United MileagePlus is one of the most valuable loyalty programs out there, thanks to the sheer variety of ways members can earn and redeem miles. Thanks to its diverse partnerships, it’s almost hard not to earn them for the things you’re likely to buy anyway. So you might as well join for free and start racking them up. But once you have them, do you need to worry about losing them when they expire?
The short answer is no, United miles never expire.
While some programs like American Airlines AAdvantage will allow your miles to expire after a certain amount of time if your account isn’t active, others, like United Airlines MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, and Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards take the pressure off by not letting your awards expire at all. Just follow United’s rules to keep your account in good standing, and you’ll be good to go.
Here’s what you need to know about earning and redeeming United MileagePlus miles, plus a few things to be aware of if you don’t want United to close your account.
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Reasons why you might lose your United miles
The MileagePlus Rules page on United’s website lists some reasons why the carrier could end up closing your account. In situations where the member passes away or stops answering communications from United about the status of their account, it could be deactivated and the rewards removed.
The website also states your miles will be forfeited if you violate the program’s terms or any of the airline’s fare rules, contract of carriage rules, or other regulations regarding prohibited conduct or applicable laws.
If you request the closure of your account, any miles not already redeemed or transferred will be lost.
How to earn more United MileagePlus miles
It’s pretty easy to accumulate MileagePlus miles, especially if you sign up for one of United’s co-branded credit cards. You can also earn United miles by booking flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel through its many portals or with one of its partners.
The carrier also has a vast portfolio of retail partners, so you can earn miles from home when you’re not traveling.
Earning
Whenever you book a flight with United Airlines or one of its Star Alliance partners, you’ll earn MileagePlus miles as long as you’re a member. Signing up is free. United’s airline partners include the following:
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways (ANA)
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian Airlines
- Avianca
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- EgyptAir
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Airways
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- Swiss International Air Lines
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
United Airlines also has special partnerships with the following airlines, so you’ll be able to earn miles when flying outside of the Star Alliance:
- Aer Lingus
- Air Dolomiti
- Airlink
- Azul
- Boutique Air
- Cape Air
- Discover Airlines
- Edelweiss
- Emirates
- Eurowings
- FlyDubai
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JSX
- Juneyao Air (a Star Alliance connecting partner)
- Lufthansa City Airlines
- Olympic Air
- Silver Airways
- Virgin Australia
- Vistara
Keep in mind that the amount of miles you’ll earn depends on whether or not you’re flying on United metal, your level of status with the airline, and the class you’re flying in.
Frequent flyers with higher levels of elite status can accrue more miles per flight. General MileagePlus members, for instance, earn 5 miles per dollar spent on flights. Meanwhile, those with Premier status can score 7 miles per dollar with Premier Silver, 8 miles per dollar with Premier Gold, 9 miles per dollar with Premier Platinum, and 11 miles per dollar with Premier 1K.
MileagePlus members can also accumulate miles by booking rooms through United Hotels or RocketMiles, sailings through United Cruises, stays at Villas of Distinction, and entire vacations via United Packages.
Alternatively, miles can be earned by reserving accommodations through VRBO or by staying at Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Wyndham, Choice Hotel, and other hotel partner properties worldwide.
United partners with Avis and Budget, so you can earn miles on car rentals. If you prefer to park at the airport before a flight, create an account with Thanks Again, which rewards you for parking, shopping, and dining at airports around North America.
MileagePlus also allows you to rack up miles for completing other activities, such as paying your energy bill (for NRG and Reliant customers in certain states), buying e-gift cards, donating $25 or more to the National Foundation for Cancer Research, filling out surveys, or booking tickets to Broadway shows via Audience Rewards.
Additional miles can be earned through partnerships with MyPoints, Emergency Assist Plus, Rocket Mortgage, Norton 360, Therabody, FTD, Vinesse Wines, and Timeshifter.
Redeeming
And now for the fun part: cashing in those hard-earned miles for (nearly) free flights, hotel stays, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, and other parts of your trip. Remember to check the Featured Awards page before you book for discounted awards.
United miles can be redeemed for award flights with the carrier or any of the partner airlines (mentioned above). If you’re short on miles, use the handy Money+Miles feature to cover the cost of your trip.
MileagePlus members can also use miles to pay for baggage fees, seat selection, or upgrades, as well as in-flight dining and Wi-Fi. Additionally, they can be used to purchase United Club lounge memberships, pay for your bill at certain restaurants at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH), or cover the cost of your TSA PreCheck membership.
If a shopping spree is in order, miles can be redeemed for Apple products — or anything else through MileagePlus Merchandise Awards — exchanged for e-gift cards or used to purchase magazine and newspaper subscriptions via MagsForMiles and Newspaper Awards, respectively.
As mentioned above, you can redeem miles to save on travel through United Hotels, United Cruises, and United Packages, or to book care rentals and hotel stays with partners. Miles can also be used to bid on or pay for entry to sporting events, classes, concerts, and other special experiences with MileagePlus Exclusives.
Getting a United co-branded card
If you’ve been thinking about getting a new travel rewards credit card and can meet the minimum spending requirements responsibly, signing up for one of United’s co-branded credit cards can increase your miles balance quickly.
There are a few personal co-branded credit cards to choose from, including:
- United Gateway Card
- United Explorer Card
- United Quest Card
- United Club Infinite Card
If you’re a small business owner, one of United’s business cards might be of interest:
- United Business Card
- United Club Business Card
Before applying for a new credit card, it’s important to consider your current financial situation and travel preferences. If you’re more comfortable with having a lower annual fee, the United Explorer Card — or the United Gateway Card, which has no annual fee — may be the most appealing option.
If, however, you’d prefer to splash out for premium benefits like lounge access, the United Club Infinite Card, which comes with a free United Club membership and a higher annual fee, might make more sense.
Be aware that you could end up losing your miles if you break any of the card issuer’s rules — in this case, Chase Bank’s rules regarding fraudulent activity, account misuse, failure to pay your debts, or filing for bankruptcy — and the bank closes your credit card account. According to the rules and regulations for the United Explorer Card, however, any miles would be automatically transferred to United if your card’s account is closed for any reason other than those listed.
Shopping and dining programs
United makes it easy to earn miles on purchases made at participating retail shops and restaurants through its nifty MileagePlus X app, available in the App Store and on Google Play. It can also be used to buy e-gift cards and book last-minute hotels, which lets you earn up to 25 miles per dollar you spend.
Anyone in need of some serious retail therapy (aren’t we all?) can easily rack up miles by shopping online at more than 1,100 stores via the MileagePlus Shopping portal.
If there’s a new restaurant you’ve been meaning to try, see if it’s listed with MileagePlus Dining. Then, link your preferred credit or debit card to your account, and watch your balance grow as you earn up to 5 miles per dollar spent at participating eateries, whether you dine in or take it to go.
Buying, gifting, donating, and transferring miles
If you need to bump up your balance or want to surprise a friend or family member with some miles, you’ll need to pay $35 per 1,000 miles. There’s a minimum of 2,000 miles per transfer and a maximum of 175,000 miles per year, and they must be purchased in 1,000-mile increments. Check the website for sales and promotions, which let you save or receive bonus miles when you buy or gift higher amounts.
United’s Award Accelerator feature, typically offered during the ticket-buying process, allows you to purchase extra miles for less. If you decide to do this, you may then be given the option to use the Premier Accelerator to fast-track your way to higher status by buying Premier Qualifying Points.
Want to give back? Donate your miles to a good cause through MileagePlus Miles on a Mission, which supports charity organizations like World Central Kitchen, Airlink (which flies first responders out to face humanitarian crises worldwide), the USO, and Guide Dogs of America. As the website says, “Find a cause that speaks to you. Then donate your miles to make a difference.”
To transfer some of your miles to friends or family members, the going rate is $7.50 per 500 miles, plus a $30 processing fee for each transaction. You may switch over a minimum of 500 miles and a maximum of 100,000 miles per transfer and can switch them over in 500-mile increments until you hit 5,000 miles (at which point it increases to 1,000-mile increments).
If you’re a few miles short when it comes to a big-ticket redemption, just increase your balance by transferring points from partner loyalty programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Bilt Rewards, which offer conversions at a 1:1 transfer ratio.
Another partner, Marriott Bonvoy, lets you transfer points to airlines at a 3:1 ratio and throws in a sweet 10,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
Although transfer ratios aren’t as lucrative, you can transfer points from United’s other hotel partner programs, including Accor Live Limitless (2:1), Hilton Honors (10:1), IHG One Rewards (5:1), World of Hyatt (2.5:1, plus a 5,000-mile bonus if you transfer 50,000 points), Choice Privileges (5:1), Wyndham Rewards (5:1), and Shangri-La Circle (1:1).
If you happen to be a Marriott Vacation Club owner, Vacation Club points can be exchanged in 250-point increments for 4,000 United miles, with a limit of 40,000 points per person per year. Transferring 500 Vacation Club points, for example, would yield 8,000 United MileagePlus miles.
Summary
Since United MileagePlus miles never expire, you’re free to keep earning and redeeming them as long as you see fit. The program is free to join and by using its various shopping, dining, and travel portals to pay for purchases you were planning to make anyway, you’ll automatically earn miles toward your next vacation.
Just make sure you’re following all the rules and responding to United’s communications about your account, and you’ll be all set — and ready to save on your next big trip.
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