United Airlines Has Become The First Major US Carrier To Allow Frequent Fliers To Pool Miles

Pooling is available for family and friends.

Family travel is now easier

United Airlines has become the first US airline to allow members of a loyalty program to pool miles with up to five people. MileagePlus pooling, as United calls it, is now available on its website. It encourages users to form groups to earn and redeem miles together, whether with family or friends. United highlighted that many families travel together, and it hopes to make it easier for them to do so.

In its announcement, United explained that the pool leader must be over 18 and can create the pool for free on the airline's website. Leaders then invite up to four people to join. Anyone wishing to enter a pool must have an active MileagePlus account, for which there is no age restriction. Once users log in to their accounts on the United website, they will be instructed on how to earn and redeem miles.

"We're always looking for new ways to provide the most value to all of our loyalty members and are proud to be the first major U.S. airline to allow our members to pool their miles with their loved ones and friends. MileagePlus miles pooling further reinforces United's position as the leader in family and group travel and gives our members more flexibility to use their miles while making it easier to connect to the destinations and moments that matter most, with the people that matter most." - Luc Bondar, Chief Operating Officer of MileagePlus

It is important to note that the only thing that can be pooled is miles, but Premier qualifying points (PQP), Premier qualifying flights (PQF), PlusPoints, or TravelBank cash are not eligible.

This announcement is not the first time United has sought to make family travel more accessible. In February 2023, the airline unveiled a tool that searches for available adjacent seats when a parent is booking travel with a child 12 or under. When available, the seats can be selected for free, and if needed, United will offer complimentary upgrades to Preferred Seats. This feature is also available for Basic Economy bookings.

ITA Airways creates its pooling program

United was not the only airline that made family travel easier today. Earlier, Italian carrier ITA Airways launched a new part of its loyalty program Volare, called AVVENTURA. It is available for passengers as young as two, reducing the previous minimum age of 16. ITA is also offering its passengers a pooling option, calling its function "Create A Family," but unlike United, it is only meant for immediate family.

ITA has limited how much can be earned and shared between family members - up to 100,000 non-qualifying Volare points annually. Today's announcement added that more exclusive benefits and services will be available to AVVENTURA members in the coming months. Like adults in the Volare program, young passengers can climb the ranks of the program's statuses. Only points earned from flying will allow passengers to achieve higher status, but non-qualifying points can be earned in several ways and redeemed for travel.

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