The Little-Known Way to Earn United Miles on Broadway Shows

Because all of life is a stage.

We talk a lot about earning rewards on your flights and hotel stays. But once you're at your destination and checked into your hotel, what do you do? You go out and experience things!

If you're headed to New York City, for example, there's a good chance you plan on taking in a show. Maybe you want to catch a Broadway classic. Or take in a quirky Off-Broadway production. And let's not forget the opera, and of course cabaret (it's life, after all).

Now, what's better than that curtain rising? Knowing you earned rewards toward your next New York City adventure on every show. Specifically, do it right, and your night on the town could mean hundreds of United Airlines miles.

MileagePlus and Audience Rewards

Most travel rewards programs have that little niche redemption option that nobody really knows about. Unless you've spent some time going down the miles rabbithole, for instance, you probably don't know about the partnership between MIleagePlus -- United's frequent flyer program -- and Audience Rewards, the "Official Rewards Program for Broadway." 

With this partnership, you can earn United miles on every ticket you buy. How many miles you earn varies by show, but there seems to be a base reward of 50 miles per ticket. 

If this seems really low, well, it is. But that's just the base amount. There are tons of shows that earn more miles. In my research, I found shows offering as much as 1,900 miles per ticket. Here are a few examples of what we found:

• Chicago: 1,600 miles per ticket
• Little Shop of Horrors: 950 miles per ticket
• Wicked: 700 miles per ticket
• Moulin Rouge: 550 miles per ticket
• Back to the Future: 100 miles per ticket

Depending on the show you choose, a family of four hitting Broadway could rake in 5,000+ miles on a single night out. Not a bad return!

United flights start at 4,000+ miles

For a little context, let's consider how many miles you need to actually get free flights with United. Happily, United's website has a handy award chart that lets you see the miles cost for various fare classes (we'll use an abbreviated version for clarity and space):

As you can see, miles cost varies significantly. And depending on the fare, some may require both miles and a hefty cash copay (copays varied from $75 up to $250). In the end, how many United miles you'll need for your next flight will depend a lot on where you're going, when you're going, and what part of the plane you want to sit in while you do so. 

Even if you're not going to score an entirely free flight from your Broadway excursion, however, it's still an excellent way to earn bonus rewards on your purchase. 

And even better, the miles you earn from United can stack with the points or cash back you earn from your rewards credit card when you make the purchase. Choose a card with bonus rewards on entertainment purchases to really maximize your return.