How to transfer United MileagePlus miles

How a MileagePlus transfer works

United's Rules set the framework in a single line: accrued mileage may be transferred to another MileagePlus account through United's Transfer Miles Program, and members must comply with the Transfer Miles Program Terms and Conditions found on united.com. [1] Those Terms and Conditions apply on top of the membership Rules, so a member who requests a transfer is bound by both. [1]

The starting point is therefore a MileagePlus account at each end. The Rules describe the destination as another MileagePlus account rather than an unaffiliated recipient, and they state that awards and benefits, including accrued mileage, are not the property of the member and are not transferable except as the Rules provide. [1]

United keeps wide latitude over the program. The Rules say United may change the Rules, benefits, conditions of participation and mileage levels at any time, with or without notice, even where a change affects the value of mileage already accumulated, and that United may modify or regulate the transferability of awards or benefits. [1] The most current Rules are the ones published on united.com, and they supersede any earlier or conflicting versions. [1]

What the rules prohibit

The prohibition is broad and explicit. The sale, barter or other transfer, or attempted sale, barter or other transfer, of any mileage, certificates, PlusPoints, awards, benefits or status, other than as authorized or sponsored by United, is expressly prohibited. [1] Any mileage or status sold, bartered or otherwise transferred in that way breaks the Rules, and every account or member involved may be subject to United's Remedies. [1] The same risk attaches to acquiring, using or attempting to acquire or use mileage that was obtained by purchase, barter or another transfer that violated the Rules. [1]

United's Remedies are severe and include termination of membership, including any Premier or Million Miler status; removal or cancellation of accrued mileage, Premier Qualifying Credits, lifetime miles and any pending or outstanding award redemptions, certificates or benefits; confiscation of award tickets, denial of boarding, or completion of travel only on payment of an applicable revenue fare plus taxes and fees; and loss of other program benefits. [1] United may also require the member to repay the value of awards or benefits obtained through prohibited conduct and may bring legal action to recover it, and a member whose account is terminated cannot participate in the program or enroll again without United's express consent. [1]

Enforcement can start before any finding is made. Where United suspects prohibited conduct it may delay or suspend all activity in an account, including mileage redemption activity, and audit or investigate the account at any time; while an account is suspended the member may keep accruing miles but no redemptions or other transactions are permitted. [1]

Who can hold an account and receive miles

MileagePlus is built for individuals: only individuals are eligible for membership, and each individual may maintain only one account. [1] Duplicate accounts are subject to cancellation, and mileage, benefits, certificates, PlusPoints, Premier Qualifying Credits or awards earned in two or more different accounts generally may not be combined. [1] If a member holds multiple accounts and United suspects or finds prohibited conduct, United reserves the right to apply its Remedies to each account. [1] In certain circumstances MileagePlus may permit members that are not individuals, subject to its own limitations. [1]

Account access is personal. Only the member named on the account is entitled to account information, credentials must not be shared, distributed or given to any other individual, and no member may delegate or grant access through a power of attorney, a contract or otherwise. [1] A member who does share account information is held responsible for that third party's actions on the account. [1]

Transfers versus awards for someone else

Using miles for another traveler is a different transaction from moving a balance. At a member's request, awards may be issued by MileagePlus in the member's own name or in the name and for the use of any other person, but only for non-commercial purposes and only after the member validates the account with a password or other security measures in place at the time. [1] If such an award is later canceled or returned under the applicable rules, the award miles taken in connection with it are redeposited into the member's account, subject to a service charge; some awards may not be eligible for a redeposit of miles and will say so. [1] Award tickets may also carry departure taxes, inspection fees, passenger facility charges and other charges borne by the person using the award. [1]

Exceptions, limits and enforcement

• Death or divorce. United may, in its sole discretion, credit all or a portion of a member's accrued mileage to authorized persons on receipt of documentation satisfactory to United and payment of applicable fees. [1]
• How miles leave an account. Mileage is maintained in the account until it is redeemed for an award or otherwise forfeited under the Rules, the Contract of Carriage or fare rules, for prohibited conduct, under applicable law, on member-requested account closure, on the member's death, or where a member fails to respond to repeated communications about the account. [1]
• Redemption can be blocked. United may prohibit award redemption for any member at its discretion or when required by law, and it may prohibit redemption activity in an account or suspend it for a period after the account is opened. [1]
• Market limits. The program, including the accrual of miles and 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 overrides those laws. [1]

Frequently asked questions

Can I transfer United miles to a family member?

United's Rules allow accrued mileage to be transferred to another MileagePlus account through the Transfer Miles Program. [1] Because only individuals may hold an account, one per person, the recipient needs their own MileagePlus membership rather than a shared login. [1]

Can I sell my MileagePlus miles?

No. The sale, barter or other transfer of any mileage, awards, benefits or status, other than as authorized or sponsored by United, is expressly prohibited, and accounts involved may face cancellation of mileage and loss of status. [1]

What happens to my miles if I die?

United may credit all or a portion of the accrued mileage to authorized persons at its sole discretion, once it receives documentation it finds satisfactory and any applicable fees are paid. [1]

Can I move miles between two MileagePlus accounts I hold?

Each individual may maintain only one MileagePlus account, duplicate accounts are subject to cancellation, and mileage held in two or more accounts generally may not be combined. [1]

Do I have to hand over my password to move miles?

No. The Rules require members to keep credentials confidential and forbid sharing, distributing or giving account access to anyone else, and a member who shares access is responsible for what that third party does with the account. [1]

Related pages

Keep reading: start here with MileagePlus, how MileagePlus earning works, buying MileagePlus miles and how to book United MileagePlus awards. Comparisons: AAdvantage vs MileagePlus and SkyMiles vs MileagePlus. Terms: frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 9 October 2026. This page reports no account test. Other airline programs, including American Airlines AAdvantage, Delta SkyMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan and Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, are not covered here.

1. MileagePlus Rules, United Airlines, checked 5 October 2026