Feb 19, 2026, 10:26 am

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Press Release:United Gives MileagePlus Credit Cardholders More Miles, Exclusive Flight Discounts

New earning rates starting April 2, 2026 provide preferred rates to the primary cardmember on certain United-branded credit cards and their minor children. Headline rates do not require booking with the card, and are in addition to any miles earned from the card spend.

Effective change is -2 miles per dollar, minus an additional 3 for Basic Economy, and plus 3 for holding a card.

Details follow:

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United Gives MileagePlus Credit Cardholders More Miles, Exclusive Flight Discounts
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MileagePlus members with a credit, debit or Chase co-branded card can soon earn up to twice as many miles for United flights as non-cardholders, get at least 10% off award tickets and access to exclusive Saver Award fares

United now offers its most loyal members who have a United card some of the richest rewards among airline or travel credit card programs

CHICAGO, Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines is giving travelers three new reasons to hold and use a United MileagePlus® credit or debit card: the ability to earn up to twice as many miles as non-cardholders, at least 10% off United award tickets and access to special inventory of its lowest-priced award seats.

Starting with tickets purchased on or after April 2, primary United MileagePlus cardholders will earn up to twice as many miles per dollar from United for United flights than non-cardholders and earn even more miles when they use their United card to buy their ticket.* For example, MileagePlus® 1K® members will earn 17 total miles per dollar when buying eligible United flights with their United Club℠ card - which is among the most of any airline or credit card travel rewards program. United cardholders also get at least 10% off every United flight award ticket they book, and cardholders who are MileagePlus Premier® members save at least 15%.

United is also giving general MileagePlus members who have a United credit or debit card access to Saver Award inventory in United Polaris® Business Class that was previously only available to Platinum and 1K members. And when paired with the new award discounts for cardholders, United Polaris Saver Award seats will be priced as low as 72,000 miles (10% less) for general members with a card, or as low as 68,000 miles (15% less) for cardholders with Premier status.

"The most rewarding way to fly United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards. MileagePlus is designed to reward loyalty to United, and our best customers deserve the best benefits in the industry," said Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer. "MileagePlus members can now earn more miles faster with a United card – and every one of those miles will go further with our always-on award ticket discounts and expanded access to Saver Award fares."

Three New Reasons to get and use a United MileagePlus debit or credit card

Earn more miles: United is recalibrating how MileagePlus members earn miles to better reward the airline's most loyal members. MileagePlus primary cardholders will earn more miles on standard United tickets – and get additional miles when they pay for their flight with an eligible United card.

For example, a MileagePlus Gold member buying a ticket using their United Quest℠ card will now earn 13 total miles per dollar – a more than double the miles earn compared to MileagePlus Gold members who do not hold a card. General United MileagePlus members who buy a ticket using a United℠ Explorer card will earn 9 total miles per dollar – three times as many miles compared to General non-cardholders – and if they use a United Club card, they'll earn 11 total miles per dollar – nearly four times as many miles as a non-cardholder.

MileagePlus members who don't have a United card will earn fewer miles for United flights than members who have one, and general members now must hold a United card to earn miles when traveling on a Basic Economy ticket.

Customers can go to united.com/mpnews to see details of the new mileage accrual rates and use the United mile calculator to see how many miles they can earn on their future flights based on status – and how many more miles they could earn by being a United cardholder.
Discounts on every award flight: United cardholders now save at least 10% on every United award flight they book – and Premier® members with a United card will save at least 15%. Primary cardholders can see their savings called out on United's app and website, and soon United will show the discounted prices to everyone so customers can see exactly how much having a United card could save them on their travel.

For example, an award in United Economy® priced at 15,000 miles will now cost 13,500 miles – 10% less – for primary cardholders without Premier status. A United Polaris business class seat priced at 200,000 miles will now cost 170,000 miles – 15% less – for primary cardholders with Premier status.
Expanded Saver Awards: United offers additional inventory of Saver Award seats in United Polaris business class as a special way to recognize cardholders.

Saver Awards are United's lowest priced award tickets, and currently about a third of flights that have Saver Award fares available, have exclusive inventory just for cardholders and Premier members. This includes flights to places like London, Hawaii, Florida, Cancun and Tokyo. Saver Award seats in United Polaris business class available to cardholders and Premier members currently are priced as low as 80,000 miles – with new award discounts for cardholders, these seats will now price as low as 72,000 miles (10% less) for cardholders with General status, or as low as 68,000 miles (15% less) for cardholders with Premier status.

On average, cardholders save about 30% when booking Saver Award flights under the 'Cardmembers Save' banner on united.com and the United app compared to standard award pricing. With expanded Saver Award access and the new award discount, cardholders will have the opportunity to combine these savings and will consistently need fewer miles to book the same trips, while also having access to more Saver Award fares.

United's Card Portfolio
Cardholders can take advantage of earning even more miles and the new discounts with eligible cards including The United Explorer Card, The United Quest Card, The United Club Card, The United℠ Business Card, The United Club Business Card, The United Gateway℠ Card and The MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card. United also offers eligible cards in U.S. territories and international locations including Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Panama and Saipan. This spring, the airline plans to introduce new cards in Brazil, Canada and the U.K. Cardholders can track their rewards and earnings throughout the year with these cards in United's Member Benefits Center. More details can be found here.

Benefits of United MileagePlus
MileagePlus is free to join and was recently rated one of the best airline travel rewards programs.** It offers program members benefits including miles that never expire, no blackout dates, ticket purchasing with miles or a combination of miles and cash, no change fees on flight award tickets, miles pooling allowing travelers to combine their miles in a joint account, the ability to use miles through the Blue Sky loyalty collaboration and more. As United flies to more than 380 destinations around the globe, MileagePlus helps make it easier for travelers to reach their dream destinations and cardholders unlock the most value when flying United.

For more information, visit united.com/mpnews.

* Eligible cards can be found at: united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus/whats-new.html
** 9 Best Airline Rewards Programs for 2025-2026 | U.S. News Travel

Website: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil...whats-new.html

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New mile earn rates

{varies based on MP status and credit card}

Posted: February 19, 2026
Learn about the changes to earning and using miles in 2026.

Starting April 2, 2026 (12 a.m. CST), MileagePlus® members will earn miles at new rates on tickets booked and operated on eligible United® flights†. Miles earned are based on the eligible fare and include all flights operated by United, United Express, Star Alliance, and MileagePlus partner airline tickets issued by United. Earn rates will vary based on Premier® status and whether or not you are a United Cardmember.

Eligible primary Cardmembers have the opportunity to earn miles at a higher rate on their fares, and even more miles when using their card to book eligible United flights. That's a plus.

Base MileagePlus Member earning

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United Explorer primary cardholder earning

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United Quest primary cardholder earning

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United Club primary cardholder earning

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United Gateway primary cardholder earning

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United MP Debit Rewards primary cardholder earning

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{Other cards - Business card, PresPlus, older cards ....}

UnitedSM Business Cardmembers, UnitedSM Club Business Cardmembers, UnitedSM Presidential PlusSM Cardmembers, UnitedSM Presidential PlusSM Business Cardmembers, UnitedSM Awards Cardmembers, UnitedSM Select Cardmembers will continue to earn additional miles at the same rate when they use their card.

International credit cards
Eligible international MileagePlus co-branded Cardmembers will continue to earn additional miles at the same rate when they use their card. Learn more.

Basic Economy fares

As of April 2, 2026, mileage accrual for eligible United Cardmembers and Premier members on Basic Economy and JetBlue® Blue Basic fares will reflect a lower earn rate. General members without an eligible United card will not be eligible to earn miles on these fares.

Total miles earned per dollar on Basic Economy fares on eligible United flights

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Future earnings calculator

If you’re curious about exactly how these changes will impact you, check out our United flight mile calculator.
United flight Mile Calculator
Find out how much you could earn on your next United flight
Estimates are for members in the U.S., excluding territories, who book United and United Express flights on or after April 2, 2026 only. Members can earn a maximum of 75,000 miles per ticket. Accrual may vary, and you will not earn miles on taxes and fees. Full terms and conditions.

New: Unlock extra savings when booking with miles

Starting April 2, eligible United Cardmembers will be able to enjoy at least 10% savings on United flights booked with miles, and Premier members who have an eligible card get at least 15% savings. That’s a plus. This Cardmember award pricing is valid on United or United Express® award flights only, not Money + Miles tickets. Taxes and fees are not included.

Share your eligible Cardmember benefits

Children of United Cardmembers can earn more miles per dollar on tickets issued by United, including flights operated by United, United Express, Star Alliance and MileagePlus partner airline tickets issued by United. Starting April 2, link your child’s MileagePlus account to share your Cardmember earn rate and Cardmember discount award flight pricing.*

Become a Cardmember

Eligible United Cardmembers* get a range of benefits that make every trip more rewarding, including the opportunity to earn miles at a higher rate, plus even more miles when using their card to book eligible United flights. Don’t miss out on the chance to earn more miles on United flights. Apply today!

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MP Earnings Rate Changes (eff April 2, 2026), higher rates for CC holders

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Feb 19, 2026 | 6:10 am

ncorman

Original Poster

Original Member

Join Date: May 1998

Location: Colorado

Posts: 2,203

MP Earnings Rate Changes (eff April 2, 2026), higher rates for CC holders

United is overhauling its MileagePlus frequent flyer program to reward travelers with more miles and lower redemption rates, including for some of its long-haul business-class seats — if they have one of the airline’s credit cards. It’s the latest move by an airline to reward its highest spending customers.

The changes mark the biggest shake-up to the lucrative program in more than a decade, when United began rewarding customers for how much they spent — not just how far they flew.

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/19/unit...edit-card.html

NeoOfTheCRS, silverthief2, NJSwamplands and 1 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:11 am

username

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 11,690

Yes, I was wondering how come no one is talking about it here - maybe it was old news...

On UA's website: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil...whats-new.html

NJSwamplands likes this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:27 am

cfischer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: BOS/EAP

Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat

Posts: 37,292

oh great - now I need to get a stupid UA card

11 miles --> 17 miles for each dollar. But how? UA lists DOWN to 9 and then 12 with card?

And the corresponding devaluation will not be far away

Aussienarelle likes this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:32 am

Join Date: Jun 1999

Location: NYC/LA

Programs: DL DM, UA Silver, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond

Posts: 9,777

So like DL cardholders will receive a 15% discount on award travel… but I have to wonder if this just means that non cardholders will see a 15% increase in award prices

TerryK, jsloan, CJ99 and 7 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:34 am

Eneka

Join Date: Aug 2016

Location: IAD

Programs: UA GS

Posts: 203

So if I'm undersating the numbers correctly, under the new structure, not having the united card means earning 2 miles/dollar LESS than the current rate, and having a card means 1 mile/dollar MORE than current?

IE if you currently earned 10 miles
then you'd get:
New structure w/o card: 8 miles
New structure w/card: 11 miles

(excluding the extra earn from Chase by paying with the card which also went up 1mile/$)

dw, tods27 and ContinentalFan like this.

Last edited by Eneka; Feb 19, 2026 at 6:41 am

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:45 am

username

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: May 2001

Posts: 11,690

Yes, so this change affects all MP members. The thread title might need to be modified.

It is kind of crazy they are doing this and I can see the next step will be raising the Chase annual fee...

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:52 am

gmt4

Join Date: Mar 2018

Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond

Posts: 1,341

Printing more miles = inflation = devaluation.

CJ99, halls120, LaserSailor and 5 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 6:55 am

aCavalierInCoach

Join Date: Aug 2003

Location: Northern California

Programs: I want to be free! Free!

Posts: 3,556

Does this require actually booking on the United card? Either way, completely wild and gross - what a downgrade.

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:08 am

Eneka

Join Date: Aug 2016

Location: IAD

Programs: UA GS

Posts: 203

Quote:

Originally Posted by username

Yes, so this change affects all MP members. The thread title might need to be modified.

It is kind of crazy they are doing this and I can see the next step will be raising the Chase annual fee...

AF for the United cards already got revised/bumped up last year!

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:16 am

#10

flynspill

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: Italy

Programs: UA PP 1MM

Posts: 100

And for those of us that are located outside the States and aren't able to get any of the cards associated with United.......

Muerz, CJ99, uanj and 8 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:20 am

#11

KDCAflyer

Join Date: May 2015

Location: DCA

Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, DL PM, Marriott Titanium

Posts: 6,968

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmt4

Printing more miles = inflation = devaluation.

Hopefully UA leadership doesn’t catch Delta’s hubris and start thinking that their product is so good that they don’t need a good mileage program.

uanj, sobore, DrMilano and 4 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:29 am

#12

NJSwamplands

Join Date: Apr 2018

Posts: 1,167

Quote:

Originally Posted by username

Yes, I was wondering how come no one is talking about it here - maybe it was old news...

On UA's website: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mil...whats-new.html

Nothing about moving that 75,000 point cap north.

SPN Lifer, Dyce, jhalapin and 1 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:30 am

#13

cfischer

FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Aug 2005

Location: BOS/EAP

Programs: UA 1K, AS MVP Gold, MR LTT, HH Dia, IHG Dia, Amex Plat

Posts: 37,292

I am not sure how this is o.k. - they offered 11 miles for trips I booked until yesterday, now they are telling me they will earn 9? They better honor 11 for tickets that were booked until yesterday

aCavalierInCoach, benfro6 and NJSwamplands like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:30 am

#14

gmt4

Join Date: Mar 2018

Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond

Posts: 1,341

Quote:

Originally Posted by KDCAflyer

Hopefully UA leadership doesn’t catch Delta’s hubris and start thinking that their product is so good that they don’t need a good mileage program.

Without a doubt its headed that way. Hubris is on display daily from Kirby & associates lately.

Daze, username, sobore and 7 others like this.

Feb 19, 2026 | 7:38 am

#15

scubadu

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: AUS

Programs: AY+ Platinum, BAC, AA, Hyatt Globalist, Amex Plat

Posts: 7,516

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmt4

Without a doubt its headed that way. Hubris is on display daily from Kirby & associates lately.

Agreed. I kind of chuckled when I read the comment you quoted. I'd stay Kirby displays every bit the amount of hubris as Bastian, and these days perhaps even more...

Regards

uanj and hhdl like this.

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Forum Jump

MP Earnings Rate Changes (eff April 2, 2026), higher rates for CC holders

New mile earn rates

Posted: February 19, 2026 Learn about the changes to earning and using miles in 2026.

Basic Economy fares

Future earnings calculator

New: Unlock extra savings when booking with miles

Share your eligible Cardmember benefits

Become a Cardmember

MP Earnings Rate Changes (eff April 2, 2026), higher rates for CC holders

Posted: February 19, 2026
Learn about the changes to earning and using miles in 2026.