What Benefits Come With Flying 1 Million Miles on United Airlines?

United Airlines recognizes and rewards its frequent fliers based on their flight activity. Participation in the airline’s frequent flier program offers increasing benefits with each flight taken. Members who accumulate one million miles or more with United Airlines are eligible to join the exclusive Million Miler program. This guide will take a closer look at what benefits come with flying one million miles on United Airlines.

Elite status for a lifetime

After earning one million miles with United Airlines’ MileagePlus frequent flier program, passengers become eligible for lifetime Premier Gold elite status. The key benefit of reaching this milestone is that the Premier Gold status granted through the Million Miler program never expires, regardless of how often you fly in the future.

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Your status level is determined by the total miles the passenger has flown on eligible United and United Express (regional airline brand of United Airlines) flights. You can view your lifetime miles balance at any time by logging into your MileagePlus account.

But one million miles and Premier Gold status is only some of what you can achieve. United Airlines’ frequent flier program has four tiers, and Premier Gold is the second tier. For example, if you fly two million miles with United Airlines, your lifetime elite status will be upgraded to the higher tier, Premier Platinum. Below, you will find a table explaining what status you can earn by accumulating additional millions of miles.

While there are four standard MileagePlus tiers, there is a fifth, invitation-only level called Premier Global Services. This elite status is reserved for the airline’s highest-spending frequent flyers. To achieve lifetime Premier Global Services status, you need to earn four million miles.

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Earning one million miles is challenging, as it requires taking many flights exclusively with United or United Express. According to a report by The Points Guy, if you earn 100,000 lifetime flight miles per year, it will take you a decade to reach one million lifetime flight miles.

Companion benefit

In addition to providing lifetime status, the United Airlines Million Miler program includes a companion benefit. This allows you to share your Premier status with your spouse or someone who lives with you.

However, it is worth noting that the companion benefit is available on an annual, not lifetime, basis. Companion benefits expire if the Million Miler passes away or if the companion no longer meets the eligibility requirements, such as due to death, divorce, or separation.

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According to the airline’s rules, new companion selections must be completed by December 30 of the current year. Your companion’s status will automatically renew each year unless you decide to change it. To update your companion, submit the new information to your account by November 30.

For example, this year, you can change your companion between mid-September and November 30, 2024. The new companion’s benefits will begin on January 1, 2025.

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More about MileagePlus elite status tiers

MileagePlus offers four status levels: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, and Premier 1K. It is important to note that you can achieve elite status through various means, not just by flying exclusively with United. Premier elite status is awarded based on the number of Premium Qualifying Points (PQP) earned annually.

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While these levels are primarily earned through frequent flying, spending on credit cards can also significantly boost your status. Below, a table showcases the benefits of the airline’s elite status tiers and how to earn them.

What are your thoughts on United Airlines’ Million Miler program? Do you frequently fly with United Airlines? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below.