Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
How to use United MileagePlus with partner airlines
United MileagePlus lets members earn award miles and Premier qualifying credits on eligible flights operated by partner airlines, and spend miles on partner award flights arranged through United. [4] [5] [6] [7] On Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways and Singapore Airlines, Premier status also brings Star Alliance Gold or Silver benefits, and miles can pay for Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- MileagePlus members earn award miles and Premier qualifying credits (PQP and PQF) on eligible partner flights, as long as the MileagePlus number is in the reservation and shows on the boarding pass at check-in. [4] [5] [6] [7]
- How much you earn depends on where the ticket was bought: United-issued tickets earn on fare price and status, while tickets bought from another airline, a third-party website or a travel agency earn on flight distance and fare class. [4] [7]
- Each partner publishes its own fare-class table, and every table includes fare classes that earn no miles. [4] [5] [6] [7]
- Partner awards can be booked online or through the United reservations line, service charges may apply, and award tickets cannot be issued at the airport. [4] [5]
How do you earn MileagePlus miles on partner flights?
Members add their MileagePlus number to the reservation and check that it appears on the boarding pass at check-in; eligible flights then earn award miles and Premier qualifying credits. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Tickets issued by United. Where the ticket number starts with "016" and the ticket was bought on united.com, through the United Customer Contact Center, at the airport or from a travel agency or other travel website, miles are based on the fare price, MileagePlus status and Cardmember status. [4] As of 18 October 2026, tickets issued on or after 2 April 2026 credit at these rates. [4]
| MileagePlus status | MileagePlus earn rate | Cardmember earn rate |
|---|---|---|
| General member | 3 miles per dollar | 6 miles per dollar |
| Premier Silver | 5 miles per dollar | 8 miles per dollar |
| Premier Gold | 6 miles per dollar | 9 miles per dollar |
| Premier Platinum | 7 miles per dollar | 10 miles per dollar |
| Premier 1K | 9 miles per dollar | 12 miles per dollar |
The United MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card and the United Gateway Card unlock Cardmember earn rates after $10,000 of spending on that card within a calendar year. [4] Tickets issued before 2 April 2026 earned 5 miles per dollar for general members, 7 for Premier Silver, 8 for Premier Gold, 9 for Premier Platinum and 11 for Premier 1K. [4] For this fare-based calculation the fare is the base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding government-imposed taxes and surcharges. [4]
Tickets bought elsewhere. Where the ticket was bought from another airline, a third-party website or a travel agency, miles are based on flight distance and the fare class of the ticket. [4] [5] [6] [7] Flight distance means the miles scheduled for a specific flight, as determined solely by United. [4] [7] The full earning picture by ticket type is set out in the MileagePlus earning guide.
Which partner fare classes earn MileagePlus miles?
Distance-based earning is a percentage of the flown distance, including any bonus, set by the fare class and cabin flown. [4] [7] The percentages differ by airline, and each table also names the fare classes that earn nothing. [4] [5] [6] [7]
| Partner | Highest rate shown | Full-fare economy | Lowest economy rate | Fare classes with no miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines | 125% (Business C, D, Z, K) | 100% (Y, B, M, A) | 50% (T, L, V) | F, G, I, N, P, R, U, W, X |
| SWISS | 200% (First F, A; Business J, C, D) | 150% (Y, B) | 25% (K) | I, O, R, X |
| South African Airways | 125% (Business J, C, D, P) | 100% (Y, B, M, K, H) | 50% (T, V, L, W, G) | A, E, F, I, N, O, R, U, X |
| Singapore Airlines | 150% (Suites and First F) | 100% (Y, B) | 10% (K, V, N, Q) | G, I, O, X |
Award miles on codeshare flights are credited according to the operating carrier and its equivalent fare class, so the booking class bought and the class flown may not match. [4] [5] [6] [7] Turkish Airlines classes S and T earn only on United-marketed, Turkish-operated flights within Turkey. [4] SWISS flight numbers LX 8000 to 8499 are operated by Edelweiss Air and earn at the Edelweiss Air accrual table. [5]
How do you redeem MileagePlus miles on partner flights?
Miles can be used for regular award flights on the partner, booked online or by calling the United reservations line. [4] [5] [6] [7] Service charges may apply depending on the type of ticket, the travel dates and the member's MileagePlus status. [4] [7] Award tickets cannot be issued at the airport. [4] [5]
Miles can also upgrade a ticket through Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. [4] [6] Members with Premier status flying these partners receive Star Alliance Gold or Silver benefits. [5] [7] Star Alliance describes its network as 26 member airlines connecting more than 1,150 destinations and giving access to 1,000 lounges, with miles earned and redeemed across member airlines. [3] ITA Airways joined the alliance on 31 March 2026. [3]
Search mechanics, stopovers and routing rules sit outside this page; see how to book United MileagePlus awards and the partner award booking checklist, with background in the Star Alliance guide.
Exceptions and limits
- Flights operated by AJet are not eligible for MileagePlus mileage accrual or redemption. [4]
- On Turkish Airlines, flights to and from Cuba earn no MileagePlus award miles or qualifying credit, except commercial flights operated by United Airlines, and flights to and from Iran earn neither. [4] Flights to and from Venezuela other than Simón Bolívar International Airport, Caracas (CCS) earn neither, effective 1 May 2026. [4]
- United and each partner reserve the right to change the eligible fare classes at any time without notice. [4] [5] [6] [7]
- Mileage is credited under the MileagePlus terms in effect at the time of travel, not when the ticket was bought, booked or reserved, so some tickets may earn no miles or fewer miles than the tables show, and award miles earned may vary with Premier status. [4] [7]
- Star Alliance's news list includes an item dated 23 June 2026 headed "Asiana Airlines to Exit Star Alliance", so alliance membership changes over time. [3]
Frequently asked questions
Do partner flights earn Premier qualifying credits?
Yes. Eligible flights with Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways and Singapore Airlines earn award miles and Premier qualifying credits (PQP and PQF), provided the MileagePlus number is in the reservation and on the boarding pass. [4] [7]
Why did a codeshare flight credit a different amount than expected?
Accrual on codeshare flights follows the operating carrier and its equivalent fare class, which can differ from the booking class purchased. [4] [5]
Can I book a partner award ticket at the airport?
No. Award tickets cannot be issued at the airport; book online or call the United reservations line. [4] [7]
Can I upgrade a partner flight with miles?
Yes, through Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. [4] [6]
Do all economy fares earn miles?
No. Each partner table lists fare classes with no mileage credit, such as F, G, I, N, P, R, U, W and X on Turkish Airlines and G, I, O and X on Singapore Airlines. [4] [7]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. It covers earning and redemption rules published by United for Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways and Singapore Airlines, plus Star Alliance's own description of its network. Other partner airlines, other Star Alliance members' own terms and frequent flyer programmes other than United MileagePlus are not covered.
- Star Alliance member network and earn-and-redeem overview, checked 18 October 2026
- United: earn MileagePlus miles on Turkish Airlines, checked 18 October 2026
- United: earn MileagePlus miles on SWISS, checked 18 October 2026
- United: earn MileagePlus miles on South African Airways, checked 18 October 2026
- United: earn MileagePlus miles on Singapore Airlines, checked 18 October 2026