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On April 2, 2026, United MileagePlus switches to a fully revenue-based earning model where the number of miles you earn per dollar depends entirely on your Premier status and which United card you hold. For most cardholders, the new rates are higher than before. But for general members flying Basic Economy without a United card, the change is stark: zero miles earned.
This post covers every earn rate in the new structure, walks through what else is changing in 2026 (Premier qualification, PlusPoints, Polaris access), and includes an interactive calculator you can use to see exactly what you’ll earn on your next United flight.
What's changing on April 2, 2026
Starting April 2, 2026, MileagePlus earn rates on United flights are based on the eligible fare (not distance). Rates vary by Premier status and United card. General members without a card earn 3 miles per dollar on regular fares, and zero on Basic Economy. Premier members and cardholders earn significantly more. New cardmember award pricing gives eligible members at least 10–15% off award flights.
Calculate Your Miles Under the New Rates
Use this tool to see exactly how many MileagePlus miles you’ll earn on a United flight starting April 2, 2026. Enter your fare, select your status and card, and choose whether you’re on a Basic Economy ticket.
Base fare + carrier surcharges, excluding government taxes
Your current Premier tier
Select the card you hold (or will pay with)
Basic Economy and JetBlue Blue Basic fare classes earn at lower rates
The New Earn Rate Structure, Explained
Before April 2, 2026, MileagePlus miles on United flights were earned based on distance flown and fare class. Starting April 2, miles are earned based on dollars spent on the eligible fare, and the multiplier depends on two things: your Premier status and whether you hold an eligible United card.
There are three tiers within the new structure:
MileagePlus rate — what you earn with no United card (or the Gateway/Debit card before hitting the $10k spend threshold).
Cardmember rate — what eligible United cardholders earn just for having the card, regardless of how they pay for the ticket.
Pay-with-card rate — the highest rate, earned when you use your specific United card to purchase the flight.
Standard Fares: Earn Rates by Status
| Status | No card (MileagePlus rate) | Any eligible card (Cardmember rate) |
|---|---|---|
| General member | 3x | 6x |
| Premier Silver | 5x | 8x |
| Premier Gold | 6x | 9x |
| Premier Platinum | 7x | 10x |
| Premier 1K | 9x | 12x |
Pay-With-Card Rates by Card Type
When you use your specific United card to purchase the ticket, you earn even more:
| Status | Explorer Card | Quest Card | Club Card | Gateway Card* | Debit Card* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General member | 9x | 10x | 11x | 8x | 7x |
| Premier Silver | 11x | 12x | 13x | 10x | 9x |
| Premier Gold | 12x | 13x | 14x | 11x | 10x |
| Premier Platinum | 13x | 14x | 15x | 12x | 11x |
| Premier 1K | 15x | 16x | 17x | 14x | 13x |
*Gateway Card and MileagePlus Debit Rewards Card unlock the Cardmember earn rate only after $10,000 in eligible calendar-year purchases on the card.
Basic Economy Earn Rates
This is where the change is most consequential. As of April 2, general members without a United card earn zero miles on Basic Economy and JetBlue Blue Basic fares.
| Status | No card | Any eligible United card |
|---|---|---|
| General member | 0 miles | 3x |
| Premier Silver | 2x | 5x |
| Premier Gold | 3x | 6x |
| Premier Platinum | 4x | 7x |
| Premier 1K | 6x | 9x |
Zero earning on Basic Economy for general members
If you’re a general MileagePlus member without a United card, you will earn no miles at all on Basic Economy fares starting April 2. This is a significant shift from the current model. If you fly Basic Economy regularly, even the Gateway Card (no annual fee) would restore earning at 3 miles per dollar on Basic fares, or 8 miles per dollar if you pay with the card after meeting the $10k threshold.
New: Cardmember Award Pricing (10–15% Off)
Also launching April 2: eligible United Cardmembers get a discount when booking award flights on United or United Express with miles. Non-Premier cardmembers receive at least 10% fewer miles required to book, and Premier cardmembers with an eligible card get at least 15% fewer miles required.
This applies to standard award flights on United and United Express only, not Money + Miles tickets, and taxes and fees are still due in cash.
Time your award booking
If you’re already accumulating United miles and planning an award booking after April 2, wait until your eligible card is active before booking, the discount could save you thousands of miles on long-haul redemptions. Use AwardFares to monitor live award availability while you plan.
Sharing Cardmember Benefits With Your Children
Starting April 2, United Cardmembers can share Cardmember earn rates and award pricing discounts with up to 8 children under 18. To activate this, both parent and child must have a date of birth saved on their MileagePlus accounts, and the child must be linked to the parent’s account. The parent must have met any card spend requirements before the benefit can be shared.
When the child turns 18, they’ll need to open their own qualifying card to continue receiving the higher earn rates and award discounts.
What Else Is Changing for MileagePlus in 2026
Premier Qualification Thresholds: No Changes
The PQP and PQF requirements for each Premier tier in 2026 are unchanged from 2025:
| Premier Tier | PQP + PQF threshold | PQP-only threshold |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQP + 15 PQF | 6,000 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQP + 30 PQF | 12,000 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 15,000 PQP + 45 PQF | 18,000 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 22,000 PQP + 60 PQF | 28,000 PQP |
2026 Starter PQP Deposits (Already Live)
Members who held Premier status in 2025 received a PQP head-start deposit in early 2026 to begin their climb toward 2027 status:
| Premier Tier | Starter PQP Deposit |
|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 300 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 600 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 900 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 1,400 PQP |
Members in Trial status did not receive the deposit.
PlusPoints: Card Spend Now Counts Toward Earning More
Beginning January 1, 2026, Premier 1K and above members can earn additional PlusPoints from PQP earned through eligible United credit card spending. There’s no cap on PlusPoints accumulation under this new rule.
Upgrades on Award Tickets Now Available
As of February 1, 2026, both PlusPoints and Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) can be applied to award tickets for all Premier members, a change that previously excluded awards from upgrade eligibility.
Enhanced Polaris Saver Award Access
United Chase Cardmembers, Premier Silver, and Premier Gold members now have increased access to Polaris Saver Award fares, the lower-mileage tier for United Polaris business class.
Dynamic PlusPoints Upgrade Pricing Coming in 2027
Beginning February 2027, United will retire the fixed PlusPoints upgrade chart and switch to dynamic pricing, where the number of PlusPoints required for an upgrade reflects demand, cabin, and other factors. This change doesn’t affect 2026 bookings, but if you’re planning upgrades for future travel, the fixed chart applies through the end of 2026.
Plan upgrades before 2027
The 2027 dynamic upgrade change is the most significant structural update for frequent flyers beyond the earn rate overhaul. If you hold PlusPoints and are planning premium cabin upgrades on high-demand routes, the current fixed chart may offer better value than what dynamic pricing will produce. There’s no announced timeline for exactly when in February 2027 this takes effect.
How AwardFares Helps You Put These Miles to Work
The earn rate changes mean many cardholders will accumulate MileagePlus miles significantly faster than before, especially Premier members using the Quest or Club card on higher fares. A Premier Gold member paying with the Quest card, for example, now earns 13 miles per dollar instead of the previous 7–9 miles per dollar on distance-based fares. On a $500 ticket, that’s 6,500 miles instead of 3,500–4,500.
The question becomes: where do you spend them?
United MileagePlus operates on dynamic award pricing, which means the miles required for any given route vary by date, demand, and availability. The only way to know what’s actually available (and at what price) is to search in real time.
1. Search United MileagePlus Award Availability
Select United MileagePlus in AwardFares to see live award seats on United, United Express, and Star Alliance partner flights. Results show current availability with exact miles required.
2. Use Timeline View to Find the Best Redemption Dates
Award pricing on United fluctuates significantly by date. The Timeline View shows you award availability and pricing across an entire month in a single view, so you can identify when redemption rates are lowest on your route.
3. Set Alerts for Your Route
If your preferred dates don’t have availability today, set up an alert. AwardFares will notify you the moment a seat opens or pricing drops on your route, without you having to check manually.
Search United MileagePlus award flights →
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes on April 2, 2026, for United MileagePlus?
Starting April 2, 2026, MileagePlus members earn miles on United flights based on dollars spent on the eligible fare (base fare + carrier surcharges, excluding government taxes), not distance flown. Earn rates vary by Premier status and United card type. New cardmember award pricing also takes effect, giving eligible cardmembers at least 10–15% off award flights on United and United Express.
How many miles per dollar will I earn on United flights in 2026?
Starting April 2, 2026, general members with no United card earn 3 miles per dollar. With an eligible United card (Cardmember rate), general members earn 6 miles per dollar. Premier members earn more: Silver earns 5x (no card) or 8x (cardmember), Gold earns 6x or 9x, Platinum earns 7x or 10x, and Premier 1K earns 9x or 12x. Paying with a specific card (Explorer, Quest, or Club) unlocks even higher rates, up to 17 miles per dollar for Premier 1K with the Club Card.
Will I earn miles on Basic Economy fares in 2026?
Starting April 2, general members without an eligible United card will earn zero miles on Basic Economy and JetBlue Blue Basic fares. Premier members and United Cardmembers still earn miles on Basic Economy, but at reduced rates. A United card is now required for general members to earn any miles on Basic Economy tickets.
Does the Gateway Card earn at the Cardmember rate?
Only after spending $10,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year. Before hitting that threshold, Gateway Card and MileagePlus Debit Rewards Cardmembers earn at the standard MileagePlus rate (3x for general members, scaling with Premier status). After meeting the spend requirement, the Cardmember rate (6x for general members) is unlocked for the rest of that calendar year and all of the following year.
What is the new Cardmember award pricing discount?
Starting April 2, eligible United Cardmembers can book award flights on United or United Express with at least 10% fewer miles than the standard price (15% for Premier members with an eligible card). This applies only to United and United Express award flights, not Money + Miles tickets or other redemption products. Taxes and fees are not discounted.
Can I share my United card benefits with family members?
Starting April 2, primary United Cardmembers can share Cardmember earn rates and award pricing discounts with up to 8 children under 18. Both accounts must have saved dates of birth. The child must be linked to the parent’s account. When the child turns 18, they need to open their own qualifying card.
Did United change Premier status thresholds for 2026?
No. Premier qualification thresholds for 2026 are identical to 2025: Premier Silver requires 5,000 PQP + 15 PQF (or 6,000 PQP), Gold requires 10,000 PQP + 30 PQF (or 12,000 PQP), Platinum requires 15,000 PQP + 45 PQF (or 18,000 PQP), and Premier 1K requires 22,000 PQP + 60 PQF (or 28,000 PQP).
Did Premier members receive a PQP head-start for 2026?
Yes. Members who held Premier status in 2025 received a PQP deposit in early 2026: 300 PQP for Silver, 600 PQP for Gold, 900 PQP for Platinum, and 1,400 PQP for Premier 1K. Members in Trial status were not eligible.
Can PlusPoints now be applied to award tickets?
Yes. As of February 1, 2026, both PlusPoints and Complimentary Premier Upgrades (CPUs) are eligible for upgrades on award ticket bookings for all Premier members. This is a change from the previous policy that excluded award tickets from upgrade eligibility.
What is the dynamic PlusPoints upgrade change coming in 2027?
Starting February 2027, United will retire its fixed PlusPoints upgrade pricing chart and move to a dynamic system where the number of PlusPoints required for an upgrade will vary based on demand, cabin, and other factors. This does not affect 2026 bookings. The fixed chart remains in place through the end of 2026.
How can I find the best United MileagePlus award flights to book?
AwardFares searches United MileagePlus award availability in real time across United, United Express, and Star Alliance partners. You can search specific routes, use Timeline View to compare pricing across an entire month, and set alerts to be notified when availability opens on your preferred dates.
