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If you have United MileagePlus miles, you can spend them on airlines other than United Airlines. And you don’t have to solely fly on United Airlines to earn United MileagePlus miles.
United Airlines has an extensive network of partners that includes other airlines, plus hotels, rental car companies and retail outlets that serve as sources to earn and redeem United miles.
» Learn more: The best airline credit cards right now
United Star Alliance partners
United Airlines is a founding member of the Star Alliance, which is the largest airline alliance in the world.
There are currently about two dozen Star Alliance members. Fly with any of them and offer up your United MileagePlus member number during booking to earn or redeem miles for travel. Award tickets on all United partners can be booked on United.com (just as you would book any other United award tickets), which makes for a fairly easy booking process (no having to wait for transfer delays or sitting on hold on the phone).
You’ll even be able to make your bookings work toward Star Alliance elite status.
United Star Alliance airline partners
- Aegean Airlines.
- Air Canada.
- Air China.
- Air India.
- Air New Zealand.
- All Nippon Airways (ANA).
- Asiana Airlines.
- Austrian Airlines.
- Avianca.
- Brussels Airlines.
- Copa Airlines.
- Croatia Airlines.
- EgyptAir.
- Ethiopian Airlines.
- Eva Air.
- Lot Polish Airlines.
- Lufthansa.
- Shenzhen Airlines.
- Singapore Airlines.
- South African Airways.
- Swiss.
- TAP Air Portugal.
- Thai Airways.
- Turkish Airlines.
Having so many major airlines in one alliance is convenient for frequent travelers for several reasons. First, it means you can earn miles with one airline and use them for award travel on another. For example, you can earn United MileagePlus miles on a United flight or via other partner flights, then redeem those miles for, say, a flight to Belgium on Brussels Airlines.
It also means you could save hundreds of miles by booking with airline partners using another airline’s miles. In some cases, for example, a flight on a partner airline might require fewer MileagePlus miles than the airline’s own miles.
And since there are over 35 United Airlines flight partners to choose from (plus plenty of other travel partners), MileagePlus members have access to a wide range of travel options, including flights to nearly 200 countries.
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Other United airline partners
Beyond Star Alliance, United also has more than a dozen other partner airlines that aren't in an alliance. United partners with these airlines to increase its list of available destinations. However, there may be some restrictions on earning or redeeming miles for every flight, so you’ll want to check partner details on United’s website.
United Airlines non-alliance airline partners
- Aer Lingus.
- Air Dolomiti.
- Airlink.
- Azul.
- Cape Air.
- Discover Airlines.
- Edelweiss.
- Emirates.
- Eurowings.
- Flydubai.
- Hawaiian Airlines.
- ITA Airways.
- JetBlue Airways.
- JSX.
- Olympic Air.
- Virgin Australia.
United hotel partners
United has also partnered with a number of hotel chains, allowing MileagePlus members to earn miles on qualified stays around the world. Search for a stay at any of United’s hotel partners and share your MileagePlus member number during booking to earn points.
And if you are a member of a hotel loyalty program, you may be able to link your MileagePlus account to transfer hotel points into miles. United’s partnering hotel rewards programs include:
United Airlines hotel partners
- Accor Live Limitless.
- Best Western.
- Millenium Copthrone Collection.
- Shangri-La Circle.
- Fiesta Americana Hotels & Resorts.
- Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
Besides earning United miles for hotel stays, you can also redeem your miles for hotel stays. Though, you can typically get far more value out of your points by using them to book flights, so we generally don’t recommend this option.
You can also earn miles when booking through travel partner platforms, including vacation rental site Vrbo, and United’s own hotel booking platform, United Hotels. Earnings rates can vary based on promotions throughout the year, but here’s how many United miles you can typically expect to earn:
- United Hotels: 2 award miles per $1 spent with United Hotels.
- Vrbo: 3 miles for every $1 spent with Vrbo.
- Rocketmiles: Earn 1,000 to 10,000 miles per night for every booking.
» Learn more: How the Marriott-United status match works
United travel partners
United Airlines partnerships don’t stop with airlines and hotels. You can earn up to 1,250 MileagePlus miles, plus receive additional discounts when booking a rental car with Avis or Budget. You must provide your MileagePlus number upon making your reservation or when you pick up your car rental to earn miles.
And when you book through United Cruises, you’re able to earn and use miles with offers on about two dozen cruise lines, including Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Virgin Voyages.
Ways to earn United MileagePlus miles
There are plenty of other ways to earn MileagePlus miles for travel on United or its partners.
Use United credit cards
The cards have varying levels of perks, but United Club℠ Card has the most benefits, offering a United Club membership, free first and second checked bags, priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling, and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus fee credit.
However, if you don't need lounge access, United Quest℠ Card and United℠ Explorer Card offer plenty of other perks for lower annual fees.
United credit cards
Annual Fee
$0 intro for the first year, then $150
$350
$695
$0
Earning Rate
• 5 miles per $1 on prepaid hotels booked through United.
• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and hotels (when booked directly with hotel).
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5 miles per $1 on hotel stays through Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
• 3 miles per $1 on United purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants, select streaming services and all other travel.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 5 miles per $1 on hotel stays through Renowned Hotels and Resorts.
• 4 miles per $1 on United purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 at restaurants and all other travel purchases.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
• 2 miles per $1 on United purchases, gas stations and local transit and commuting.
• 1 mile per $1 on all other purchases.
United benefits
• First checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• 2 United Club one-time passes each year.
• $100 United Travelbank credits after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.
• 10,000-mile discount after spending $20,000 in a calendar year.
• Credit every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• $200 yearly United TravelBank credit.
• Yearly 10,000-mile discount.
• Another 10,000-mile discount after spending $20,000 in purchases per calendar year.
• 2 global Economy Plus seat upgrades after spending $40,000 in a calendar year.
• Annual 1,000 Card Bonus Premier Qualifying Points deposit.
• Credit every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• First and second checked bag free for you and one companion on your reservation.
• Access to United Club airport lounges.
• A 10,000-mile discount after spending $20,000 in purchases per calendar year (up to two times per year).
• Annual 1,500 Card Bonus Premier Qualifying Points deposit.
• Credit every four years for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS.
• Priority boarding.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• 2 free checked bags after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year.
Bonus offer
Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
Still not sure?
Other ways to earn United miles through everyday spending
To increase your miles earnings on everyday spending, you can also take advantage of United offers. That includes online shopping at hundreds of retailers via the MileagePlus Shopping portal, dining out when you link a credit card with MileagePlus Dining and in-person shopping when you purchase digital gift cards on the MileagePlusX app.
United partners can help you make the most of non-United spending
Booking on airline partners with United offers MileagePlus members an expanded network of travel options. Not only does it broaden the list of available destinations to which United frequent flyers can travel, but it also helps you earn and save valuable miles with just a bit of savvy booking. Be sure to connect your United account to its other travel partners, including hotels and rental cars, to maximize earning potential and benefits on your trips.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
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