New to airline miles? Start with the basics.

How you earn

• Flying with the airline
• Co-branded credit cards
• Shopping and dining partners
• Hotel and car rental partners

How you redeem

You can use miles for flights, upgrades and sometimes other rewards. Value varies by route, date and cabin, so compare a few real searches.

Alliances

United is part of Star Alliance, and American is part of Oneworld. This affects partner airlines you can use.

Status

Higher tiers usually bring perks such as upgrades, priority boarding and bag benefits.

Beginner tips

1. Pick the airline you fly most.
2. Join the program before your next trip.
3. Don’t buy miles unless you have a plan.
4. Check expiry rules.

Need help? Call +1-800-984-7414. Read this United MileagePlus vs American AAdvantage guide.