Attention United Airlines Premier members! United is shaking things up with your PlusPoints, offering new ways to use them beyond just scoring those coveted flight upgrades. While this expanded flexibility comes with some important caveats, it offers a lifeline for those who struggle to clear upgrades, ensuring your PlusPoints don’t go to waste.
United announced Starting with your 2025 PlusPoints earnings, you’ll have the option to exchange them for a variety of perks including:
- TravelBank Cash: Convert PlusPoints to TravelBank credit, which can be used for future United flight purchases. Redemption rates are set at 10 PlusPoints for $20 TravelBank cash, with a maximum of 100 PlusPoints yielding $200. This offers a direct monetary value for your points, though some might find the exchange rate less appealing compared to the potential value of an upgrade.
- Bonus Miles: Give your MileagePlus balance a boost by exchanging PlusPoints for redeemable miles. The rate is 10 PlusPoints for 1,500 miles, with a maximum of 100 PlusPoints for 15,000 miles.
- Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) or Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF): Need a boost to reach or maintain your Premier status? You can now use PlusPoints to pad your PQP or PQF balances. For PQPs, you can exchange 10 PlusPoints for 100 PQPs, with a maximum of 160 PlusPoints for 1,600 PQPs. PQFs can be exchanged at a rate of 160 PlusPoints for 2 PQFs or 320 PlusPoints for 4 PQFs.
- Gifting Premier Status: Spread the love by gifting Premier status to someone else! This is a unique and valuable option, especially if you have excess PlusPoints. Redemption rates range from 40 PlusPoints for Silver status to 600 PlusPoints for 1K status.
Important Considerations and Restrictions:
- Only PlusPoints earned in the 2025 Premier year and beyond are eligible for these exchanges.
- A hard deadline exists for exchanges: You must complete the exchange by March 31st of the year prior to your PlusPoints expiration date. For example, PlusPoints earned in 2025 expire on January 31, 2027, but the exchange option closes on March 31, 2026. This means you need to plan ahead and decide how you want to use your PlusPoints well before the traditional expiration date.
- There is a limit to how many PlusPoints you can exchange: You can exchange a maximum of 600 PlusPoints per expiration date across all eligible perks.
- Once PlusPoints are exchanged, they cannot be refunded.
- PQPs and PQFs earned through exchange are not transferable or giftable.
Is it worth exchanging PlusPoints instead of using them for upgrades?
The answer depends on your individual travel patterns and priorities.
- If you consistently find it difficult to clear upgrades with PlusPoints, these new options offer a tangible alternative to letting them expire unused.
- However, the redemption rates for TravelBank cash and bonus miles might not be as valuable as a successful upgrade, especially on long-haul flights. For example, 40 PlusPoints could yield a significant upgrade on a long international flight, while the same amount exchanged for TravelBank or miles might only equate to a relatively small monetary value.
How to Exchange Your PlusPoints:
You can exchange eligible PlusPoints directly through your MileagePlus account on the United website or via the United mobile app. The process is straightforward, allowing you to select your desired perk and complete the exchange.
In Conclusion:
United’s new PlusPoints exchange options provide valuable flexibility for Premier members, especially those who struggle with upgrade availability. While the value proposition might vary depending on the chosen perk, it’s a positive step towards ensuring your PlusPoints are put to good use. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the terms and conditions, especially the exchange deadlines, to make the most of this expanded program.