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Flying is a common way to earn MileagePlus miles with United Airlines, but it is important not to forget the many other ways you can accumulate miles and points for your MileagePlus program membership. MileagePlus partners with multiple hotel chains to increase your earning potential. If you garner extra points, you can then transfer them into MileagePlus miles for even more travel benefits.
United partners with the following hotel rewards program to offer members more opportunities to earn MileagePlus miles:
- Marriott Rewards
- Hilton HHonors
- Starwood Preferred Guest
- IHG Rewards Club
- Club Carlson
- Hyatt Gold Passport
- Choice Privileges
- Wyndham Rewards
- Golden Circle
Marriott Rewards program: With RewardsPlus, MileagePlus members can save 20% when you convert your Marriott Rewards® points into MileagePlus award miles compare to other airlines. You can use your miles towards flights, upgrades and more. You earn 2 miles for every 1 dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels and resorts. Elite status with United and Marriott can earn you even more. You can convert 8,000 points to 2,000 miles(4:1), 16,000 points to 5,000 miles(3.2:1), 24,000 points to 10,000 miles(2.4:1), 56,000 points to 25,000 miles(2.24:1) and 112,000 points to 50,000(2.24:1) miles. You can easily find out that the more points you convert, the more miles you receive.
Hilton HHonors: You can earn 1 MileagePlus mile per dollar, and 10 HHonors Points for your trips with the Hilton and United partnership. Points can be gathered at participating Hilton hotels and resorts, including the Waldorf Astoria, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, and more. You may also convert HHonors points into miles at a ratio of 10,000 points to 1,000 award miles.
Starwood: The Starwood Preferred Guest membership allows you to earn 2 miles for every dollar you spend at included Starwood hotels and resorts. As with the previously-mentioned arrangements, you can transfer your Starwood points into miles at 2 points for every 1 mile. You will get 5,000 bonus miles when you transfer 20,000 points.
IHG Rewards Club: IHG Rewards Club offers 2 miles for 1 dollar as well, and more at specific hotels. The conversion rates for points into miles is 5 points for 1 mile.
Club Carlson: Members earn 500 award miles per stay at Radisson Blu®, Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, and Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts. Earn 250 award miles per stay at Country Inn & Suites by Carlson® and Park Inn by Radisson®. Club Carlson® members may convert points into miles at a ratio of 2,000 points to 200 miles.
Hyatt Gold Passport: You can gain 500 miles for staying at participating Hyatt hotels, such as the Hyatt Regency, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Place, and more. Gold Passport members can transfer points and miles; it is 2.5 points for one mile, and 5,000 extra miles when you make a conversion of 50,000 points into 20,000 miles.
Wyndham Rewards: United’s partnership with Wyndham Rewards includes 2 miles per 1 dollar spent at participating Wyndham hotels. You can earn 500 miles for staying at a specific group of hotels and resorts. Points can be converted to miles at 6,000 points for 1,200 miles.
Choice Privileges: Choice Privileges members can earn 250 award miles per stay at Comfort Inn®, Comfort Suites®, Quality®, Sleep Inn®, Clarion®, Cambria Suites®, Mainstay Suites®, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels®, Econo Lodge®, Rodeway Inn®, and Ascend Hotel Collection™. Choice Privileges® members may convert points into award miles at a ratio of 5,000 points to 1,000 miles.
Golden Circle: Earn 500 award miles per stay at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Traders Hotel, or Kerry Hotels. Golden Circle members can convert a minimum of 2,500 Golden Circle award points into MileagePlus award miles at a ratio of one point to one mile.
There is much to be gained from United’s rewards program and its partnerships with hotels. You may already notice, when you transfer Marriott Rewards points, the more points you convert, the higher the conversion ratio is. It goes from 4:1 to 2.4:1. So in order to maximize your miles, the best time to convert is when you have accumulated at least 24,000 points. And when converting Starwood points, keep in mind you will get 5,000 bonus miles when you transfer 20,000 points.
