Traveling the world on a budget can sometimes seem more like a fantasy than a feasible plan. However, for members of United Airlines’ MileagePlus program, the Excursionist Perk offers a compelling way to stretch your travel miles to cover more destinations without straining your wallet. This unique feature allows you to add a one-way flight to a round-trip award ticket without using extra miles, provided you understand and navigate the rules effectively. Here’s how you can maximize this benefit to broaden your travel horizons.
Understanding the United MileagePlus Excursionist Perk
The Excursionist Perk is designed to encourage explorative travel among United MileagePlus members by offering a free one-way segment on certain round-trip award itineraries. To qualify for this perk, you need to align with specific criteria:
- Travel Regions: Your journey must start and end in the same MileagePlus-defined region.
- Free Segment Rules: The free Excursionist Perk flight must begin and end in a different region from where your trip starts and ends but must remain within a single region.
- Cabin Class Consistency: The free segment must be in the same or a lower award tier or cabin class compared to the flight preceding it.
For example, consider a round-trip ticket from Newark to London; you could potentially add a free side trip from London to Berlin, assuming responsibility only for applicable taxes and fees on this segment.
Sample Regions Defined by United MileagePlus
To plan your travels effectively under this perk, it’s important to understand how United categorizes different parts of the world into regions:
- North America: This includes the United States (excluding Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
- Europe: Covers all countries from Western, Central, and Eastern Europe.
- Asia: This region is subdivided into North Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
- South America: Divided into Northern and Southern sectors.
- Oceania: Comprises Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
- Africa: Typically segmented into Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Maximizing the Excursionist Perk with a Sample Itinerary
To leverage the Excursionist Perk effectively, plan an itinerary where the free segment logically connects within your broader travel plans:
Example Itinerary:
- Main Trip: Fly from New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) and return from Rome (FCO) to New York (JFK).
- Excursionist Perk Segment: Utilize the perk for a journey from Paris (CDG) to Berlin (TXL), which is free except for taxes and fees.
When booking your flights on United.com, use the multi-city search tool to ensure each segment aligns with the Excursionist Perk rules. This method helps to correctly price the middle segment as free under the Excursionist Perk.
Booking Examples Using the Excursionist Perk
- East Asian Tour: Start your trip from San Francisco to Tokyo, use the perk for a free segment from Tokyo to Seoul, then return from Seoul to San Francisco.
- South American Exploration: Begin your adventure from Miami to Lima, use the perk to journey from Lima to Santiago, and complete your trip returning from Santiago to Miami.
Tips for Success
- Flexible Travel Dates: Flexibility can increase your chances of finding available award seats that qualify for the Excursionist Perk.
- Understanding Region Definitions: Familiarizing yourself with United’s regional definitions is essential for planning eligible segments.
- Combining Benefits: If you hold a United co-branded credit card, utilize expanded award availability and other perks to facilitate easier bookings.
Final Thoughts
The United MileagePlus Excursionist Perk is a powerful tool for travelers who aim to explore more destinations without spending extra miles. With thoughtful planning and a strategic approach, this perk can significantly enhance your travel experiences, allowing you to visit multiple countries or regions on a single ticket. Whether you’re dreaming of an extensive tour in Asia or a cultural exploration across Europe, the Excursionist Perk can help turn those dreams into reality, making world travel more accessible and affordable. Happy travels as you explore the globe with your United miles!
