MileIntelKey Takeaways
- American AAdvantage is part of OneWorld; United MileagePlus is part of Star Alliance. If you fly internationally, your alliance determines your partner airline options.
- American AAdvantage delivers higher average redemption value (1.3¢ vs. 1.2¢ per point), but raw value isn't everything — earning velocity and award availability matter too.
- American AAdvantage offers 4 elite tiers (AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro); United MileagePlus offers 5 (Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum).
- Both share 1 transfer partner — you can earn flexibly and transfer to whichever program offers better value for a given trip.
- Choose American AAdvantage if you're among OneWorld alliance travelers and those based at AA hubs (DFW, CLT, MIA, PHX, PHL). Choose United MileagePlus if you're among frequent domestic US travelers and Star Alliance flyers based at United hubs (ORD, EWR, IAH, SFO, DEN).
Quick comparison
| Category | American AAdvantageAmerican Airlines | United MileagePlusUnited Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Alliance | OneWorld | Star Alliance |
| Currency | miles | miles |
| Earn Rate | 5 base miles per $1 on American flights. Elite bonuses: Gold 7, Platinum 8, Platinum Pro 9, Executive Platinum 11 miles per $1. Basic Economy does not earn miles | 5 base miles per $1 on eligible United flights. Elite bonuses: Silver +40%, Gold +60%, Platinum +80%, 1K +100% |
| Avg Value | 1.3¢ per mileWinner | 1.2¢ per mile |
| Elite TiersTie | AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, AAdvantage Executive Platinum | Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, Global Services |
| Expiration | Miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Co-branded credit card holders and members under 21 are exempt | Miles do not expire as long as the account is open and in good standingWinner |
| Transfer PartnersTie | Marriott Bonvoy, British Airways Avios | Marriott Bonvoy, Chase Ultimate Rewards |
| Best For | OneWorld alliance travelers and those based at AA hubs (DFW, CLT, MIA, PHX, PHL) | Frequent domestic US travelers and Star Alliance flyers based at United hubs (ORD, EWR, IAH, SFO, DEN) |
Elite Qualification Comparison
American AAdvantage
Everything earns Loyalty Points: flight miles, AAdvantage credit card spending (1 LP per dollar), Amex co-brand spending, shopping portal purchases, SimplyMiles offers, and partner activity. This makes AAdvantage the most 'earnable' status among US carriers if you're willing to optimize across all channels.
The Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select card earns 2x on AA purchases and gas stations, 3x on eligible American Airlines purchases. The Citi Executive card adds Admirals Club access. Both contribute Loyalty Points from spend.
United MileagePlus
United uses PQF (flights) + PQP (spend), or PQP-only. The dual path matters: if you fly 60+ segments a year, you only need $22,000 PQP for 1K instead of $28,000 PQP-only. That's a $6,000 difference.
Credit card spend contributes PQP: the United Explorer card earns 500 PQP per $12,000 spend. The United Club Infinite card is better at 1,000 PQP per $12,000 spend. The United Quest card earns 500 PQP per $12,000 spent. Stack multiple cards to accelerate qualification.
Upgrade Instruments
American AAdvantage
- Systemwide Upgrades (SUWs)
- Confirm upgrades to Flagship First/Business on any American-operated route worldwide. The most valuable upgrade instrument in the AA ecosystem. Can be applied at booking or waitlisted. Must be on a qualifying fare class.
- 500-Mile Upgrades
- Legacy upgrade certificates for domestic flights under 500 miles. Less valuable than they once were but still clear on short-haul routes.
- Miles + Co-pay Upgrades
- Use miles plus a cash co-pay to upgrade on select flights. Available to all AAdvantage members, not just elites. Pricing varies by route and cabin.
United MileagePlus
- PlusPoints
- United's flexible upgrade currency. Can be used for confirmed upgrades (applied at booking or up to departure) on United-operated flights. Points required vary by route: 20 for domestic, 40 for short-haul international, 80 for long-haul international Polaris. Unused PlusPoints roll over if you requalify at the same tier.
- Complimentary Upgrades
- Free upgrades to Economy Plus and domestic first/business class. Clears based on status, fare class, and check-in time. 1K clears most domestic flights; Silver may only clear on off-peak routes.
- GPU (Global Premier Upgrades)
- Systemwide upgrade instruments for international Polaris business class. These are legacy instruments that United has largely replaced with PlusPoints, but some 1K and GS members still receive them.
Best Redemption Sweet Spots
American AAdvantage
- US to Middle East (e.g., JFK-DOH)Qatar Airways Qsuite · 70,000 miles one-way
- Qatar's Qsuite is widely considered the world's best business class. Booking with AAdvantage miles at 70K one-way is outstanding value for a product that costs $5,000+ in cash.
- US to Japan (e.g., DFW-NRT)Japan Airlines Business Class · 60,000 miles one-way
- JAL's Sky Suites are excellent, and AAdvantage often has better partner availability than booking directly through JAL.
- US to Hong Kong/AsiaCathay Pacific Business · 70,000 miles one-way
- Cathay's reverse-herringbone business class is superb. OneWorld partnership means good availability via AAdvantage.
United MileagePlus
- US to Japan (e.g., SFO-NRT)ANA Business Class via Star Alliance · 88,000 miles round trip
- ANA's 'The Room' business class is one of the best products in the sky. Booking via United miles on ANA-operated flights can still offer excellent value.
- US to Europe (e.g., EWR-FRA)Lufthansa Business Class · 77,000 miles one-way (dynamic)
- Lufthansa's new Allegris business class suite is rolling out in 2025-2026. Book with United miles for access to what will be one of Europe's best business products.
- US domestic (e.g., SFO-EWR)United Polaris / domestic first · 20,000-30,000 miles one-way
- On transcontinental routes, United flies wide-body aircraft with Polaris seats. This is lie-flat domestic business class for 20K-30K miles.
Credit Card Strategy
American AAdvantage
Citi AAdvantage Executive card ($595/year) gives Admirals Club access and strong Loyalty Point earning. The Admirals Club benefit alone is worth ~$650/year if you fly AA regularly.
Citi ThankYou Points (via Citi Strata Premier) transfer to AAdvantage at 1:1. This is a recent re-addition and opens up a second earning channel for AAdvantage miles.
United MileagePlus
The United Club Infinite card ($525/year) is the power play: United Club access, 2 free checked bags, 1,000 PQP per $12,000 spend, and 500 PlusPoints per $50,000 spend. The PlusPoints alone make it worthwhile for Platinum+ members.
Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550/year) earns Chase Ultimate Rewards that transfer 1:1 to United. The 3x on travel and dining often yields better earn rates than United's co-branded cards for non-United spending.
Choose American AAdvantage if you...
- Avg Value
- 1.3¢
- Elite Tiers
- 4
OneWorld alliance travelers and those based at AA hubs (DFW, CLT, MIA, PHX, PHL). American Airlines' loyalty program using Loyalty Points for elite qualification. Status year runs March through February.
Skip if:Travelers based outside AA hubs (DFW, CLT, MIA, PHX, PHL, ORD) — hub presence matters for upgrade clearance
Choose United MileagePlus if you...
- Avg Value
- 1.2¢
- Elite Tiers
- 5
Frequent domestic US travelers and Star Alliance flyers based at United hubs (ORD, EWR, IAH, SFO, DEN). United Airlines' loyalty program offering miles for flights, upgrades, and partner purchases across the Star Alliance network.
Skip if:Travelers who fly primarily Delta or American routes — status on your most-flown carrier always beats cross-carrier optimization
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your travel patterns and home airport. American AAdvantage is best for OneWorld alliance travelers and those based at AA hubs (DFW, CLT, MIA, PHX, PHL). United MileagePlus is best for frequent domestic US travelers and Star Alliance flyers based at United hubs (ORD, EWR, IAH, SFO, DEN). The right program is the one that matches your most-flown routes and travel style.
American AAdvantage: Miles expire after 24 months of account inactivity. Co-branded credit card holders and members under 21 are exempt. United MileagePlus: Miles do not expire as long as the account is open and in good standing.
While you can't transfer directly between American AAdvantage and United MileagePlus, they share transfer partners through credit card programs, which can serve as a bridge between the two ecosystems.
American AAdvantage offers 4 tiers (AAdvantage Gold, AAdvantage Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum Pro, AAdvantage Executive Platinum). United MileagePlus offers 5 tiers (Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, Global Services). The comparison depends on which benefits matter most to you — read the detailed tier breakdown above.
Yes — if you have balances in both programs, MileIntel can track them side by side and recommend which program's miles to use for each specific trip. The right program can change based on your route, cabin, and what upgrade instruments you have available.
MileIntel is an independent tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any airline or loyalty program mentioned on this page. All trademarks belong to their respective owners.
