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Award reservations and ticketing

When you've decided what type of award you want to redeem, here are the steps for booking your award travel. Luckily for you, United has the most convenient way to redeem an award in the business. No award codes or paper certificates are needed.

For award travel you can redeem online at united.com or by calling one of our 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.

Effective May 15, 2008, Mileage Plus members worldwide will be assessed for award travel booked and ticketed through United Reservations a non-refundable $25 (USD 25) fee per ticket or $30 (USD 30) for tickets issued at a United ticket counter. The handling fee also applies to Star Alliance Award tickets issued by any United ticketing location. The handling fee does not apply to upgrade awards, bookings made on united.com, or for 1K® and Global ServicesSM members.

  • Go to Redeem miles at united.com and search for flight options.
  • Travel must be solely on United or United Express.
  • Choose the type of award, Saver or Standard, then book your ticket. You will need your Mileage Plus account number and password.
  • You may print your Confirmation page, E-receipt and Confirmation email for future reference. You may also access your reservation in My Reservations.
  • The miles needed for the award must be available and will be deducted from your account at the time of booking.

When booking by phone:

  • Give your Mileage Plus account number to the United Representative.
  • Advise the agent you will be traveling on an award.
  • Write down the flight number and confirmation number for future reference.
  • Tickets must be issued within a maximum of 72 hours of making the award reservation.

Four ticketing options

1. Book award travel on united.com with no per ticket handling fee. Book now.
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.

  • Once issued, award tickets are not transferable.
  • Miles from separate accounts cannot be combined or transferred.

2. E-Ticket
Unless you request another option*, an E-TicketSM will be issued when you book a United award ticket for yourself or a family member with the same surname.

  • No need to pick up a ticket.
  • No paper ticket to keep track of.
  • Before you go to the airport, you can use our convenient EasyCheck-in Online product to get your boarding pass.
  • If you are traveling within the U.S., you have the option of using United EasyCheck-inSM self-service units where available.

3. Ticket by Mail*
If you require a paper ticket, you may request this option -- available for you or a family member with the same surname.

  • Tickets will be mailed only to the address on the Mileage Plus account.
  • Available in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  • Allow 7 - 10 days for delivery.

4. Airport*
Go to any United airport counter worldwide to pick up your United or partner airline award ticket.

  • If you wish, you may have the award ticket issued in the name of a friend or relative, provided you are present at the time of ticketing. Identification (driver's license, passport or official picture identification) is required at the time of ticketing (by Mileage Plus Member) and at check-in (by traveler). Once issued, awards are not transferable. Miles from separate accounts cannot be combined or transferred.
  • Tickets must be issued within 72 hours of making the award reservation.

*For tickets purchased on or after December 4, 2008, United will charge $50 USD for customer-requested paper tickets issued in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands for E-Ticket eligible itineraries.

For tickets purchased on or before December 3, 2008, United will charge $75 USD for customer-requested paper tickets issued in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands for E-Ticket eligible itineraries.

This fee will apply per printing transaction, either at the time of original ticket issuance by United or upon request to convert existing electronic tickets to paper. The charge applies to tickets for all classes of service.