• 13 May, 2025
  • Travel tips

United is among the top US-based air carriers offering flight services to over 350 destinations and controls its operations from Chicago. The frequent flyer program that United offers is called MileagePlus, which comes with several benefits and perks. United Airlines is also popular for its award flights and perks, and one of its perks featured in its United MileagePlus program is the Excursionist perk, which helps one get a free flight. Doesn't it sound interesting? In this guide, you will learn everything about the United Excursionist Perk. 

What is the United Excursionist Perk?

Suppose you are looking for a United multi-city trip with more than three one-way award flights. Then, using the Excursionist perk, you can make your first award completely free. The Excursionist Perk comes with some. 

How does the United Excursionist Perk work?

The Excursionist Perk can be utilized only if you are a member of United's frequent flyer program and when you are traveling within United's travel regions. Since, as per United Airlines, its flight network is divided into numerous areas such as North America, European region, etc., this perk allows you to make your one-way flight free when traveling within a single location. Here is some important information regarding the United Excursionist Perk. 

For Example, suppose you are traveling from Chicago (ORD) to Paris (CDG), where you are having a layover at London (LHR) then your one-way flight from London (LHR) to Paris (CDG) would cost you NIL (0 miles) with the Excursionist Perk. 

  • From Chicago O'Hare (ORD) to London-Heathrow (LHR) --- costing 30 K miles 
  • From London-Heathrow (LHR) to Paris (CDG) ---  costing none
  • From Paris (CDG) to Chicago (ORD) --- costing 30 K miles
  • From Total Cost --- costing 60 K miles

Eligibility for United Excursionist Perk

To be eligible to get the benefits of Excursionist Perks, you need to meet some criteria, which are given below.

  • You can get a free Excursionist Perk award if your flight trip starts and ends in the same MileagePlus area.
  • The Excursionist Perk Flight must depart and arrive in the same area defined by United. 
  • When your trip starts in a different area from the free excursionist flight 
  • When the cabin and airfare for the excursionist flight are the same or lower than those of the earlier flight. 

Rules for United Excursionist Perk

  • In the case where one or more award flights meet the Excursionist Perk, then unfortunately, you will not get the benefit on all, but only the first flight in the itinerary will be free. 
  • The excursionist perk should not be defined in the area where the trip originates. It must be outside MileagePlus. 
  • United Airlines award flights are subject to availability, which is limited. 
  • Anyone who does not meet all the criteria for the excursionist perk may not receive the free one-way award flight. 
  • One can join the waitlist if there is no seat available while booking.
  • A service fee will be applied when booking an award flight using methods other than the website, such as phone or United customer contact centers. 
  • One can have only one Excursionist Perk on a single round-trip itinerary by United Airlines.  

How can I book with the United Excursionist perk?

After learning about the Excursionist perk of the United Airlines MileagePlus program, you may wonder how to book a flight with that. Your wait is over. Here are easy steps that help you plan your free United Excursionist Perk. 

  • Go to united.com to plan your flight itinerary. 
  • You can find the reservation tab and select the multi-city flight option given on it.
  • You must decide your departure city, destination, and the layover cities you want to add to your stops in the correct order. 
  • Try to make your free award flight in the second place, like your first layover. 
  • Once you've searched for and selected the flight, review the mileage costs as they are shown.
  • You check whether your free flight costs are zero, and then you may pay using Miles Points or Miles plus Cash, as applicable.
  • Find the flight reservation process and download your itinerary to your United registered email address. 

Tips to get the most out of from United Excursionist Perk

Do you want to save more on your award flight? The excursionist perk by United Airlines can help you save on your award flight booking, but here, you can even save more on flight purchases by finding the tips below helpful. 

  • Be flexible: Since you are booking an award flight, the availability of these flights can vary. You must keep your travel date flexible to find a flight easily. 
  • Check for any partnered airlines: When you don't find a flight option on United Airlines, you should go with United's partner airlines. They offer more flight options and can be found conveniently. 
  • Look for the availability: Because of the limited availability of award flights, their seats get booked quickly. You must keep an eye on the opening of its seats on the flight, can use some tools, and when found, you can easily book them. 
  • Pay attention to the regions: You must be attentive and familiarize yourself with the areas defined for the award flight and excursionist perk flight so that you can plan your layover smartly and accordingly. 

Frequently Asked Questions about United Excursionist Perk

Q1. What if I don't have enough miles to book a United Airlines flight?

When you don't have enough United Miles, use the miles plus cash option to book your United flight.  

Q2. Is the United Excrusionist Perk available for domestic flights?

Yes. You can book your United excursionist perk flight even if it is flying in a domestic region as long as the free flight is within a single MileagePlus region and different from the trip origin. 

Q3. Can I get two free flights with the United Excrusionist Perk?

No. A traveler cannot have multiple free flights using United's Excursionist Perk. One free award flight on United Airlines is allowed for a single round-trip itinerary. 

Q4. Can I have a business free flight on economy fare with Excursionist Perk?

No. Your one-way free award flight's cabin class cannot exceed the preceding flight's class. Your United Excursionist Flight cabin class must be either the same or a lower to it.