What United Miles Transfer Means and Who Can Receive Them

United Airlines lets you move miles from your MileagePlus account to another person's account, or to a partner airline's frequent flyer program. The person receiving the miles does not have to be a family member — you can transfer to a friend, colleague, or anyone else with an active frequent flyer account. The miles land in their account within one to three business days.

You can also transfer miles in the opposite direction: someone else can move their United miles into your account. This is useful if you are close to a redemption goal and a friend or family member wants to help you reach it.

Key Takeaways

  • United charges a fee to transfer miles: currently $10 per 1,000 miles transferred, with a $25 minimum and $500 maximum per transaction.
  • The person receiving miles must have an active MileagePlus account before you initiate the transfer.
  • You can transfer miles to another person's United account or to a partner airline's program, such as Air Canada, Lufthansa, or Singapore Airlines.
  • Miles arrive in the recipient's account within one to three business days, and the transfer is permanent — you cannot reverse it.
  • Some airline partners have their own fees or restrictions on receiving transferred miles.

How to Transfer Miles to Another Person's United Account

Log into your MileagePlus account on the United website or mobile app. Go to the "Transfers" or "Give Miles" section — the exact label varies by platform, but it is always under account settings or the main menu. Select "Transfer miles to another MileagePlus member."

Enter the recipient's MileagePlus number and the number of miles you want to transfer. United will show you the fee upfront. Review the details, confirm the transfer, and complete payment. The miles and the fee charge when ready to your account.

The recipient will receive an email notification that miles have been transferred to their account. They do not need to accept or confirm anything — the miles are already there and ready to use.

Transferring Miles to Partner Airlines

United has transfer partners in its Star Alliance network and beyond. Common partners include Air Canada, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and ANA (All Nippon Airways). The process is similar to transferring to another United member, but you select the partner airline from a dropdown menu instead of entering a MileagePlus number.

You will need the recipient's frequent flyer account number with that partner airline. Enter it along with the number of miles you want to transfer. United charges the same $10 per 1,000 miles fee, though some partner airlines may charge their own fee on the receiving end or have minimum transfer amounts.

Transfer times to partner airlines vary. Some post within one to three business days; others may take up to two weeks. Check the partner airline's website or contact them directly if the miles do not appear within the timeframe United quoted.

Fees and Limits on Mile Transfers

United's transfer fee is $10 for every 1,000 miles moved. The minimum transfer is 1,000 miles (costing $10), and the maximum is 50,000 miles per transaction (costing $500). You can make multiple transfers in a single day if you need to move more than 50,000 miles, but each transaction incurs its own fee.

The fee is non-refundable once the transfer completes. If you change your mind after initiating a transfer, contact United customer service when ready — they may be able to stop it if it has not yet posted to the recipient's account, but there is no may provide.

Partner airlines sometimes charge their own fees or have restrictions. For example, some partners require the recipient to have held their account for a minimum number of days before receiving transferred miles. Check the partner's terms before you transfer.

When Someone Transfers Miles to You

If another person wants to transfer miles into your account, make sure your MileagePlus account is active and in good standing. You do not need to do anything else — the sender initiates the transfer on their end, and the miles appear in your account automatically.

You will receive an email notification when the miles arrive. There is no fee to you as the recipient. The sender pays the transfer fee from their own account.

Once miles land in your account, they are yours to use. You can redeem them for flights, seat upgrades, or other rewards through the MileagePlus program.

Why You Might Transfer Miles and What to Know Before You Do

People transfer miles to help a family member or friend reach a redemption goal, to consolidate miles from multiple accounts into one, or to move miles to a partner airline where they can book a specific flight. Miles transferred as a gift may have tax implications depending on the amount and your location — consult a tax professional if you are transferring a large number of miles.

Remember that transferred miles are permanent. You cannot reverse the transfer or ask for the miles back once they land in the recipient's account. Make sure you trust the recipient and that you have entered their account number correctly before you confirm.

Also check the expiration rules for both United and any partner airline. United miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity, and partner airlines have their own expiration policies. If the recipient does not use the miles within their program's timeframe, the miles may expire.

Transferring Miles Between Your Own Accounts

If you have multiple MileagePlus accounts under your own name, you can transfer miles between them using the same process. Enter your other account's MileagePlus number and the number of miles to move. You will still pay the $10 per 1,000 miles fee, even though the miles are moving within your own household.

This is useful if you have accumulated miles in one account but want to consolidate them into a primary account for a specific redemption. However, the fee makes this expensive for large transfers, so consider whether consolidation is worth the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer miles to someone who does not have a MileagePlus account yet?

No. The recipient must have an active MileagePlus account before you initiate the transfer. If they do not have one, they can open a free account on the United website first. Once their account is active, you can proceed with the transfer.

What happens if I enter the wrong account number?

If you enter an incorrect MileagePlus number, the miles will transfer to whoever owns that account. United cannot reverse the transfer after it completes. Double-check the recipient's account number before you confirm. If you make a mistake, contact United customer service when ready — they may be able to help if the transfer has not yet posted, but there is no may provide.

Do transferred miles count toward elite status?

No. Transferred miles do not count toward MileagePlus elite status qualification. Only miles you earn directly through flights, credit card spending, or other United promotions count toward elite benefits. The recipient can use transferred miles to book flights or upgrades, but those miles will not help them reach elite status thresholds.

How long do transferred miles stay in the recipient's account?

Transferred miles follow the same expiration rules as any other miles in the account. United miles expire after 18 months of account inactivity. If the recipient does not take a United flight or earn miles through another method within 18 months, all their miles — including transferred ones — will expire.

Can I transfer miles to an airline that is not a United partner?

No. You can only transfer to United's official partner airlines. If you want to use miles with an airline that is not a partner, you would need to book a flight with United and use your miles that way, or explore whether that airline has a separate partnership with United for award bookings.