The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
How Many Miles Does It Take To Fly Business Class With United MileagePlus In 2026?
United says Polaris Saver awards start at 80,000 miles, or 68,000 for cardholders with status. Neither is a fixed price.
United MileagePlus awards are priced dynamically, so there is no fixed mile rate for business-class tickets.
In February 2026, United published figures showing Polaris Saver Award seats can be as low as 80,000 miles, with eligible primary cardholders receiving at least 10% off dropping to 72,000 miles and Premier tier cardholders with at least 15% off down to 68,000 miles. These discounts apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2, 2026 and cover only United and United Express flights; the figures are examples, not guaranteed prices.
On the high end, United’s own working example cites a Polaris seat priced at 200,000 miles.
The article frames these figures as examples of the dynamic pricing model for Polaris business-class awards under United MileagePlus. It also notes that the published figures are the clearest published by United regarding award pricing.
The piece is attributed to Brandon Shaw, described as a private pilot and flight simulation enthusiast who shares informed aviation insights with readers.