Availability questions
Making a reservation
Making changes to a reservation
Upgrade questions

Availability questions

Can I search availability for a range of dates?
At this time, you are unable to specify a date range. However, if there are no available seats for the dates you select, you will be presented with a display offering availability before and after your selected dates.

I'm having trouble finding availability. What should I do?
If you are searching on united.com and there are no available seats for the selected dates, united.com will search before and after the selected dates for seat availability. You may then choose the alternate dates, and then click on "Continue" to view available flights.

To maximize your Award travel search:

• Try searching for a Standard Award vs. a Saver award
• Choose alternate airports
• Change the number of travelers
• Consider trying again at a later date. Award availability frequently improves within 2 months of a desired travel date.
  

Making a reservation

How do I make a reservation using my Mileage Plus miles?
For travel solely on United, Ted or United Express, make a reservation using your Mileage Plus miles online at united.com by selecting Book Award Travel under the Fare finder tab on the homepage. You will be prompted to login with your Mileage Plus number and password. Search for travel and results with applicable mileage costs will be displayed.
For travel on Star Alliance, Partner Airlines or United contact Mileage Plus® Award Reservations centers. For travel within the U.S., call 1-888-467-0507, for international award travel, call 1-888-674-4680.

How do I make a reservation for more than one passenger using more than one Mileage Plus account?
To use miles from more than one Mileage Plus account you will need to make separate reservations. After making each reservation log out and then log in again using the Mileage Plus account number that the miles are to be deducted from.

When I book Award travel for others, where do I indicate what account to take miles from?
The account from which mileage will be deducted from is the account that you log in to before beginning your Award travel search. If you book for others, be sure to enter their Mileage Plus number on the Purchase page and remove your Mileage Plus number from the page.

Can I choose seat assignments for award tickets?
Yes. You can access a seat map in the award ticket purchase process. Select Choose seats to select seat assignments before submitting your purchase.

You also have an option to choose your seats through EasyCheck-in Online. EasyCheck-in Online is available 1-24 hours before your flight.

I have an award reservation on hold. How do I purchase the ticket?
In order to purchase an award reservation that is on hold, you must contact Mileage Plus.

Can I fly part of a roundtrip award ticket and have some of the miles re-credited to my account?
All Mileage Plus Awards are roundtrip awards. If you choose to fly only part of an award itinerary, residual miles will not be re-credited to your account.

If you want to change your Award reservation, your options are:

• If travel has not begun: If you change only the travel dates or times, you will not incur a fee. If you change departure and destination cities or connecting points, or change a non-stop flight to a connecting flight or vice versa, you will incur a $100 change fee.
• If travel has begun and itinerary includes all United flights: Same as above - fees may apply.
• If travel has begun and itinerary includes other airlines: No changes are allowed.
  

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Making changes to a reservation

How do I change or cancel my Award travel reservation once it is made and confirmed?
You must contact Mileage Plus at 1-888-467-0507 for domestic Award ticket reservation changes. For international Award ticket reservations contact 1-888-674-4680.

Are there fees to change my Award travel ticket?
If you change only your travel dates, you are not assessed a fee.
You will be charged a fee if you change any of the following:

• departure city
• destination city
• connection points (if added or removed)

The minimum charge is $150, and the changes are subject to Award travel availability.
For U.S. domestic Award travel, call Mileage Plus Award Reservations at 1-888-467-0507. For international Award travel, call 1-888-674-4680.

Can I return my Award travel ticket for a refund?
Yes, you are able to return your Award ticket for a refund, however, change fees apply. You will be assessed a $150 charge if you decide to return your ticket and re-credit your account with the mileage used for the ticket. Changes must be made by phone with Mileage Plus at 1-888-467-0507.

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Upgrade questions

Can I upgrade an Award ticket?
No. Upgrade certificates or mileage upgrades are not accepted for Award travel tickets.

I was not able to be upgraded on the whole itinerary. Can some of the miles be re-credited to my account?
That depends on whether your itinerary was wholly within the United States or if there were international segments:

• For itineraries that are completely within the United States, re-crediting of miles is not allowed.
• For itineraries with international segments, whether mileage is re-credited depends on whether the segment(s) that were upgraded cost the same as the entire itinerary. For example:
  • Taipei - Narita - San Francisco = 15,000-mile upgrade Award
  • If only Narita - San Francisco segment is upgraded: there is no recredit of miles, because an upgrade award for Narita - San Francisco by itself is also 15,000 miles
  • If only the Taipei - Narita segment is upgraded: a 10,000-mile recredit is due, because an upgrade award for Taipei - Nartia by itself would be only 5,000 miles.

If miles are due to be re-credited, please contact the Mileage Plus Service Center. A re-credit fee may apply.

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General questions

What is the difference between a Standard award ticket and a Saver award ticket?
Saver awards cost less miles but have more restrictions on seat availability. Standard awards cost more miles but have few restrictions on seat inventory. If you are having trouble finding Saver award travel availability, we suggest you try a search for Standard award tickets.

How many miles do I need to make an award ticket purchase?
The mileage requirements will depend on whether the ticket is booked as a Saver award ticket or a Standard award ticket. We recommend that you review the United Saver award chart and the United Standard award chart for more information or perform a search to determine mileage costs.

Can I use my miles for one-way travel?
All Mileage Plus Awards are roundtrip awards. If you choose to fly only part of an award itinerary, residual miles will not be be re-credited to your account.

Can I use my miles to purchase international travel tickets?
Yes, your mileage can be used to purchase tickets on any United Air Lines routes and most Star Alliance carrier routes. Travel between North America, the Caribbean, Hawaii, and to international destinations may be booked on united.com. For award tickets between international cities or on Star Alliance partners you must call United Reservations at 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331).

Can I use my Mileage Plus miles to purchase tickets with a United partner?
Yes, but Award tickets on United partner airlines must be purchased by calling United Reservations at 1-800-United-1 (1-800-864-8331) or by visiting any United Airlines ticketing location. You can redeem your miles for award travel with many of our Mileage Plus airline partners, including the members of the Star Alliance™ network. Thanks to our agreements with these airlines, your miles can take you to any of more than 800 destinations in over 150 countries. For details, click here.

Do I earn miles for an award ticket?
No. Award ticket travel does not accrue travel miles towards your account.

When are miles deducted from my Mileage Plus account for award tickets?
Air miles are deducted from your account the same day you make your award ticket reservation.

Can I use my miles to buy tickets for friends or family members?
Yes, members are able to purchase Award tickets for other people using their mileage. You may secure tickets on united.com for friends and family members with or without your surname. If you are not traveling with the party on award tickets, you may be required to provide additional validation authorizing the purchase for other parties. Check your purchase confirmation for requirements.See more information about giving awards to family and friends.

Can I choose seat assignments for award tickets?
Yes. You can access a seat map during the Award ticket purchase process. Select Choose Seats to select seat assignments before submitting your purchase.

You also have an option to choose your seats through EasyCheck-in Online. EasyCheck-in Online is available 1-24 hours before your flight.

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