How to book awards on codeshare flights

Why does an award show a partner's flight number but fly on another airline?

An award can be issued on the flight number of the airline whose miles you are spending while the aircraft is flown by a different company. United's programme rules treat the two sides separately: MileagePlus sets the award, and the airline scheduled to operate the flight applies its own conditions to the journey. MileagePlus award tickets may be subject to the taxes, fees, tariffs, Contract of Carriage, ticket terms and re-accommodation policies of the carrier on which travel is scheduled. [7]

United also states that details of specific partner offers are as published from time to time and that those partner offers are governed by the terms and conditions set out by the applicable partner. It describes its partners as independent entities for whose products, services or other benefits it is not responsible. [7]

Who decides whether an award seat is available on a codeshare flight?

United's rules give the programme wide discretion. United establishes the amount, structure, availability, process and other criteria for award redemption, and these are subject to modification, cancellation or limitation at United's discretion, with or without notice. [7] The same rules let United withdraw, limit, modify or cancel any award, increase the miles, cash or co-pays required, add an unlimited number of blackout dates and limit the number of award seats available to any or all destinations. [7]

On the partner side, United says that routing and destinations for award travel on airline partners are determined by the individual travel partners. [7]

United also reserves the right to terminate the programme in whole or in part, or to change its rules, benefits, conditions of participation and mileage levels at any time with or without notice, even where a change affects the value of miles already accumulated. [7]

Which fees apply when the airline operating the flight is not the airline whose miles you used?

Under United's rules, award tickets, awards, certificates and seat upgrades may be subject to applicable departure taxes, federal inspection fees, passenger facility charges and other fees, charges or taxes, and the person using the award ticket is responsible for paying any that apply. [7]

After an award ticket or other award is issued, a service charge may be imposed for each change or cancellation the member requests. [7] If an award is redeemed and then cancelled or returned under the programme's rules or the ticketed fare rules in force at the time, the miles taken for it are redeposited subject to a service charge, and some awards are stated not to be eligible for redeposit at all. [7]

United's rules add that a MileagePlus award ticket may be subject to the fees and tariffs of the carrier on which travel is scheduled, so the operating airline's charges sit alongside the programme's own conditions. [7]

What happens to seating, bags and lounge access on a codeshare award?

United lists premium seating, fee waivers, additional baggage allowance, lounge access and other travel benefits among the benefits provided at the time of booking, check-in or travel. A member receiving any of them must keep their MileagePlus account number throughout the entire reservation and any subsequent reservations created from the original reservation, and for the entire duration of the original and future travel associated with those reservations. [7]

If a companion receives a benefit because of a member's status and that member is no longer travelling on the original reservation, the companion stops being eligible for the benefit obtained through the member's status. [7]

Award travel does not build a balance. Except as United expressly permits from time to time, award miles and Premier Qualifying Credits are not credited for award travel, including tickets purchased using a combination of miles and money. [7]

Exceptions and limits

• Destinations and schedule changes. Awards for travel are valid only to destinations served both when the award ticket is issued and when the flight departs, and neither United nor its partners is liable for schedule changes that result in the cancellation of service to a destination. [7]
• Breaking the published award rules. If a member does not comply with the published award rules for air travel, United may at its sole discretion accommodate the member on a different flight, seat them in a lower class of service, deny ticketing or boarding, or take other action, with no compensation for that action. [7]
• Refusal of redemption. United may prohibit award redemption for any member at its discretion or where required by law or otherwise. [7]
• Partner withdrawal. United accepts no liability for a partner withdrawing from the programme, for award or offer changes, or for cancellations caused by partner withdrawals. [7]
• Local law. The programme, including the issuance and use of awards, may be prohibited or restricted by the laws of some non-U.S. countries, and nothing in the rules is to override or circumvent those laws. [7]

Frequently asked questions

Does an award flight on a partner airline earn miles?

No, except as United expressly permits from time to time: award miles and Premier Qualifying Credits are not credited for award travel, including tickets purchased using a combination of miles and money. [7]

Whose conditions apply if the aircraft is operated by another airline?

United's rules say a MileagePlus award ticket may be subject to the taxes, fees, tariffs, Contract of Carriage, ticket terms and re-accommodation policies of the carrier on which travel is scheduled. [7]

Who controls award availability on partner flights?

United sets the amount, structure, availability and process for award redemption and may limit award seats available to any or all destinations, while routing and destinations for award travel on airline partners are determined by the individual travel partners. [7]

Can lounge access be affected by how the ticket is set up?

United requires the MileagePlus account number to stay on the reservation for the entire duration of travel for benefits including lounge access, and a companion's benefit ends if the member is no longer travelling on the original reservation. [7]

Can you combine cash and miles when booking?

American Airlines announced on 2 October 2026 that eligible AAdvantage members would be able to combine cash and miles when booking flights on aa.com and in the American app as the feature rolled out over the coming weeks; members select a cash fare, make a trip insurance choice at checkout, then set the cash and miles combination with a slider. [4]

Related pages

Terms: codeshare, marketing carrier, operating carrier, frequent flyer glossary. Guides: partner award booking channels, codeshare flight checklist, alliance lounge access on codeshares.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. Delta Air Lines SkyMiles, The British Airways Club, Flying Blue, Aeroplan and Cathay's Asia Miles are not covered here, and American Airlines' AAdvantage award rules for flights operated by partner carriers are also outside this page.

1. American Airlines news release: cash and miles bookings (2 October 2026), checked 18 October 2026
2. United Airlines MileagePlus rules, checked 18 October 2026