MileagePlus, by United Airlines, is a founding member of Star Alliance and has a rare advantage: the miles don't expire. For Brazilians it's built mainly via Livelo and gains relevance from the partnership with Azul (United is an Azul shareholder). This is the strategy guide; the live data is in the MileagePlus miniportal.
The essentials in one table
| Item | How it works on MileagePlus |
|---|---|
| Airline | United Airlines |
| Alliance | Star Alliance (founding member) |
| Accrual in Brazil | Transfers from Livelo (4:1 ratio); co-branded card via Bradesco now available |
| Validity | Don't expire (since 2019) |
| Tiers | Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum and 1K (by PQP/PQF) |
Where the points come from in Brazil
| Path | How it works |
|---|---|
| Livelo → United | 4:1 ratio (4 Livelo points = 1 United mile). It worsened (was 2:1), but frequent 25%–35% bonuses help |
| Co-branded card (Bradesco) | United confirmed the return of a United MileagePlus card in Brazil, via Bradesco, now available |
| Flying | United and Star Alliance partners |
Mind the 4:1 ratio. Since Livelo transfers 4 points per 1 United mile, the real cost per thousand rises. That makes the transfer bonus matter even more here — never transfer without a good campaign, and check the Bonus History.
The Azul partnership
United is a shareholder of Azul, and the two programs have a bilateral deal. In practice: when you fly Azul or United, you credit the miles to one program (not both on the same ticket), and there's no point transfer between the Azul and United accounts. It's an earning-and-benefits partnership, not a points bridge.
Premier tiers in detail
Qualification combines PQP (points by spend) and/or PQF (flight count). Current thresholds:
| Tier | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 15 PQF + 5,000 PQP, or 6,000 PQP |
| Premier Gold | 30 PQF + 10,000 PQP, or 12,000 PQP |
| Premier Platinum | 45 PQF + 15,000 PQP, or 18,000 PQP |
| Premier 1K | 60 PQF + 22,000 PQP, or 28,000 PQP |
Worked example: the weight of the bonus
Numeric example
Without a bonus, 40,000 Livelo points become just 10,000 United miles (4:1). With a 30% bonus, the same 40,000 points yield 13,000 miles. It seems small, but on Star Alliance redemptions to the US every mile counts — and since miles don't expire, you can build up patiently. Always calculate the value of a mile before redeeming.
Strengths and limits for Brazilians
✓ Strengths
- Miles don't expire — ideal for building up slowly.
- Strong Star Alliance network for the US and beyond.
- Azul partnership and a co-branded card on the way.
✕ Watch-outs
- Livelo's 4:1 ratio makes accrual pricier.
- Dynamic award (no fixed chart) — prices vary.
- No point transfer with the Azul account.
Common mistakes with MileagePlus
- Transferring from Livelo without a bonus — at 4:1, that makes the mile very expensive.
- Thinking you can transfer Azul → United points — the partnership doesn't work that way.
- Redeeming without comparing — the award is dynamic and cash sometimes wins.
Tips to get the most
- Wait for high Livelo → United bonuses and turn on alerts.
- Use the non-expiring miles to accumulate patiently.
- Explore Star Alliance partners for good US redemptions.
- See also the Azul guide to understand the partnership.
💡 Summary: MileagePlus shines for non-expiring miles and the Star Alliance network. In Brazil, accrual comes from Livelo (4:1, so bonus-only) and a Bradesco card arrives in 2026. The Azul partnership is about earning, not point transfers.