If you’re a United Airlines frequent flyer or have accumulated a significant amount of United miles, you may be wondering if you can use them to book flights on other airlines. The good news is that United Airlines is part of a global airline alliance that allows you to redeem your miles for flights on other airlines.
In this article, we’ll explore the options available to you and the steps you need to take to book a flight using your United miles on another airline. Whether you’re looking to travel internationally or domestically, we’ll show you how to make the most of your United miles and explore new destinations with ease.
Contents
- Can I Use United Miles on Another Airline?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Which airlines can I use United miles on?
- How do I book award travel on another airline with United miles?
- Can I use United miles to upgrade on another airline?
- Do I earn United miles when flying on partner airlines?
- What happens if I need to cancel or change my award ticket on a partner airline?
- Don’t Buy Extra United Airlines Miles. Here’s Why
- How Many Aircraft Does American Airlines Have?
- Is American Airlines Business Class Worth It?
- Can You Have 2 Carry Ons For American Airlines?
Can I Use United Miles on Another Airline?
If you’re a frequent flyer with United Airlines, you may be wondering if you can use your United miles to book a flight with another airline. The good news is that United is part of the Star Alliance network, which means you can use your miles to book flights with any of the 26 airlines in the alliance. Here’s what you need to know about using your United miles on another airline.
How to Book a Flight with United Miles on Another Airline
To book a flight with United miles on another airline, you’ll need to do the following:
Step 1: Check availability: Check the availability of award seats on the Star Alliance partner airline you want to fly with. You can do this by logging into your United MileagePlus account and searching for award flights.
Step 2: Contact United Airlines: Once you’ve found an available award flight, you’ll need to contact United Airlines to book it. You can do this by calling the United reservations department or by booking online.
Benefits of Using United Miles on Another Airline
There are several benefits to using your United miles to book a flight with another airline. First, you’ll have access to more destinations since the Star Alliance network includes 26 airlines that fly to over 1,300 destinations worldwide. Second, you’ll be able to use your miles to book flights on airlines that may not be part of the United network. Finally, you’ll often find better award availability on partner airlines, especially during peak travel periods.
Drawbacks of Using United Miles on Another Airline
While there are many benefits to using your United miles to book a flight with another airline, there are also some drawbacks. First, you may be subject to additional fees when booking a flight on a partner airline, such as fuel surcharges or taxes. Second, you may not be able to earn miles on the partner airline, which means you’ll miss out on earning elite status with that airline.
Using United Miles on Specific Star Alliance Partner Airlines
Here’s a brief overview of how you can use your United miles to book flights on some of the most popular Star Alliance partner airlines.
1. Air Canada: You can use your United miles to book flights on Air Canada, and you’ll need to call United reservations to do so.
2. ANA: You can book ANA flights using your United miles online or by calling United reservations.
3. Lufthansa: You can book Lufthansa flights using your United miles online or by calling United reservations.
4. Singapore Airlines: You can use your United miles to book flights on Singapore Airlines, and you’ll need to call United reservations to do so.
Benefits of Using United Miles on Star Alliance Partner Airlines
Using your United miles to book flights on Star Alliance partner airlines can offer several benefits. For example, you can often find better award availability on partner airlines than you can on United flights. Additionally, you’ll have access to more destinations since the Star Alliance network includes 26 airlines that fly to over 1,300 destinations worldwide.
Using United Miles vs. Miles from Other Star Alliance Airlines
While you can use your United miles to book flights on any Star Alliance airline, you may want to consider using miles from the airline you’re flying with. This is because you may be subject to additional fees when booking a flight on a partner airline, such as fuel surcharges or taxes. Additionally, you may not be able to earn miles on the partner airline, which means you’ll miss out on earning elite status with that airline.
Conclusion
In conclusion, using your United miles to book flights on Star Alliance partner airlines can be a great way to access more destinations and find better award availability. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential drawbacks, such as additional fees and the inability to earn miles on the partner airline. If you’re considering using your United miles to book a flight on another airline, be sure to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines can I use United miles on?
United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance network, which includes 26 other airlines such as Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Singapore Airlines. You can use your United miles to book award tickets on any of these partner airlines.
Keep in mind that each airline has its own award chart and redemption rules, so the number of miles required for a given flight may vary depending on the airline you choose.
How do I book award travel on another airline with United miles?
To book award travel on another airline with your United miles, you will need to log in to your United MileagePlus account and search for award availability on the partner airline’s website. Once you find a flight that you want to book, you can call United’s customer service to complete the booking.
Alternatively, you can call United’s customer service first and ask them to search for award availability on your behalf. However, there may be a fee associated with this service.
Can I use United miles to upgrade on another airline?
No, you cannot use United miles to upgrade on another airline. United’s MileagePlus program only allows you to upgrade on United-operated flights, not on partner airlines.
However, some partner airlines may offer their own upgrade programs for which you can use your United miles. You will need to check with the specific airline to see if this is an option.
Do I earn United miles when flying on partner airlines?
Yes, you can earn United miles when flying on partner airlines as long as you provide your United MileagePlus number when booking the flight. The number of miles you earn will depend on the fare class and distance flown, as well as any bonus offers that may be available.
Keep in mind that not all partner airlines may be eligible for mileage earning, so it’s important to check with United’s website or customer service to confirm before booking.
What happens if I need to cancel or change my award ticket on a partner airline?
If you need to cancel or change your award ticket on a partner airline, the rules and fees will depend on the airline you booked with. You will need to contact United’s customer service to make the changes or cancellations.
Keep in mind that some partner airlines may have stricter cancellation or change policies than United, so it’s important to check the specific rules before booking.
Don’t Buy Extra United Airlines Miles. Here’s Why
In conclusion, the answer is yes! You can use United miles on another airline. United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, which consists of 26 airlines worldwide. This means that you can use your United miles to book flights on any of these airlines, including Air Canada, Lufthansa, and Thai Airways, among others.
Using United miles on another airline provides you with more options when booking your travel. You can use your miles to book flights to destinations that may not be served by United Airlines, giving you more flexibility and convenience. Additionally, you can often find better availability on partner airlines, making it easier to use your miles for the flights you want.
Overall, using United miles on another airline is a great way to maximize your rewards and make the most of your travel. With so many partner airlines to choose from, there are plenty of options for your next adventure. So, start planning your next trip and use your United miles to take you there!