10 of the best ways to use 90,000 United Airlines miles: From Japan in business class to a family trip to Hawaii
Whether you already have a stockpile of United MileagePlus miles or are taking advantage of the great welcome bonuses on offer right now on United Airlines credit cards, we have some incredible ways to use those miles on your next adventure.
Right now, you can earn as many as 90,000 United miles by applying for one of several offers from Chase and United Airlines and meeting the minimum spend requirements.
Using the United website and award search tools like Point.me, Seats.aero and Points Path, here are 10 standout ways you can redeem a big stash of United miles. And if you have a United credit card, elite status or both, keep an eye out for even better deals, as some of the awards you're considering may offer additional savings.
Business class to or from Tokyo
One of my favorite recent redemptions was my first-ever United Polaris flight from Tokyo's Haneda Airport (HND) to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) — before continuing on to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — for just 80,000 United MileagePlus miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. What a screaming deal!
While I didn't find that exact flight while conducting more recent searches, I did find a flight in Polaris from Tokyo's Narita International Airport (NRT) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) —and then on to EWR in economy — for 85,000 United MileagePlus miles plus $63.19 in taxes and fees. The cash rate for a similar itinerary would be $8,057.
Cash price: $8,057
Value: 9.4 cents per mile
Related: Everything you need to know about United Polaris business class
Business class to or from Europe
You can fly to or from Europe for as few as 68,000 United MileagePlus miles one-way in United Polaris business class. That's a great deal. Availability comes and goes, but I was able to find plenty of dates with the lowest-level saver fares. Cardmembers save 66% on this redemption.
Cash price: $4,764
Value: 6.90 cents per mile
Note that you can also fly on one of United's European partners, such as Lufthansa or ITA Airways. Here's an example flight from Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) to EWR for 80,000 miles and $110.19 in taxes and fees. As a noncardholder, you'd pay 200,000 miles.
Cash price: $3,859
Value: 4.69 cents per mile
Business class to or from London
How does London sound with your new stash of United miles? There is usually sporadic availability to and from London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) for as low as 68,000 miles (but watch out for those onerous taxes of more than $432). That compares to a cash fare of $2,747, so you'll still save a sizable amount by booking with miles, even after accounting for the higher fees.
Cash price: $2,747
Value: 3.4 cents per mile
Business class from Newark to South Africa
This week, we found a business-class flight on United from EWR to Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) for as few as 68,000 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. That fare didn't last long, but another search found multiple days with business class for just 80,000 miles.
That's nearly 15 hours in lie-flat United Polaris heaven. What a great deal! Those prices are not common, but it does give you an idea of what's possible. And check out how much we saved by booking as a cardmember.
Cash price: $5,184
Value: 7.62 cents per mile
Business class from Singapore to San Francisco or Los Angeles
Earlier this year, we found business-class fares from Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and then on to LAX for just 90,000 United MileagePlus miles and $74.23 in taxes and fees. That's the long flight in United's brand-new, next-generation Polaris business-class product, making it an exceptional deal considering a similar one-way flight this winter costs about $3,767.
Cash price: $3,767
Value: 4.10 cents per mile
Related: Spacious suites and fine wines: A review of United's new Elevated Polaris business class
Business class from Australia to San Francisco or Los Angeles
It's a similar find for the long flight from Sydney Airport (SYD) to SFO or LAX.
I found multiple days with redemptions for just 85,000 United MileagePlus miles plus $104.29 in taxes and fees. Again, you'd be in United's new business-class product. The cash price is $4,871 for that same flight. As a cardmember, you'd save 79% compared to noncardholders for that same award.
Cash price: $4,871
Value: 4.10 cents per mile
Related: Complete guide to United's revenue, award and upgrade fare classes
A transcontinental flight for a family of 3
You would have enough miles to fly a family of three round-trip from California all the way across the country in economy for just 12,700 miles each way per passenger. That's a total of 76,200 miles and $33.60 in taxes and fees for the round-trip itinerary. The cash price would be $1,649.10, while noncardholders booking with miles would pay 15,000 miles each way per person (or 15% more).
Cash price: $1,649.10
Value: 2.12 cents per mile
Related: How a United credit card can save you hundreds of thousands of miles on flights
2 round-trip flights from Newark to Hawaii
How does a trip to Hawaii sound? You can use your stockpile of United MileagePlus miles to fly round-trip to paradise.
We found flights from EWR to Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) for just 42,400 United miles round-trip (plus $11.20 in taxes and fees). That means you could bring a friend, too, for just 84,800 miles and $22.40 in taxes and fees — or the miles you'd earn from a welcome bonus on one credit card. A similar two-week trip booked with cash would be more than $2,621.
Cash price: $2,621.62
Value: 3.06 cents per mile
Related: Cool things for the rest of us: 6 innovations United Airlines is bringing to its economy cabins
First class from San Francisco to Hawaii
You can also fly to Hawaii in United first class using your stash of United miles.
Fly from SFO to HNL for just 56,600 miles plus $5.60 in taxes and fees. While you wouldn't have enough for a round-trip flight, you could fly round-trip in coach for just 18,800 miles each way.
Cash price: $628
Value: 1.10 cents per mile
Business class on partner Brussels Airlines from New York to Ghana
Here's a fun flight I found on Point.me. You can use your United MileagePlus miles to fly from New York to Brussels and then on to Accra, Ghana, for just 88,000 United miles. It's a flight I've previously flown for a PeaceJam trip to Ghana.
By having a United Airlines credit card and booking through the United website, you'll redeem even fewer miles for the same flight. Booking this way requires only 80,000 miles plus $102.20 in taxes and fees, saving cardmembers 9%.
Cash price: $4,611
Value: 5.64 cents per mile
1 bonus redemption to consider
There's one other unique redemption to tell you about. United has what it calls "United MileagePlus Exclusives," which offer some unique items you can bid on.
You can bid on experiences like a Broadway show, a holiday trip to Waikiki from Marriott Bonvoy and a game of flag football with the New York Giants. Your miles could unlock some pretty cool adventures, no matter how you spend them.
Bottom line
United MileagePlus miles can unlock some incredible travel deals, especially if you're willing to be flexible with your travel dates and destinations.
As our searches show, you can get tremendous value from your miles, whether you're booking a lie-flat business-class seat to Europe, Asia or Africa or taking the whole family to Hawaii.
The key is to compare award prices with cash fares, search multiple dates and take advantage of the additional award availability and discounts offered to eligible United credit card holders and elite members.
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