MileagePlus is United Airlines’ frequent flyer program, letting members earn miles on flights, credit card spending, hotel stays, dining and shopping, then redeem them for award flights on United and its 40-plus Star Alliance and non-alliance partner airlines. With over 100 million members worldwide, it is one of the largest airline loyalty programs.
TL;DR / Key takeaways
- What it is: MileagePlus is United Airlines’ loyalty program. Members earn miles by flying United or its partners, spending on cobranded United credit cards, and using everyday partners like dining programs and shopping portals. Those miles can then be redeemed for award flights on United’s network of 40-plus airlines, including Star Alliance carriers such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Air Canada.
- Miles never expire: Unlike some competing programs, MileagePlus miles have no expiration date regardless of account activity.
- Best use of miles: Redeeming for flights on United or its Star Alliance partners typically yields the highest value. MileagePlus does not charge fuel surcharges on partner award tickets, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs compared to booking the same routes through other programs.
- Card status matters: As of April 2026, MileagePlus members with a cobranded United card earn more miles per dollar on flights than non-cardholders and receive at least 10% off award tickets.
- TPG’s valuation: TPG values United miles at 1.35 cents each as of May 2026. See TPG’s monthly points and miles valuations.
How to earn MileagePlus miles
There are two main paths to building a MileagePlus balance: flying and spending on the ground.
On flights, earning rates since April 2026 are tied to both your Premier elite status tier and whether you hold a cobranded United credit card. Non-cardholders at the base member level earn 3 miles per dollar spent on eligible fares, while cardholders earn 6 miles per dollar spent. The gap widens at higher status tiers. Basic economy tickets earn miles only for members with elite status or a cobranded United card.
| Status tier | Without a United card | With a United cobranded card |
|---|---|---|
| General member | 3 miles per dollar | 6 miles per dollar |
| Premier Silver | 5 miles per dollar | 8 miles per dollar |
| Premier Gold | 6 miles per dollar | 9 miles per dollar |
| Premier Platinum | 7 miles per dollar | 10 miles per dollar |
| Premier 1K | 9 miles per dollar | 12 miles per dollar |
Earning rates effective April 2, 2026.
Off the plane, members can earn miles through the MileagePlus Shopping portal (1,100-plus merchants), the MileagePlus Dining program, hotel stays and car rentals booked through United partners. Chase Ultimate Rewards is a transfer partner, letting cardholders move points to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio.
How to redeem MileagePlus miles
Redeeming miles for flights on United or its partner airlines is where MileagePlus members get the best value. United uses dynamic award pricing on its own flights, meaning prices fluctuate based on demand and availability.
One structural advantage of MileagePlus: it does not add fuel surcharges to partner award tickets. Booking partners like Lufthansa or Turkish Airlines through United MileagePlus rather than through those airlines’ own programs can meaningfully reduce the cash fees you pay at checkout. If you hold a MileagePlus balance and are planning a long-haul international trip, that no-surcharge policy is worth factoring into your program choice.
As of April 2026, cardholders get at least 10% off every United award ticket, and Premier elite cardholders get at least 15% off. Cardholders also gain access to Saver Award inventory in United Polaris business class that was previously reserved for Platinum and 1K members.
Other redemption options exist, including hotel stays, lounge memberships and merchandise, but these typically return 1 cent per mile or less, well below TPG’s 1.35 cpp valuation as of May 2026. See TPG’s monthly points and miles valuations. For most members, award flights will be the strongest use of their balance.
MileagePlus Premier elite status tiers
MileagePlus Premier status has four tiers: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K. There is also an exclusive Global Services tier, available only by personal invitation or upon reaching 4 million lifetime flight miles.
Members earn status through Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). PQPs accumulate from flight spend and eligible cobranded card spend; PQFs are counted flight segments. You must also fly at least four United or United Express segments per calendar year to qualify for any status level.
The table below reflects thresholds for status earned in 2026, valid through January 31, 2028.
| Tier | PQPs only | PQPs plus PQFs |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 6,000 PQPs | 5,000 PQPs + 15 PQFs |
| Premier Gold | 12,000 PQPs | 10,000 PQPs + 30 PQFs |
| Premier Platinum | 18,000 PQPs | 15,000 PQPs + 45 PQFs |
| Premier 1K | 28,000 PQPs | 22,000 PQPs + 60 PQFs |
All Premier members receive bonus miles on paid flights, complimentary checked bags and waitlisted upgrades. Higher tiers add complimentary Economy Plus seating, PlusPoints (a flexible upgrade currency for confirming seat upgrades), Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status and Star Alliance Gold status, though perks may vary by partner.
