United MileagePlus is one of the most popular airline loyalty programs in the world, and for good reason. The program offers a variety of ways to earn and redeem miles, and there are some great sweet spots that can save you a lot of money on flights.

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Here are just a few reasons why we love MileagePlus. With a little planning, you can use your miles to book some amazing travel experiences.

  • The Excursionist Perk: This perk allows you to add a free stopover on any award ticket that includes two or more flights. This is a great way to see more of a destination or to connect with a connecting flight on a partner airlines.
  • Transcontinental Flights: United offers some great deals on transcontinental flights, with economy class awards starting at 15,000 miles and Business Class awards starting at 30,000 miles.
  • Flights to Northern South America: United charges just 20,000 miles for economy class awards and 35,000 miles for business class awards from the U.S. to Northern South America, including destinations like Lima, Peru, Quito, Ecuador, and Bogotá, Colombia.
  • Flights to Oceania: United charges just 35,000 miles for economy class awards and 70,000 miles for business class awards to Oceania, including destinations like Sydney, Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, and Honolulu, Hawaii.
  • Intra-Asia and Intra-Japan flights: United charges just 5,500 miles for economy class awards and 11,000 miles for business class awards on intra-Japan flights, which is a great way to explore the country.

United MileagePlus Sweet Spots (Top Picks)

Here are our top United MileagePus redemptions, and how to find them using AwardFares (click to search).

1. Chicago (ORD) to Barcelona (BCN)

On United Airlines, Economy class awards start at 35,000 miles, and business class awards start at 70,000 miles. A one-way Business Class ticket from the United States to Europe on a Star Alliance partner costs 77,000 MileagePlus miles. This offers access to top-tier airlines like Lufthansa, Swiss, and Austrian, all of which offer excellent Business Class products.

Chicago to Barcelona using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

Chicago to Barcelona using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

2. Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD)

This is a long-haul route that offers a great opportunity to see two amazing cities. Economy class awards start at 50,000 miles, and business class awards start at 100,000 miles.

Los Angeles to Sydney using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

3. Chicago (ORD) to Honolulu (HNL)

This is a great way to escape the cold winter weather and enjoy the beaches of Hawaii. Economy class awards start at 25,000 miles, and business class awards start at 50,000 miles.

Chicago to Honolulu using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

4. Frankfurt (FRA) to Buenos Aires (EZE)

There are options with Lufthansa on their non-stop flight, but also with United via Houston (IAH).

Frankfurt to Buenos Aires using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

5. San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR)

This is a popular route for business travelers and leisure travelers alike. Economy class awards start at 35,000 miles, and business class awards start at 70,000 miles.

San Francisco to London using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

5. Tokyo (NRT) to Singapore (SIN)

This is a great way to experience two of the most vibrant cities in Asia. Economy class awards start at 35,000 miles, and business class awards start at 70,000 miles.

Tokyo to Singapore using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

Tokyo to Singapore using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

6. Seoul (ICN) to Taipei (TPE)

This is a short-haul route that is perfect for a weekend getaway. Economy class awards start at 10,000 miles, and business class awards start at 20,000 miles.

Seoul to Taipei using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

7. London (LHR) to Frankfurt (FRA)

This is a popular route for connecting flights to other parts of Europe. Economy class awards start at 25,000 miles, and business class awards start at 50,000 miles (roud-trip). There’s plenty of options with a number of airlines such as Lufthansa, Austrian, and SAS.

London to Frankfurt using United MileagePlus miles (AwardFares).

How To Find United MileagePlus Sweet Spots

Check our Utimate Guide on United Award Search for MileagePlus Members for a complete walkthrough on how to find the best sweet spots and get the most value out of your MileagPlus miles.

United Award Search: The Utimate Guide For MileagePlus Members.

Become a United MileagePlus Hacker

You can try AwardFares for free. With our Gold and Diamond tiers, you can access premium features including unlimited daily searches, alerts, seat maps, flight schedules, and more!

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