United Airlines · Star Alliance
Sell MileagePlus miles for cash
Request a quote for your MileagePlus miles balance. Quote availability and value depend on balance size, programme rules, demand and the details of the transaction. Nothing here is a published rate.
Get my MileagePlus quote
No rates are published and nothing here is a guaranteed price. Tell us the specifics and we will respond with an indicative figure or an honest explanation of why we cannot quote.
How it works
- 1. Submit your MileagePlus miles balance and an email we can reply to.
- 2. We review eligibility and send indicative quote information, or an honest no.
- 3. You decide whether you want to proceed. Nothing is committed by asking.
We never ask for your United Airlines password, PIN, one-time codes or security answers.
How much are MileagePlus miles worth?
Two different numbers get confused here, so we keep them apart.
Estimated redemption value is the cash fare you avoid by using MileagePlus miles for a flight. On our typical working assumption of 1.6 cents per mile, 100,000 miles represent about $1,600 of avoided fare. See the MileagePlus value page for the full method and a calculator.
A MilesQuote sell quote is a separate market figure prepared for your specific request. It is not the redemption value, we publish no rate table for it, and we will not invent a payout number on a public page.
What affects your quote?
- Balance size — small balances are often not economic to process.
- The programme itself, and how usable MileagePlus miles currently are.
- Market demand at the time you ask.
- Transfer and redemption restrictions: United supports buying, gifting and transferring miles for a fee, and Chase Ultimate Rewards lists MileagePlus as a transfer partner.
- How the transaction would be structured.
- Expiry position of the balance.
Minimum balance
Minimum eligibility may vary. Submit your MileagePlus miles balance to check — we would rather tell you it is too small than publish a threshold that is wrong for your case.
Programme rules and restrictions
Loyalty programmes set their own rules regarding transfer, sale, purchase and third-party transactions. Some programmes restrict or prohibit these activities. Review the applicable programme terms before proceeding. For MileagePlus: United supports buying, gifting and transferring miles for a fee, and Chase Ultimate Rewards lists MileagePlus as a transfer partner.
Alternatives worth pricing first
Redemptions include United flights, Star Alliance partner awards, Excursionist Perk itineraries on round trips, and upgrade awards.
Before requesting a sell quote, price a redemption on Air Canada, Lufthansa, ANA, Swiss — partner availability often turns an idle MileagePlus miles balance into a better outcome than a sale.
Our commitments
- We never ask for your United Airlines password, PIN or one-time codes.
- We publish no fixed rate for MileagePlus miles and guarantee no price.
- We will not encourage you to breach United Airlines's programme terms.
- If we cannot help, we will say so rather than string you along.
MileagePlus selling questions
- Can I sell MileagePlus miles?
- You can request a quote from us, and we will tell you honestly whether we can help. Whether a transfer or third-party sale is permitted for your account is set by United Airlines: United supports buying, gifting and transferring miles for a fee, and Chase Ultimate Rewards lists MileagePlus as a transfer partner. Review the programme terms before proceeding.
- How is the quote calculated?
- We look at the programme, the balance size, how usable MileagePlus miles currently are, the transfer mechanics involved and current demand. There is no published rate and no fixed formula we can promise in advance.
- Is there a minimum balance?
- Minimum eligibility may vary by programme and by request. Submit your balance and we will tell you whether we can quote it.
- How long does the process take?
- We aim to respond to a complete request within one business day. What happens after that depends on the specifics of the request, and we do not promise a settlement timeframe we cannot control.
- Can expired MileagePlus miles be sold?
- No. Once miles have lapsed they no longer exist to transfer. United's published policy is that MileagePlus miles do not expire. Confirm on united.com, as programme terms can change.
- Should I redeem my MileagePlus miles instead?
- In most cases, yes. With dynamic pricing on United metal, the honest way to value MileagePlus miles is against the exact itinerary and cash fare in front of you. If you have no plausible redemption within the programme's validity window, a sale becomes worth considering.
MilesQuote is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by or partnered with any airline or loyalty programme. Programme names are used for identification only. We publish no fixed rates; every quote is indicative, prepared individually, and never a guarantee of price or completion. Always check your programme's own terms before acting.