United Award Chart (2026): MileagePlus Miles for Every Route
Saver award baselines, Excursionist Perk stopovers, and Star Alliance partner pricing for 2026
United MileagePlus uses dynamic pricing on its own flights, but published Saver award baselines still set the floor for international awards. United's Excursionist Perk allows a free stopover on round-trip and multi-city international awards — a unique benefit among US carriers. Partner saver awards on Star Alliance can be exceptional value when availability opens.
- Hubs: Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Denver (DEN), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO), Washington (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX) — Star Alliance
- Currency: MileagePlus Miles (transferable from Chase and Bilt 1:1, plus Marriott 3:1)
- Pricing model: Dynamic on UA-operated flights with published Saver levels; mostly fixed on partner Saver awards
- Seven published zone pairs below, plus Excursionist Perk stopovers and a Star Alliance Round-The-World chart
Award chart data current as of July 2026
Award Chart
Miles/points required per one-way flight
| From | To | Economy | Business | First | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Mainland | US / Canada | 5,000-12,500 | 25,000 | — | |
| US Mainland | Europe | 30,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 | |
| US Mainland | Japan / Korea | 35,000 | 70,000-80,000 | 110,000 | |
| US Mainland | South America | 20,000-30,000 | 50,000-60,000 | — | |
| US Mainland | Australia / NZ | 40,000 | 80,000 | 110,000 | |
| US Mainland | Southeast Asia | 35,000 | 75,000 | 100,000 | |
| US Mainland | Middle East / India | 42,500 | 77,000 | — |
* Pricing shown is approximate and may vary with dynamic pricing or seasonal adjustments
Best Sweet Spots
The highest-value redemptions with mileageplus miles
Excursionist Perk (Free Stopover)
FreeAdd a free award flight within a region on round-trip or multi-city international itineraries. Fly US → Tokyo, then Tokyo → Seoul for free, then Seoul → US — a whole second destination at zero extra miles.
Close-in Domestic Flights
5,000-12,500United no longer charges close-in booking fees. Last-minute economy domestic Saver awards from 5,000-12,500 miles one-way are one of the cheapest domestic redemptions available.
Polaris Business Class to Europe
60,000United Polaris business class to Europe for 60,000 miles one-way Saver. The reverse-herringbone seat and 'Do Not Disturb' bedding make it competitive with any transatlantic premium product.
ANA Business Class via United
75,000-80,000Book ANA's The Room business class one-way using United miles (75,000-80,000 miles) — ANA itself only allows round-trip partner awards, so United is the one-way workaround.
Star Alliance to Australia
80,000Air New Zealand or Lufthansa business class to Australia for 80,000 miles one-way Saver — significantly cheaper than redeeming Aeroplan or Qantas points for the same routing.
Tips for Maximizing Value
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards both transfer 1:1 to United MileagePlus instantly — the easiest earning paths.
Use the Excursionist Perk for a free award flight in a region on any round-trip or multi-city international award.
United dynamic pricing means Saver inventory is king. Search 330+ days out and stay flexible by ±1-2 days.
Turkish Miles&Smiles sometimes prices Star Alliance partner awards lower than United — compare both before booking.
Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles are also Star Alliance — for the same partner flight, the cheapest program wins.
How to Earn MileagePlus Miles
Credit card programs that transfer to United
Frequently Asked Questions
How many United miles do I need to fly to Europe?
United Saver awards to Europe start at 30,000 miles one-way in economy and 60,000 miles in business class. Dynamic pricing means actual prices fluctuate, but the published Saver level is the baseline you should target when Saver inventory is available.
How many MileagePlus miles for business class to Asia?
Saver business class from the US Mainland to Japan or Korea is 70,000-80,000 miles one-way. Southeast Asia is 75,000 miles. ANA's The Room and EVA Air's Royal Laurel both bookable at these levels when Star Alliance partner saver inventory opens.
What is the United Excursionist Perk?
The Excursionist Perk is a free award flight within a region on any round-trip or multi-city international award. For example, US → London → Paris (free Excursionist) → US lets you add a second European city at zero miles cost. It's a unique perk no other US carrier offers.
Does United have an award chart?
United uses dynamic pricing on its own flights but publishes Saver award baselines that anchor the floor of award pricing on most international routes. Partner Star Alliance Saver awards are mostly fixed at the published levels.
When did United change its award chart?
United removed its published award chart in November 2019 and moved to dynamic pricing. However, Saver award baselines and partner saver pricing remain mostly fixed at the legacy chart levels. Domestic close-in booking fees were also eliminated.
Can I transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to United?
Yes — Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer 1:1 to United MileagePlus instantly. This is one of the primary reasons to hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card. Bilt Rewards also transfers 1:1.
What are the best United MileagePlus sweet spots?
Top sweet spots are: the Excursionist Perk (free stopover), Polaris business to Europe at 60,000 miles, ANA The Room one-way at 75,000-80,000 miles, Star Alliance business to Australia at 80,000 miles, and close-in domestic Saver from 5,000 miles.
Does United have peak and off-peak pricing?
United doesn't publish formal peak/off-peak dates, but dynamic pricing effectively creates a sliding scale where high-demand dates (holidays, summer Europe) price well above Saver levels and quiet shoulder weeks tend to sit at Saver. Flexibility matters.
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