United MileagePlus, explained
How United prices awards in 2026, the new discounts for cardholders, the best uses of United miles, every United card, and when to book Star Alliance partners instead.
For travelers based at a United hub, MileagePlus is the natural program to hold, and since April 2026 it has a simple message: hold a United card. Cardholders now get at least 10% off United award flights, access to Saver business class that used to be reserved for elites, and more miles per dollar. Without a card, United miles go less far, and some partner awards cost fewer points through another Star Alliance program.
United Airlines · Star Alliance
At a glance
United MileagePlus
Strong for United’s own network and for cardholders; compare partner awards with Aeroplan before booking.
- Typical value per mile
- 1.2¢
- Award pricing, no chart
- Dynamic
- Off United awards for cardholders
- 10%+
- Bank transfer partners
- Chase · Bilt
How award prices workThe best uses of United milesHow to earn United milesThe credit cardsPremier status, briefly
How award prices work
United publishes no award chart; prices move with demand. Two 2026 changes matter most, both announced by United on February 19, 2026 for tickets bought from April 2:
Cardmember pricing
Primary holders of a United credit card get at least 10% off every United award; Premier members with a card get at least 15% off. United’s own example: a 15,000-mile economy award becomes 13,500. The no-fee Gateway card unlocks this only after $10,000 of spending in a calendar year.
Polaris Saver for cardholders
Saver business class on United’s own flights, once largely limited to top elites, is now open to cardholders from 72,000 miles one-way (68,000 with Premier status), according to United. About a third of Saver flights hold seats only cardholders and Premier members can see.
Fewer miles without a card
Members without a United card earn fewer miles on United flights, and general members without a card earn none on Basic Economy.
The best uses of United miles
United’s long-haul network
Polaris business on United
from 72,000miles one-way for cardholders · 68,000 with Premier
Lie-flat business class on United’s own wide-bodies, on Saver dates. Check while signed in: cardholder-only space does not show to everyone.
Cardholders only
United and United Express
Economy awards with the discount
10%+ offevery United award for cardholders, at least 15% with Premier status
The discount applies to award flights on United and United Express, not to Money + Miles tickets, and makes everyday domestic redemptions noticeably cheaper.
Applies automatically
Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA and others
Star Alliance partners
Variesby route and date; check United’s search before transferring
United shows partner space widely, which makes it a good search tool even when another program books cheaper.
Compare with Aeroplan
United flights
Premier upgrades on awards
PlusPointsand complimentary upgrades
Since February 2026, Premier members can apply upgrades to award tickets. The PlusPoints chart becomes dynamic in February 2027.
For Premier members
Search United, book elsewhere
United’s site is a useful place to find Star Alliance award space. The same Lufthansa or ANA seat can cost fewer points through Air Canada Aeroplan, which every major bank except Citi transfers to, so compare both before transferring. See the Aeroplan guide.
How to earn United miles
Transfer from Chase or Bilt
Chase and Bilt both transfer to United at 1:1. Amex, Capital One and Citi do not transfer to United.
Fly United
Miles per dollar depend on status and card: from 3x for a member without a card to 17x for a 1K paying with the United Club card, according to United.
Use a United card
From 1x to 2x on everyday spending, more on United; the cards’ real value is in bags, discounts and lounges.
Marriott
60,000 Marriott points become 30,000 United miles, including Marriott’s United bonus, according to Marriott.
The credit cards
Offers as shown by Chase. Chase tailors offers by visitor, so the figure at application may differ.
United Explorer
The everyday United card: free first checked bag for two, two United Club passes a year and the cardholder award discount.
Full review →
United Quest
Two free checked bags, a $200 United credit, a 10,000-mile award discount each anniversary and a second after $20,000 of spending in a calendar year.
Full review →
United Gateway
No annual fee; cardmember award pricing and free bags unlock only after $10,000 of spending in a calendar year.
Current offer at the issuer →
United Club
Unlimited United Club access with a guest, two free checked bags and Premier Access; All Access, unlocked with Premier Gold status or $50,000 of annual spending, adds Star Alliance lounges.
Current offer at the issuer →United also has two business cards: the United Business Card ($150) and the United Club Business Card ($695), according to Chase.
Premier status, briefly
| Tier | Qualify with | Or |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQP and 15 flights | 6,000 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQP and 30 flights | 12,000 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQP and 45 flights | 18,000 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 22,000 PQP and 60 flights | 28,000 PQP |
PQP are Premier qualifying points, earned mainly on fares and, on United cards, at 1 PQP per $15–$20 of spending up to a cap. Thresholds are unchanged for 2026. From January 1, 2027, United drops the flight requirement: status will take 6,000, 12,000, 18,000 or 32,000 PQP, plus at least four United or United Express flights, according to United.
Where it shines
- Real discounts and Saver business access for cardholders
- Wide Star Alliance partner network, easy to search on united.com
- Two banks transfer in at 1:1
Where it falls short
- Dynamic pricing; no chart to plan around
- Partner business awards can cost less through Aeroplan
- Value without a United card is weak
- The Excursionist Perk is gone
The Atelier Take
Worth collecting for anyone based at a United hub who holds a United card; everyone else should treat United miles as a top-up currency and book Star Alliance partners through Aeroplan.
Airline, hotel and card names and logos are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify their programs. Points Atelier is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.
