You can use your United MileagePlus miles to book an award flight for anyone. The booking process is the same as if you were purchasing the award for yourself, but you will need to know the traveler's details (i.e., first and last name, date of birth and other relevant details depending on the origin/destination).

Yes, your wife can use your United MileagePlus miles, and in 2026, there are two primary ways to do this. The simplest way is to book a flight for her directly from your account; when you reach the "Traveler Details" page, you simply enter her name instead of yours. United does not care who the miles came from, as long as the traveler has valid ID. The second, more modern method in 2026 is Miles Pooling. United allows you to create a "pool" with up to 4 other friends or family members where you can combine your miles for free to book joint or individual award tickets. This is a much better supportive option than "Transferring" miles, which United still charges a hefty fee for (roughly $7.50 per 500 miles plus a $30 fee). Pooling is free and allows your wife to access the total family balance for her own solo travel, making it the peer-recommended choice for couples in 2026.