Following is a guide on how to earn United MileagePlus Miles without flying.
Online Shopping
You can earn United points for online shopping. Before making an online purchase go through United’s MileagePlus Shopping portal. (Note: If you have Chase credit cards that earn Ultimate Rewards, you can also transfer Ultimate Rewards points earned from shopping at the Ultimate Rewards mall.)
Dining at Participating Restaurants
Register your credit card at United’s MileagePlus Dining and you will automatically earn extra bonus points when you dine at participating restaurants.
Other United Partners
Visit this page on united.com for a list of all United partners.
United Explorer Card Referral
If you have a United Explorer credit card, you can earn bonus points for referring that card to your friends and family if they apply and are approved using your referral link. You can earn 10,000 miles per referral up to a maximum of 50,000 miles per calendar year.
Visit https://www.chase.com/referafriend/unitedmileageplusfamily to make a referral.
(You can also refer Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards and transfer those points to United miles. Here is a list of current Chase Refer-a-Friend opportunities.)
Sign Up Bonuses on Credit Cards that Earn United Miles
You can earn a large amount of United MileagePlus Miles points as a sign up bonus when you sign up for a new United card if you spend a certain amount in the first 3 months.
United Gateway Card: Sign up bonus of 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. $0 annual fee.
United
Explorer Card: Sign up bonus up to 65,000 bonus miles (Earn 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months PLUS 25,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 total on purchases in the first 6 months). $0 intro annual fee for the first year then $95.
New! United Quest Card: Sign up bonus of 100,000 bonus miles
after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. $250 annual fee.
United Club Infinite Card: Sign up bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. $525 annual fee.
United Business Card: Sign up bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $99.
United Club Business Card: Sign up bonus of 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. $450 annual fee.
Note: You can also earn a signup bonus on one of the many cards that earn Ultimate Rewards which can be transferred to United.
Category Bonus Spending on Credit Cards
The United Gateway Card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases PLUS 2 miles
per $1 spent at gas stations and on local transit and commuting.
The United Explorer Card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases PLUS 2 miles
per $1 spent at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, and on hotel accommodations when booked directly with the hotel.
The United Quest Card earns 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases PLUS 2 miles
per $1 spent at restaurants, including eligible delivery services, all other travel, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride share services and tolls, and on select streaming services.
The United Club Infinite Card earns 4 miles per $1 spent on United purchases PLUS 2 miles
per $1 spent on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services and on hotel accommodations when booked directly with the hotel.
The United Business Card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases PLUS 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants including eligible delivery services, gas stations, office supply stores, and on a local transit & commuting.
The United Club Business Card earns 2 miles per $1 spent on United purchases.
Note: Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards offer category bonuses as well and you can transfer these points to United.
Everyday Spending on Credit Cards
In addition to earning extra United miles for certain purchases mentioned in the section above, the United Gateway Card, United Explorer Card, United Quest Card, the United Club Infinite Card and United Business Card all earn 1 mile for each $1 spent on all other purchases and the United Club Business Card earns 1.5 miles
per $1 spent on all other purchases.
