Buy United MileagePlus Miles with Up to a 95% Bonus Until October 31
Loading article…
United MileagePlus is offering up to a 95% bonus on purchased miles from October 21, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. to October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time). The bonus appears once you sign in on the MileagePlus buy miles page, and it varies by account: an account may show, for example, a flat 80% bonus from 5,000 miles purchased, with no bonus below that.
For a Canadian member, buying United MileagePlus miles mostly makes sense to top up a balance before a specific award. Here are the price, the caps and the traps to know before paying in US dollars.
What the United buy miles promotion includes
You pay US$35 per 1,000 miles, before taxes and fees, with a minimum purchase of 2,000 miles. During the promotion, a bonus of up to 95%, depending on your account, is added to the miles you buy. Each mile then costs you roughly 1.9 US cents at an 80% bonus and 1.8 US cents at a 95% bonus, before taxes.
The bonus is calculated per transaction: two small purchases cannot be combined to reach a higher tier. Miles usually post as soon as the transaction is complete, but some purchases take up to 72 hours.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus | Up to 95% depending on the account (for example, 80% from 5,000 miles purchased) |
| Period | October 21, 2026, 8:00 a.m., to October 31, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) |
| Base price | US$35 per 1,000 miles, before taxes and fees |
| Price per mile with the bonus | Roughly 1.9 US cents at an 80% bonus, 1.8 US cents at a 95% bonus, before taxes |
| Minimum purchase | 2,000 miles, in 1,000-mile increments |
| 90-day cap | 50,000 miles, bonus included |
| Annual cap | 200,000 miles per calendar year, bonus included |
A cap of 50,000 miles per 90 days
United limits purchases to 50,000 miles in any consecutive 90-day period, bonus miles included, and to 200,000 miles per calendar year, bonus miles included as well. The 90-day limit is rolling: it only frees up 90 days after the transaction.
Your largest possible purchase therefore depends on your bonus. At an 80% bonus, you can buy up to 27,000 miles plus 21,600 bonus miles, for 48,600 miles at US$945 before taxes. At a 95% bonus, the largest purchase is around 25,000 miles, for roughly 48,750 miles in total. If you bought United miles in the last 90 days, your room is smaller.
Conditions to know
Before you pay, keep these rules in mind. They apply to every MileagePlus miles purchase:
- Account at least 10 days old: a newer MileagePlus account cannot buy or receive purchased miles.
- Purchases in 1,000-mile increments, with a minimum of 2,000 miles per transaction.
- Payment by credit card, billed immediately at purchase.
- Canadian taxes: GST/HST is charged to Canadian residents, and QST to Quebec residents.
- Official site only: promotional pricing applies only on buymiles.mileageplus.com.
What the offer does not allow:
- No refunds: purchased miles are nonrefundable.
- No status: purchased miles do not count toward MileagePlus Premier status.
- Not retroactive: the offer does not apply to purchases made before October 21, 2026.
- No combining: separate transactions cannot be aggregated to calculate the bonus.
Is it a good deal for Canadians?
It depends on the award you have in mind. A mile bought at 1.8 to 1.9 US cents before taxes becomes worthwhile when it goes toward a business or first class award with a high cash price. For an economy ticket, the math rarely works.
United's award pricing has changed several times recently. Check the exact number of miles your award requires before buying, then compare it with the cash fare. Our guide to booking United award flights walks you through it.
You pay in US dollars. A credit card with no foreign transaction fees keeps the bill from growing.
Already collecting Aeroplan points? Compare before you buy: Aeroplan and United are both Star Alliance members, and the same partner award can cost a different number of points in each program. To earn United miles in Canada without buying them, the United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard earns United miles on everyday spending.
Bottom Line
Open the MileagePlus buy miles page before October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Central Time) to see the bonus offered to your account. Buy only if you have a specific award in mind, if you buy at least 5,000 miles to trigger the bonus, and if the total stays under the 50,000-mile limit per 90 days.
To compare with other programs, see our guide to buying points and miles and the best credit cards in Canada to earn without buying. To get the next promotions, create your free member account: you choose your newsletters from there.
When does the United buy miles promotion end?
The promotion ends on October 31, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time, which is 12:59 a.m. on November 1 in Montreal. It started on October 21, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. Central Time.
Does every member get a 95% bonus?
No. The bonus goes up to 95% and varies by account: an account may show, for example, 80% from 5,000 miles purchased, with no bonus below that. Sign in on the MileagePlus buy miles page to see the bonus offered to your account before you pay.
How much do United miles cost during the promotion?
The base price is US$35 per 1,000 miles, before taxes and fees. Each mile costs you roughly 1.9 US cents at an 80% bonus and 1.8 US cents at a 95% bonus, before taxes.
What is the most United miles I can buy?
United limits purchases to 50,000 miles in any consecutive 90-day period and 200,000 miles per calendar year, bonus miles included in both cases. At an 80% bonus, you can buy up to 27,000 miles, for 48,600 miles in total at US$945 before taxes.
Do Canadians pay tax when buying United miles?
Yes. GST or HST is charged to Canadian residents, and QST to Quebec residents. The price is in US dollars, so your card may also add foreign transaction fees.
Do purchased miles count toward Premier status?
No. Purchased miles do not count toward MileagePlus Premier status. They are also nonrefundable.
How long does it take to receive purchased miles?
Miles usually post as soon as the transaction is complete. Some purchases can take up to 72 hours to appear in the account.
Can a new MileagePlus account buy miles?
Not right away. A MileagePlus account less than 10 days old cannot buy or receive purchased miles. Open your account at least 10 days before the promotion ends if you plan to use it.
