A Guide to Earning and Redeeming United Airlines Miles Together

Airline loyalty programs have become more popular and attractive in the last few years, with airlines offering customers more and more ways to earn and spend miles. Several carriers worldwide allow family pooling, giving a group of family or friends a chance to share miles.United Airlinesrecently launched MileagePlus miles pooling, becoming the first major US carrier to allow members of its loyalty program to use such a feature. Let’s take a look at how this can be achieved.

Traveling with family and friends

As individuals, families, and friends start making summer travel plans, United Airlines has introduced a new way for MileagePlus members to contribute and combine their miles into a joint account. Although United is the first among the US ‘big three’ to have this type of program, miles and family pooling has been offered byseveral other airlines, such as Emirates. With United’s miles pooling, groups of up to five people can share and redeem miles using a single linked account.

Photo: Jim Lambert l Shutterstock

These can be family members or close friends looking to combine their miles for award travel. According to a2023 US Family Travel Surveyconducted by the Family Travel Association, about 81% of parents reported intent to travel with their children in the next year, while approximately 59% reported concerns about travel affordability. United’s new scheme aims to make family and group travel more accessible.

How to combine miles as a group

While there is no minimum age to hold aMileagePlus account, only members over the age of 18 can become pool leaders. Pool leaders can create a pool for free using their MileagePlus accounts on United’s website and invite up to four travel companions of any age to join the pool as long as they are signed up for the airline’s loyalty program.

For example, suppose a family or group of friends is planning to fly out for vacation, and each member has an individual MileagePlus account with a certain number of miles. In that case, they can put all or a select amount of their miles into a central pool that can be usedto purchase award tickets and offset the cost of ticket prices. The pool leader manages the pool and can authorize members to redeem miles.

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There is no limit to the amount of miles an individual can contribute to the pool as long as it corresponds with their balance. Once the pool is created, the leader can immediately start contributing miles, but all members must wait72 hoursafter joining to use pooled miles or contribute to the pool. After contributing, all members must wait at least24 hoursbefore using the miles to book flights.

Joining and leaving a mile pool

Joining a pool

MileagePlus members can only participate in one mile pool at a time. To create a pool, the leader must accept all terms and conditions. United notes that becoming a pool member will not impact an individual’s Premier Status. When booking an award flight using pooled miles, any Premier qualifying points (PQP) earned will be awarded to the traveler only, and any Premier status benefits will be based on the individual’s status.

Furthermore, award availability is based onthe status of the member booking the award flight. Only miles can be contributed to the pool, meaning members cannot pool any of the following:

• Premier qualifying points (PQF)
• Premier qualifying flights (PQF)
• PlusPoints
• TravelBank cash.

Pool invitations expire after 14 days. If no one accepts joining the poolwithin 45 days of creation, the pool will automatically dissolve, with any remaining miles returning to the pool leader. If a member sends an invitation to the wrong email address, they can withdraw it or wait 14 days for it to expire, after which they can send a new invitation.

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Members leaving a pool

Any member, including the leader, can leave the pool. However, when a member (leader excluded) leaves the pool, their miles will be forfeited, and they will stay with the pool for equal distribution among the remaining members. New members will not be able to join the pool for the next 90 days. Similarly, outgoing members cannot join another pool for at least 90 days.

Photo: Carlos Yudica | Shutterstock

If the pool leader leaves or passes away, the pool will dissolve, and the remaining miles will be distributed equally among the remaining members. The miles returned to the deceased leader’s MileagePlus account will be handled in accordance with program rules. However, if a regular member passes away, their miles will remain in the pool.

How to use miles from the pool

Pooled miles can only be used to purchase United or United Express award tickets. The pool leader and any other permitted member can redeem miles from the pool. Once you contribute miles to the pool, you can only withdraw them within 24 hours, after which the transfer is irreversible. Furthermore, pooled miles cannot be used for any of the following:

• To purchase seat upgrades
• Purchasing seat assignments
• Buying food and drinks onboard
• Purchasing in-flight WiFi
• Transferring to individual or other accounts

Photo: United Airlines

To book a flight using miles from the pool, a member must have permission to do so either on behalf of other pool members or for themselves (this can be configured by the pool leader). If a member has been granted permission, they can book an award ticket by signing in to their MileagePlus account onUnited AIrlines’ websiteor the United app and searching for an award ticket as they usually would. After reaching the payment page, you can select your miles pool account.

What are your thoughts on United’s new loyalty feature? Will you be using family pooling anytime soon? Please let us know in the comments!