Travel · Review · Updated 17 October 2026
United MileagePlus Miles reviewBuy MileagePlus miles to top up a United or Star Alliance award, best during bonus sales
Good
Brent score, out of 5
Buying MileagePlus miles can save real money on a specific business-class award to Europe or Asia, especially during an 80-100% bonus sale. At the standard price of about 3.5 US cents per mile it costs nearly three times the typical value of a United mile, and strict caps limit how much you can buy. Buy only for a confirmed redemption, never to sit on a balance.
Price
About 3.5 US cents per mile; bonus sales near 1.9 cents
Free option
Paid only
Best for
Travelers short of miles for a confirmed Polaris or partner business-class award
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Best for
- Travelers short of miles for a confirmed Polaris or partner business-class award
- Star Alliance flyers booking Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA, EVA or Singapore awards
- People who wait for United's 80-100% bonus promotions
- Members topping up a small gap before award space disappears
Skip it if
- Anyone hoping purchased miles will help earn Premier status
- Speculative buyers with no trip planned
- Short domestic trips where the cash fare is cheaper than the miles
The business-class seat to Europe is sitting there at 80,000 miles, the cash fare is over US$3,000, and you have 62,000 miles. Award space like that does not last, and earning 18,000 miles from flying or card spend will take months.
United sells MileagePlus miles through its partner Points.com for this exact moment. Used carefully, buying a shortfall can unlock a seat that would cost thousands in cash. Used carelessly, it is one of the most expensive ways to pay for a flight.
This review explains what miles cost at normal prices and during sales, the caps you will hit, and a simple way to decide whether a purchase is worth it for your trip.
What is United MileagePlus Miles?
MileagePlus is United Airlines' loyalty program. The buy-miles offer lets members purchase miles with a credit card through Points.com, a third-party loyalty commerce company. Published guides put the standard price at about 3.5 US cents per mile, with purchases capped at 50,000 base miles per rolling 90-day period and 200,000 per calendar year. Purchased miles can be redeemed for United flights and Star Alliance partner awards, but they do not help with Premier status.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Access to United and Star Alliance partner awards, including premium cabins
- Bonus sales of up to 100% have brought the effective price near 1.88 cents per mile
- Low starting point of 2,000 miles
- Miles can bridge a gap quickly when award space is available now
What could be better
- Standard price of about 3.5 cents per mile is far above common valuations of about 1.2 cents
- Caps of 50,000 base miles per rolling 90 days and 200,000 per calendar year
- Purchases are non-refundable, and best offers are targeted by account
- Processed by Points.com, so the charge does not earn airline or travel bonus points on most credit cards
Overall
Good
- Features4.0
- Ease of use4.4
- Value3.3
- Support3.5
Key features of United MileagePlus Miles
Star Alliance redemptions
MileagePlus miles book United flights and partner awards on airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, ANA, EVA Air and Singapore Airlines. That reach is the main reason a purchase can pay off.
Bonus and discount sales
United regularly runs targeted promotions. In 2026 these included an 80% bonus (about 1.94 cents per mile), a 100% bonus (about 1.88 cents) and offers of up to 50% off.
Tiered bonuses
Sales usually reward bigger purchases. One 2026 offer gave no bonus on 2,000-4,000 miles, 80% on 5,000-19,000 and 100% on 20,000 or more.
Purchase caps
You can buy up to 50,000 base miles in any rolling 90-day window and 200,000 per calendar year. Bonus miles from promotions are added on top of the base amount.
Fast top-ups
Because you can buy from 2,000 miles, the offer works for closing a small gap on an award that is available today. The purchase is made through Points.com with a credit card.
United MileagePlus Miles pricing
Checked 2026-10. Prices can change; confirm on United Airlines (sold through Points.com)’s site.
Standard price
About US$0.035 per mile
one-time purchase, plus US taxes where applicable
- 10,000 miles: about US$350 before tax
- Price reported by Upgraded Points and Prince of Travel
- No bonus outside promotions
80% bonus sale
About US$0.0194 per mile effective
targeted promotion, one-time purchase
- Ran in early 2026
- 50,000 base miles become 90,000 miles for about US$1,750
- Offer varies by account
100% bonus sale
About US$0.0188 per mile effective
targeted promotion, one-time purchase
- Best publicly reported rate
- Applied to purchases of 20,000 miles or more in a 2026 promotion
- 50,000 miles cost US$940.63 after taxes in one example
Watch out: United does not publish a fixed rate on a public page we could read, promotions are targeted by account, and charges are in US dollars, so log in to see your actual price before deciding.
See current United MileagePlus Miles pricing →What people use United MileagePlus Miles for
Business class to Europe
A traveler needs 80,000-88,000 miles for a business-class seat to Europe that costs over US$3,000 in cash. Buying a 20,000-mile shortfall during a bonus sale can cost a few hundred dollars and unlock the seat.
Partner award on a Star Alliance airline
A couple finds ANA or Lufthansa award space bookable with MileagePlus. They each buy a small top-up so both accounts can book, confirming space before paying.
When not to buy
For a short domestic first-class flight costing about US$665 in cash, buying miles at standard rates costs far more. Paying cash is the better move here.
How to get started with United MileagePlus Miles
- 1
Search for your award on united.com and confirm seats are available
- 2
Work out the value: cash fare minus award taxes, divided by miles needed
- 3
If that value is clearly above the per-mile price you are offered, buy only the shortfall
- 4
Log in through the buy-miles link to see your targeted offer and check your 90-day cap
- 5
Book the award as soon as the miles post
United MileagePlus Miles alternatives
| Product | Choose it when |
|---|---|
| United MileagePlus Miles 3.8 | Travelers short of miles for a confirmed Polaris or partner business-class award |
| Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer | Choose a Chase transfer if you hold Ultimate Rewards points, since they move 1:1 to MileagePlus without buying anything. |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards points purchase3.8 | Choose Southwest if your trip is a domestic US flight and you value free cancellations with points returned. |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards points purchase4.0 | Choose Alaska if you want oneworld partner awards rather than Star Alliance. |
United MileagePlus Miles: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to buy United miles?+
Published guides put the standard price at about 3.5 US cents per mile. During bonus sales the effective price has dropped to about 1.88-1.94 cents per mile.
How many United miles can I buy?+
You can buy up to 50,000 base miles per rolling 90-day period and up to 200,000 per calendar year. Promotional bonus miles are added on top of those base amounts.
Is buying United miles worth it?+
Usually only for a specific redemption. Valuation sites such as Upgraded Points and Prince of Travel put a MileagePlus mile at about 1.2 cents, so buying makes sense when your award saves more than you pay, typically premium cabins on long-haul routes.
Do purchased miles count toward United Premier status?+
No. Purchased miles are redeemable miles only and do not help you qualify for Premier status.
Can I get a refund on purchased United miles?+
No. Miles bought through a buy-miles sale are non-refundable, so confirm award space before you buy.
Why does United use Points.com?+
United sells miles through Points.com, an external loyalty commerce company. Because of that, the charge does not code as an airline purchase, so co-branded and travel cards usually do not earn their bonus rate on it.
Final verdict
Is United MileagePlus Miles worth it?
If you have found a long-haul or business-class award and are only a few thousand miles short, buying the gap can turn a US$3,000+ cash fare into a few hundred dollars. Confirm the seat, run the value check, then log in to see whether your account has a bonus offer today.
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Reviewed by
Amjid Ali, Founder and editor
Amjid Ali is a Melbourne-based AI and automation lead, author of five books on infrastructure, automation and digital transformation, and a corporate trainer whose courses on n8n, Proxmox, firewalls and ERP have taught thousands of IT professionals.
Last updated 17 October 2026 · How we review
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United MileagePlus Miles 3.8
About 3.5 US cents per mile; bonus sales near 1.9 cents