United Airlines Offers New Airline Mileage Program

The new program is called MileagePlus Pool. It allows you to combine points with up to four other people, including children. United hopes the new program will make it easier for travelers to book and fly with the aircraft carrier.

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.”

Luc Bondar, Chief Operating Officer of MileagePlus

“MileagePlus miles pooling further reinforces United’s position as the leader in family and group travel and gives our members more flexibility to use their miles while making it easier to connect to the destinations and moments that matter most, with the people that matter most.” 

Members of the pool decide how many points they want to contribute to the pool and then anyone in the pool can use those points to book award travel.

How Does MileagePlus Pooling Work

To start a miles pool, one person must be the pool leader. To do that, simply log into your MileagePlus account and select “create a miles pool.” The leader can then invite up to four people to join the pool (five people total can be part of a miles pool). While the pool leader must be at least 18 years old, there is no age limit on who can be part of a miles pool. Therefore, you can invite your child to be a part of your pool, as long as he or she is a MileagePlus member. 

Once a pool is created, anyone within the pool can start contributing miles to the pool. There is no limit on how many points someone can contribute. And how many miles a traveler donates to the pool is entirely up to them. Once you’ve joined a pool, you must wait 72 hours to add points to the pool or use any points from the pool.

Additionally, the pool leader needs to grant permission to members to use the miles within the pool. If you don’t have permission to use the miles from the pool leader, then you cannot book a flight using the pool miles. Once the miles are put into the pool, anyone wishing to use the miles must wait 24 hours for the points to clear in order to use them to book a flight.

How to Book a Flight Using Pool Miles

Booking award travel using pool points is very similar to booking a regular award travel ticket. Simply sign in your MileagePlus account, decide which flight you want to purchase, then on the checkout page, choose your pool miles to pay for the ticket.

Remember, if you are new to a pool, you must wait 72 hours to book a ticket. Additionally, any points contributed to the pool need 24 hours to clear. This is because pool members can change their mind about donating miles. They have 24 hours to take back their pint contribution. 

As an example, if you wish to book an award ticket, but don’t have enough miles to do so on your own, you can tap into your mileage pool and use those miles to book a ticket. You are also allowed to use the miles pool to book award travel for other people not in the pool, as long as you have permission from the pool leader. 

What’s Not Allowed Under the New Program

MileagePlus Pool only allows a traveler to use pooled points for an award travel ticket. You cannot use them for seat assignments or upgrades, food and beverage in flight, baggage fees, or 

Members can also not pool Premier Qualifying Points (PQP), Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF), PlusPoints, or TravelBank money. Being a part of a MileagePlus Pool does not affect any traveler’s premier status.

Only the person booking and taking the flight will earn points, PQP, and PQF. Additionally, you cannot transfer miles from a pool account to your own personal account. Once you contribute to the pool and those miles clear the account, they will remain in the pool for anyone to use.