Top Ways to Earn Miles with United MileagePlus: A Comprehensive Guide
Maximizing your miles with the United MileagePlus® program requires a strategic approach that spans multiple earning opportunities. Whether it’s flying with United, leveraging cobranded credit cards, shopping, dining, or transferring points from partner programs, there are numerous ways to increase your mileage balance. Here’s a detailed look at the best ways to maximize your miles, ensuring you get the most out of your travel rewards.
Flying with United Airlines
Flying is the most direct way to accumulate MileagePlus miles. Members earn five miles per dollar spent on base fares for United and United Express flights. Premier members can earn additional miles based on their elite status level, reaching up to 11 miles per dollar.
MileagePlus members can also earn miles on flights operated by United’s Star Alliance partners, provided they book through United. Travelers flying in premium cabins typically enjoy higher mileage earnings, often benefiting from bonuses for specific fare classes. If you forget to add your MileagePlus number, you can claim missing miles within a designated period after your flight.
By focusing on premium travel options and monitoring your miles closely, you can significantly increase your earning potential with every flight.
Earning Through United Credit Cards
United MileagePlus cobranded credit cards offer a powerful way to enhance your mileage balance. These cards allow cardholders to earn miles on all transactions, with bonuses on United purchases.
Many cards offer sign-up bonuses, with some providing up to 75,000 bonus miles after meeting initial spending thresholds. Using these cards for everyday purchases like dining, travel, and shopping can also boost your mileage balance. Additionally, transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to your MileagePlus account at a 1:1 ratio further enhances your earning potential.
Example: United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card is one of the most popular credit cards for earning MileagePlus miles. Here’s a breakdown of its features and benefits:
- 60,000 Bonus Miles: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 2 Miles per Dollar: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, dining (including eligible delivery services), and hotel stays.
- 25% Back on In-flight Purchases: Get 25% back as a statement credit on United in-flight purchases.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Credit: Receive up to $100 reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.
- Free Checked Bag: The primary cardholder and one companion can check their first bag for free on the same reservation.
- Priority Boarding: Enjoy priority boarding when flying with United.
- Two United Club℠ Passes: Receive two United Club℠ one-time passes annually for lounge access.
This card also has no foreign transaction fees and includes purchase protection and travel insurance, making it ideal for frequent United travelers looking to maximize their rewards while enjoying extra travel perks.
Shopping and Dining Programs
MileagePlus Shopping and Dining programs allow members to earn miles on everyday purchases, making it easy to accumulate miles without flying.
The MileagePlus Shopping portal features hundreds of participating retailers, offering varying mile accrual rates. Seasonal promotions provide additional earning opportunities, helping you maximize your mileage accrual.
Sample of MileagePlus Shopping Program Partners:
- Macy’s: Earn up to 3 miles per dollar spent on clothing, accessories, and home goods.
- Nike: Earn 5 miles per dollar on athletic gear and apparel.
- Apple: Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on Apple products and accessories.
- Best Buy: Earn 2 miles per dollar on electronics and appliances.
- Home Depot: Earn 1.5 miles per dollar spent on home improvement purchases.
- Ulta Beauty: Earn 4 miles per dollar on beauty and skincare products.
Similarly, the MileagePlus Dining program allows members to earn miles at participating restaurants. By registering your credit card, you can automatically earn miles for dining out. New members often receive bonus miles for their first purchase, and using a United MileagePlus cobranded credit card can stack rewards for even more miles.
Sample of MileagePlus Dining Program Partners:
- The Cheesecake Factory: Earn up to 5 miles per dollar on dining.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on wings and beverages.
- Morton’s The Steakhouse: Earn up to 5 miles per dollar at premium dining establishments.
- Chili’s: Earn 3 miles per dollar at participating locations.
- Local and Independent Restaurants: Many local establishments participate in the MileagePlus Dining program, offering miles for your dining experiences.
By combining the use of a United MileagePlus cobranded credit card with these shopping and dining programs, you can maximize your miles earned from everyday purchases. Additionally, keep an eye out for seasonal promotions to increase your mileage accrual even further.
Transferring Points from Partners
Points transfers from partner loyalty programs offer a valuable way to boost your MileagePlus balance. Here are some of the key programs you can transfer points from:
- Marriott Bonvoy: Transfer points to United MileagePlus at a 3:1 ratio, with a 10,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred.
- Chase Ultimate Rewards®: Transfer Chase points to MileagePlus at a 1:1 ratio. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® are popular for earning Ultimate Rewards points, which can easily be converted to United miles.
- Bilt Rewards: Transfer points from your Bilt Rewards account to MileagePlus to maximize your travel benefits.
- IHG Rewards Club: Convert IHG points to United MileagePlus miles at a transfer rate of 5:1, meaning 10,000 IHG points would give you 2,000 United miles.
- Hilton Honors: Hilton points can be transferred at a 10:1 ratio, allowing you to exchange 10,000 Hilton points for 1,000 MileagePlus miles.
- Radisson Rewards: You can transfer Radisson Rewards points to MileagePlus miles at a 10:1 ratio, though it may not always be the best value.
Keeping an eye on transfer promotions from these programs can yield extra miles, increasing your overall earning potential. Each partner has its own transfer rates and rules, so it’s essential to compare the value of your points before making a transfer to ensure you’re maximizing your mileage accrual.
Utilizing Online Shopping Portals
The MileagePlus Shopping portal provides a valuable opportunity to earn miles on online purchases. Members can earn up to 3 miles per dollar spent at hundreds of participating retailers, with seasonal promotions often offering bonus miles to further boost earning potential.
Sample of Participating Retailers:
- Macy’s: Earn up to 3 miles per dollar spent on fashion, accessories, and home goods.
- Best Buy: Earn 2 miles per dollar on electronics and home appliances.
- Nike: Earn 5 miles per dollar spent on athletic wear and shoes.
- Apple: Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on Apple products and accessories.
- Home Depot: Earn 1.5 miles per dollar on home improvement purchases.
- Sephora: Earn 4 miles per dollar spent on beauty and skincare products.
By shopping through the MileagePlus Shopping portal, you can accumulate miles on everyday purchases while taking advantage of retailer-specific promotions.
To maximize rewards, it’s essential to track purchases and ensure miles are credited accurately. Tools like Cashback Monitor can help compare earning opportunities across different shopping portals, ensuring that members receive the best possible value for their spending.
By incorporating online shopping into your routine and using the MileagePlus portal, you can steadily accumulate miles that bring you closer to your travel goals.
Booking Travel and Activities
MileagePlus members can further boost their miles by booking travel and activities through United’s partner airlines, hotels, and car rental services. Earn miles on flights with United and United Express, with Premier members receiving additional bonuses. Star Alliance and partner airline flights also contribute to MileagePlus accrual, provided your MileagePlus number is included.
Hotel stays booked through partners can yield 1 to 3 miles per dollar spent, and rental car bookings offer similar opportunities. For added value, consider purchasing travel packages that bundle flights and hotels for extra rewards.
Specialty Earning Opportunities
United MileagePlus offers unique earning opportunities through specialty fares and promotions. Bulk, group, and tour fares earn miles based on distance traveled and fare class. The Money + Miles feature allows members to earn miles on the cash portion of their fare, maximizing earning potential.
The MileagePlus Dining program offers up to 5 miles per dollar at select restaurants, and the MileagePlus X app lets users purchase gift cards and earn miles instantly. These options provide additional ways to earn miles beyond traditional methods.
Final Thoughts
The United MileagePlus program offers a multitude of ways to earn miles, from flying to everyday purchases and strategic use of shopping portals. By leveraging partner transfers, cobranded credit cards, and specialty earning opportunities, members can significantly enhance their mileage balance. The key to success is to remain vigilant, explore various avenues, and stay informed about promotions and bonuses. With a solid strategy in place, your MileagePlus miles will accumulate rapidly, paving the way for unforgettable travel experiences.
