By Austin Christensen ยท Last updated: November 9, 2026
How to Book United With Miles
Points Mafia may earn a commission or referral bonus when you apply through links on this page. This doesn't change our ratings. Disclosure
Key takeaways
- Three programs in this guide can put you on a United flight: MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca LifeMiles.
- Each bank table is built from the transfer partner list. A bank that does not list the program is not in the table.
- Use MileagePlus when you already hold the miles, or when your bank lists United and the United price is the one you want.
- Use Aeroplan when you want its published distance band and you will pay the partner booking fee. Use LifeMiles only when United is on the LifeMiles screen.
Which programs can book United
MileagePlus is United's own program. The best ways to use United miles ranks redemptions for miles you already hold. It does not own the partner booking. The partner routes are book United with Aeroplan and book United with LifeMiles. This page is the map of which program to open, and which bank can fund it.
How to book United with MileagePlus
United's award miles page says you can use miles to book award flights on United and Star Alliance partner airlines. If you do not have enough miles for the whole trip, you can pay with a combination of money and miles. Source: [United, use award miles](https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus/use-miles.html), checked November 9, 2026.
That page does not print a click path or a United award chart. The ranked saver prices we keep on file, and the search steps on united.com, are on the best ways to use United miles. This guide does not repeat that list.
Banks that list United MileagePlus: Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards.
| Bank | Transfers at | Partner list checked |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | October 29, 2026 |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | October 17, 2026 |
Chase transfers to United at 1:1, checked October 29, 2026. The timing, the cards, and the name rule are in how to transfer Chase points to United.
Amex does not list United. An Amex balance reaches a United seat through a partner Amex does list. The Aeroplan and LifeMiles tables show whether that partner is one of them.
How to book United with Aeroplan
Air Canada says you can redeem Aeroplan points for travel on United. On aircanada.com, a partner flight is marked operated by that airline. Source: [Air Canada, airline partners](https://www.aircanada.com/us/en/aco/home/book/routes-and-partners/star-alliance-and-other-airline-partners.html), checked November 9, 2026.
Banks that list Air Canada Aeroplan: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles and Bilt Rewards.
| Bank | Transfers at | Partner list checked |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Ultimate Rewards | 1:1 | October 16, 2026 |
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1:1 | October 29, 2026 |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | November 1, 2026 |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | October 17, 2026 |
Aeroplan publishes a partner award chart by distance. The shortest North America economy band for partners other than Air Canada is 6,000 points one way, from Air Canada's chart. A United flight uses the band for its distance. The chart does not print the word United on that row. The partner booking fee and the change rules are in how to book United with Aeroplan. Capital One holders can follow how to transfer Capital One miles to Air Canada.
How to book United with LifeMiles
LifeMiles says you redeem miles online for avianca and for its air partners, and it names Star Alliance among those partners. The redemption help pages checked on November 9, 2026 do not name United or a United award price. If United is not on the LifeMiles screen, do not transfer. Source: [LifeMiles help center, miles redemption](https://helpcenter.lifemiles.com/hc/en-us/categories/15668703041691-Miles-Redemption), checked November 9, 2026.
Banks that list Avianca LifeMiles: Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points (1:1 on premium cards, 1:0.7 on other cards), Capital One Miles and Bilt Rewards.
| Bank | Transfers at | Partner list checked |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Membership Rewards | 1:1 | October 29, 2026 |
| Citi ThankYou Points | 1:1 on premium cards, 1:0.7 on other cards | October 29, 2026 |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | October 16, 2026 |
| Bilt Rewards | 1:1 | October 17, 2026 |
LifeMiles does not publish a United award price on the help pages we checked. If United is not on the redemption screen, do not transfer. The name correction rule and the rest of the steps are in how to book United with LifeMiles.
When to use MileagePlus instead of a partner
Price the same United flight in each program your banks can fund. Keep the miles, the cash on top, and our value for that currency.
We value United miles at 1.2 cents per point, Aeroplan points at 1.45 cents per point, and LifeMiles at 1.65 cents per point (The Points Guy, November 2026). Divide the cash fare, minus taxes and any partner booking fee, by the points the award costs. If the result beats that figure, the booking is a good use. If it does not, pay cash or switch programs.
Use MileagePlus when you already hold the miles, or when Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards is the balance you want to move and the United price wins. The best ways to use United miles is the ranking for those miles. This page does not replace it.
Use Aeroplan when the distance band plus the partner booking fee beats the MileagePlus price, and the screen says the flight is operated by United. Aeroplan charges a $39 CAD partner booking fee per ticket when the reward includes a flight operated by an airline other than Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Air Canada Rouge, or a Landline bus. Taxes, fees and charges are due when the ticket is issued. The policy does not say a United flight has no carrier surcharge.
Use LifeMiles when United shows as the operating carrier and the cash on that screen is acceptable. The LifeMiles redemption help pages checked on November 9, 2026 do not list a United surcharge or a partner booking fee. Read the cash amount on the redemption screen before you move miles. There is no LifeMiles chart on this page because LifeMiles did not publish a United price.
Run your own balance through the points value calculator.
A business class seat is a strong redemption when the points and the cash still beat paying cash. Saver space is limited. If the seat is not there, do not transfer on the hope that it appears.
Learn this properly
Lesson 11: Transfer Partners & When to Use Them explains why one bank's points can book another airline's seats. Every ratio is on the transfer partners page, and points values prices United miles against Aeroplan and LifeMiles.
Book United with one bank's points
- Amex points: How to book United with Amex points. Amex lists Aeroplan and LifeMiles, and has no MileagePlus row.
- Chase points: How to book United with Chase points. Chase lists MileagePlus and Aeroplan.
Frequently asked questions
Which programs can book a United flight?
United MileagePlus, Air Canada Aeroplan, and Avianca LifeMiles. The partner steps are in book United with Aeroplan and book United with LifeMiles.
Which bank points transfer to MileagePlus?
Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards, at the ratios in the MileagePlus table above.
Which bank points transfer to Aeroplan or LifeMiles?
Aeroplan: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles and Bilt Rewards. LifeMiles: Amex Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Points (1:1 on premium cards, 1:0.7 on other cards), Capital One Miles and Bilt Rewards.
When should I use United miles instead of a partner?
Use MileagePlus when you already hold the miles, or when your bank lists United and the price beats 1.2 cents per point after taxes (The Points Guy, November 2026). Use Aeroplan or LifeMiles when that program shows a United operated flight and the points plus cash beat the MileagePlus result.
Get the Points Mafia newsletter
Join the Points Mafia newsletter. Unsubscribe anytime.