United Announces New Benefits for MileagePlus Credit Cardholders
- Joe Breitfeller
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
United Airlines has announced that MileagePlus members with a Chase co-branded credit or debit card can now earn up to twice as many miles for United flights, get at least 10 percent off of award tickets, and will also have access to exclusive Saver Award fares.
On Thursday (February 20, 2026), United Airlines announced United MileagePlus credit or debit cardholders will now have the ability to earn up to twice as many miles as non-cardholders, at least 10 percent off United award tickets, and will gain access to special inventory of its lowest-priced award seats. For tickets purchased on or after April 2, 2026, primary United MileagePlus cardholders will earn up to twice as many miles per dollar from United for United flights than non-cardholders, and earn even more miles when they use their United card to buy their ticket. As an example, MileagePlus 1K members will earn 17 total miles per dollar when buying eligible United flights with their United Club card. United cardholders also get at least 10 percent off every United flight award ticket they book, and cardholders who are MileagePlus Premier members save at least 15 percent.
In Thursday’s announcement, United Airlines’ Chief Commercial Officer, Andrew Nocella, said,
“The most rewarding way to fly United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards. MileagePlus is designed to reward loyalty to United, and our best customers deserve the best benefits in the industry. MileagePlus members can now earn more miles faster with a United card – and every one of those miles will go further with our always-on award ticket discounts and expanded access to Saver Award fares."
General MileagePlus members who have a United credit or debit card also gain access to Saver Award inventory in United Polaris Business Class that was previously only available to Platinum and 1K members. When paired with the new award discounts for cardholders, United Polaris Saver Award seats will be priced as low as 72,000 miles (10 percent less) for general members with a card, or as low as 68,000 miles (15 percent less) for cardholders with Premier status.
MileagePlus primary cardholders will earn more miles on standard United tickets, and get additional miles when they pay for their flight with an eligible United card. For example, a MileagePlus Gold member buying a ticket using their United Quest card will now earn 13 miles per dollar spend, more than double the miles earn compared to MileagePlus Gold members who do not hold a card. General United MileagePlus members who buy a ticket using a United Explorer card will earn 9 total miles per dollar, three times as many miles compared to General non-cardholders, and if they use a United Club card, they'll earn 11 total miles per dollar – nearly four times as many miles as a non-cardholder.
As previously mentioned, United is also offering additional inventory of Saver Award seats in United Polaris Business Class to cardholders. Saver Awards are the airline’s lowest priced award tickets, and currently about a third of flights that have Saver Award fares available, have exclusive inventory just for cardholders and Premier members. This includes flights to places like London, Hawaii, Florida, Cancun and Tokyo. On average, cardholders save about 30 percent when booking Saver Award flights under the 'Cardmembers Save' banner on United’s website and app.
At United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL), ‘Good Leads the Way.’ As measured by available seat miles, United is the world’s largest airline, connecting passengers to more than 360 destinations, including 75 that no other U.S. airline serves. The carrier flies to over 225 U.S. cities, operating more than 4,000 domestic flights a day on average. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers.
Source: United Airlines / PRNewswire