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United MileagePlus (Points.com) at a Glance
| Our Rating | 3.7 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Best For | Topping up miles to book a specific award |
| Program | United MileagePlus |
What Is United MileagePlus (Points.com)?
Points.com operates the mileage purchasing platforms for many loyalty programs. For United, it handles buy, gift and transfer transactions.
It usually makes sense only when you are short a small number of miles or during a sale.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Buy or gift miles online
- Promotions can lower the cost per mile
- Transfer between accounts
Cons
- Standard pricing is often poor value
- Miles can be devalued
- Strict program terms
How United MileagePlus (Points.com) Works
Log in
Enter your MileagePlus account.
Choose miles
Buy or gift.
Check price per mile
Compare to the ticket cost.
Safety & What to Know
Calculate the cost per mile before buying; buying speculatively can lose value.
Terms for each program apply.
United MileagePlus (Points.com) Pricing
| Miles purchase | Priced per thousand, varies by promotion |
|---|
Prices vary; compare with cash fares.
Who United MileagePlus (Points.com) Is For
A good fit if you
- You are short on miles for a specific award
Look elsewhere if you
- You want to stockpile miles
How United MileagePlus (Points.com) Compares
See Southwest Rapid Rewards (Points.com) and Etihad Guest (Points.com) for other programs. See the Best Ways to Buy Airline Miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Verdict
★ 3.7 out of 5
Buying miles can work during promotions; otherwise compare to cash fares.
See the full Best Ways to Buy Airline Miles in 2026 ranking →Reviewed by
James OkaforSenior Technology Reviewer
James Okafor is a technology journalist and former CNET contributor with 9 years of experience reviewing consumer tech, cybersecurity software, and digital privacy tools. He has a computer science degree from MIT and has reviewed over 400 tech products. James runs his own home lab for testing VPNs, security software, and smart home devices under real-world conditions.