United MileagePlus
Star Alliance flagship · most flexible US-based Star currency
Why we recommend it
United MileagePlus is the largest US-based Star Alliance currency. Revenue-based earning (5-11 miles per dollar by status). Partner award redemptions are where the real value lives — Lufthansa First Class from the US East Coast at 110k miles is among the best premium redemptions in commercial aviation. Chase UR transfers 1:1 and the Excursionist Perk adds a free in-region segment.
Highlights
- Full Star Alliance access
- Chase UR 1:1 transfer partner
- Excursionist Perk: free in-region segment
- Premier Qualifying Points scale with spend
What we liked
- Most flexible Star currency
- Strong US co-brand lineup
- Premier 1K meaningful
What could be better
- Dynamic on UA metal
- Partner awards pricier than Aeroplan
Hands-on screenshots
Captured live from United MileagePlus — not stock photos.
Full guide · 9 min read
United MileagePlus: The Complete Guide
United's program is the most flexible Star Alliance mileage currency — and the most expensive on the award side.
- Earning MileagePlus miles
- Redemption structure
- The Excursionist Perk
- Elite status tiers
- The Chase card ecosystem
- Where MileagePlus wins
How we evaluated United MileagePlus
- Sampled 20+ award routes at saver level, monthly, over the last 90 days
- Compared partner pricing against every other Star / OneWorld / SkyTeam currency the route is bookable through
- Verified change / cancellation rules against the current program terms
- Cross-referenced with The Points Guy and God Save the Points trip reports
Last re-verified 2026-04-01. We re-check each listing on a 90-day rolling cadence; when a program slips, the rating drops here before it drops anywhere else. How we work.