Dan Whitmer, Rewards Programs Analyst
@dan_whitmer
Buying United miles is usually not a good deal since the miles cost more than they are worth. Unless you just need a few miles to top off your balance for an award ticket, purchasing miles isn’t a way to save on travel.
The minimum purchase amount for United miles is 2,000, and each mile costs about 3.7 cents. However, the value of one United mile when redeemed for flights is only around 1.17 cents on average.
United Miles Purchase vs. Redemption Value
| Number of Miles | Cost | Value When Redeemed for Airfare |
| 2,000 | $75.25 | $23.4 |
| 5,000 | $188.13 | $58.5 |
| 10,000 | $376.25 | $117 |
| 20,000 | $752.50 | $234 |
| 50,000 | $1,881.25 | $585 |
The best way to use your United miles is to save them up until you can cover the full cost of a flight. You can earn miles by using a United credit card or shopping online through the United MileagePlus Shopping portal.
Ways to Earn United Miles Without Buying Them
- Use the United credit card. You can earn miles on eligible purchases with a United credit card. These cards offer more miles for buying airline tickets with United Airlines than if you don’t use a card, plus rewards for everyday spending.
- Buy airline tickets with a United MileagePlus number. One of the best ways to earn miles without purchasing them is by flying with United Airlines. Be sure to sign up for the United MileagePlus loyalty program before you book your flight to earn miles on each trip.
- Use United's dining and shopping portals. United Airlines offers two separate platforms for earning miles through dining and online shopping: MileagePlus Dining and MileagePlus Shopping. To use these platforms, you will need to sign in with your loyalty rewards program ID, which is the same number you would use when purchasing tickets.
- Partner offers. United has partnerships with a range of businesses, allowing you to earn extra miles when you use their services or make purchases. These partners include airline partners, hotel chains, car rental agencies and cruise lines.
After earning United miles, you can use them to pay for flights, hotel stays, car rentals, and more. However, the best value you’ll get from your miles is when you redeem them for free flights.
Sometimes, buying miles can be worth it. United occasionally runs promotions with bonus miles—up to 60%—making purchases more valuable. It can also help if you just need a few extra miles to book an award flight.
When to Buy United Miles
- To top off your account – If you're just short on miles for an award flight, buying a few can help secure a deal.
- During promotions – United often offers bonus miles, making purchases more worthwhile.
- For flexibility – Booking with miles allows free cancellations and refunds.
You can check out WalletHub’s guide to the United MileagePlus program for a full breakdown.
People also ask
How much are 50,000 United miles worth?
50,000 United miles are worth an average of $585, according to WalletHub data. You will get the best value for your United MileagePlus miles when you redeem them for flights, but there are multiple redemption options.
How Much United Miles Are Worth
| Number of United Miles | Average Value |
| 50,000 | $585 |
| 60,000 | ... |
How many miles do you need for a free flight on United?
You need at least 5,700 to 120,000 miles for a free flight on United, depending on the distance, which airport you fly into, and the dates of your trip. For example, you can redeem 15,000+ United miles for a free one-way award flight from Atlanta to Orlando.
How Many Miles You Need For a Free Flight on United
- Atlanta (ATL) to Orlando (MCO): 15,000+ miles
- Las Vegas (LAS) to Los Angeles (LAX):...
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