How To Book Award Travel For Your Family With United

can I buy award travel for my family united

United Airlines' loyalty program, MileagePlus, allows members to redeem United miles on award flights with both United and its partner airlines. United Airlines offers plenty of opportunities to redeem miles. United Airlines also allows MileagePlus members to pay for certain flights using a mixture of miles and money, which is a nice perk for casual and serious miles collectors alike. United Airlines is also the first major U.S. airline to allow members of its loyalty program, MileagePlus, to pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account.

Characteristics Values
Can I use my miles to book an award ticket for someone else? Yes
Is there a fee for booking an award ticket for someone else? No
Can I combine miles from different accounts to book an award ticket? No
Can I use miles from different accounts to book an award ticket on the same PNR? No
Can I use my miles to upgrade someone else's ticket? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's TSA PreCheck? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's Global Entry? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's in-flight Wi-Fi? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's United Club membership? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's car rental? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's hotel stay? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's cruise? Yes
Can I use my miles to pay for someone else's newspaper or magazine subscription? Yes
Can I transfer my miles to someone else? Yes

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United Airlines' loyalty program, MileagePlus, allows members to redeem United miles for award flights

United Airlines' loyalty program, MileagePlus, is one of the largest in the world, with over 100 million members. The program allows members to earn miles by flying with United and its partners, as well as through non-flight activities like credit card spending, shopping and dining. These miles can then be redeemed for award travel on United and its Star Alliance partners.

In 2023, United made some changes to the MileagePlus program, including increasing award rates by up to 122% without advance notice. The program also uses dynamic pricing, giving the airline flexibility in adjusting award prices. Despite these changes, the program still offers value to its members. For example, United miles do not expire, and members can use PlusPoints and miles to confirm long-haul Polaris upgrades. Additionally, MileagePlus now allows members to pool their miles.

To earn United miles, members can fly on United-marketed and -operated tickets, earning miles based on the ticket's price and their MileagePlus status. Members can also earn miles by flying with partner airlines, using United co-branded credit cards, transferring points from Chase Ultimate Rewards, or through online shopping and dining.

When redeeming United miles, members can book award flights on United or its partner airlines. United offers Saver Awards and Everyday Awards seats, with Saver Awards being cheaper in terms of miles but scarcer in availability. Members can also use their miles for upgrades, hotel bookings, car rentals, and other travel-related expenses.

Overall, United's MileagePlus program offers flexibility and value to its members, especially those who can be flexible with their travel dates. The ability to earn and redeem miles on a wide range of airlines makes it a attractive option for travellers.

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MileagePlus members can combine miles and money to book flights

Here's how it works: First, search for your desired flight using money on United's website or the United app. Then, choose your flight and select the "Money + Miles" option. You'll be able to select the flight portions you want to pay in money and the portions you want to pay in miles. Finally, continue to checkout as usual.

It's important to note that when you pay for flights using Money + Miles, your United miles are valued at 1 cent per mile, which is slightly below the baseline value of 1.2 cents each. So, while this option provides flexibility, it may not be the best strategy if you're looking to get the most value out of your miles.

In addition to combining miles and money, MileagePlus members can also pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account. This feature, called MileagePlus miles pooling, allows groups of up to five members to share and redeem miles in one linked account. It's a great way to make travel more accessible and affordable for families or groups.

With these options, United's MileagePlus program offers flexibility and value to its members, whether you're looking to book a flight for yourself or for your loved ones.

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United Airlines offers a Money + Miles payment method, allowing travellers to pay for a portion of any fare with miles

The Money + Miles option is particularly useful when a traveller has a large number of United miles but not enough to cover the full cost of an award ticket. When using the Money + Miles option, United miles are valued at 1 cent per mile, which is slightly below the baseline value of 1.2 cents each. For example, using 2,400 United miles would save $24 off a flight.

United Airlines' loyalty program, MileagePlus, allows members to redeem United miles on award flights with United and its partner airlines. MileagePlus members can also combine their miles with family and friends into a joint account, making it easier for groups to share and use miles for award travel.

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United Airlines members can pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account

United Airlines' loyalty program, MileagePlus, allows members to redeem United miles on award flights with both United and its partner airlines. In March 2024, United Airlines introduced a new feature that allows friends and family to pool frequent flyer miles through MileagePlus. This makes it easier to book award tickets.

Any MileagePlus member over 18 years old can become the pool leader and create a pool for free when logged in to their account on United.com. Pool leaders can invite up to four of their family, friends, or close travel companions of any age to join the pool if they have an active MileagePlus account. There is no minimum age to join MileagePlus.

When logged in to their MileagePlus account on United.com, members will be instructed on how to contribute miles to the group pool as well as how to redeem pooled miles for award flights on United and United Express. There are no limits to the number of miles that may be contributed to an active miles pool.

Pooled miles can be used when booking a ticket on United.com or in the United mobile app. For example, if a group of friends is planning a trip and each friend has their own individual MileagePlus account with their respective number of miles, they can combine all, or a select amount of their personal miles into one central 'pool' that can be used to purchase flights and offset the cost of ticket prices.

Contributing miles to a MileagePlus miles pool will not affect an individual member's Premier status. Only members who travel on a ticket using pooled miles will earn any eligible Premier qualifying points (PQP), not the member who contributed them. Members cannot pool PQP, Premier qualifying flights (PQF), PlusPoints, or TravelBank cash.

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United Airlines members can redeem their miles for hotel stays

United Airlines' loyalty program, MileagePlus, allows members to redeem their miles for hotel stays.

To book a hotel room using United miles, visit the United hotel reservation website and follow these steps:

  • Enter your travel details, including the destination and dates, in the "Where to?" section.
  • Tick the box next to "Use MileagePlus miles" and click "Search."
  • Click the "Book now" button next to your desired option.
  • Scroll down and click "Reserve."
  • Input your personal details and United MileagePlus login credentials.
  • Click the "Book" button at the bottom of the page.

It's important to remember that redeeming your miles for United Airlines awards flights gives you the best value. For example, each United mile holds an average value of 1.12 cents when redeemed for United MileagePlus award flights. That means 10,000 United miles have a value of roughly $112.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can use your United MileagePlus miles to book an award flight for anyone. The process is the same as if you were purchasing the award for yourself, but you will need to know the traveller's details (e.g. full name, date of birth).

Yes, United allows members of its loyalty program, MileagePlus, to pool their miles with family and friends into a joint account. You can combine your miles into one central 'pool' that can be used to purchase flights and offset the cost of ticket prices.

United does not have an award chart, so you will need to search for a specific flight on United.com or through the United MileagePlus X app to determine how many miles are required for a given flight.

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