How to use United’s new Miles Pooling program.
It used to be costly to transfer miles, but not anymore. United launched a new miles pooling program. Now, you can merge miles with five loved ones to create one shared reservoir of miles minus transfer fees.
Here’s how to make the most of this fabulous new frequent flier offering so you can realize all your shared travel dreams with your loved ones.
Why You Should Pool Your Miles and Plan a Big Family or Friend Trip
For those who value creating connections with friends and family, group travel offers the chance to make new traditions and cherish memories together. Group travel isn’t just about shared experiences; it’s about rediscovering the joy of exploration alongside your loved ones. Whether you’re sipping margaritas on a beach in Cancun or gazing at the ancient ruins while watching the sunset over the Acropolis in Athens, travel moments truly become more special when shared.
Traveling together can also be more budget-friendly, as groups often receive discounts on activities and share accommodations. United’s miles pooling initiative opens up exciting opportunities for making this group travel dream a reality, allowing you to save up together for your next big escape.
What Exactly Is Miles Pooling?
United Airlines’ “miles pooling” is a no-cost feature enabling MileagePlus members to combine their miles into one shared pool, free of transfer fees. This makes it ideal for families, friends, or travel companions wanting to book award flights together, whether it’s a family vacation or a group getaway.
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If you find yourself short on miles for an award flight, pooling allows you to lower the cost of your trip significantly. By combining your miles with others, you can make redemption feasible even if your individual account doesn’t have enough for the reward you desire.
“We’re always looking for new ways to provide the most value to all of our loyalty members and are proud to be the first major U.S. airline to allow our members to pool their miles with their loved ones and friends,” says Luc Bondar, Chief Operating Officer of MileagePlus. This innovative approach solidifies United’s leadership in family and group travel, enhancing flexibility and connection for its members.
Step 1: Choose Your Pool Leader
The first step in pooling miles is selecting a “pool leader.” The pool leader will oversee the pooled miles and can use them for booking award flights just for the members of the pool. This individual must be a United MileagePlus member and at least 18 years old.
Step 2: Create a Miles Pool
To establish a miles pool, sign in to your MileagePlus account on the United Airlines website. Once logged in, click on “MileagePlus,” then select “My account.” From there, find the drop-down arrow next to “MileagePlus” and choose “Miles pooling.” Click “Create a pool” and agree to the terms and conditions of the program.
The pool leader can now invite up to four other MileagePlus members to join. It’s worth noting that these members don’t need to be family; even kids can be part of the pool as long as they have MileagePlus membership. Yes, you can even add your kids to your mileage pool if you are the designated pool leader!
How to Contribute Miles
Once you’re joined into a pool, you can choose how many miles you want to contribute. Be mindful, however, as you cannot reverse the transfer once miles are pooled.
Additionally, pool members are only permitted to be part of one MileagePlus pool at any given time. They won’t be able to contribute or redeem miles for the first 72 hours after joining, so plan accordingly. Pooled miles can be used specifically for booking award tickets on United Airlines or United Express flights, but not for partner airlines or other MileagePlus redemptions. Importantly, there are no limits on the number of miles that can be contributed to a pool, so you may contribute as many miles as you wish!
How to Book a Flight Using MileagePlus Pool Miles
The pool leader and any assigned members eligible for redemption can utilize pooled miles for booking tickets. First, log in to your MileagePlus account on united.com or the United app. Search for, then select an award ticket as usual. When you reach the payment page, make sure to select your miles pool account as the payment method.
For those concerned about how their MileagePlus Premier status might be affected, rest easy: joining a miles pool does not impact your status. When booking a flight with pooled miles, any qualifying points earned will be attributed solely to the traveler, meaning contributed miles remain within the pool.
Beyond Air Travel, How Else Can Your Miles Pool Group Members Acquire Miles?
Here are five straightforward ways to encourage your mileage pool members to start accruing miles—all without needing to book a flight:
– Sign up for a United Airlines credit card. New cardholders can receive a substantial mile bonus, typically starting around 50,000 and reaching as high as 80,000 miles based on the card type.
– Shop online through MileagePlus Shopping. By clicking through this portal, members can earn miles while shopping at over 1,000 partnered retailers. After signing up, linking a credit card allows for mile earnings even when shopping in-store.
– Consider purchasing miles. United often has special offers for buying miles, which can be transferred to the pooled account if needed.
– Dine out with MileagePlus Dining. Sign up by adding a debit or credit card to earn miles for every dollar spent at participating restaurants.
– Finally, joining e-Rewards can provide additional miles through participating in online surveys.