You’re sitting at the gate, clutching a lukewarm coffee, staring at a plane that definitely doesn’t have a giant "United" logo on the tail. Yet, you’re about to board and somehow, magically, your MileagePlus balance is going to go up.
How? Because the web of who are united airlines mileage partners is way bigger than just the planes with the blue globes.
Most people think you have to fly United to earn United miles. Honestly, that’s just not true. You can earn them while sleeping in a hotel in Paris, driving a rental car in Maui, or even buying a pair of shoes from your couch. It’s a massive ecosystem. If you aren’t playing the partner game, you’re basically leaving free trips on the table.
The Star Alliance Heavy Hitters
United is a founding member of the Star Alliance. This is the "big leagues" of airline partnerships. Because of this, you can earn and redeem miles on over 25 different airlines.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it. You could book a flight on Lufthansa to Frankfurt or ANA to Tokyo and have those miles land right in your United account. You don't need a separate loyalty account for every airline. You just use your United number.
Here is the current roster of the main Star Alliance partners:
- Europe: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, SAS (though they’ve been flirtatious with other alliances lately, they're still key), TAP Air Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines, and Aegean.
- Asia & Pacific: Air China, Air India, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, EVA Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways.
- The Americas: Air Canada, Avianca, and Copa Airlines.
- Africa & Middle East: EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, South African Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
There are also "Connecting Partners" like Juneyao Air. These guys aren't full members, but they still play nice with United on certain routes.
Beyond the Alliance: The Boutique Partners
Then you have the "Global Partners." These are airlines that aren't in the Star Alliance but have a specific, "handshake" deal with United.
Ever heard of Cape Air? They fly those tiny Cessnas to places like Nantucket or the Caribbean. They’re a partner. So is Aer Lingus. You can fly the luck of the Irish and still stack United miles.
Others include:
- Emirates: This was a huge deal when it launched recently. You can now earn miles on certain Emirates flights, which opened up the Middle East in a big way.
- Azul: Great for getting around Brazil.
- Hawaiian Airlines: Perfect for inter-island hops, though the merger with Alaska might shake things up eventually.
- Virgin Australia: Your ticket to the Outback.
- Eurowings and Air Dolomiti: Mostly European regional stuff.
Where You Sleep Matters (A Lot)
If you're only looking at planes, you're missing half the story. The hotel side of who are united airlines mileage partners is where the real "passive" earning happens.
Marriott Bonvoy is the crown jewel here. They have a special thing called "PreferredPartnership." If you have high elite status with United (Premier Gold or higher), you can actually get Marriott Gold status for free. If you're a Marriott Titanium or Ambassador member, you get United Premier Silver. It’s a two-way street that most people completely overlook.
But Marriott isn't the only one. You can earn miles for stays at:
- Hilton (you usually have to choose miles as your earning preference)
- IHG (Holiday Inn, InterContinental, etc.)
- Hyatt
- Wyndham
- Choice Hotels
- Accor
Basically, if the building has a lobby and a continental breakfast, there’s a good chance you can get United miles for staying there. Just make sure your profile is set to "earn miles" instead of "earn points," or you can transfer the hotel points to United later (though the transfer rate is usually kinda meh).
The "Secret" Credit Card Connection
You can’t talk about United partners without mentioning Chase.
Chase is the exclusive issuer of United credit cards, like the Explorer or the Quest. But the real pro move? Using a card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve, those points aren't "United miles" yet. But they can become them instantly. You just log into the Chase portal and transfer them at a 1:1 ratio. This is often better than having a dedicated United card because you earn points faster on things like dining and general travel.
Bilt Rewards is the new kid on the block that also lets you transfer points to United. It’s the only way to earn points on rent without a fee, which is basically a cheat code for a free flight to Europe every year.
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Cars, Shopping, and the "X" Factor
Still wondering who are united airlines mileage partners? Let's talk about the ground game.
Avis and Budget are the primary car rental partners. If you book through the United portal, you don't just get a car; you get a chunk of miles—sometimes up to 1,250 per rental. That's almost as much as a short flight.
Then there’s the MileagePlus Shopping portal. You’re going to buy stuff on Sephora or Apple or Home Depot anyway. If you click through United’s portal first, you earn 1, 2, or 10 miles per dollar. It takes five extra seconds.
And don't forget the MileagePlus X app. This thing is weirdly addictive. You buy a digital gift card for the exact amount of your total at a store (like Starbucks or Walmart) while standing in line. You pay with the app, get the gift card instantly, and boom—miles are in your account before you’ve even finished paying.
Real Talk: The Redemption Trap
Here is what most "experts" won't tell you: just because an airline is a partner doesn't mean the "price" is the same.
If you use United miles to book a flight on a partner like Lufthansa, United often charges more miles than if you were flying on United's own metal. This is called "partner pricing." Also, United moved to "dynamic pricing," which means the amount of miles you need can change based on how many people want that seat.
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However, United is one of the few airlines that doesn't pass on massive fuel surcharges. If you book a partner flight with British Airways miles, you might pay $700 in "fees." With United miles? Usually just about $5.60 for domestic or maybe $50-100 for international. That’s a huge win.
Actionable Steps to Maximize Your Partners
Don't just read this and forget it. If you want to actually use this info, do these three things right now:
- Link your Marriott and United accounts. Even if you don't have status yet, it makes the point transfers smoother later.
- Download the MileagePlus X app. Next time you're at a chain restaurant or big-box store, use it. The miles post almost instantly.
- Check the "Partner" tab when searching for flights. When you search on United.com, make sure you're looking at "Stops" and "Airlines." Sometimes a partner flight has a better seat or a better schedule for the same amount of miles.
The list of who are united airlines mileage partners is always shifting. Partnerships end, new ones begin, and alliances change. But as of right now, if you’re smart about where you book your bed and how you pay for your coffee, you’ll be flying for free a lot sooner than you think.