Editor’s note: We’ve updated this post with the latest information.
United has launched a new round of Mile Play promotions, which award bonus miles to targeted members after they complete specific tasks. Now’s a good time to check to see if you are eligible and then register — even if you aren’t sure about your upcoming travel plans.
Several TPG staff members have received targeted offers. Their offers are for trips booked and flown from when they register for their Mile Play offer through Dec. 15. Unless otherwise noted in your offer’s terms, only paid flights marketed and operated by United and United Express will count toward Mile Play offers.
To see if you’re eligible and to register, click here and enter your MileagePlus number.
Examples of offers
As is normal with these promotions, the offers range widely from one member to another. And United may not have targeted some members for this promotion. We checked around the TPG team; here’s a look at some of the offers we found.
I’m currently a Premier 1K elite member and received an offer for 24,000 miles after I book and take three trips in a premium seat. The minimum fare for each trip is $450, giving me a solid return. Based on TPG’s current valuations, 24,000 MileagePlus miles are worth about $290.
TPG’s Scott Mayerowitz received a similar offer. Specifically, Scott can earn 18,000 miles after he books and takes two trips in a premium seat. The terms on Scott’s offer noted that United considers seats in the “United premium cabin, including United First®, United Business® or United Polaris® business class, or in United® Premium Plus (fare classes: O, A, R, C, D, J, P and Z)” as premium for this promotion. Each of Scott’s trips must cost at least $550 to count for this promotion.
Meanwhile, TPG’s Katie Genter received an offer for 3,000 miles after booking and taking one trip with a fare of at least $100. Based on TPG’s valuations, 3,000 United miles are worth about $36. For reference, Katie holds United Premier Silver status through United’s RewardsPlus partnership with Marriott.
TPG’s Ehsan Haque received an offer for 6,300 bonus miles after booking and taking two trips. For his offer, each trip must cost at least $175 to qualify.
TPG’s Andrew Kunesh received an offer for 2,500 bonus miles if he books and takes a trip costing at least $275.
TPG’s Nick Ewen received an offer for 4,000 bonus miles if he books and takes a trip costing at least $250.
And TPG’s Summer Hull received an offer for 5,000 bonus miles if she books and takes three trips during this promotion. However, each of her trips must cost at least $225 to qualify.
In addition to the offers above, other TPG staffers and their loved ones received the following offers:
- 2,500 bonus miles after you book and take one trip with a fare of $200 or more.
- 2,500 bonus miles after you book and take one trip with a fare of $225 or more.
- 4,100 bonus miles after you book and take two trips, each with a fare of $150 or more.
- 7,000 bonus miles after you book and take three trips, each with a $100 or more fare.
- 5,000 bonus miles after you book and take four trips, each with a fare of $100 or more.
Related: Flights, credit cards and more: How to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program
Best cards to use for United flights
Whether you were targeted for this promotion or not, you can earn a ton of bonus United miles by opening a new United credit card. Currently, there are several sweet offers:
- United Explorer Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
- United Business Card: Earn up to 150,000 bonus miles: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 75,000 miles after you spend $20,000 total on purchases in the first six months your account is open.
- United Quest Card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
- United Club Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 in the first three months from account opening. The annual fee on this card is $525, but the United Club membership that comes with this card may provide enough value to justify this annual fee.
- United Gateway Card: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Although United credit cards can help you stock up on United miles, you may earn more rewards when you book with one of the best cards for airfare purchases. For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5 points per dollar on airfare booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
Related: The best credit cards for United Airlines flyers
Bottom line
Even if you don’t have any upcoming travel planned with United, it’s worth registering and then considering whether it’s time to plan a trip. If you have any flights booked that are fully refundable — with United or other airlines — you should consider whether your Mile Play offer is compelling enough for you to cancel and rebook with United.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski and Katie Genter.
