequently expense large meals or catering for work — just move a few meetings to participating restaurants and reap the mileage bonus.

12. Buy Broadway Tickets

Do you frequent theater performances in major cities like New York City or Chicago? Consider buying your tickets through United partner Audience Rewards. You can earn 50 to 2,000 miles per ticket — all you have to do is make your purchase through the United Audience Rewards portal.

Using Those 100,000+ United MileagePlus Miles

As we’ve mentioned, you have plenty of redemption options with MileagePlus. Here are 3 ideas to think about:

• Fly United Polaris to Europe: United’s Polaris business class is one of the best ways to fly to Europe using United miles. A one-way ticket will set you back just 80,000 miles each way.
• Travel to Africa in Business Class: Want to visit Africa? You can snag a business class ticket for a United-operated flight from the U.S. to Africa for just 70,000 miles, or redeem 88,000 United MileagePlus miles to fly on a Star Alliance carrier.
• Lufthansa First Class: Redeem around 110,000 miles and fly in style on a one-way first class ticket from the U.S. to Europe on Lufthansa. Connecting through Frankfurt allows you to visit the First Class Terminal which is known for its absolutely fabulous airport lounge. You can even take a bath while you wait for your flight!

Final Thoughts

By now, we hope it’s clear how easily you can earn 100,000 United MileagePlus miles in a very short time. For more strategies, read our full guide to earning United miles which includes loads of additional examples and strategies.

Safe travels!