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United MileagePlus 2026: Higher Earn Rates for Cardholders, Fewer Miles for Everyone Else
July 1, 2025
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Effective April 2, 2026, United Airlines is reshaping how MileagePlus members earn miles. If you're a cardholder, the news is mostly good. If you're not, it's time to reassess your strategy.
United just announced one of the most significant overhauls to its loyalty program in years. The short version: non-cardholders lose earning power, while United credit card holders and elite members come out ahead. Here's everything rewards optimizers need to know before April 2.
What's Changing with United MileagePlus?
United is restructuring mileage earning rates based on whether you hold a United cobranded credit card and your elite status tier. For the first time, simply being a MileagePlus member without a card or status will put you at a meaningful disadvantage.
At the base MileagePlus member level, non-cardholders drop from 5 miles per dollar to just 3. Cardholders, on the other hand, jump to 6 miles per dollar, effectively doubling what a non-cardholder earns. The same pattern plays out across every elite tier: cardholders earn 1 more mile per dollar than the new cardholder base rate, while non-cardholders lose 2 miles per dollar compared to today.
For Premier 1K members, the ceiling rises to 12 miles per dollar with a card, up from 11 today. Non-cardholding 1K members drop to 9.
How Card Choice Affects Your Total Earn Rate
The earn rate bump from simply holding a United card is just the floor. On top of the new cardmember base rate, each card adds its own per-dollar bonus on United purchases.
United Gateway℠ Card
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "3064", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "United Loyalists", "headerHint": "Entry-Level United Card"} ]]
United℠ Explorer Card
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2406", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Priority Boarding"} ]]
United Quest℠ Card
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2892", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "Mid-Tier Choice Card" } ]]
United Club℠ Card
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2410", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "United Loyalists", "headerHint": "Top-Tier Card"} ]]
One important note for rewards optimizers: you do not need to pay for your United flight with the United card to unlock the cardmember earn rate. You just need to have one. That means you can book with an American Express Platinum Card® for Membership Rewards, a Chase Sapphire Reserve® for Ultimate Rewards, or whatever card earns you the most on travel purchases, and still unlock the higher United mileage earning rate. That is a meaningful stacking opportunity worth building into your strategy.
United Business Cards are excluded from this overhaul and will continue earning 2 miles per dollar on United purchases.
[[ COMPARE_CARD * {"ids": ["106", "510"], "bestCategoryIds":["17", "18", "19"], "bestForTexts":["Exceptional Travel Value", "High-Value Perks"]} ]]
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Eligibility and Benefit level vary by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Basic Economy Is Now a Miles Dead Zone for Most Members
United is also zeroing out basic economy mileage earning for anyone without a card or elite status. Starting April 2, a standard MileagePlus member booking basic economy will earn nothing. Cardholders in the same situation will earn 3 miles per dollar, and elite members will earn between 2 and 6 miles per dollar, depending on their tier.
This puts United alongside Delta and American, both of which already restrict basic economy earning. United already had one of the strictest basic economy policies in the industry, and this change extends that further.
Award Discounts and Business Class Saver Space
The earning rate changes get most of the attention, but the redemption side of this update matters too.
All United cardholders will receive at least 10% off every award flight, with 15% or more for cardholders who also hold Premier status. For frequent award bookers, that discount compounds quickly.
Cardholders also gain access to Saver Award inventory in United Polaris Business Class. Previously, that access was limited to Platinum and 1K status members. Opening it up to all cardholders is a real upgrade, particularly for travelers who want business-class redemptions without chasing elite status.
Is a United Card Worth Adding to Your Wallet?
For rewards optimizers, the calculus depends on how often you fly United and how you're currently booking those flights.
If you're regularly on United but paying with a general travel card, this change creates a strong case for picking up a United card and keeping it in your wallet, even if you never put United spend on it. The unlocked earn rate plus the 10% award discount can add up quickly, especially if you're targeting Polaris Business Class awards.
If you're only on United occasionally, the Explorer Card is worth a look. The annual fee is modest, and between the new earn rates, the award discount, and access to business class Saver space, the value case is more compelling now than it was a week ago.
The Gateway Card is the one to be cautious about. The $10,000 spend requirement to unlock cardmember earn rates is a high bar for a no-annual-fee card, and most optimizers will get more value from a card that earns transferable points on that same spend.
Key Dates and Next Steps
All changes apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2, 2026. If you're holding United flights in your queue, pricing and earning rates on those tickets are unaffected as long as you purchased before that date.
Between now and April 2 is a good window to review your setup. Decide whether a United card belongs in your wallet, figure out which card you should actually be paying with on United purchases, and check whether any upcoming award bookings benefit from the new Polaris Saver access.
Bottom Line
United's MileagePlus overhaul is a direct reward for loyalty and a clear signal that the airline views its cobranded card program as central to its revenue strategy. For optimizers, the message is straightforward: hold the card, pay with whatever earns you the most, and take advantage of the new award discounts and Saver inventory before the rest of the market catches on.
Not sure which setup makes the most sense for your wallet? Kudos can help you identify the right cards and make sure you're earning the most on every purchase, including your next United flight.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
