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.
Award types | Member | Premier Silver | Premier Gold | Premier Platinum | Premier 1K® |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MileagePlus Upgrade Awards |
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Complimentary Premier Upgrades | Not available |
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PlusPoints | Not available | Not available | Not available | 40* | +280 additional** |
Star Alliance Upgrade Awards |
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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:
MileagePlus upgrade regions for United-operated flights | MileagePlus Upgrade Awards | Complimentary Premier Upgrades | PlusPoints Upgrades |
---|---|---|---|
Continental U.S. (except for premium transcontinental routes)*** |
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Premium transcontinental routes Flights between New York (EWR/JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or New York (EWR/JFK) and San Francisco (SFO) |
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Not available |
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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)*** |
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Long Haul Hawaii Flights between Hawaii and Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), or Washington (IAD) |
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Not available |
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Honolulu (HNL) to Guam (GUM) |
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Not available |
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MileagePlus upgrade regions for United-operated flights | MileagePlus Upgrade Awards | Complimentary Premier Upgrades | PlusPoints Upgrades |
---|---|---|---|
Alaska, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America*** |
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South America |
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Not available |
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Europe, Middle East, Africa |
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Not available |
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Australia, New Zealand |
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Not available |
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Asia, Japan |
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Not available |
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Guam, Micronesia |
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Tahiti |
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Not available |
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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.