With few exceptions, the best way to use United miles for free award tickets is with their partners. Here’s how with All Nippon in First Class to Asia, South African Airways to Africa, Air Canada to the South Pacific, and more.
There’s a Twilight Zone episode from 1963 called “Of Late I Think of Cliffordville.” It’s about a man–William Feathersmith–who time-travels to 1910 knowing exactly where oil will eventually be discovered. He plans to reap the dividends. But when he gets there, to his horror, he realizes the oil is inaccessible to the drills of 1910.
Of late I think of miles. You’ve worked hard to have enough miles to reap dividends, and then you discover they’re inaccessible.
This report is all about United miles, how you can drill them for “oil,” and how you can fly First Class while doing it–despite United eliminating their First Class cabin.
American and United Loyalists Share A Common Problem
Last month we covered American Airlines and I urge you to check it out if you have American miles. But this month is all about United. The two carriers share some similarities:
- Most people have miles but aren’t maximizing their value.
- Most people don’t realize how beneficial partner airlines are.
That said, United has a few differences as we’ll outline below.
Maximizing Miles
Here’s what you should not be using your miles for: Magazine subscriptions, newspaper subscriptions, toaster ovens or gift cards.
Remember this simple rule of thumb: The best value you will get from miles is with low-cost premium award flights, especially when published fares are high.
Potentializing Partners
I love the look on people’s faces when they realize their miles aren’t just valid on one airline. They open their mouths into an “O” shape almost every time. Their miles are also valid on the other airlines within the big three partnerships—Star Alliance, oneworld or SkyTeam. That’s huge. It means your miles open up lots of possibilities that, much like the oil underneath the California ground, was hidden until you had the right tools. They work much harder for you by multiplying your chances of availability, dates and routes. For United, the big picture looks like this:
MaxiMiler: Your United Miles Also Work on These Carriers
Seeing Behind United’s First Class Disappearing Act
United dumped its First Class cabin in March 2018. But, this doesn’t mean your United miles can no longer land you in First.
Swing your partner high and low
Now promenade with a heel and toe.
That’s right, dance with those partners.
Let’s look at an example. United may not have a First Class cabin, but partner All Nippon does—from Los Angeles all the way to amazing Tokyo. It’s bookable through United’s website for 110,000 United miles one-way.
But wait. It gets better.
If you were still considering flying United, it often has no low-cost Business Class award availability. Typically, all you’ll find is United’s EveryDay rate, which can be high—very high, as the screenshot below shows—at 161,000 miles one-way.
So, by using United’s partner All Nippon, not only do you get First Class, but you get it cheaper than United’s own flight in Business Class. That’s a free upgrade.
Traveling a Route United Doesn’t Fly
Also consider partner power for routes that United doesn’t fly, like New York-Johannesburg, non-stop. It’s operated by United partner South African Airways yet bookable through the United’s website using 80,000 United miles each way.
Here’s our recent alert: South African Airways Business Class to Johannesburg Dates Found for 2 Seats with United (Chase Partner) Miles
Take your honey and home you go,
Bow and smile and do-si-do!
Traveling to a Region Where United Rarely Has Availability
Check out United partners for travel to Australia, land of strange animals and low award availability—at least with United that is.
For example, Air Canada can get you from Vancouver to Sydney or Brisbane non-stop in Business Class, booked through United’s website for 90,000 United miles each way. And before you say, “what about the connecting flight to Vancouver?” I’ll tell you that’s a free connection from the mainland U.S., Alaska, and Canada.
(Screenshot below shows Vancouver to Sydney flying Air Canada using United miles.)
Here’s our recent alert about just that: Fist Full of Dates With Easy Business Class Availability with Miles / Points to Brisbane and Sydney, 2+ Seats
The evidence is inescapable. You have access to much more free ticket availability in Business and First Class when you bring partners to the dance. And that’s just a taste. We’re finding a lot of opportunities—and the “caller” who determines when to promenade or do-si-do is FCF’s Sweet Redeems alerts.
United Partners for which FCF produces Sweet Redeem alerts:
Africa: South African Airways
Asia: All Nippon, Asiana, Singapore
Europe: Air Canada, Lufthansa, Singapore, SWISS
South Pacific: Air New Zealand, Air Canada
Swingin’ high and swingin’ low
Some of these partners ain’t toe to toe.
As mentioned last month, the mileage cost for American Airlines and their partners was the same. That’s not the case with United. Award prices are all over the place.
As United says on their website, “We’re introducing a broader range of award prices.” They’re not kidding. I guess broad means “all over the place.”
For now at least, thankfully that’s not the case with partner airlines as United seems to still be sticking by their award chart rates when flying partner airlines.
Comparing Award Space Using United Miles On Partner Airlines vs. Using Partners’ Own Mileage Programs
Although using United miles with United partners opens up First Class, more routes, and availability, sometimes you’ll find that award space that shows as available on the partner airline’s booking site does not on united.com.
This is because some United partners release similar availability to United as they release to their own mileage program members, and some release less. So, it can be important to know which airlines will have the best availability using United miles to make the most of this “partner power.” Here’s how it breaks down:
More Availability: Asiana
Similar Availability: First Class flights on All Nippon have similar availability as on United when travel is for one passenger; with two or more passengers, availability is less. Business Class seems to always be similar.
Less Availability: Air Canada, Lufthansa (much less in First Class), SWISS, South African Airways
How to Book
Find out availability trends and good routes by month using the FCF Daily Deals alerts. Then go to united.com or call (800) 538-2929 to verify availability of specific date opportunities within the hot months.
Should you book online or on the phone? We’ve got a very handy chart all about it in our short report appropriately titled: Online or On Phone: Redeeming Miles with United.
United Partner Power: Know the Possibilities
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