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We love the United MileagePlus program. It’s easy to rack up on miles, and it’s got a huge network of domestic and international routes, plus a vast array of Star Alliance and non-alliance partners. So of course, there are plenty of sweet spots in MileagePlus awards. You just need to know where to look.
See our best credit card bonuses here.
In this post, we’ll discuss the best ways to use your United miles for maximum value.
Easily earn United miles with cobranded cards like the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
| Best Redemptions | United flights Partner flights Excursionist Perk Restaurants.com gift cards |
| Mile Valuation | $0.014 per mile |
CHASE UNITED℠ EXPLORER CARD
The Chase United℠ Explorer Card from Chase has an offer for up to 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 total in the first 3 months. We value these 50k miles at around $700.
The card earns 2X miles on dining and eligible delivery services, hotel stays and United® purchases. United purchases include:
- Tickets
- Economy Plus
- Inflight food, beverages, Wi-Fi
- Other United charges
You’ll earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Other benefits include up to $100 as a statement credit for the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck™ application fee every 4 years. You and a traveling companion on the same reservation will each receive the first standard checked bag free. This card provides priority boarding privileges and 2 one-time passes each year to United Clubs.
The Chase United Explorer Card has a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95 thereafter.
United MileagePlus Important Redemption Details
Before we get into all the best uses for your MileagePlus miles, let’s first go over some important redemption details.
- You can book one-way and roundtrip awards.
- United does not pass on fuel surcharges on partner awards.
- United charges a $75 close-in fee for awards booked within 21 days of departure. MileagePlus Premier members enjoy reduced or no fee on last-minute awards.
United Flights
United has a huge domestic and international flight network, so you have hundreds of destinations to choose from – and that’s not including partner awards.
MileagePlus award pricing is dynamic, but zone-based. The number of miles required for a flight largely depends on the region you’re departing from and arriving to. Other factors include time of year and fare type. In order to figure out exactly how many miles you’ll need for a given award, use the United interactive award chart.
If you’re a MileagePlus Premier member or a United credit cardholder, make sure to login before searching for awards. You’ll have additional award inventory on United-operated flights.
Best Ways To Redeem With United
In general, go for Saver Awards if you want the most bang for your MileagePlus rewards. You’ll get an average of $0.014 for an Economy Class ticket. That’s in-line with what we currently value United miles. Saver Awards for Business and First Class hold even more value – approximately $0.027 each mile.
Keep in mind, Saver Awards are limited and may not be available for times and routes that are in high demand.
United Polaris offers lounge access at United’s hub airports, aisle access for every seat, and a 16-inch, inflight, touchscreen entertainment system. This Business Class product is something you definitely want to consider on a long-haul flight.
Destination: Europe / Asia / South Pacific
Miles: 60,000 / 70,000 / 80,000 for a one-way ticket
MileagePlus has limited-time sales that gives discounts on Saver Awards. In the past, United has offered deals like:
- The Sun and Ski Sale with 40% off roundtrip Saver Economy Awards to Hawaii, Aspen, Sun Valley and Jackson, Wyoming.
- 20% off Saver Awards to Asia and the South Pacific, including China, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.
For current award sales, click here.
Partner Flights
United has plenty of Star Alliance and non-alliance partners, so you can use your MileagePlus miles on a variety of carriers and routes worldwide.
Star Alliance partners include:
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- EGYPTAIR
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
Other airline partners include:
- Aer Lingus
- Aeromar
- Air Dolomiti
- Azul
- Hawaiian Airlines
- Olympic Air
- Silver Airways
- Vistara
As we mentioned earlier, United does not impose fuel surcharges on partner award tickets. While this is good news, it comes with a price. United’s premium-class award tickets for long-haul partner flights are usually priced higher than United awards. For example, a Business Class award flight from Chicago (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA):
| UNITED | LUFTHANSA |
| 60,000 miles | 70,000 miles |
Even so, unless you’re flying United Polaris, we think premium-class partner awards are worth the extra miles.
Search for your awards segment by segment, because United doesn’t always display all connecting flight options.
Lufthansa’s First Class product is an amazing experience. But at over $4,000 one way, it’s not within the average Joe’s budget. Luckily, you can snag a free ticket with your United miles. Plus, if you book your award through MileagePlus – as opposed to Lufthansa’s Miles and More program – you’ll save over $400 in fuel surcharges.
Keep in mind, Lufthansa only releases First Class award space to Star Alliance partners 14 days before departure.
We recommend making a connection in Frankfurt, Lufthansa’s hub, so you can experience the First Class Terminal. It’s considered one of the best airport lounges in the world. When it’s time to board your connecting flight, you’ll be whisked away to the aircraft in a Porsche.
Destination: Europe
Miles: 110,000 for a one-way ticket
Thai Airways isn’t a well-known carrier in the United States, but it should be on your radar if you’re looking to travel to or from Asia. With a First Class ticket, you’ll have access to a special check-in area, a complimentary hour-long massage at the Royal Orchid Spa and the Thai Airways First Class lounge (if you’re departing from or connecting in Bangkok).
Thai Airways does not currently fly to the United States, but you can connect through Europe with a Star Alliance partner.
Destination: Bangkok (from Europe)
Miles: 145,000 for a one-way ticket
Like other carriers, ANA First Class provides spacious seating and high-end champagne. But what sets the Japan-based airline apart is its fantastic service. If you don’t have enough mileage for a First Class award, their Business Class isn’t too shabby either.
Destination: Japan
Miles: Business 80,000 / First 110,000 for a one-way ticket
Out of all the carriers in the world, Turkish Airlines flies to the most destinations. That means you have plenty of choices for Business Class awards. We recommend connecting in Istanbul so you can experience the airline’s top-notch Business Class lounge.
Destination: Europe / Africa / Japan
Miles: 70,000 / 80,000 / 80,000 for a one-way ticket
It’s just 80,000 MileagePlus miles to fly Business Class with a Star Alliance partner from the United States to anywhere in Africa. While your first thought might be to fly with Ethiopian Airlines or South African Airways, we suggest first making a stop in Europe for an even better travel experience.
Swiss Air offers a solid Business Class product you can take full advantage of by routing through Switzerland. And Austrian Airlines has a great Business Class with excellent catering service.
Destination: Africa (with stopover in Europe)
Miles: 80,000 for a one-way ticket.
The flight from the United States to New Zealand is an excruciatingly long one, so you’ll want a comfortable seat that reclines to a bed, good catering and a friendly crew. Guess what? Air New Zealand’s Business Class ticks all those boxes.
Destination: New Zealand
Miles: 80,000 for a one-way ticket
*We independently collected information from public sources to form our best partner redemptions. This information is subject to change without notice.
The Excursionist Perk
One of our favorite ways to maximize MileagePlus miles is the Excursionist Perk. It lets you tack on a free segment on qualifying, roundtrip itineraries, essentially adding another city to your journey at no extra cost. Keep in mind the rules that come with this feature:
- You must travel to a region outside of where you begin your journey. If you’re flying from North America, you need to travel outside of North America.
- Your travel must end in the same region where you began your travel. If you’re flying from North America, you need to end your travel in North America.
- The origin and destination of the Excursionist Perk must be within the same region.
- The cabin of service and award type of the free one-way award is the same or lower than the one-way award preceding it.
- If two or more one-way awards qualify, only the first one will be free.
There’s the simple way to use the Excursionist Perk, and then there are the creative ways. The latter takes more work, but you’ll stretch your miles a lot further.
The simplest way to use the Excursionist Perk is to add a free leg between two cities in the same region. For example, booking a roundtrip award to Europe and adding a segment between two European cities.
Newark – Vienna – London – Newark
In the example above, the Vienna to London segment would be an Excursionist Perk, priced at 0 miles.
There are loads of creative ways to use the Excursionist Perk. The trick is to use open jaws.
For example:
- East Asia (Business Class: 45,000 miles)
- Seoul to Taipei
- Taipei to Singapore (open jaw)*
- Singapore to BKK (layover) to Hong Kong (Excursionist)
- Hong Kong to Beijing (open jaw)*
- Beijing to Seoul (layover) to Jeju
- South Asia (Economy Class: 85,000 miles)
- Chicago to Istanbul (layover) to Kathmandu
- Kathmandu to Delhi (open jaw)*
- Delhi to Bengaluru (layover) to Male (Excursionist)
- Male to Columbo (open jaw)*
- Columbo to Bangkok (layover) to Taipei (layover) to Chicago
- Ecuador & The Galapagos (Economy Class: 40,000 miles)
- Houston to Quito
- Quito to Guayaquil (open jaw)*
- Guayaquil to Baltra (Excursionist)
- Baltra to Quito (layover) to Houston
*You’re responsible for getting from Point A to Point B in an open jaw. Open-jaw travel is not included in the award cost.
Bottom Line
The best ways to use your United MileagePlus miles are on United flights, partner flights, especially with the Excursionist Perk. Plus you’ll enjoy a top-of-the-line award search engine as well as low taxes and fees on award tickets.
Need a boost on your MileagePlus balance? Take advantage of the generous welcome bonus from the United℠ Explorer Card and the United Club℠ Infinite Card.
Want more information on the United MileagePlus program? Check out the following guides:
- The Complete Guide To United Airlines MileagePlus.
- United Premier Elite Status: What Is It Worth In 2020?
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