Adam McCann, Financial Writer
@adam_mcan
United miles do not expire while your United MileagePlus account is active and in good standing. Miles will be forfeited if United closes your account for violating program rules, including fraudulent activity, or if you close it yourself.
When United Miles May Be Forfeited
- When you close your account without redeeming any unused miles.
- When United closes your account due to program rule violations or fraudulent activity.
Keeping your United account in good standing is essential if you want to avoid account closure and the forfeiture of your miles. Be sure to review the program's terms and conditions regularly to stay informed about any updates or changes that could affect your account status.
If you’re trying to choose an airline rewards program and you are concerned about rewards expiration policies, you can see how United compares to other major hotel chains below.
United Miles Expiration vs. The Competition
| Airline Rewards Program | Rewards Expiration Policy |
| United MileagePlus | Miles do not expire |
| Alaska Atmos Rewards | Points do not expire |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards | Points do not expire |
| Delta SkyMiles | Miles do not expire |
| American Airlines AAdvantage | Miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity |
Even though United miles can not expire a certain amount of time after you earn them it’s still a good idea to avoid building up a lot of United miles over a long period of time because that makes you more vulnerable to rewards devaluation. It’s best to redeem your earnings regularly.
People also ask
How much are United miles worth?
United miles are worth 1.21 cents per mile, on average, when redeemed for United flights, so 10,000 MileagePlus miles equal about $121 in airfare. United miles can also be redeemed for hotel stays, car rentals and gift cards, but they generally provide the greatest value when used for award flights.
You can use WalletHub’s United Miles Value Calculator to quickly determine the cash value of any number of United miles. One of the most effective ways to increase the rate...
read full answer by Dan Whitmer, Rewards Programs AnalystHow do I redeem my United MileagePlus miles?
To redeem United miles, log in to your United MileagePlus account online, call 866-322-4579, or use the United Airlines mobile app. United miles are worth about 1.21 cents each when redeemed for United Airlines flights, making this the best redemption option.
How to Redeem United Rewards for Flights
- Login to your United MileagePlus account.
- Enter your travel details and select the “Book with miles” option.
- Click “Find flights” to view available fares offering...
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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well that is rubbish as United is claiming miles pre 2018 do expire. I have flown 958,000 direct miles and they keep apperaring on my statement so i did not worry... then that say ... ok they are not "real miles"... they are the miles you have flown directly with United and the real miles ie the Miliage plus miles expired. That is grossly deceptive.. They never even provide notice to me. They then say "Please know that we do appreciate your business and loyalty to United, however, we're unable to provide any options to reinstate your miles because they expired prior to March 1, 2018. Whenever possible, we try to accommodate our customers' requests and I'm sorry we can't do so in this instance. We value your business and look forward to serving your travel needs in the future."