United award sale: Fly to New Zealand for 40,000 miles

Editor’s note: This is a regular post, updated regularly with new information and specials.

United Airlines is having an award sale that allows United MileagePlus members to earn points for flights to a different destination every day until Friday.

Today, the airline offers discounted economy awards to New Zealand – both Auckland and Christchurch – starting at 45,000 miles (plus taxes and fees) each way.

If you have a United Chase card, award redemptions will drop to 40,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).

Keep in mind that United’s non-stop flights from the US to New Zealand take about 13 hours; the travel time will be even longer if you need to connect. Some travelers may feel that this is too far to sit in an economy seat.

The basics of today’s deals

An airline company: United Airlines

Routes: Nonstop from San Francisco to New Zealand; other US airports available with connections

How to book: Directly through the United website

Book by: August 6, 2024

Travel dates: Aug. 6, 2024, to March 31, 2025

With this deal, United MileagePlus members will get flights from the US to New Zealand for 45,000 miles (plus taxes and fees). Those with a United credit card can save even more, with options starting at 40,000 miles (plus taxes and fees).

Availability is spread across most routes except for trips between Dec. 6, 2024, and Jan. 18, 2025.

Sample flights

United flies regularly to New Zealand between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Auckland Airport (AKL) or Christchurch International Airport (CHC).

You can also fly United to Auckland and Christchurch from other US airports with stops along the way.

Non-stop availability to Auckland from SFO is not as widespread as we saw yesterday with United’s Australian award deals. However, availability seems to be increasing as we reach October and November this year.

If you take a non-stop flight, you must board a Boeing 777-200, and the flight duration must be a little more than 13 hours.

Flights from SFO to CHC had even less availability. For many months, the lowest payout we could get was 60,500 miles. We didn’t see the 45,000 mile deals until December. The flight takes about 14 hours aboard a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Maximize your purchases

With this particular award promotion, you can get the best fares if you’re a United Chase cardholder. United has several cobranded cards with Chase to choose from. Here are some of our favorites:

• United℠ Check Card: 2 miles per dollar spent on United dining, hotel and shopping, and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
• United Club℠ Unlimited Card: 4 miles per dollar spent on United purchases, 2 miles per dollar spent on all other travel and dining purchases and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases
• United Quest℠ Card: 3 miles per dollar spent on United purchases; 2 miles per dollar spent on dining, select streaming services and other travel purchases; and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases

If you don’t have a United Chase credit card, you can also increase your points by using another credit card that earns bonus points on airfare purchases, such as:

Bottom line

United is releasing daily fare deals this week for United MileagePlus members, and additional discounts are available for United Chase card members.

The carrier started things off with discounted economy awards to Australia and now offers similar awards to New Zealand. Rewards start at 40,000 miles for United Chase card members or 45,000 miles for United MileagePlus members who don’t have a United credit card. Keep checking this page for more deals throughout the week.

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