United Airlines Partners: How to Maximize Your United Miles
This article was last updated Jun 12, 2020. Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
United Airlines is a widely regarded commercial airline because of its large flight pattern network, and its large list of airline partners. Because United Airlines is part of Star Alliance, you can redeem your United MileagePlus miles with over 20 different airlines.
For those who don’t fly often, there are several ways to earn United miles to make your next flight potentially free. And for the regular flyer, you can utilize your consistent business with United to earn Star Alliance elite status to ensure additional benefits for yourself across the alliance.
We will highlight United’s airline partners, the Star Alliance elite status and how you can earn more United miles with your everyday expenses.
- United Airlines partners
- Star Alliance elite status
- Earn United miles by using a travel rewards credit card
- Earn United miles from hotel stays
- Earn United miles from shopping online
United Airlines partners
As you earn United miles, you can redeem them through the United website for flights with following Star Alliance airlines:
- Aegean
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air India
- Air New Zealand
- ANA
- Asiana Airlines
- Austrian
- Avianca
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Egyptair
- Ethiopian
- EVA Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Lufthansa
- SAS
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- SWISS
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways
- Turkish Airlines
Having such a wide array of partners is extremely helpful if you are a global traveler. And because Star Alliance is the largest airline alliance, United miles are extremely valuable for global travelers.
If you regularly travel and earn United status, you will also enjoy additional benefits (listed below) when flying with Star Alliance partners.
Star Alliance elite status
Star Alliance elite status is a great extension to the United MileagePlus® elite program. This allows you to have similar benefits when you fly with Star Alliance partners.
To earn Star Alliance elite status, you must earn elite status with one of its many partners. By earning elite status with your preferred airline, you automatically earn the respective status within Star Alliance. Here are the statuses of the participating airlines, and its correlating Star Alliance elite status level.
| Airline | Frequent flyer program status | Star Alliance elite status equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Miles+bonus Silver Miles+bonus Gold | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Air Canada | Altitude Prestige 25k and Altitude Elite 35k Altitude Elite 50k, Altitude Elite 75k and Altitude Super Elite 100k | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Air China | PhoenixMiles Silver PhoenixMiles Gold and PhoenixMiles Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Air India | SilverEdge Club GoldenEdge Club and The Maharajah Club | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Air New Zealand | Airpoints Silver Airpoints Gold and Airpoints Elite | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| ANA | Bronze Platinum, Super Flyers and Diamond | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Asiana Airlines | Asiana Club Gold Asiana Club Diamond, Asiana Club Diamond Plus and Asiana Club Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Austrian Airlines | Frequent traveler Senator and HON Circle | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Avianca | Lifemiles Silver Lifemiles Gold and Diamond | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Brussels Airlines | Frequent traveler Senator and HON Circle | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Copa Airlines | Silver Gold, Platinum and Presidential Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Croatia Airlines | Frequent traveler Senator and HON Circle | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Egyptair | Egyptair Plus Silver Egyptair Plus Gold, Egyptair Plus Elite and Egyptair Plus Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Ethiopian Airlines | ShebaMiles Silver ShebaMiles Gold and ShebaMiles Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| EVA Air | Infinity MileageLands Silver Infinity MileageLands Gold and Infinity MileageLands Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Frequent traveler Senator and HON Circle | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Scandinavian Airlines | EuroBonus Silver EuroBonus Gold, EuroBonus Diamond and EuroBonus Pandion | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Shenzhen Airlines | PhoenixMiles Silver PhoenixMiles Gold and PhoenixMiles Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Singapore Airlines | KrisFlyer Elite Silver KrisFlyer Elite Gold, PPS Club, Solitaire PPS Club and Solitaire PPS Club Life | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| South African Airways | Silver Gold, Platinum and Lifetime Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| SWISS | Frequent traveler Senator and HON Circle | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| TAP Air Portugal | TAP Miles&Go Silver TAP Miles&Go Gold | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Thai Airways | Royal Orchid Plus Silver Royal Orchid Plus Gold and Royal Orchid Plus Platinum | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| Turkish Airways | Classic Plus Elite and Elite Plus | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
| United Airlines | Premier Silver Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K and Global Services | Star Alliance Silver Star Alliance Gold |
Depending on what United MileagePlus status level you have, you will qualify for one of the two Star Alliance elite status levels.
- United MileagePlus Silver Elite – Star Alliance Silver
- United MileagePlus Gold, Platinum and 1K – Star Alliance Gold
Star Alliance elite status comes with the following features:
| Star Alliance status | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Star Alliance Silver | Priority reservations waitlist Priority airport standby |
| Star Alliance Gold | Priority reservations waitlist Priority airport standby Lounge access Priority baggage handling Extra baggage allowance Priority check-in Priority boarding |
Earn United miles by using a travel rewards credit card
It can be challenging to select the best United Airlines credit card as the airline offers as a variety of cards that earn United miles. Generally, it is best to select a card that aligns with your spending, budget and how often you fly, and the card doesn’t necessarily have to be specifically co-branded with the airline.
Based on our research of cards available through CompareCards, as well as top cards offered by major issuers, here are a few of the best credit cards to earn United miles with.
| Card | Best for ... | Sign-up bonus | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| United℠ Explorer Card | Most United flyers | 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open | $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95 |
| United℠ Explorer Business Card | Small business owners | For small business owners: Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases. | $95 |
| United Club℠ Infinite Card | Flyers who want United Club Access | $0 intro annual fee, then $525 | $0 intro annual fee, then $525 |
| United℠ TravelBank Card | No annual fee | $150 in TravelBank cash after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Transferable miles | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. | $95 |
| Ink Business Preferred℠ Credit Card | Small business owners who want transerable miles | Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $95 |
Each of these credit cards earn United miles either directly or points that can be redeemed for United flights through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards® program. Note that each card will reward you differently based on different spending categories, and come with unique benefits such as airport lounge access and travel insurance.
Earn United miles from hotel stays
Hotel stays can also earn United miles as United partners with several hotel chains. You can do this by selecting your preferred brand as your earning preference.
For example, if you book a room at a Marriott hotel, you can select to earn United miles rather than Marriott Bonvoy points. This is an effective strategy for those deeply committed to earning points with one specific brand. If you choose to do this with United, you will earn the following rewards for each hotel brand:
| Hotel brand | Earnings |
|---|---|
| Marriott brands: JW Marriott®, The Ritz Carlton®, St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W Hotels®, EDITION®, Marriott Hotels®, Sheraton, Marriott Vacation Club®, Delta Hotels by MarriottTM, Le Meridien, Westin®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Design HotelsTM, Renaissance® Hotels, Tribute Portfolio and Gaylord Hotels® | 2 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent |
| Marriott brands: Courtyard by Marriott®, Four Points by Sheraton, AC Hotels by Marriott®, SpringHill Suites by Marriott®, Protea Hotels®, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott®, Aloft® Hotels, Moxy Hotels, Marriott® Executive Apartments®, Residence Inn by Marriott®, TownePlace Suites by Marriott® and Elements® by Westin | 1 MileagePlus mile per $1 spent |
| IHG brands: Intercontinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express® and Hotel Indigo® | 2 MileagePlus miles per $1 spent |
| IHG brands: Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® | 1 MileagePlus mile per $1 spent |
| World of Hyatt brands: Park Hyatt®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Andaz®, Hyatt Centric®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt™, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Ziva™ and Hyatt Zilara™ | 500 MileagePlus miles per stay |
| Choice Privileges brands: Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites®, Mainstay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels®, Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, and Ascend Hotel Collection™ | 250 MileagePlus miles per stay |
| Golden Circle brands: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Traders Hotel, or Kerry Hotels | 500 MileagePlus miles per stay |
This may not be the best strategy, however, as the hotel points you could earn may be worth more than United miles.
Earn United miles from shopping online
Another way to earn United miles is by using a shopping portal. United Airlines has its own shopping portal, United MileagePlus Shopping, where you can earn United miles by simply using a different link to make purchases.
You can earn additional miles with your purchases from large retailers such as:
- Staples
- Petco
- Wine.com
- Home Depot
- Apple
- Nike
- Lululemon
- Nordstrom Rack
- Macy’s
Using a shopping portal like United MileagePlus Shopping is a very simple way to earn miles with very little effort. It’s also an easy way to ensure that your United miles don’t expire.
