Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
GUIDE
US airline upgrade types compared: miles and status
US airline upgrade types compared is a guide to the four upgrade routes US carriers use — complimentary, certificate, points-based and paid — and to the published rules behind them. On the points side, United MileagePlus members can use miles to upgrade a ticket with Star Alliance Upgrade Awards on partner-operated flights such as Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways and Singapore Airlines. [7] [8] [9] [10]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- There are four upgrade routes to compare — complimentary, certificate, points-based and paid — and each one has its own entry in the encyclopedia.
- MileagePlus members can use miles to upgrade a ticket with Star Alliance Upgrade Awards on Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways and Singapore Airlines flights. [7] [8] [9] [10]
- Service charges may apply to those upgrade awards, and the charge depends on the type of ticket, the travel dates and the member's MileagePlus status. [7] [8] [9] [10]
- Award tickets cannot be issued at the airport, so an upgrade that needs an award ticket has to be handled before the airport. [7] [8]
What are the four main upgrade types?
The four labels describe what a traveller exchanges to move cabins: nothing beyond the ticket itself, a certificate, miles or points, or cash. The table below points to the entry that explains each route in full.
| Upgrade route | What the traveller exchanges | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| Complimentary | Nothing beyond the ticket and programme membership | upgrade priority |
| Certificate | A single-use certificate or a systemwide instrument | upgrade certificate, systemwide upgrade |
| Points-based | Award miles or points | upgrade awards |
| Paid | Cash or a card payment at the airport or in the booking flow | glossary index |
The points-based route is the one United sets out most fully on its partner pages through Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, which a MileagePlus member can apply to a partner-operated ticket. [7] [8] [9] [10] On those carriers, Premier members also receive Star Alliance Gold or Silver benefits while travelling. [7] [8] [9] [10]
How do MileagePlus miles pay for an upgrade?
The mechanism is the Star Alliance Upgrade Award. United's pages for Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways and Singapore Airlines all state that MileagePlus members can use miles to upgrade a ticket with Star Alliance Upgrade Awards, alongside the option of booking a regular award flight online or through the reservations line. [7] [8] [9] [10]
Price is not a single flat figure. Each of those pages says there may be service charges, and that the charge depends on the type of ticket, the travel dates and the member's MileagePlus status. [7] [8] [9] [10] The same pages state that award tickets cannot be issued at the airport, which applies to the award side of the booking rather than to the upgrade request itself. [7] [8]
How do members earn the miles they spend?
Points-based upgrades are funded from the member's MileagePlus balance, so the earn rate matters. For tickets bought directly from United and issued on or after April 2, 2026, award miles are calculated on the fare price together with MileagePlus status and, where it applies, United card membership. [7] [8] [9] [10]
| 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 United Gateway Card unlock the Cardmember earn rates after $10,000 of spending on the card within a calendar year. [7]
Tickets bought from another airline, a third-party website or a travel agency earn on flight distance and fare class instead. [7] On Turkish Airlines-operated flights, business classes C, D, Z and K earn 125% of miles flown, discount business J earns 100%, deep discount economy T, L and V earn 50%, and fare classes F, G, I, N, P, R, U, W and X earn no miles at all. [7]
What limits apply to these rules?
- Fare class follows the operating carrier. Award miles accrued on codeshare flights are based on the operating carrier and its equivalent fare class, which can differ from the booking class purchased. [7] [8] [9] [10]
- Some operators are excluded. On the Turkish Airlines page, flights operated by AJet are not eligible for mileage accrual or redemption. [7]
- Upgrade cost is not fixed. The service charge attached to a miles upgrade depends on ticket type, travel dates and status, so the same cabin can cost different amounts on different bookings. [7] [8]
- Award tickets are not airport-issued. The partner pages state that award tickets cannot be issued at the airport. [7] [10]
- Published rules set eligibility and price, not a seat. Whether an upgrade actually clears on the day depends on fare class, route, status and operational availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use United miles to upgrade a SWISS flight?
Yes. United's SWISS partner page states that MileagePlus members can use miles to upgrade a ticket with Star Alliance Upgrade Awards. [8]
How much does a miles upgrade cost?
There may be service charges, and the amount depends on the type of ticket, the travel dates and the member's MileagePlus status. [7] [8] [10]
Do Premier benefits apply when flying these partner airlines?
Members with Premier status flying Turkish Airlines, SWISS, South African Airways or Singapore Airlines receive Star Alliance Gold or Silver benefits. [7] [8] [9] [10]
Which Turkish Airlines fare classes earn miles?
Business classes C, D, Z and K earn 125% of miles flown, discount business J earns 100%, and deep discount economy T, L and V earn 50%; classes F, G, I, N, P, R, U, W and X earn no miles. [7]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. Delta SkyMiles, American AAdvantage, Southwest Rapid Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue and Alaska Mileage Plan upgrade terms are not covered here; the American Airlines route is described separately in the AAdvantage upgrade guide.
- United MileagePlus: earn miles on Turkish Airlines, including award flights and upgrades, checked 18 October 2026
- United MileagePlus: earn miles on SWISS, including award flights and upgrades, checked 18 October 2026
- United MileagePlus: earn miles on South African Airways, including award flights and upgrades, checked 18 October 2026
- United MileagePlus: earn miles on Singapore Airlines, including award flights and upgrades, checked 18 October 2026