MileagePlus miles pooling

MileagePlus miles pooling allows two or more MileagePlus members to contribute and combine miles to a single shared account. These miles can then be used to book award flights for members in the account. Combining miles allows members to enjoy awards faster or share miles between family members or close friends.

After logging into your MileagePlus account via united.com, a miles pool can be created by signing into MileagePlus and then selecting “Create a miles pool.” The leader of the pool must accept the terms and conditions to create the pool.

After signing into your personal MileagePlus account via united.com, you can view your account and the pool account.

Any MileagePlus member at least 18 years of age can create a miles pool account and be the leader of a pool.

Yes, a miles pool member can leave the pool at any time. However, miles contributed by any member who leaves the pool will be forfeited by that member and will stay with the pool to be shared among remaining members. Also, a new member may not join the pool for the next 90 days after a member has left, and members who leave cannot join another miles pool for the next 90 days. If a pool leader decides to leave a pool, the entire pool is dissolved and all of the remaining miles in the pool will be distributed equally amongst the remaining members.

Joining a miles pool will not have any impact on a member’s Premier status. When you book an award flight using the miles from the pool, any Premier qualifying points (PQP) earned will be awarded to the traveler only. Any benefits related to Premier status are based on the individual traveler’s status. Award availability is based on the status of the member booking the award ticket.

Yes, you decide how many miles you want to contribute to the pool upon joining the pool. There is no limit to the number of miles that may be contributed to an active miles pool (other than any member’s miles balance).

No, only miles (not PQP or TravelBank cash) can be combined and shared in a miles pool. PQP, PQF and TravelBank cash can only be used or accrued by the member who earned it.

Pooled miles can be used to book United or United Express award tickets only. Pooled miles cannot be used to purchase upgrades, seat assignments, onboard food and beverages, inflight Wi-Fi access or anything else.

For the pool leader, miles can be contributed as soon as the pool is created. All pool members have to wait 72 hours after joining a pool until they can use pooled miles or contribute miles to the pool. After transferring miles into the pool, all members of the pool, including the pool leader, will have to wait 24 hours before the miles are available to use for booking flights.

To book a flight using pooled miles, you must have permission to do so either on behalf of other members of your pool or yourself only (this can be configured by the pool leader). If you have permission, first sign in to your MileagePlus account on united.com or the United app. Search for and select an award ticket like you normally would. When you get to the payment page, select your miles pool account.

The pool leader, along with any pool member given redemption privileges by the pool leader, can redeem miles from the miles pool.

Yes, you can still redeem the miles from your individual MileagePlus account (earned with your own travel or purchases), but you cannot redeem miles you contributed to the miles pool.

Yes. If the pool leader leaves the miles pool, the pool is dissolved and any remaining miles in the pool will be distributed equally amongst the remaining members’ accounts in the pool at the time it was dissolved, including the pool leader.

No, members of a miles pool cannot be removed from the pool after they have been invited and joined. Members can only leave a pool if they choose to do so, or if the pool is dissolved.

Any miles you contribute to the miles pool will stay with the pool.

Yes, miles transferred into the pool can be removed within 24 hours. After 24 hours, transfers cannot be reversed.

No, miles in the miles pool cannot be transferred to other accounts.

If you send an invitation to an incorrect email address, you can withdraw the invite. Otherwise, the invite will expire after 14 days if it’s not accepted, after which a new invite can be sent.

Yes, anyone with a MileagePlus account can join an existing pool, and there is no age requirement for MileagePlus membership.

No. A member will remain in the miles pool after they turn 18.

The child will remain in the pool, unless the parent/legal guardian removes the child from the pool (via the child’s account).

No, you can only be a member of one pool at a time.

Pool invitations expire after 14 days. If no one accepts an invitation to join the pool within 45 days of creation, the pool will automatically dissolve. Any remaining miles will return to the pool leader’s account.

In the event that the leader of a miles pool has passed away, the pool will dissolve, and any remaining miles will return evenly across to the individual member accounts.

Miles can be purchased for your individual MileagePlus account and then transferred into the pool.

Yes, the pool leader and anyone given redemption privileges can redeem for anyone.

Important: The following are the rules and other provisions (collectively, “Rules”) of [MilesPooling], ("Miles Pooling"). By participating in Miles Pooling and agreeing to contribute the Member's Miles to a pool of miles (the "Pool"), participating Members indicate their respective acceptance of these Rules and agree to abide by them. Participation in Miles Pooling will be governed by these Rules, and it is each Member's responsibility to read and understand all of them. These Rules cannot be superseded or changed, except in writing from United Airlines or any of its affiliates (collectively, "United"). The most current Rules may be found on united.com and this is the final authority on the Rules. The Rules on united.com shall be deemed to supersede any prior or conflicting versions thereof.

General conditions

1. Miles Pooling is offered at the discretion of United and United has the right to terminate Miles Pooling, in whole or in part, or to change the Rules, benefits, conditions of participation, in whole or in part, at any time, with or without notice. Terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned in the rules of United’s MileagePlus Program (“Program Rules”). All Program Rules apply to a Member's participation in Miles Pooling.
2. The Rules control your membership and participation in Miles Pooling and no covenants at law or in equity shall be implied or incorporated, all of which are expressly disclaimed. United has the sole right to interpret and apply the Rules. IN NO EVENT SHALL UNITED BE LIABLE TO A MEMBER, OR ANYONE ACTING ON THE MEMBER'S BEHALF, FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST REVENUE OR PROFITS, ARISING OUT OF THE ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF UNITED IN CONNECTION WITH MILES POOLING, OR COSTS OR ATTORNEYS’ FEES. Any abuse of Miles Pooling or failure to follow the Rules, the Program Rules, United’s Contract of Carriage, United’s fare rules, any violation of law, rule, or regulation, any conduct detrimental to the interests of United, any fraudulent activity or attempted fraudulent activity, or any misrepresentation of any information furnished to United or its affiliates by any Member, anyone else acting on the Member's behalf, or any third party (collectively, “Prohibited Conduct”), may result in United exercising any one or more of the following remedies (“United’s Remedies”), with or without notice to the Member: (a) termination or suspension from Miles Pooling, (b) exercising any of United’s Remedies under the Program Rules or United’s Contract Of Carriage, (c) the removal or cancellation by United of any or all accrued mileage, (d) the confiscation of any award tickets, denial of boarding with respect to any award ticket holders or, at United's discretion, completion of the travel only upon payment of an applicable revenue fare (and applicable taxes and fees), or (e) the loss of other Miles Pooling benefits.
3. Only Members may participate in the Pool. Miles in the Pool do not constitute property of any individual Member of the Pool, including the leader. Miles in the Pool are not transferable in the event of a divorce of a Member of the Pool and are transferable only as set forth herein or otherwise permitted by United.
4. All calculations made in connection with Miles Pooling will be made by United in its discretion and such calculations will be considered final.
5. Neither United’s waiver or consent to a deviation from the Rules nor any course of dealing shall be construed as a waiver by United of any subsequent violation of the Rules and United may invoke United’s Remedies for a violation of the Rules despite any such prior waiver or consent.
6. Each contributing Member to the Pool agrees and acknowledges that all mileage contributions may not be restricted to any particular purpose and all contributions are final and non-refundable.
7. All mileage contributions to the Pool are at your own risk. United does not warrant that mileage will be used for any particular purpose and is not responsible for any misuse thereof.
8. A Pool may not be created to issue mileage awards to volunteers or employees for recognition or incentive purposes, in lieu of wages or other compensation due for services.

Leader

9. Each Pool must appoint an administrator (the "Leader"). A Leader is a Member of the Pool and must be an individual over the age of eighteen (18). The Leader shall be the individual designated by the Pool as its primary contact. Requests for changes to the Pool, such as a change of the Leader, will not be honored without complying with United’s requirements for account validation. Leaders represent and warrant that they: (a) are the authorized representative of the Pool with the authority: (i) to solicit mileage contributions for the Pool; and (ii) to bind the Pool to these Rules; and (b) are using the mileage contributions only as permitted by United.
10. The Leader shall provide the information required by United which may include, Account number, email and date of birth of the Member being invited to the Pool. The Pool is not formed until at least one Member is invited by the Leader.
11. The Leader will make decisions on the Pool including whether a Member has the ability to redeem miles from the Pool or if the Member is a contributor only.
12. Only the Leader is permitted to determine the use of the miles in the Pool. To the extent that mileage is contributed by a Member for a particular purpose, or to the extent that the contributing Member purports to direct the use of such mileage, any such directions shall only constitute non-binding recommendations to the Leader. Any act of Leader with respect to the Pool shall be deemed to be an act of the Pool.
13. The Leader shall handle all matters with respect to the administration of the Pool, including without limitation the use and redemption of miles and the request for and issuance of award tickets.

Pool Members

14. A Member may only participate in one Pool at a time except with United's permission and United may determine the size of the Pools in its' discretion.
15. An invitation to a Pool may be retracted by the Leader prior to the Member's acceptance. Upon acceptance United may require a waiting period before a Member can access the Pool.

Dissolution or Removal from Pool

16. In the event of the death or lack of legal capacity of the Leader, the Pool will be dissolved. Upon dissolution, the miles in the Pool will be split evenly and returned among the members. The miles returned to the deceased Member’s MileagePlus account, will be handled in accordance with the Program Rules.
17. In the event of the death of a Member of the Pool, the Miles will remain in the Pool and the Pool will continue without such Member.

Privacy Policy

18. By participating in Miles Pooling, Members authorize United to collect, maintain, use, process and share their information, including, without limitation, names, email addresses, physical addresses, account and other information in accordance with United’s Privacy Policy. You can learn more about how United collects, maintains, uses, processes and shares your information in United’s Privacy Policy which may be viewed here. United's Privacy Policy is merely a statement of administrative protocol; it is not a contract, nor does it create any contractual or legal rights. United’s Privacy Policy is not made, or intended to be made, a part of these Rules.

Pool Contributions

19. Miles contributions into the Pool can be made by the Leader and Members. United may impose limitations on use of the Miles for 24 hours or any other period of time after contributions are made. Miles contributions may be cancelled and returned to the Member's account during the period of time the contribution is pending.
20. Once Miles are no longer in a pending status they may not be returned to the Member's account.
21. United may determine in its discretion the minimum and maximum number of Miles that may be contributed to a Pool.

Redemption

22. United shall establish the amount, structure, availability, process and other criteria for mileage redemption (including the amount of mileage necessary to redeem each award), all of which are subject to modification, cancellation or limitation at United’s discretion, with or without notice, and all Program Rules related to redemption shall apply to Miles Pooling. Awards may, at the request of the Leader, be issued by MileagePlus in the name and for the use of any Member of the Pool only for non-commercial purposes. Such awards will be issued only after the Leader validates the Pool account via use of a password or other security measures that United has in place at the time of the award request.
23. Pool Miles can only be used to purchase Award Air Tickets on United or United Express^® operated flights.
24. Members with redemption rights in the Pool may redeem for themselves or any other traveler. The Program Rules apply for redemption of Pool Miles. The Member redeeming the Miles does not transfer their status or benefits to the traveler.

Non-U.S. Laws

25. Participation in Miles Pooling may be prohibited or restricted by the laws pursuant to some U.S. state and local laws and non-U.S. countries. Nothing in these Rules should be read to override or circumvent any such laws. United may exercise any one or more of United’s Remedies, with or without notice to the Members, in the event Miles Pooling, or participation in any way in the MileagePlus Program, violates laws.