United Airlines has revealed a secret hack that allows frequent flyers to earn more miles and save on future flights. Many airline travelers are constantly on the lookout for new ways to accrue miles and save money on their future trips. American Airlines has its AAdvantage program, while United Airlines has its MileagePlus program, both offering opportunities to earn miles for various activities such as flying, shopping, dining, car rentals, and hotels.
However, Kyle Olsen, writing for The Points Guy, has shared a more efficient way to gather credit and maximize benefits. United Airlines is part of the Star Alliance, a network of international airlines that offers seamless connections around the world. This partnership provides an advantage for United Airlines travelers to earn Premier qualifying points (PQPs) when using partner airlines within the Star Alliance network.
Normally, United Airlines members earn 1 PQP per base dollar spent on United airfare. However, if they choose to fly with a Star Alliance partner, the PQPs are accrued based on the fare class and flight distance, rather than the price of the ticket. This means that a $1,000 long-haul business-class ticket with a partner airline like Lufthansa could potentially earn 1,500 PQPs, depending on the flight’s length.
Olsen believes that this opportunity to earn generous amounts of PQPs on partner flights is the best-kept secret in the airline industry. Previously, United Airlines considered the distance flown on its own flights for elite status qualification. However, now the PQPs earned with Star Alliance partners are based on the length of the flight, fare class, and airline used.
The base mileage is calculated based on the distance flown, with longer flights typically earning more PQPs. However, different fare classes result in varying amounts of miles earned. Discounted economy flights may earn fewer miles than the total distance flown, while business-class tickets often earn more. Additionally, the cost of the partner ticket is not directly linked to the final PQP accrual. This means that the same flight distance between New York’s JFK International Airport and Frankfurt Airport would earn the same amount of United miles and PQPs, regardless of the ticket price.
Overall, this approach is particularly advantageous for low-cost, long-haul partner award flights. Flyers who take advantage of this hack can significantly boost their PQP earnings, helping them achieve higher status and enjoy various benefits. United Airlines passengers now have a secret weapon to accumulate more miles and save on future flights, thanks to the strategic partnership within the Star Alliance network.
