Fly United Airlines Nonstop from New York to Nuuk, Greenland for 40,000 MileagePlus Miles
Updated on July 19, 2025 | Tim Haig
June 22, 2025 — United Airlines is the first North American airline to offer service to Nuuk, Greenland, flying to the new international airport which opened on November 28, 2024.
United’s flight from Newark takes just 4 hours and 15 minutes and is operated during daylight hours, saving passengers almost 13 hours of travel time versus connecting via Iceland. This makes short trips to Greenland from the US and Canada possible.
The inaugural flight took off from Newark on June 14, 2025, and operates twice a week until September 23, 2025.
The first flight of summer 2026 departs Newark on Saturday, June 13, 2026, and again runs on a Tuesday/Saturday outbound and Wednesday/Sunday inbound schedule.
| United Airlines | UA 80 | UA 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Route | EWR-GOH | GOH-EWR |
| Departs | 11:30am EDT | 9:00am WGST |
| Arrives | 6:45pm WGST | 10:35am EDT |
| Duration | 4h15 | 4h35 |
| Frequency | Tue, Sat | Wed, Sun |
| Inaugural Flight | June 14, 2025 | June 15, 2025 |
| Season | Summer (June to September) | |
| Natutical Miles | 1616 | |
| Equipment | B737-MAX 8 | |
United flies to Nuuk, Greenland twice a week in summer 2025 (photo: Peter Lindstrom, Visit Greenland)
How comfortable is United’s flight to Nuuk, Greenland?
United Airlines’ Boeing 737-MAX 8 (photo: United Airlines)
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United uses a Boeing 737-MAX 8 on this 4-hour-and-15-minute flight to Nuuk. Seat maps show 166 seats: a 3-3 configuration in United Economy (150 seats) and a 2-2 configuration in United Premium Plus (16 seats). Seat pitch is 30” in Economy. No United Business or United First is offered on this route.
Meal service in Economy includes free snacks, a complimentary meal, non-alcoholic beverages and house beer or wine.
The daytime departures in both directions minimize jet lag and make the 3-hour time difference (from Eastern Daylight Time to Western Greenland Standard Time) very manageable.
Is it better to use money or miles when flying United to Nuuk, Greenland?
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$821 one way* |
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40,000 miles +$6* |
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40,000 miles +CA$72* |
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Since fares are rather high on this route, redeeming either United MileagePlus miles or Air Canada Aeroplan miles is great value — requiring approximately 25 award miles for every nautical mile flown in Economy.*
Using this route as an example, United MileagePlus and Aeroplan miles are worth approximately $0.02 per mile.
*Searched on June 22, 2025 for one-way travel from New York (EWR) to Nuuk (GOH) in Economy on September 2, 2025. Sources: united.com and aircanada.com.
Colorful houses dot the coastline of Nuuk (photo: Stine Selmer Andersen, Visit Greenland)
How to plan a 5-day trip to Nuuk, Greenland
Visit Nuuk offers two sample four-day itineraries: nature and culture, or food and culture.
Nuuk is an ideal destination for those looking to escape from city stress, and Visit Nuuk encourages free wandering: “Nuuk is one of the few places in the world where you can actually hike from one city area to another.” There are three recommended hikes within close proximity of the city — from beginner and child-friendly to challenging.
Nuuk is also the perfect jumping off point for travelers looking to explore more of Greenland. Air Greenland offers service from Nuuk to destinations like Narsarsuaq, Ilulissat, Upernavik and Qaanaaq.
Nuuk’s new International Airport opened on November 28, 2024 (photo: Oscar Scott Carl, Visit Greenland)
What are the best credit card bonuses if I want to fly to Greenland on United using miles?
The New United Explorer Card from Chase currently offers 60,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles** after qualifying purchases ($3000 in the first 3 months) for new approved applicants (conditions and exclusions apply; limited time offer; $150 annual fee waived for the first year).
The Aeroplan Card from Chase is also offering a decent sign-up bonus: 75,000 Air Canada Aeroplan bonus miles** for new approved applicants after qualifying purchases ($4000 in the first 3 months) and payment of the $95 annual fee (conditions and exclusions apply; limited time offer).
**Subject to change. Last verified on June 22, 2025.
Tim Haig was the Asia Product and Marketing Manager for Goway Travel, and has written for BC Living, SharedVISION and Globetrotting. He is based in California.
