We’ve updated our program in response to COVID-19. In response to the effects of coronavirus on global travel, we’ve made additional program updates since announcing our 2020 Premier program, including extending PlusPoints that expire on or before January 31, 2021 an additional six months. See our response to COVID-19 to In response to the effects of coronavirus on global travel, we’ve made additional program updates since announcing our 2020 Premier program, including extending PlusPoints that expire on or before January 31, 2021 an additional six months. See our response to COVID-19 to learn more

Flexible. Customizable. Fewer restrictions. Hello, PlusPoints!

PlusPoints are a new, innovative benefit that gives you the flexibility to upgrade however you choose. Domestic or international flights, United Premium PlusSM or United Polaris® business class … you name it. You can even request PlusPoints upgrades on united.com or in our mobile app.

Here are some exciting things to know about this industry-leading benefit:

We won’t deduct your PlusPoints until we’ve confirmed an upgrade on your itinerary. Learn More Platinum members are able to upgrade to United Polaris business class on long-haul, international flights. Learn More Our new Skip Waitlist option for Premier® 1K members, available from time to time on select flights, will allow you to confirm your upgrade as soon as you request it — even when upgrades aren’t available. Learn More Members who earn Premier 1K status will receive enough points for eight upgrades from United Economy® to United Polaris business class, including the 40 PlusPoints earned from Platinum status. Their ability to earn more PlusPoints when they continue flying remains unlimited. Learn More

Among loyalty programs of U.S. global airlines, MileagePlus® offers the most generous upgrade benefits for members at our highest published status level. PlusPoints takes it up a notch.

Use PlusPoints your way

Before, you could only use Regional Premier Upgrades for eligible short-haul flights and domestic routes, and Global Premier Upgrades were available on all flights including long-haul international. With PlusPoints, you can unlock a world of possibilities.

Short-haul flights

Short-haul flights (previously RPU) Upgrade from: Upgrade to: PlusPoints United Economy® United First® or United Business® 20 United Economy United Premium Plus 20 United Premium Plus United Business 10

Short-haul flights are flights without United Polaris business and include flights within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii and premium transcontinental service; flights between the U.S. and Canada; Bogota, Colombia; Central America; Caribbean; Mexico and Quito, Ecuador; flights between Guam and Honolulu, including island hopper service; and intra-Asia flights.

Long-haul flights

Long-haul flights Upgrade from: Upgrade to: PlusPoints Discounted Economy United Polaris business 80 United Economy United Polaris business 40 United Premium Plus United Polaris business 30 United Economy United Premium Plus 20

Long-haul flights are flights with United Polaris business, including flights between the U.S. and Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand, South America, and Tahiti.

You can also upgrade to United Polaris business from discounted Economy fares , which were previously restricted. Basic Economy tickets will remain ineligible for upgrades.

You may have differently priced upgrades requested within the same one-way flight itinerary; for example, Chicago O’Hare to New York/Newark (20 points), then traveling on from New York/Newark to London (40 points). The cost to request upgrades for that one-way itinerary will be equal to the highest-priced PlusPoints upgrade in the request. Learn more

PlusPoints by status level

For Premier Platinum or Premier 1K members, PlusPoints offer more flexibility than ever before.

Platinum Platinum members receive 40 PlusPoints that can be used for a variety of upgrades —including upgrades to United Premium Plus or United Polaris business class on international long-haul flights, which previously weren’t part of the upgrade benefits for Platinum status. Upgrade benefits for Platinum status Status level Current New Platinum 2 Regional Premier Upgrades 40 PlusPoints Here are a few examples of how you can use 40 PlusPoints: 1K 1K members receive 280 PlusPoints. For those who’ve already earned Platinum status and received 40 PlusPoints, that’s a grand total of 320. Among loyalty programs of U.S. global airlines, MileagePlus offers the most generous upgrade benefits for members at our highest published status level — and PlusPoints makes them even better. Upgrade benefits for 1K status Status level Current New Platinum 2 Regional Premier Upgrades 40 PlusPoints 1K 2 Regional Premier Upgrades and 6 Global Premier Upgrades 280 PlusPoints (plus the 40 you earned with Platinum status) 1K earning additional upgrades 1 Global Premier Upgrade for every 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS Additional 40 PlusPoints for every 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS Earning incremental PlusPoints After meeting the 18,000 PQP and 54 PQF required to reach 1K status, 1K members will receive an additional 20 PlusPoints for every 3,000 PQP they earn. Members meeting the higher 24,000 PQP goal for 1K will receive 40 additional PlusPoints after reaching 1K for having earned 6,000 PQP beyond the lower 18,000 PQP requirement. For members who earned their way to 1K, there are lots of ways to use 320 PlusPoints: 3 Million Milers who don’t meet the requirements for 1K status the program year will receive 280 PlusPoints. Skip Waitlist From time to time, our 1K members will be able to use additional PlusPoints to receive a confirmed upgrade when traveling on select international long-haul flights. When Skip Waitlist is available, you’ll be able to either request an upgrade on our standard waitlist using fewer PlusPoints, or use additional PlusPoints to skip the waitlist and confirm your upgrade right then and there, even if upgrade inventory is closed. Skip Waitlist availability on international long-haul flights will vary; to be eligible, you must be traveling on an eligible fare , and be requesting your upgrade at least 30 days from departure. See additional terms and conditions

The details

How to request your upgrade PlusPoints can be used for any combination of flights across your journey. That means if you have an itinerary with multiple flight segments, you can request upgrades for individual flight segments or the entire direction of travel. When PlusPoints launches, you can make PlusPoints upgrade requests at booking through Advanced Search on united.com. You can also view existing reservations and select “Upgrade” on united.com or from the mobile app. At booking, your PlusPoints will be labeled as “available”, “requested,” or “deducted”. Available: PlusPoints that can be used for future upgrades

PlusPoints that can be used for future upgrades Requested: PlusPoints that have been used to request waitlisted upgrades (not withheld from your available balance)

PlusPoints that have been used to request waitlisted upgrades (not withheld from your available balance) Deducted: PlusPoints that have been used for confirmed upgrades How we’ll deduct your points You’ll only be charged for the highest-priced upgrade you receive. So your trip could include both a short-haul upgrade for 20 points and a long-haul upgrade for 40 points, and your total PlusPoints request price would be 40 points — the cost of the highest-priced upgrade in the request. That’s true even if you have more than one short-haul flight in your itinerary — a great perk if you don’t live in one of our hub cities and typically make connections for international flights. Three-letter airport codes represent the following (from left to right): ORD (Chicago O’hare), EWR (New York/Newark), LHR (London Heathrow) We won’t deduct until we deliver The price of your upgrade request is equal to the highest-priced upgrade in the request. Your PlusPoints won’t be deducted until you’re upgraded on at least one flight segment within your request, at which point we’ll deduct the full amount of points. With your PlusPoints still in your account up until we can confirm one of your upgrades, you’ll be able to make more upgrade waitlist requests on other trips and improve your chances of receiving an upgrade. Three-letter airport codes represent the following (from left to right): ORD (Chicago O’hare), EWR (New York/Newark), LHR (London Heathrow) What happens if only part of your itinerary is upgraded? If you don’t receive the highest-priced upgrade in the request, we’ll credit back the difference when you arrive at your destination. For example, you could be requesting an upgrade from Chicago O’Hare to London Heathrow, with a stop in New York/Newark. If you’re upgraded on the short-haul portion of your itinerary, we’ll still deduct the full amount of PlusPoints, since we’re going to keep trying to upgrade your long-haul flight to London Heathrow. If you don’t get upgraded on your long-haul flight to London, the difference will be credited back to your account when you arrive. Three-letter airport codes represent the following (from left to right): ORD (Chicago O’hare), EWR (New York/Newark), LHR (London Heathrow) What about existing requests? Here’s how your PlusPoints will convert: How your PlusPoints will convert Now Starting December 4, 2019 1 Regional Premier Upgrade 20 PlusPoints 1 Global Premier Upgrade 40 PlusPoints If you have existing upgrade requests, or are planning to make any requests before we convert Regional Premier Upgrades and Global Premier Upgrades to PlusPoints on December 4, here’s what you need to know: All requests will stay in place with PlusPoints pricing following the chart above, and no request will be more expensive than it was under our former upgrade program. Some may be less expensive.

If you made a request that has no flight segments with confirmed upgrades, the request will stay in place, but your PlusPoints will be returned to your available balance until we’re able to confirm an upgrade.

If you made a Global Premier Upgrade request that would be priced lower than 40 PlusPoints, such as a domestic or short-haul flight, you’ll immediately receive a credit for the difference.

If you don’t receive the upgrade that has the highest PlusPoints price, you’ll receive a credit for the difference of PlusPoints after you arrive at your destination — even if you placed your request with a Global Premier Upgrade or a Regional Premier Upgrade before we converted to PlusPoints.

Frequently asked questions