Book with United MileagePlus
Chicago → London
- Low Price
- 80k points + $6
- Broader Availability
- 200k points + $6
Airline rewards program guides 
AIRLINE REWARDS PROGRAM GUIDE
United MileagePlus
Search United and Star Alliance business-class awards, with flexible-date tools and straightforward cancellation options.
Find better flights with your points
United MileagePlus calls its rewards currency miles. We use “points” for prices and comparisons throughout this site. Transfer instructions retain the program’s official terminology.
Know the program
United MileagePlus at a glance
Best uses
- Check United for Polaris, its long-haul business class, including flights unavailable through partner airline rewards programs.
- Include Star Alliance partners for more routes to Europe and Asia.
Can you change or cancel?
- Cancel before departure to get your miles back without a fee; changing flights may require more miles.
- Missing the flight can trigger a $125 fee to recover your miles.
Search while signed in
- Eligible United cardholders can receive lower award prices. Sign in to see your price.
Business class · one way
What could your points book?
Book with United MileagePlus
New York → Cape Town
- Low Price
- 88k points + $9
- Broader Availability
- 474k points + $6
Book with United MileagePlus
Los Angeles → Bangkok
- Low Price
- 110k points + $40
- Broader Availability
- 250k points + $30
What does Broader Availability mean?
The upper end of the typical award price range. Flights on most dates were available between the Low Price and this amount. Actual prices and availability vary by date.
Researched prices; confirm flights and pricing with the airline. Research details
Example value of your points
Chicago → London · Business Class · One way
Book through United MileagePlus
Estimated purchase price
$2,200
Book with United MileagePlus points
80k points + $6
80k points = $2,194
$2,200 purchase price − $6 fees
2.7 cents per point
Illustrative example. Confirm actual fares and award pricing for your dates.
Build your balance
How to earn points
1,000 bank points → 1,000 miles
1,000 bank points → 1,000 miles
Earn directly with credit cards
Credit card disclosure: We may receive cash, points or other rewards if you apply for a credit card through links on this site and meet the referral or affiliate offer requirements. Disclosure details
Personal · Earns United MileagePlus rewards directly
United Quest Card
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on dining and other travel purchases.
Up to 90,000 welcome bonus miles
Spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
80,000 miles after qualifying spend; an additional 10,000 requires adding an authorized user in the first 3 months.
Welcome bonus last confirmed Oct 17, 2026
Card details & offer terms
Personal · Earns United MileagePlus rewards directly
United Explorer Card
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on dining and hotels booked directly.
Up to 80,000 welcome bonus miles
Spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
70,000 miles after qualifying spend; an additional 10,000 requires adding an authorized user in the first 3 months.
Welcome bonus last confirmed Oct 17, 2026
Card details & offer termsEarn through travel and partners
- United and Star Alliance flights: Add your MileagePlus number to eligible paid bookings; partner earning depends on airline and fare class.
- MileagePlus Shopping: Start eligible online purchases through the portal to earn extra miles.
Partner opportunities
Airlines worth checking
United’s US hubs make it useful for both nonstop Polaris flights and one-ticket Star Alliance connections.
| Destination focus | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Europe — United and Lufthansa | Lufthansa adds connections through Germany to cities beyond United’s nonstop destinations. |
| Japan — ANA | A way to book ANA business class using MileagePlus miles; ANA must release seats to partners. |
| Connections through Canada — Air Canada | Canadian connections can provide another route when United flights are expensive or unavailable. |
From search to booking
Find and book on united.com
- Choose Miles and sign in. Enter your route, number of travelers and Business cabin.
- Select Flexible dates. Use the 30-day calendar when available to compare dates.
- Include partner airlines. Choose All airlines or All Star Alliance airlines. Allow connections for more options.
Control where you connect
- Use Preferred connections or Connections to avoid to include or exclude a connecting airport.
Keep your points working
Managing your miles
Mileage expiration
- MileagePlus miles do not expire.
Using miles with family or friends
- A free miles pool can include up to five members; the pool leader must be an adult.
- Pooled miles can be used for United and eligible pooling partners; check the current partner list before contributing.
Find your next award flight
Explore researched pricesSources and review · October 18, 2026
Flight examples use our ongoing pricing research. Cash comparisons are illustrative estimates rounded up to the next $100. Bank ratios use eligible transfer-enabled accounts and the premium Citi tier; check your bank guide for eligibility.
- United: award search and available filters
- Chase: United Quest offer and award discounts
- Biirdee: United cancellation and no-show rules (secondary)
- NerdWallet: United 30-day calendar walkthrough (secondary)
- United: MileagePlus benefits and expiration
- United: miles pooling setup
- United: current pooling partner eligibility
- Chase: United Explorer offer