What happened
United opened one-way economy MileagePlus awards from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Australia at 40,000 miles, sold only October 19 to 23, 2026. Other U.S. cities start at 45,000 miles. Travel is allowed October 26 to December 10, 2026 and January 20 to March 20, 2027.
An eligible United card trims the price by 10% to 36,000 miles from LAX or SFO and 40,500 miles from other cities. Premier members with an eligible United card pay 34,000 miles from LAX or SFO and 38,200 miles from elsewhere, a 15% discount. Pricing applies only to the primary cardmember's MileagePlus account. United Gateway Cardmembers need $10,000 in calendar-year purchases before cardmember pricing applies.
Only new economy awards on United or United Express qualify. Cardmember pricing does not apply to partner awards or Money + Miles. Adelaide service runs only December 17, 2026 through February 8, 2027. Round-trip taxes start at $134.23 to Brisbane and $135.63 to Sydney. Melbourne starts at $140.43 and Adelaide at $168.53. Book by October 23, 2026 on a Premier MileagePlus account tied to an eligible United card for the 34,000-mile price from LAX or SFO on a trip already planned in those windows.
- Starts
- Oct 19, 2026
- Ends
- Oct 23, 2026
- Book by
- Oct 23, 2026
- Travel by
- Mar 20, 2027
- Numbers
- 34,000 miles: lowest one-way economy award from LAX/SFO for Premier members with an eligible United card
- 40,000 miles: base one-way sale price from LAX or SFO
- 45,000 miles: base one-way sale price from other U.S. cities
- 36,000 miles: one-way from LAX/SFO with 10% cardmember discount
- 40,500 miles: one-way from other cities with 10% cardmember discount
- 38,200 miles: one-way from other cities with 15% Premier-plus-card discount
- 10%: cardmember award discount versus base sale price
- 15%: Premier cardmember award discount versus base sale price
- $134.23: starting round-trip taxes and fees U.S. to Brisbane
- $140.43: starting round-trip taxes and fees U.S. to Melbourne
- $135.63: starting round-trip taxes and fees U.S. to Sydney
- $168.53: starting round-trip taxes and fees U.S. to Adelaide
- $10,000: calendar-year spend United Gateway Cardmembers need before cardmember award pricing
- Where
- mainland U.S., Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Brisbane (BNE), Melbourne (MEL), Sydney (SYD), Adelaide (ADL), Australia
- Who qualifies
- MileagePlus members who log in to book; 10% fewer miles for primary cardmembers with an eligible United card, and 15% fewer miles for Premier members with an eligible United card. United Gateway Cardmembers qualify for cardmember pricing only after $10,000 in calendar-year purchases. Pricing is for the primary cardmember’s MileagePlus account only.
- Links
- Offer page Australia award sale for cardmembers united.com
- Takeaway
- If you want economy awards to BNE, MEL, SYD or ADL in those windows, book by October 23, 2026 on a Premier MileagePlus account tied to an eligible United card for the lowest 34,000-mile price.