How I Saved 20,000 Miles on One Flight (and How You Can Too)

When it comes to stretching United miles, living near a United hub is like having a golden ticket. United’s hubs include Denver, Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO). Being in one of these cities means you’ve got way more flights, way more availability, and often better deals. And honestly? Denver is the sweet spot. Because it’s so central, it’s easier (and often cheaper in miles) to hop just about anywhere.


Earning United miles the old-fashioned way—by flying and swiping your United credit card—totally works. It’s a slow and steady climb, and your balance will grow bit by bit. But if you want to speed things up, the real accelerator is credit card bonuses, promos, and learning the tricks to squeeze the most value out of those miles once you’ve earned them.


This is where it gets fun: redeeming miles. Flexibility is your superpower here. United’s award calendar (check it out at www.united.com) shows you month-by-month prices, and if you’re willing to play around with dates, you can save thousands of miles. Booking early is another game-changer. I once booked a flight from Kauai to Denver a year ahead for just 25,000 miles. That same flight today? 49,000. Yep, over 20,000 miles saved just because I planned ahead.


I’ve also learned to almost always book one-way flights instead of round-trip. Not only does it give me more wiggle room, but I usually shave off a couple thousand points, too. And since my goal is to see as many places as I can, I usually stick to economy so my miles go further. Don’t get me wrong—if I find an irresistible first-class deal, I’ll grab it. But most of the time, it’s about getting more adventures, not fancier seats.


Now, if you’re reading this and thinking, “That’s a lot to figure out,” I’ve got you. I’ll keep sharing plenty of tips and tricks so you can absolutely do this on your own. That’s my whole goal—helping people book smarter and not waste their hard-earned points. But if you hit a snag or just want to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible, I also offer one-on-one consultations for a piddly $25 per half hour. A tiny bit of guidance can save you thousands of points (and spare you the headache).


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