Let’s face it: having a MileagePlus balance with no plan is like owning a gym membership but never showing up. It feels productive, but nothing’s happening. If you’ve got United miles sitting there—accrued from flights, credit card rewards, or that one business trip you barely remember—you’ve probably asked yourself at some point: how do I spend my United miles?
The good news is you have plenty of options. The less good news? Not all of them are equally valuable. Before you turn your hard-earned miles into a $50 toaster or a flight with three layovers and a crying toddler behind you, let’s look at the smartest (and not-so-smart) ways to redeem your United miles.
Flight Awards: Still the Gold Standard
Booking flights with your miles is still the best bang for your (virtual) buck—especially if you know where to look. United’s “Saver Awards” often offer strong redemption value, and their interactive calendar can help you spot low-mileage dates. A cross-country trip from New York to LA for 12,500 miles? Now that’s value.
Dynamic pricing does make things a little unpredictable—one week your dream trip is 15,000 miles, the next it’s 38,000 for the same route and class. So, flexibility is your friend in this situation.
It’s easier to get a good deal with mid-week departures. Tuesday: the underdog of the travel world.
Book Flights on Star Alliance Partners
Did you know you can use your United miles to book flights on partner airlines like Lufthansa, ANA, and Turkish Airlines? These are often amazing for international trips—think lie-flat seats, excellent service, and a chance to practice your rusty high school German.
The downside? These partner redemptions sometimes come with higher taxes or fewer seats available, so plan early. And yes, it’s worth every mile to avoid that middle seat in the last row near the bathroom.
Upgrades with Miles: Worth It?
If you already bought an economy ticket but would love to skip the knee-to-seat-back dance, you could use miles to upgrade. United offers MileagePlus Upgrade Awards (for its flights) and Star Alliance Upgrades (for partners).
While upgrades can be a great use of miles, beware of restrictions—certain fare classes aren’t eligible, and some upgrades require co-pays. It’s the airline’s way of saying, “Sure, you can upgrade… but not too easily.”
Perks: Wi-Fi, Baggage, and Lounges
Not every redemption has to be grand. You can use your miles for things like:
- United Club Day passes
- In-flight Wi-Fi
- Extra baggage or better seat selection
Are these redemptions glamorous? No. Are they practical when you’re stranded at Denver International during a snowstorm? Absolutely.
So… How Do I Spend My United Miles?
It depends. If you travel often, flights and upgrades are your best bet. If you’re not going anywhere soon (and that vacation keeps getting pushed), you might want to hold off—or consider selling your miles, but more on that in a bit.
The Mediocre Options: Shopping, Hotels, and Gift Cards
United gives you the option to redeem miles for everything from hotel stays to magazine subscriptions to Apple products. Should you? Eh.
Most of these redemptions offer low value (sometimes under 0.5¢ per mile), which is like trading a $100 bill for a handful of pennies and a “thank you” note.
Unless you’re in a rush and need that Apple Watch, save your miles for flights.
Why Selling Might Be Your Smartest Move
Let’s say none of the above excites you. You don’t travel much. You’ve browsed the shopping portal and thought, “Why am I paying more miles for a blender than a flight to Vegas?”
That’s where selling your miles comes in.
At Cash for My Miles, we offer an easy, secure way to turn your unused United miles into real cash. No blackout dates, no redemption charts, no watching your miles expire while you wait for vacation approval from HR.
Whether you’ve got 20,000 miles or 200,000, we can help you get paid for what you’ve already earned.
Spend, Save, or Sell—You’ve Got Options
So, how do I spend my United miles? The real answer: however, it best fits your travel style, goals, and needs. Want to fly business class to Tokyo? Great. Need to top off a friend’s trip with a few extra miles? Perfect. Don’t want to deal with any of it? That’s where we come in.
At Cash for My Miles, we help travelers like you sell United miles and turn unused miles into meaningful money—without the headaches. Whether you’re pooling miles, planning a redemption, or just ready to cash out, we’ve got your back.
