You’ve racked up United MileagePlus miles—maybe from all those business trips, credit card points, or that one time you booked a flight but ended up cancelling (we’ve all been there). Now comes the real question: what do United miles get you? Is it just another seat in economy, or can you do something exciting with them?
There’s a whole world—literally—of possibilities. From first-class champagne to car rentals and even reading the Financial Times in your pyjamas, your United miles can unlock far more than you think.
Let’s dive into the best ways to use your miles, with a few fun detours along the way.
Flights on United: The Classic (and Still the Best) Option
The most straightforward way to use your miles? Award flights with United. With over 4,500 daily departures and hundreds of destinations, you’ve got options.
United’s award ticket system is based on dynamic pricing now, so the number of miles needed will vary by day, demand, and maybe your horoscope (okay, not really—but close). That said, there are still sweet spots to be found, especially with Saver Awards—these are the lower-priced mileage tickets that require a bit of flexibility but give great value.
If you’ve got elite status or a United co-branded credit card, you might even see exclusive access or discounted rates. That’s like finding the aisle seat without paying extra. A true win.
Fly Further with Star Alliance & Partner Airlines
United is part of the Star Alliance network, which includes Lufthansa, ANA, Swiss, Turkish Airlines, and more. This means your miles can take you to nearly any corner of the globe, without having to book directly through United.
Flying business class with Turkish or ANA using United miles is like ordering champagne on a beer budget. You’ll often get amazing value, especially on international routes where cash prices soar.
Elevate Your Flying Game
Want to turn that economy seat into something with a footrest and actual food? United lets you use miles to upgrade to premium economy or business class.
Whether it’s on a domestic hop or a long-haul flight to Europe, MileagePlus Upgrade Awards are available—just check the availability when booking. And yes, sometimes you’ll need to pay a small fee in addition to your miles. Think of it as the VIP entrance fee to legroom and silence.
One time, I used miles to upgrade a last-minute trip to Frankfurt. I went from a middle seat in the back to a lie-flat seat with a wine list. I landed more refreshed than after a full weekend at home. (My cat was jealous.)
What Do United Miles Get You? Mid-Trip Perks and Beyond
Let’s talk about the lesser-known—but still useful—ways your miles can help:
- Lounge access: Want to escape the chaos of airport terminals? Use miles to buy a United Club membership and turn your layovers into lounge naps and free snacks.
- In-flight Wi-Fi: Redeem miles for monthly Wi-Fi subscriptions and stream your favourite shows while flying above Iowa.
- TSA Precheck: Skip the long security lines by using miles to pay for this convenience. Shoes on, laptop in bag—it’s the little things.
Even meals at select airports can be paid for with miles. It may not be a Michelin-star dinner, but it beats overpriced trail mix.
Hotels, Cars, and Magazine Subscriptions (Yes, Really)
You can use miles for hotel stays and car rentals, but let’s keep it real—these redemptions often offer lower value compared to flights. If you’re just shy of an award flight and don’t want your miles to sit idle, these can be useful.
Surprisingly, magazine and newspaper subscriptions often offer the best redemption rates outside of travel. Fancy reading The Economist while sipping coffee at home? Go for it.
Shopping with Miles: Proceed with Caution
Yes, you can use your United miles to buy Apple products, gift cards, or items through United’s MileagePlus shopping portal. Should you? Probably not, unless you have miles collecting dust and no travel plans. The value per mile is low, like buying a Starbucks coffee with a gold coin.
The Excursionist Perk: A Free Flight Hidden in Plain Sight
This is one of United’s quirkiest but most exciting offers. When you book a multi-city itinerary, you can snag a free one-way flight within a single region, as long as it falls between two international flights.
For example, fly from New York to Paris, add in a free flight to Rome, then fly home from there. It’s United’s way of saying, “Take the scenic route.”
Don’t Want to Travel? Sell United Miles Instead
Not everyone wants to fly—or has time to plan award bookings. Maybe your travel dates are up in the air, or your miles are just sitting unused. That’s where the option to sell United Miles comes in.
Instead of letting your miles expire or using them on subpar redemptions, you can turn them into real money. Cash For My Miles offers a quick, secure, and user-friendly way to sell your United MileagePlus miles. Whether you’ve got thousands banked from past flights or earned them through credit card bonuses, you don’t have to let them go to waste.
Plus, the process is simple:
- Get a quote.
- Submit your details.
- Get paid. Fast.
Now that’s an upgrade worth booking.
Make Your Miles Work for You
So, what do United miles get you? The better question is: what do you want from your miles?
Whether you’re flying to Tokyo in business class, sipping espresso in a Polaris lounge, or cashing out for a weekend getaway (with actual cash in hand), your miles can do more than you might think.
And if travel isn’t in your plans anytime soon, don’t let your hard-earned miles go to waste. Instead, sell United miles through a trusted service like Cash for My Miles. It’s simple, secure, and gets you paid—no seatbelt required.
