Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of United MileagePlus hub
GUIDE
How to buy United MileagePlus miles: rules and terms
United MileagePlus is United Airlines' frequent flyer programme, and its published rules let miles change hands only through routes United itself authorises — such as a transfer to another MileagePlus account through United's Transfer Miles Program — while expressly prohibiting any other sale, barter or transfer of miles. [4]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- MileagePlus miles are not the member's property and are not transferable except as the programme rules set out. [4]
- The rules prohibit the sale, barter or other transfer of miles unless United has authorised or sponsored it, and name the Transfer Miles Program as the way to move mileage into another MileagePlus account. [4]
- Bonus and promotional offers can be made available selectively to certain members, based on factors such as flight activity, location and Premier status. [4]
- Bonus award miles and miles earned through non-flight activity are stated not to count toward Premier qualification unless expressly stated otherwise, and Premier status itself is earned through PQP and PQF. [5] [6]
What do the MileagePlus rules say about buying and transferring miles?
Under the programme rules, awards, benefits and accrued mileage do not constitute property of the member and are not transferable except as the rules provide. [4] The sale, barter or other transfer of mileage, certificates, PlusPoints, awards, benefits or status is expressly prohibited unless United has authorised or sponsored it, and accounts and members involved may be subject to United's remedies. [4] Acquiring, using or attempting to transfer miles that were obtained by purchase, barter or other transfer in breach of the rules can likewise lead to those remedies. [4]
The transfer route the rules name is United's Transfer Miles Program: accrued mileage may be transferred to another MileagePlus account through it, and members must comply with that programme's own terms and conditions. [4] In the event of a member's death or divorce, United may, at its sole discretion, credit all or part of the accrued mileage to authorised people once it receives satisfactory documentation and payment of the applicable fees. [4]
Account rules are tight. Only individuals may hold MileagePlus membership, each individual may hold only one account, duplicate accounts are subject to cancellation, and mileage held in two or more accounts generally cannot be combined. [4] Credentials must not be shared, and a member who shares account access is responsible for the third party's actions on that account. [4]
Where United finds prohibited conduct, the remedies it lists include terminating the membership (including any Premier or Million Miler status), removing or cancelling accrued mileage and pending awards, confiscating award tickets, denying boarding or carrying the member only on payment of an applicable revenue fare, and withdrawing other programme benefits. [4] United may also require repayment of the value of awards obtained that way and pursue the member legally to recover it. [4]
Are bonus-mile promotions open to every member?
United reserves the right to make bonus and promotional offers from United or MileagePlus partners selectively available to certain members at any time, based on flight activity, partner activity, geographic location, Premier status level, mileage accumulation, programme participation or other factors at its sole discretion. [4] Offers that come from a partner are governed by that partner's own terms and conditions. [4] United also has the sole right to interpret and apply the programme rules. [4]
The programme itself is not fixed: United may change the rules, benefits, conditions of participation, Premier qualification criteria or mileage levels at any time, with or without notice, even where a change affects the value of miles already accumulated. [4] Award pricing works the same way — the mileage needed can be increased or decreased, an award can be withdrawn, and restrictions can be imposed. [4] In practice, the terms published with a particular offer are the ones that govern it. [4]
Do miles from non-flight activity count toward Premier status?
Premier status runs on two measures: Premier qualifying points (PQP) and Premier qualifying flights (PQF). Since 1 January 2020, members no longer qualify on Premier qualifying miles (PQM), Premier qualifying segments (PQS) or Premier qualifying dollars (PQD). [4]
United's 2026 Premier Status Match terms state that bonus award miles, award miles and any other miles earned through non-flight activity do not count toward qualification for Premier status unless expressly stated otherwise. [5]
For the 2026 qualification year, which runs from 1 January to 31 December, the published thresholds are: [6]
| Premier level | PQF and PQP route | PQP-only route |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP | 6,000 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 30 PQF and 10,000 PQP | 12,000 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 45 PQF and 15,000 PQP | 18,000 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP | 28,000 PQP |
On every route, members also need at least four paid flight segments on United or United Express. [6] Basic Economy and base fare tickets earn PQP but not PQF. [6] Premier status earned in 2026 is valid through 31 January 2028. [6]
What limits and exceptions apply to miles in an account?
- Accrued mileage is kept in the account until it is redeemed or forfeited — for example under the programme rules, United's Contract of Carriage or fare rules, prohibited conduct, applicable law, a member-requested account closure, the member's death, or a failure to respond to repeated communications about the account. [4]
- Mileage redemption activity may be prohibited, or suspended for a period, after a MileagePlus account is opened. [4]
- Award tickets can carry departure taxes, federal inspection fees, passenger facility charges and other charges, paid by the person using the award. [4]
- Changes or cancellations after an award is issued may attract a service charge, and miles redeposited after a cancellation are subject to a service charge; some awards are not eligible for redeposit at all. [4]
- Award travel does not earn miles or Premier qualifying credits, including tickets paid with a combination of miles and money. [4]
- An award issued for someone else is allowed only for non-commercial purposes, and only after the member validates the account. [4]
- Claims for mileage that was not credited must reach United within 12 months of the date the mileage was claimed to have been earned, although some partners set different retro-credit periods. [4]
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy MileagePlus miles from another member?
The programme rules expressly prohibit any sale, barter or other transfer of miles that United has not authorised or sponsored, and accounts involved may be subject to United's remedies. [4]
How can miles be moved into someone else's MileagePlus account?
Accrued mileage can be transferred to another MileagePlus account through United's Transfer Miles Program, under that programme's terms and conditions. [4] After a member's death or divorce, United may also credit some or all of the miles to authorised people on satisfactory documentation and payment of applicable fees. [4]
Do miles earned outside flying count toward Premier status?
United's 2026 Premier Status Match terms state that bonus award miles and any other miles earned through non-flight activity do not count toward Premier qualification unless expressly stated otherwise. [5] Otherwise, status is earned through PQP and PQF, with at least four paid flight segments on United or United Express. [6]
Can United change the rules after miles are already in my account?
Yes. United may change the programme, its benefits, its conditions of participation and mileage levels at any time, with or without notice, even if that affects the value of miles already accumulated. [4]
Do MileagePlus miles expire?
Accrued mileage is maintained in the account until it is redeemed or forfeited on one of the listed grounds, which include a member-requested account closure and the member's death. [4]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers the United Airlines MileagePlus programme only; other airline, hotel and bank loyalty programmes are not covered here.
- MileagePlus Rules, United Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
- MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge terms and conditions, checked 18 October 2026
- How to earn Premier status, United Airlines, checked 18 October 2026