All about upgrades

Added comfort especially for MileagePlus members

MileagePlus® upgrades are a valuable feature of your membership that can make your flight experience that much more comfortable and luxurious. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about upgrading your flight.

Upgrade eligibility

Any MileagePlus member can use miles to upgrade on United® or Star Alliance™ flights. Premier® members enjoy enhanced upgrade availability and extra upgrade benefits.

Upgrade eligibility by Premier level
Award types Member Premier Silver Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K®
MileagePlus Upgrade Awards
Complimentary Premier Upgrades Not available
PlusPoints Not available Not available Not available 40* +280 additional**
Star Alliance Upgrade Awards

Upgrade eligibility by Premier level

  • Member

  • Premier Silver

  • Premier Gold

  • Premier Platinum

  • Premier 1K®

  • Member

    Not available

  • Premier Silver

  • Premier Gold

  • Premier Platinum

  • Premier 1K®

  • Member

    Not available

  • Premier Silver

    Not available

  • Premier Gold

    Not available

  • Premier Platinum

    40*

  • Premier 1K®

    +280 additional**

  • Member

  • Premier Silver

  • Premier Gold

  • Premier Platinum

  • Premier 1K®

*Once you meet the requirements for Platinum

**Once you meet the requirements for 1K. You can earn incremental PlusPoints as you keep flying beyond 1K status.

Upgrade regions

Most flights operated by United and United Express have upgrades available. Learn more in our chart:

Continental U.S.
MileagePlus upgrade regions for United-operated flights MileagePlus Upgrade Awards Complimentary Premier Upgrades
PlusPoints Upgrades
Continental U.S. (except for premium transcontinental routes)***

Premium transcontinental routes 

Flights between New York (EWR/JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (EWR/JFK) and San Francisco (SFO)

 Not available
Hawaii
MileagePlus upgrade regions for United-operated flights MileagePlus Upgrade Awards Complimentary Premier Upgrades PlusPoints Upgrades
West Coast Hawaii Flights between Hawaii and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO)***

Long Haul Hawaii

Flights between Hawaii and Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), or Washington (IAD)

 Not available
Honolulu (HNL) to Guam (GUM) Not available
Everywhere else
MileagePlus upgrade regions for United-operated flights MileagePlus Upgrade Awards Complimentary Premier Upgrades PlusPoints Upgrades
Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America***
South America Not available
Europe, Middle East, Africa Not available
Australia, New Zealand Not available
Asia, Japan Not available
Guam, Micronesia
Tahiti Not available

Continental U.S. (except for premium transcontinental routes)***

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Premium transcontinental routes 

Flights between New York (EWR/JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (EWR/JFK) and San Francisco (SFO)

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

West Coast Hawaii Flights between Hawaii and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO)***

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Long Haul Hawaii

Flights between Hawaii and Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), or Washington (IAD)

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Honolulu (HNL) to Guam (GUM)

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America***

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

South America

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Europe, Middle East, Africa

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Australia, New Zealand

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Asia, Japan

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Guam, Micronesia

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

Tahiti

  • MileagePlus Upgrade Awards

  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades

    Not available

  • PlusPoints Upgrades

These upgrades can be used on paid, published United Economy® fares to move to a United® Premium Plus℠ seat or to upgrade to the next higher cabin. Tickets containing Basic Economy fares or fares labeled “first bag charge, no changes” are not eligible for PlusPoints upgrades. See the upgrade regions chart for full details on upgrade eligibility and fare restrictions.

***The co-pay is waived for Premier members.

United Premium Plus: For members traveling on upgrade-eligible fares, there will be no fare class restriction for members who purchase a United Economy seat and request a move to a United Premium Plus seat, and no fare class restriction for members who purchase a United® Premium Plus seat and request an upgrade to the United Polaris® business class cabin. All multi-cabin flights operated by Copa Airlines are eligible for PlusPoints upgrades. Instant upgrades for all Premier members on Y and B full-fare Economy tickets and for Premier 1K® members on M fares are available on all flights that are eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades. Regions and route exceptions are subject to change at any time. Upgrades are subject to capacity controls, which may limit the number of seats available.