United Airlines and ITA Airways have officially launched a new partnership, creating a powerful link for travelers between the U.S. and Italy. The agreement includes a comprehensive codeshare and reciprocal loyalty benefits, allowing you to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles on Italy’s flag carrier. This collaboration is a major step forward as ITA Airways prepares to join Star Alliance in 2026.

The tail fins of an ITA Airways and a United Airlines airplane side-by-side.

What Is the United-ITA Partnership?

This new alliance connects United’s extensive global network with ITA’s strong presence in Italy and Europe. For frequent flyers, the key benefits are immediate and substantial:

  • Reciprocal mileage earning and redemption: Use your MileagePlus miles on ITA Airways flights and earn miles—including Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs)—when you fly with them.
  • Elite status perks: Confirmed benefits include lounge access for eligible elite members, with more perks expected as integration deepens.
  • Expanded network: Seamlessly connect to dozens of new destinations in Italy and beyond on a single ticket.

Earning and Redeeming Miles

The ability to earn and redeem miles across both airlines is the cornerstone of this partnership. Here’s a breakdown of what it means for MileagePlus members:

Action Details
Earning MileagePlus miles Accrue award miles, PQPs, and PQFs on eligible ITA Airways-operated flights.
Redeeming awards Book award seats on ITA Airways flights using your MileagePlus miles.
Seamless booking Partner flights appear on each carrier’s website for easy, single-ticket itineraries.

This integration makes your MileagePlus miles more valuable than ever, opening up direct access to award seats on ITA’s routes to Rome, Milan, and other popular Italian destinations.

Elite Status Perks

United and ITA have already rolled out initial benefits for their elite frequent flyers. As ITA moves closer to full Star Alliance membership, you can expect these perks to expand. For now, here’s what’s available:

  • Lounge Access: Eligible MileagePlus Premier Gold members and above can access ITA Airways lounges.
  • Priority Services: While not fully detailed, expect improved handling as the partnership matures.

More information on specific benefits will become available as ITA’s integration with the Lufthansa Group and Star Alliance progresses.

Expanded Networks

The codeshare agreement dramatically expands travel options for customers of both airlines. United flyers gain one-stop access to classic Italian cities, while ITA passengers can connect to United’s hubs across the U.S.

For United Flyers (Connecting via Rome/Milan) For ITA Airways Flyers (Connecting via U.S. Gateways)
🇮🇹 Florence (FLR) 🇺🇸 Dallas (DFW)
🇮🇹 Turin (TRN) 🇺🇸 Denver (DEN)
🇮🇹 Catania (CTA) 🇺🇸 Houston (IAH)
🇮🇹 Bari (BRI) 🇺🇸 Newark (EWR)
🇮🇹 Bologna (BLQ) 🇺🇸 Honolulu (HNL)

How to Book ITA Airways with MileagePlus Miles

Finding award availability on ITA Airways through United’s website can be challenging. With AwardFares, you can see all available seats in seconds. Here’s how to do it, step-by-step.

1. Select your Program and Airline

Go to AwardFares and choose United MileagePlus in the Frequent Flyer Program selector. This tells the system to search for flights that can be booked with your United miles, including those on partner airlines like ITA Airways. Using the Airline filter, add ITA Airways only, to filter out results on all other airlines.

Select United MileagePlus in the program dropdown on AwardFares.

2. Enter Your Route

Type in your departure and arrival airports. For example, search for a flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Rome (FCO).

3. Use the Timeline View to Find Dates

Instead of searching day-by-day, switch to the Timeline View. You’ll instantly see which dates have award availability across an entire month, saving you valuable time.

Timeline view in AwardFares showing award availability for ITA Airways flights.

4. Filter and Find the Best Flight

You can use the filters to narrow down your search by number of stops, specific airlines, or cabin class to find the perfect itinerary. You can also tap on the cabin headers to sort by price (e.g. cheapest Business Class flights)

Award search results on AwardFares highlighting a flight operated by ITA Airways.

5. Book on United.com

Once you’ve found the award seat you want, just click the Book button on AwardFares. You’ll be taken directly to United’s website with the flight details pre-filled, ready for you to complete your booking.

Book award flights on ITA Airways using United MileagePlust miles.

What’s Next (Timeline)

  • September 15, 2025: Codeshare flights and reciprocal loyalty benefits are now live.
  • Early 2026: ITA Airways is expected to formally join the Star Alliance.
  • Ongoing: Deeper integration with the Lufthansa Group’s transatlantic joint venture, further aligning fares and schedules.

This is just the beginning. As ITA Airways becomes a full-fledged Star Alliance member, travelers can look forward to even more parternships and integrations.

Find ITA Awards with MileagePlus on AwardFares

Ready to use your MileagePlus miles for a trip to Italy? AwardFares is already equipped to help you find award availability on ITA Airways using your United miles.

  • ✈️ Search for ITA Airways award flights using the United MileagePlus program
  • 📆 Compare award seat availability across multiple dates with the Timeline view
  • 🗺 Browse real-time seat maps on ITA and United flights to pick the perfect spot
  • 🔔 Set up alerts to get notified as soon as award seats on your dream Italian route open up

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