United Airlines Miles Calculator

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United Airlines Miles Calculator

Welcome to the United Airlines Miles Calculator! This tool helps you estimate how many miles you might earn on a United flight and determine the "cents per mile" (CPM) value of your redemptions. Understanding these metrics is crucial for maximizing the value of your MileagePlus membership.

How United Miles Are Earned

For most United-operated flights, MileagePlus members earn miles based on the ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges, excluding government-imposed taxes and fees) and their elite status level. The base earning rate for general members is 5 miles per dollar spent. Elite members receive a bonus on top of this base rate:

  • General Member: 5 miles per dollar
  • Premier Silver: 7 miles per dollar (5 base + 2 bonus)
  • Premier Gold: 8 miles per dollar (5 base + 3 bonus)
  • Premier Platinum: 9 miles per dollar (5 base + 4 bonus)
  • Premier 1K: 11 miles per dollar (5 base + 6 bonus)

Note that earning rates can differ for Basic Economy tickets, partner airline flights, and special promotions. This calculator focuses on the standard revenue-based earning for United-operated flights.

Miles Earning Calculator

Estimate the miles you'll earn on your next United flight.

General Member Premier Silver Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K

Understanding Miles Redemption Value (CPM)

When you redeem your miles for flights, upgrades, or other services, it's helpful to know the "cents per mile" (CPM) value you're getting. This metric helps you compare the value of different redemptions and decide if using miles is a good deal compared to paying cash.

The formula for Cents Per Mile (CPM) is:
CPM = (Cash Price of Flight / Miles Required for Redemption) * 100

A good redemption value for United miles is generally considered to be 1.2 to 1.5 cents per mile or higher, especially for international business or first-class flights. Values below 1 cent per mile might suggest that paying cash could be a better option.

Miles Redemption Value Calculator

Calculate the cents per mile (CPM) value of your redemption.

Maximizing Your United Miles

To get the most out of your United MileagePlus miles, consider these tips:

  • Aim for High CPM: Use the redemption calculator to find redemptions that give you a high cents per mile value, typically for premium cabin international travel.
  • Be Flexible: Award availability and pricing can vary greatly. Being flexible with your travel dates and destinations can lead to better deals.
  • Watch for Sales: United occasionally offers promotional award sales, which can significantly increase your miles' value.
  • Consider Upgrades: Using miles for upgrades on paid tickets can sometimes offer excellent value, especially if the cash price difference between cabins is high.
  • Avoid Low-Value Redemptions: Generally, avoid redeeming miles for merchandise, gift cards, or car rentals, as these often yield a very low CPM.

By using this calculator and understanding the dynamics of earning and redeeming, you can make informed decisions to get the best value from your United MileagePlus miles.

function calculateMilesEarned() { var ticketPrice = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ticketPriceInput").value); var statusLevel = document.getElementById("statusLevelSelect").value; var milesEarnedResult = document.getElementById("milesEarnedResult"); if (isNaN(ticketPrice) || ticketPrice < 0) { milesEarnedResult.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive ticket price."; return; } var earningMultiplier; switch (statusLevel) { case "General Member": earningMultiplier = 5; break; case "Premier Silver": earningMultiplier = 7; break; case "Premier Gold": earningMultiplier = 8; break; case "Premier Platinum": earningMultiplier = 9; break; case "Premier 1K": earningMultiplier = 11; break; default: earningMultiplier = 5; // Default to general member } var estimatedMiles = ticketPrice * earningMultiplier; milesEarnedResult.innerHTML = "Estimated Miles Earned: " + estimatedMiles.toLocaleString() + " miles"; } function calculateRedemptionValue() { var milesToRedeem = parseFloat(document.getElementById("milesToRedeemInput").value); var flightCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById("flightCostInput").value); var redemptionValueResult = document.getElementById("redemptionValueResult"); if (isNaN(milesToRedeem) || milesToRedeem <= 0) { redemptionValueResult.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive number of miles to redeem."; return; } if (isNaN(flightCost) || flightCost < 0) { redemptionValueResult.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid positive flight cash price."; return; } var centsPerMile = (flightCost / milesToRedeem) * 100; redemptionValueResult.innerHTML = "Cents Per Mile (CPM): " + centsPerMile.toFixed(2) + " cents"; } // Initial calculation on page load for demonstration window.onload = function() { calculateMilesEarned(); calculateRedemptionValue(); };

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