United MileagePlus award chart (2026)
United no longer publishes a paper award chart for own-metal flights — pricing is dynamic. But United maintains fixed pricing for partner awards, and Polaris business class regularly opens at saver levels around 60-77K one-way to Europe. Combined with the Excursionist Perk, MileagePlus remains one of the most flexible Star Alliance currencies.
Award chart
All amounts shown are one-way saver awards from the contiguous US on United metal.
| Region / Route | Economy | Premium Eco | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America (short-haul saver) | 8K–12.5K | — | 25K–35K | — |
| Mexico / Caribbean | 12.5K–17.5K | — | 30K–40K | — |
| South America | 20K–35K | 30K–45K | 60K | — |
| Europe (saver on partners) | 30K | 45K | 60K–77K | — |
| Asia 1 (Japan, Korea) | 35K–40K | 55K | 80K | — |
| Asia 2 (SE Asia, India) | 40K | 60K | 88K | — |
| Middle East / North Africa | 40K | 55K | 80K | — |
| Oceania (US ↔ Australia) | 40K | 65K | 80K | — |
Top sweet spots
- Polaris US to Europe at 60-77K saver (when available)
- Excursionist Perk: free segment on a round-trip booked entirely within one region
- ANA, Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore via Star Alliance partners at fixed pricing
- Avianca LifeMiles + United combined for partner Star Alliance bookings
- United's own-metal awards on flash-sale routes (saver opens 14-21 days out)
How to earn United MileagePlus miles
- Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer at 1:1 (best path)
- Bilt Rewards transfer at 1:1
- Marriott Bonvoy at 3:1.1
- United co-brand cards (Explorer, Quest, Club Infinite)
- Flying United for actual mileage credit
Booking notes
- Book at united.com — partner availability is generally accurate
- No fuel surcharges (United doesn't pass any to award tickets)
- Excursionist Perk is automatic if your routing qualifies (round-trip in one region with international segments)
- Award change/cancellation is now free for non-saver
Common pitfalls
- Saver pricing is unpredictable — the same route can be 60K one day, 200K the next
- United Express partners sometimes don't show on certain routes
- Some long-haul partner first class doesn't bookable online
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the United award chart?
United discontinued its published own-metal chart in 2019 in favor of dynamic pricing. Partner award pricing remains fixed by region (the table above reflects partner levels). Saver own-metal awards still exist but pricing varies.
What is the Excursionist Perk?
If you book a round-trip award entirely within United's Star Alliance partners and the routing includes at least one international segment, you can add a free additional one-way segment within the same destination region. Example: JFK→LHR→CDG→JFK only costs the JFK↔LHR price; the LHR→CDG segment is free.
How do I get the saver pricing on United?
Saver pricing on own-metal often opens 14-21 days out, when United releases unsold inventory. Set notifications and search aggressively.
Find United MileagePlus award space live
AwardLocker shows real-time saver availability. Confirm space exists before transferring miles.
Search awards →