These United Airlines miles calculators help you do two things quickly:
- Estimate how many United miles you’ll earn from a paid United Airlines flight.
- Estimate what your current United miles balance is worth in dollars.
United Airlines Miles Earning Calculator
Note: This calculator will help you estimate how many MileagePlus miles you’ll earn from a paid flight.
Use the right numbers for the most accurate result
United flight miles are based on eligible ticket spend, not the “total” you see at checkout.
- Price of your ticket (excluding taxes/fees): Use this for the miles United awards for the flight itself (think base fare plus airline-imposed fees, not government taxes).
- Total $ charged to your credit card: Use this for the miles you earn from your credit card purchase. This amount often includes taxes and fees, which is why it can be higher than the “ticket price” field.
Practical tip: In your email receipt or trip receipt, look for the fare amount (and any carrier-imposed fees). Avoid using the total if it includes government taxes/fees.
How United MileagePlus miles are calculated
For most paid United flights, miles are based on the eligible ticket price you paid (excluding government taxes/fees). Your MileagePlus Premier status increases the miles-per-dollar rate.
Typical MileagePlus earning rates on eligible United purchases:
- MileagePlus member (no status): 5 miles per $1
- Premier Silver: 7 miles per $1
- Premier Gold: 8 miles per $1
- Premier Platinum: 9 miles per $1
- Premier 1K: 11 miles per $1
Important note: award tickets don’t earn redeemable miles. Partner-marketed flights and certain special fares can sometimes earn differently than the simple dollars-based estimate.
Important note: when your actual earning may differ
This estimate is most reliable for paid United-marketed tickets. Your actual miles can differ for partner-marketed flights or special/exception fares (like some packages or consolidator/opaque fares), where earning may follow a chart based on booking class and distance instead of ticket price.
MileagePlus Total Value Calculator
Note: Use this calculator to help you understand how much your current MileagePlus balance is worth in dollars:
If you want a quick refresher on what counts as “eligible spend” (and why taxes/fees are excluded), see our guide to how points and miles are calculated
How much are United Airlines MileagePlus Miles worth?
United Airlines miles are generally worth around 1.2 cents per mile when booking award flights. This may vary a little from flight to flight, but 1.2 cents is a good value to assume.
If you’re deciding between paying cash or booking an award, run the exact cash price and miles required through our Points Value (CPP) Calculator to see the cents-per-point value for that redemption.
How do United Miles compare to the value of other airline programs?
These are planning estimates; your real value depends on route, cabin, dates, and cash price.
| Airline Program | Approximate Value of a Mile |
| Alaska Airlines | 1.3 – 1.6 cents per mile |
| American Airlines | 1.5 – 1.9 cents per mile |
| Delta Airlines | 1.0 – 1.3 cents per mile |
| Frontier Airlines | 1.0 – 1.2 cents per mile |
| Hawaiian Airlines | 1.1 – 1.3 cents per mile |
| jetBlue | 1.3 – 1.6 cents per mile |
| Southwest Airlines | 1.3 – 1.6 cents per mile |
| United Airlines | 1.1 – 1.4 cents per mile |
Related calculators and guides
- Start here: our travel rewards calculators
- Check redemption value: our Points Value (CPP) Calculator
- Understand the rules behind the numbers: our guide to how points and miles are calculated
Frequently Asked Questions:
Generally, no. United flight miles are typically awarded on airfare and certain airline-imposed fees, but government-imposed taxes and fees don’t earn miles. For the most accurate estimate, enter the ticket price excluding government taxes/fees.
In most cases, United Basic Economy can still earn MileagePlus miles on eligible tickets, but the restrictions on Basic Economy are significant and eligibility can vary by fare type and how the ticket is issued. If your posted miles don’t match the estimate, Basic Economy rules and ticket eligibility are a common reason.
Award tickets booked with miles typically do not earn redeemable MileagePlus miles. However, United does allow members to earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) on eligible award flights (based on miles redeemed) for status tracking.
Partner flights can earn differently depending on who issued the ticket and who marketed the flight. A simple dollars-based estimate is most reliable for United-marketed flights. On some partner tickets, miles (and PQP) can be awarded based on booking class and distance flown rather than the price you paid.
Many OTA bookings still earn miles if the ticket is eligible and properly issued, but some vacation packages, opaque fares, consolidator tickets, or bulk fares may earn differently—or not at all. If you booked as part of a bundle, treat the calculator as a best-effort estimate.
Use the amount that reflects the fare (and any airline-imposed fees), excluding government taxes and fees. In your receipt or trip details, look for the line items that show the fare breakdown rather than the total paid.
Not always. Credit cards typically earn miles on the total amount charged to the card (often including taxes/fees). That’s why it’s helpful to use:
– Ticket price excluding taxes/fees for United flight miles, and
– Total charged for credit card miles (if your calculator includes that field).
United MileagePlus miles do not expire as long as your account remains open and in good standing.
Run the cash price and miles required through our Points Value (CPP) Calculator. It will show the cents-per-point value so you can quickly compare whether paying cash or using miles is the better move.
Alaska Airlines Points Calculator (Atmos Rewards)