Airline Loyalty Rewards
United Airlines MileagePlus Loyalty Program Review
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Branded and Partnered Credit Cards
You have a few credit card options to help you earn United miles that can be redeemed for some amazing flights.
United Airlines MileagePlus Credit Cards
Check out Chase’s co-branded United credit cards if you want to earn United miles directly.
United℠ Explorer Card
With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.
United℠ Explorer Card
With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered 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
- 2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
- 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
- First checked bag free for you and up to 1 traveling companion
- 25% statement credit on United inflight purchases
- Priority boarding
- Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS statement credit
- 2 United Club 1-time passes each year
- Premier upgrades on award tickets
- Travel and purchase protections
Cons
- $0 intro for the first year, then $95 annual fee
- Does not earn transferable rewards
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases
- Up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS fee credit
- 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 Explorer Card
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $140 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
- Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.The United Club℠ Infinite 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 Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.
Pros
- 4x miles per $1 on United purchases
- 2x miles per $1 on travel and dining purchases
- Complimentary United Club membership
- Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
- United Premier Access
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
- Expanded award availability
- Up to 8,000 Premier Qualifying Points
- $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
- Trip protections like trip delay insurance, lost and delayed luggage insurance, and rental car insurance
- Shopping protections like return protection, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection
- $70 discount on CLEAR membership, plus 10,000 bonus miles
- IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status and a $75 annual credit
- Avis President’s Club elite status
- 10% discount on United Economy Saver Awards within the continental U.S. and Canada
Cons
- $525 annual fee
- Does not earn transferable rewards
- Earn 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases
- Earn 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access® travel services
- 10% United Economy Saver Award discount within the continental U.S. and Canada
- Earn up to 8,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
United Quest℠ Card
The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.
United Quest℠ Card
The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.The newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is 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 United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.
Pros
- 3x miles per $1 on United purchases
- 2x miles per $1 spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services
- $125 annual United credit
- 2 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits
- Free first and second checked bag for you and 1 traveling companion
- Priority boarding
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades on United-operated award tickets (when available)
- Expanded award availability
- Up to 3,000 Premier Qualifying Points
- Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck/NEXUS credit
- Travel and shopping protections including trip delay insurance, lost/delayed luggage insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and extended warranty protection
Cons
- Does not earn transferable rewards
- Does not offer airport lounge access
- $250 annual fee
- Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after qualifying purchases
- Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel, dining and select streaming services
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $320 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
- Up to a $125 United® purchase credit and two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits each year (terms apply)
- Earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points (500 PQP for every $12K you spend on purchases)
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
United Gateway℠ Card
The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.
United Gateway℠ Card
The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.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
- 2x miles per $1 on 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
- 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
- No annual fee
- 25% back on inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
- Rental car insurance
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty coverage
Cons
- If you are a frequent United flyer, other cards offer more perks
- It does not earn transferable rewards
- Earn 20,000 bonus miles
- No annual fee
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at gas stations, on local transit and commuting
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent 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
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
United Club℠ Business Card
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.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
- 2x miles per $1 spent on United purchases
- 1.5x miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Complimentary United Club membership
- Free checked bags
- Premier Access travel services
- Discount on inflight purchases
- Upgrades on award tickets
- No foreign transaction fees
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- Travel and purchase protections
Cons
- $450 annual fee
- Earning rate for United purchases is poor compared to other United cards
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
- Earn 2x miles on United purchases
- Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- United Club membership — up to a $650 value per year. Relax in comfort while waiting for your flight with complimentary beverages, snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more
- Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, save up to $320 per round-trip
- 25% back on United inflight purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 20.74%-27.74% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: $0
Card Categories
Chase Ultimate Rewards Credit Cards
Probably the best way to collect United miles is to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards. With plenty of bonus categories across these cards, you can earn tons of points.
Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.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, 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. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.
Pros
- 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
- 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
- 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
- 2x points on all other travel worldwide
- $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
- Excellent travel and car rental insurance
- 10% annual bonus points
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
- Complimentary Spot Club Platinum status with The Parking Spot for 2 years, 20% off of your first reservation, and points for 1 free day of parking (enroll by October 26, 2023)
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- The Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k or 100k Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Score Requirements
- Military Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Sapphire Preferred
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- Best High Limit Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is one of the best options out there.
The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.
Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!
Pros
- 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
- 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
- 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal
- 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit
- Priority Pass airport lounge access
- TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
- Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
- Rental car elite status with National and Avis
Cons
- $550 annual fee
- Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus Offer
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Access
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits
- Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
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Recommended Chase Cards (Business)
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases, especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.
Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.
Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance, rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.
Pros
- 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
- Cell phone protection
- Purchase protection
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- Rental car insurance
- Extended warranty coverage
Cons
- No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
- Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
- Credit Card Reviews
- Business Credit Cards
- Credit Cards
- Travel Rewards Credit Cards
- Best Sign Up Bonuses
Rewards Center
- The Chase Ink Business Preferred 100k Bonus Offer
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
This card offers great rewards and no annual fee. Any new business owner that needs to get going will enjoy this card.The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card has a lot going for it that makes it a compelling choice for small business owners. The card features a very lucrative 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year.
When you factor in that the card has no annual fee, and 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter, you could be adding big value back into your business for no cost out of pocket.
Pros
- Earn 5% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on cellular phone, landline, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% back on up to $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% back on all other purchases
- Travel insurance and purchase protection
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- No annual fee
Cons
- Spending caps in bonus categories
- Low points earning outside of bonus categories
- 3% foreign transaction fees
- Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- Chase Ink Business Cash $900 Welcome Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Chase Ink Business Cash
- Ink Business Cash vs Ink Business Preferred
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- Best Chase Business Credit Cards
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Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited card is a stellar option for business owners looking for a no-fuss uncapped 1.5% cash-back card without an annual fee.As a business owner, you likely keep pretty busy and probably prefer a credit card that just keeps things simple.
If so, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card might be just the card for you. From zero annual fee to a flat cash-back rate, the card is a no-frills option that you don’t have to think twice about.
Don’t forget too, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
Pros
- 1.5% cash-back on all purchases
- No annual fee
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months; variable 18.49% - 24.49% thereafter
- Employee cards at no additional cost
- Earn flexible rewards
Cons
- 3% foreign transaction fee
- Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
Rewards Center
- The Ink Business Unlimited $900 Welcome Bonus Offer
- Benefits of the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
- Ink Business Cash vs Ink Business Unlimited
- Ink Business Preferred vs Ink Business Unlimited
- Best Business Credit Cards with No Annual Fee
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Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
Earn up to 5% cash-back for your business without complex bonus earning categories!
Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card
Earn up to 5% cash-back for your business without complex bonus earning categories!Chase has introduced the Ink Business Premier℠ Credit Card to its business credit card lineup. With straightforward cash-back earnings on everyday purchases and large expenses, tools to help you monitor your business, and multiple ways to redeem your rewards, this is a great card option to consider.
Pros
- Earn 2.5% total cash-back on purchases of $5,000 or more
- Earn 2% cash-back on all other business purchases
- Unlimited 5% total cash-back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- No foreign transaction fees
- Trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance
- No additional cost for employee cards
- Cell phone protection
- Primary rental car coverage
- Purchase protection
- Extended warranty coverage
Cons
- $195 annual fee
- Some purchases need to be paid in full each month and don’t qualify for Flex for Business APR
- Rewards cannot be pooled with Chase cards that offer access to transfer partners
- Earn $1,000 bonus cash back after you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Earn unlimited 2.5% total cash back on purchases of $5,000 or more and unlimited 2% cash back on all other business purchases.
- Travel Benefits: Unlimited 5% total cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, No Foreign Transaction Fees and Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance.
- The only business credit card with 2.5% cash back on every purchase of $5,000 or more.
- For businesses who prefer to pay their balance in full each month, Ink Business Premier gives access to increased spending power, rich rewards, and premium benefits.
- Pay off eligible purchases over time with interest up to assigned Flex for Business limit. All other purchases must be paid in full each month.
- Purchase with confidence with built-in protections like Fraud Protection, Zero Liability Protection, Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, and Extended Warranty Protection.
- There's no additional cost for employee cards. Monitor spend with digital tools like purchase alerts, set spending limits, reporting, and more.
- Member FDIC
Financial Snapshot
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Card Categories
United Airlines Overview
United MileagePlus is the second-oldest frequent flyer program in the world (only a week younger than American’s AAdvantage program!).
It is consistently voted the world’s Best Frequent Flyer Program by Global Traveler Magazine’s U.S. readers. A key to the popularity of MileagePlus is the ability to redeem miles for awards on Star Alliance partner airlines.
Joining MileagePlus
To join the MileagePlus program, you simply need to sign up on their website. Membership is free and you can start earning and redeeming miles immediately.
Image Credit: United
How to Sign in to Your MileagePlus Account
Sign in on the homepage with your account number and password. United has removed the username and e-mail address sign-in method.
You’ll have to set additional security questions and remember the answers, such as your favorite pizza topping or winter sport.
Viewing Your Account Activity
Use the MileagePlus My Account page to review your activity.
Account activity is displayed in 4 sections:
- Airline activity
- Non-airline activity
- Award activity
- Upgrade activity (for upgrade certificates issued to MileagePlus members with 1K or Platinum status)
Points Expiration
United MileagePlus miles no longer expire.
United MileagePlus Program
MileagePlus Elite Status
MileagePlus has 4 elite status levels, plus the invitation-only Global Services level:
- Premier Silver
- Premier Gold
- Premier Platinum
- Premier 1K
Due to COVID-10, United has reduced requirements for status through the 2022 program year beginning on January 1, 2021:
| 2022 Status | Earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) | and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) | …or Meet a Higher PQP Goal |
| Silver | 8 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
| Gold | 16 | 6,000 | 7,000 |
| Platinum | 24 | 9,000 | 10,000 |
| 1K | 36 | 13,500 | 15,000 |
Members holding United MileagePlus Premier status at the end of 2020 will receive a 25% bonus of the 2021 PQP requirement to help them achieve status for the following year.
The bonuses are:
- Silver: 875 PQP
- Gold: 1,750 PQP
- Platinum: 2,500 PQP
- Premier 1K: 3,750 PQP
The PQD waiver for Chase MileagePlus cardholders has been discontinued, but members can earn PQP with select cards.
Hot Tip: Learn more about COVID-19-related changes to United MileagePlus is our guide: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Airline Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Update.
MileagePlus Elite Benefits
Premier Silver:
- Complimentary Economy Plus seats at check-in
- Complimentary upgrades at day of departure (subject to availability)
- Priority check-in, security, and boarding
- 1 free checked bag of 70 lbs on domestic flights, 2 free checked bags of 70 lbs for international flights (3 on any flight if traveling in business, first, or Polaris)
- Increased Saver Award availability in economy on United
- Reduced award ticket fees
- Discounted membership in CLEAR for $109 so you can breeze through airport security
- Hertz Five Star status (register here)
Premier Gold:
- All Silver benefits plus:
- Complimentary Economy Plus seats at booking
- Complimentary upgrades 48 hours prior to departure (subject to availability)
- Free same-day flight change (subject to availability)
- 2 free checked bag of 70 lbs on domestic flights, 3 free checked bags of 70 lbs for international flights (3 on any flight if traveling in business, first, or Polaris)
- United Club access when traveling internationally
- Star Alliance Gold status for access to partner lounges, even on domestic travel (excludes United Club)
- Marriott Gold Status with the RewardsPlus program (register here)
Premier Platinum:
- All Gold benefits plus:
- Complimentary upgrades 72 hours prior to departure (subject to availability)
- 40 PlusPoints to be used for flexible upgrades
- 3 free checked bags of 70 lbs on any flight
- Increased Saver Award availability in premium cabins on United
- Award fee waivers up to 60 days prior to travel
- Hertz President’s Circle status (register here)
Premier 1K:
- All Platinum benefits plus:
- Complimentary upgrades 96 hours prior to departure (subject to availability)
- 280 PlusPoints (plus the 40 you earned with Platinum status)
- Additional 20 PlusPoints for every 2,000 PQP beyond 15,000 PQP
- Complimentary award change and redeposit
- Free drinks and snacks when in economy on United
- Free membership to CLEAR so you can breeze through security
See the full line-up of benefits for all the details and benefit terms.
Value of MileagePlus Elite Status
MileagePlus has not made significant changes to its elite status benefits in several years.
Premier Silver is of limited value.
Premier Gold’s fee waiver for same-day changes (even on international flights) is a road warrior favorite. Delta excludes international flights entirely from its same-day change program, and American only waives fees for Executive Platinum.
Premier Gold also comes with Star Alliance Gold status. Many travelers do not realize that if your airport has a Star Alliance member lounge, you can use that lounge when flying any Star Alliance airline (even United domestically).
For example, when flying Los Angeles to New York, you will not get United Club access. However, with Premier Gold you can visit the superb Star Alliance Lounge in the Tom Bradley International Terminal (you can enter with a boarding pass for any terminal).
Premier Platinum recently saw the introduction of fees for changes to award tickets within 60 days of travel. Anecdotally, upgrade rates are low even when using PlusPoints. Premier Platinum has fallen behind Delta Platinum, but it is roughly on a par with American’s new Platinum Pro.
Premier 1K members enjoy a higher level of service and still have award fee waivers. The headline benefit of PlusPoints is not all it seems: upgrade availability on international routes is severely limited, though travelers no longer have to gamble in advance by buying more expensive upgrade-eligible flights than the cheapest economy flights. Delta and American have much more customer-friendly upgrade systems for their top-tier elites.
How to Earn United Miles
You’ll have plenty of ways to earn United miles between flights and credit card partnerships.
Earn Miles Through Flying
Mileage earning on United Airlines and select partner flights is now based on ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed fees, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees):
- General Member – 5 miles/dollar
- Premier Silver – 7 miles/dollar
- Premier Gold – 8 miles/dollar
- Premier Platinum – 9 miles/dollar
- Premier 1K – 11 miles/dollar
Other partners still earn based on distance, but depending on fare class you may earn more or less than 100% of the distance flown. Consult the MileagePlus airline partner page to see how many miles your ticket will earn.
For chasing elite status, Premier Qualifying Dollars can only be earned on United flights and United flight-numbered codeshares.
| Aegean | Ethiopian |
| Air Canada | EVA Air |
| Air China | LOT Polish Airlines |
| Air India | Lufthansa |
| Air New Zealand | Scandinavian Airlines |
| ANA | Shenzhen Airlines |
| Asiana Airlines | Singapore Airlines |
| Austrian | South African Airways |
| Avianca | SWISS |
| Brussels Airlines | TAP Air Portugal |
| Copa Airlines | Thai Airways |
| Croatia Airlines | Turkish Airlines |
| Egypt Air | United Airlines |
United also has several other partners outside of Star Alliance that could fit your needs.
| Other Partners | |
| Aer Lingus | Germanwings |
| Aeromar | Great Lakes Airlines |
| Air Dolomiti | Hawaiian Airlines |
| Azul | Island Air |
| Cape Air | Jet Airways |
| Edelweiss | Silver Airways |
| Eurowings | |
Earning Miles With Credit Cards
Extra miles can be earned through MileagePlus credit card spending and activity with MileagePlus partners. Chase offers several co-branded credit cards with United that can help you earn United miles.
United is a Chase transfer partner at a 1:1 ratio. Because Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards often have very lucrative bonus categories, you can often earn the most United miles using these cards.
How to Redeem United Miles
Time to spend those hard earned miles! On United, all award travel is booked one-way for flexibility, so you can book a different award type or even class of service on your outbound and return flights.
You can even purchase only a one-way ticket if there are one-way sale fares. This is especially true for international travel, since international origin one-way tickets are usually cheaper than U.S. origin tickets.
United provides an award chart for their destinations that is helpful for planning out your travel.
New in 2019, United is testing new dymanic pricing, with awards as low as 5,000 miles one-way. Award prices are still capped to the maximums in the award chart.
Types of Award Redemptions
Saver Awards give you the best bang for your buck, but are capacity-controlled and may be restricted, especially during peak travel periods. Check out United’s Saver Award homepage for up-to-date promotions on Saver Award destinations and times.
Standard Awards give you more availability while requiring more miles, but are still capacity-restricted unless you’re a MileagePlus Premier member or United ExplorerSM Card holder.
Travelers in these categories also have the benefit of booking up to the last seat. Premier members can also waitlist for international premier cabin award seats, which will be awarded as seats become available up to 24 hours before departure.
MileagePlus Upgrade Awards can be purchased on most ticket types. Depending on your premier status, these can be complimentary on domestic flights, or cleared immediately on international segments.
While award bookings may be made using another person’s miles and account, benefits such as Economy Plus seating and other Premier member privileges will only apply if the traveler themselves is a Premier member.
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The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United℠ Explorer Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Frequently Asked Questions
MileagePlus is the name of the United loyalty or frequent flyer program. By joining the program, you get access to a number of additional benefits through elite status, reward tickets, and more.
Elite status tiers in the program are called Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Premier 1K.
Benefits include priority check in and boarding, free checked bags, priority security lines, lounge access and discounts, complimentary upgrades, seat upgrades, and more.
You’ll earn a higher status by achieving a certain number of qualifying miles or segments combined with total spending.
Miles can be redeemed for cheap flights, or for other awards through United’s rewards portal.
To find this, you can either log in to your account, use the “forgot my password” tool to get another login email sent to you, find your membership card, or call customer service.
You can sign up for a MileagePlus account here.
Yes, miles can be transferred to other MileagePlus members. Rather than “transferring” them to other airline partners, you can simply use them to book award flights with any Star Alliance partner.
You can sign in to United MileagePlus here.
United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance. This means you can travel on airlines such as Air Canada, Air China, Brussels Airlines, and Singapore Airlines.
You can reach MileagePlus via phone at 1-800-421-4655.
United MileagePlus miles no longer expire.
In some cases, points can take up to 6-8 weeks to post.
MileagePlus points can be redeemed for different values depending on the flight. Values can be anywhere from $0.015 to $0.025 per point or more.
Yes, United has 4 different MileagePlus credit cards at this time.
Currently, we have reviews posted for the United ExplorerSM Card and the Chase United MileagePlus® Explorer Business Card.
Soon we will add the Chase United MileagePlus® Club Card and the Chase United MileagePlus® Club Business Card.
You can also use all Ultimate Rewards cards to earn and transfer points to United Airlines.
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About Alex Miller
Founder and CEO of Upgraded Points, Alex is a leader in the industry and has earned and redeemed millions of points and miles. He frequently discusses the award travel industry with CNBC, Fox Business, The New York Times, and more.
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13 comments
Lonestar
April 21, 2018
GPUs and RPUs are now just about useless. They used to be great and you could just upgrade almost anything. Now it usually gets full of paid folks who can pay as little as 40 buck sometimes last minute. Only Platinum and higher can get these, so usually your status already has you at that level. The biggest issue is that it no longer works on award tickets which was the only time I really wanted to use them. United wants you to think you are getting something when you are not. Their system really went downhill since Continental.
mick
August 05, 2019
Your website does not seem to discuss the United MileagePlus Club Card in credit card discussions. This makes me worried that you are not presenting all information that is available or that you are not being balanced.
This card can be very useful for United flyers, and even if you do not favor it, I believe it (and perhaps others?) should be discussed.
Christine Krzyszton
August 05, 2019
Hi Mick. We have mentioned the United Club Card in several of our articles. Here is an example in our article on the best cards for United flyers: /best-credit-cards-for-united-flyers/
Nick
September 05, 2019
This airline has no ethics. They drag a passenger out of the plane after they beat him up – with absolutely no regret. This was not an isolated incident but a philosophy ingrained in their culture and DNA.
In my case, I had been 1k with them for 5 years – had 1.2 million miles in my account – and they canceled my account since I gave my GPU, which I had earned by flying with them, to someone. Thief rouge organization. Stay away.
Michael Jan Brooks
May 29, 2021
How do you win free flights for a year on “Your Shot to Fly”?
Jarrod West
May 31, 2021
Hi Michael,
The details of that promotion can be found here on the United website: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/your-shot-to-fly-sweepstakes.html
Scott
July 14, 2021
You broke the GPU rules didn’t you?
Jarrod West
July 15, 2021
Hi Scott,
I’m not sure I know what you mean? Is your comment in reply to something in the article?
bryan
January 24, 2022
I am in the UK. How do I transfer and use another family member’s miles with mine?
Jarrod West
January 24, 2022
Hi Bryan,
This seldom makes sense to do, as United charges a $30 fee plus $7.50 for every 500 miles transferred, with a limit of 15,000 miles transferred per year.
Gary72
February 14, 2022
How do you match Air Canada silver status to United silver status?
Jarrod West
February 18, 2022
Hi Gary,
You can submit a status match request at this page on the United website.
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