If you want to master United Airlines loyalty program, you need to understand its elite status tiers, lounge access rules, award booking options, and the credit cards that can supercharge your miles. This guide breaks down all the basics — from MileagePlus partnerships to expert booking tips — so you can make the most of every trip.
United Airlines MileagePlus Basics
United Airlines (UA) is a major U.S. airline and a founding member of Star Alliance. That means you can earn and use MileagePlus miles on United and global airlines like Lufthansa, ANA, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Swiss, as well as Aer Lingus, Juneyao Air, Azul, and Virgin Australia, creating even more earning and booking options.
And because United is a direct transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards, earning miles is even easier. Plus, United often sells miles at a 50% discount or 100% bonus, bringing the effective rate to about 1.88¢ per mile.
MileagePlus Overview: Elite Status, Lounge Access, and Credit Cards
Elite Status
When it comes to the MileagePlus program, elite status can be a game-changer. To earn Premier status, you must meet Premier qualifying flights (PQF) and Premier qualifying points (PQP) requirements—or a higher PQP-only threshold— and fly at least 4 United or United Express flights. You have the full calendar year to qualify, and your status lasts through the end of the following program year.
United offers four elite tiers:
Status | Requirements |
---|---|
Premier Silver | 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP or 6,000 PQP |
Premier Gold | 30 PQF and 10,000 PQP or 12,000 PQP |
Premier Platinum | 45 PQF and 15,000 PQP or 18,000 PQP |
Premier 1K | 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP or 28,000 PQP |
Lounge Types and Access
United offers three types of lounges, each tailored to different travelers:
- United Club — Located at 45+ airports worldwide.
Comfortable seating, light snacks & drinks, Wi‑Fi, and charging stations.
- United Polaris Lounge — Available at major hubs (ORD, IAH, LAX, EWR, SFO, IAD).
Premium experience with à la carte dining, showers, nap pods, business areas.
- United Club Fly — Grab‑and‑go style lounges for quick refreshments at select airports.
How to Access Lounges
- Fly business or first class on United or Star Alliance international flights
- Have Star Alliance Gold status or United Club Membership
- Active-duty U.S. military with a same-day boarding pass
- Hold a qualifying United Credit Card
Credit Cards
When it comes to earning rewards, different types of credit cards can offer a range of benefits. However, while these cards can help boost your status, relying solely on spending to qualify can quickly become an expensive strategy. Let’s take a look at the different types of credit cards United Offers and how each can fit into your travel rewards plan.
Card Name | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer | Bonus Earnings | Travel Perks |
---|---|---|---|---|
The New United GatewaySM | $0 | 30k miles after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months | 2x miles on United purchases 2x miles on gas, local transit and commuting | – Earn 2 checked bags each year – 25% back on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases |
The New UnitedSM Explorer | $0 intro annual fee, then $150 | 60k miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months | 2x miles on United purchases 2x miles on dining and hotels | – Free checked bag – 2 United Club one-time passes per year – Priority boarding – Earn a $100 United® travel credit – Earn a 10k-mile award flight discount |
The New United QuestSM | $350 | 100k miles + 3,000 PQP after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months | 3x miles on United purchases 2x miles on dining, all other travel and select streaming services | – $200 United® travel credit – 10k-mile award flight discount annually – 10k-mile award flight discount – 2 Free checked bags – Priority boarding – Earn up to 18k PQP per year |
The New United ClubSM | $695 | 90k miles after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months | 4x miles on United purchases 2x miles on dining and all other travel | – United ClubSM membership – Up to 20k miles in award flight discounts annually – Premier Access® travel services – 2 Free checked bags – Earn up to 28k PQP per year |
Choosing the Right Card
- Budget-Friendly & First-time Travelers
If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee option that still offers checked bags and some travel perks, start with the Gateway Card. - Strong Travel Perks Without High Fee
The Explorer Card is great for moderate travelers: it includes lounge passes, credible travel credits, checked bags, and priority boarding—no fee the first year. - Premium Travel Benefits
For frequent flyers or United loyalists, the Quest Card provides the best ongoing value—higher miles multipliers, larger travel credits, and the potential to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) just through spending.
Booking Tickets Using MileagePlus Program
When you’re ready to book using your miles, there are several tools at your disposal:
- United.com: Great for its calendar view, allowing you to quickly see award availability across a full month. It also supports searching multiple airports at once.
- Seats.Aero: A powerful option for quickly searching across dates and routes to find award space.
- PointsYeah: One of the most flexible tools, allowing you to search up to two origins, two destinations, and many dates at once.
Getting the Best Value From United Airlines MileagePlus
Though United’s dynamic award pricing can seem steep at times, savvy travelers can find superb value. United still publishes saver level awards, which partner airlines can also access. Saver economy is typically 20k one-way to Northern South America, while business class to Europe is 80k. Asia and Australia are priced at 100k one-way.
More importantly, United’s Excursionist Perk lets you add a free one-way segment within a multi-region round trip, making United Airlines MileagePlus extremely lucrative for complex trips.
Pro Tip: Combine the Excursionist Perk with partner awards. For example, you could fly one-way United from the U.S. to Japan, then add a free business class segment on ANA within Asia before flying home.
Final Thoughts
In short, United Airlines MileagePlus program can be incredibly valuable once you understand its award charts, elite status perks, lounge access policies, and booking tools. Whether you’re looking for premium cabin flights to Europe or last-minute economy seats in the U.S., United’s MileagePlus program offers flexibility and tremendous opportunities to stretch your miles further.