United Airlines Basic Economy vs Economy (Key Differences) [2023]

Are you thinking about saving a little bit of money by flying Basic Economy on United Airlines?

If so, you’re probably curious about the differences between United Basic Economy and regular (or standard) economy.

In this article, we’ll take a deep dive at all of the big (and small) differences so that you know exactly what to expect before flying on Basic Economy.

I’ll also analyze the price differences and give you some insight into whether or not it’s worth it to fly United Basic Economy.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Booking United Airlines Basic Economy

Booking a United Airlines Basic Economy fare will be the same process as booking a ticket for standard economy.

If there is a United Airlines Basic Economy fare available, you’ll clearly see it when selecting your fare during booking.

Also, the differences between economy and Basic Economy will be made very clear to you as you go through the booking process.

Multiple windows will appear showing you the difference between the two so that you don’t make an uninformed decision.

But even with all of those prompts, there still are quite a few nuances that you want to be aware of and I’ll go into those below.

Full-sized carry-on bags

The biggest difference between economy and Basic Economy that most people are probably familiar with is the carry-on baggage policy.

Basic economy fares do not allow you to bring on a free carry-on bag on all routes.

However, some routes will allow you to bring a free carry-on item and those include:

  • Trans-Pacific flights to and from the US
  • Trans-Atlantic flights to and from the US (flights to Europe, Africa and the Middle East)
  • Flights to and from Mexico and Central America, and South America.

Also, if you have a certain type of membership you might still be able to bring a carry-on even with the Basic Economy ticket.

These memberships include if you are a:

  • MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation
  • Primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or
  • Star Alliance Gold member.

If you are not allowed a carry-on bag but bring one anyways you will be required to pay the applicable checked baggage fee. In addition to that, you will likely be charged a $25 gate handling fee.

Personal item

Just like standard economy passengers, United Basic Economy passengers are still allowed to bring a personal item.

A personal item is basically a smaller carry-on which could be something like a small backpack, purse, laptop, etc.

The dimensions allowed for your personal item are: 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) or less. In my experience, if the object can easily fit under your seat it should not be a problem.

Mobility aids, assistive devices and medical devices including breast pumps are also permitted.

Seat selection

Economy passengers are allowed to select their seat at the time of booking. During that time, you’ll be shown a seat map of the plane and you can select any open seat or choose to pay more for an Economy Plus seat.

However, if you book a Basic Economy ticket, your seat will automatically be assigned prior to boarding (at check-in) and you cannot change it once you have been assigned to it.

In some cases when booking a Basic Economy ticket it will be possible to purchase advance seat assignments during booking and up until check-in opens.

This can be done after you input your personal information during booking and prices will differ based on your route and where in the cabin you are selecting a seat.

For a standard seat in economy, the price for seat selection may range from $10 to $20.

As you’ll see below, sometimes the price difference between economy and Basic Economy is not that great so selecting your seats could be more expensive than just booking economy.

Note: MileagePlus members, including MileagePlus Premier members, will not earn PQP or other accruals toward Premier status for purchasing a standard Economy seat assignment

If you want to purchase Economy Plus tickets, that will only be available at the time of check-in.

Elite benefits and upgrades

Also, MileagePlus Premier members won’t be eligible for complimentary Economy Plus seating. That’s actually a pretty major drawback because Economy Plus upgrades for elite members are extremely common to get.

Note: MileagePlus members, including Premier members, cannot use complimentary, earned or mileage upgrades, or Economy Plus subscription benefits.

Groups and families

When it comes to selecting your seats, a major factor to keep in mind is that customers traveling in groups (including families) will not be placed in seats together.

The only way to ensure that you’ll be seated by each other is if you book advanced seat assignments.

Unaccompanied minors

Seat assignments can be made for unaccompanied minors flying on United.

If you are dealing with an unaccompanied minor on a Basic Economy ticket, call the United Customer Contact Center after you finish your booking and pay the unaccompanied minor fee.

Passengers with disabilities

Passengers with disabilities can be accommodated when purchasing a Basic Economy ticket. You just need to make sure that you make a request at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled flight.

Boarding

United Airlines has a pretty straightforward boarding process. If you booked an economy ticket you’ll be boarding somewhere between groups 3 through 5, unless some special status applies.

However, if you have a Basic Economy ticket you will be the last to board the plane in group 5.

Normally, that would cause issues for finding overhead storage bin space for your carry-on bag. However, in this case you won’t have a carry-on bag so it is much less of an issue.

There is a very high chance you’ll be given a middle seat so be prepared for that.

Something to be aware of is that if you are a United Basic Economy passenger, you can still retain your priority boarding if you are a:  

  • MileagePlus Premier member or companion traveling on the same reservation
  • The primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card or
  • A Star Alliance Gold member.

Checked baggage

For the most part, the checked baggage policies for United Basic Economy and regular economy are the same. However, things might be slightly different on international flights.

That is because for Basic Economy fares on trans-Atlantic flights, you’ll have to pay for your first checked bag.

Refunds and changes

There is no change fee for most United standard economy tickets. The only out-of-pocket expense you would have when changing a standard economy ticket would be if the fare is more expensive.

However, things are much different for United Basic Economy. In order to make a change you would have to add economy benefits (which I talk about below).

Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for changes, but are eligible for a full refund inside 24 hours of booking as long as you completed your purchase one week or more before the original scheduled departure flight.

Also, if you cancel a United Basic Economy ticket, you will not get a travel credit. Instead, you would have to add the economy benefits in order to receive a travel credit upon canceling.

Most likely that travel credit will be good for 12 months from the time of ticketing.

MileagePlus and Premier member benefits

If you’re wondering about earning miles and credit toward elite status things are almost the same between economy and Basic Economy.

MileagePlus members will earn award miles for Basic Economy tickets but they will be at 50% the rate as a standard economy ticket.

They will also earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) as well as lifetime miles and accrue toward the four-segment minimum.

But one major difference is that Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). 

If you’re wondering about checked baggage, elite members will still receive the complimentary checked baggage allowance they are entitled to.

In-flight experience

The in-flight experience for a Basic Economy and economy passenger will be very similar.

Basic Economy passengers will still have access to purchase things like in-flight Wi-Fi, entertainment, food, drinks, etc.

And contrary to some rumors that surfaced at some point, Basic Economy passengers will not have to pay to use the lavatory.

Adding economy benefits (upgrading)

If you purchase a Basic Economy ticket but end up deciding that you don’t want to miss out on the standard economy benefits, you can still add them.

Prices may vary but you might be paying around $45. Keep in mind that every passenger on the itinerary must be upgraded with economy benefits — you cannot mix economy passengers with Basic Economy.

This can be done after the time of booking by visiting the Trip Details page on united.com, or Reservation Details in the United mobile app. 

If you’re in the middle of the trip you can still add economy benefits to your return trip as long as the return trip has not started.

Obviously, the sooner you act the more seats you will have available to you, so acting quick can be very beneficial.

The Basic Economy upgrade benefits include being able to:

  • Cancel or change your flight without paying a change fee
  • Bring one full-size carry-on item on board
  • Receive a complimentary seat assignment prior to check-in
  • Purchase Economy Plus or premium cabin seats
  • Enjoy select Premier status benefits associated with your Premier status: complimentary access to Economy Plus and preferred seating, Complimentary Premier Upgrades, and the option to upgrade using PlusPoints, as applicable

You may not be able to add economy benefits to all Basic Economy tickets but generally you should be able to when flying on select domestic U.S. flights and short-haul flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.

Note that you may not be able to add economy benefits if you purchased a bulk fare, award ticket, or a deeply discounted ticket.

Prices

Now that you know about all of the major differences and benefits between basic economy and economy, let’s take a look at the price differences for some of the most popular routes.

After analyzing 100 data points, we found that United Basic Economy was on average about 18% cheaper than economy.

The price difference could range from a small as $3 to over $60 so if you’re choosing between the two fares you don’t always want to assume that United Basic Economy is a far superior deal.

Here is all of the data that we found.

Basic EconomyEconomy
Chicago, IL (ORD)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)$185$199
Seattle, WA (SEA)$232$249
Washingon, D.C. (DCA)$69$94
Las Vegas, NV (LAS)$192$195
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)$79$89
Baltimore, MD (BWI)$89$109
Atlanta, GA (ATL)$163$173
Akron, OH (CAK)$116$194
Cedar Rapids, IA (CID)$141$169
Charleston, WV (CRW)$184$209
Denver, CO (DEN)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)$64$84
Allentown, PA (ABE)$156$181
Brownsville, TX (BRO)$123$168
Butte, MT (BTM)$79$89
Cheyenne, WY (CYS)$56$61
Dodge City, KS (DDC)$96$107
Fresno, CA (FAT)$127$167
Harlingen, TX (HRL)$123$168
Hobbs, NM (HOB)$173$193
Joplin, MO (JLN)$122$127
Houston, TX (IAH)
San Antonio, TX (SAT)$79$104
San Diego, CA (SAN)$149$174
Austin, TX (AUS)$59$84
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)$129$154
Columbus, OH (CMH)$139$164
Indianapolis, IN (IND)$129$154
Lincoln, NE (LNK)$224$249
Louisville, KY (SDF)$192$231
Madison, WI (MSN)$158$183
Manchester, NH (MHT)$177$227
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
San Diego, CA (SAN)$89$114
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)$182$193
Austin, TX (AUS)$70$99
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)$256$267
Mason City, IA (MCW)$165$220
McAllen, TX (MFE)$168$193
Miami, FL (MIA)$229$233
Milwaukee, WI (MKE)$308$329
Mobile, AL (MOB)$250$267
New York, NY (LGA)$199$218
New York, NY (EWR)
Phoenix, AZ (PHX)$137$168
Philadelphia, PA (PHL)$174$199
San Antonio, TX (SAT)$108$133
San Diego, CA (SAN)$158$198
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)$99$134
Austin, TX (AUS)$94$119
Jacksonville, FL (JAX)$49$74
Columbus, OH (CMH)$89$114
Indianapolis, IN (IND)$119$144
Charlotte, NC (CLT)$119$144

When United Basic Economy is not worth it

There are a few instances when United Basic Economy will probably not be worth it.

  • You want to bring a carry-on item
  • You want to sit together with a family or group
  • You think you might need flexibility to make a change or cancel
  • You need to earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs)

As you can tell from above, the price difference between economy and United Basic Economy is not always that much but the price to add economy benefits can be much higher than that difference.

For example, imagine purchasing United Basic Economy because it is $20 cheaper but then having to shell out $45 to make a change or cancellation.

So at the end of the day you may end up spending more money trying to save if you later end up realizing you need the economy benefits.

United Basic Economy FAQ

Are Basic Economy fares available on all United flights?

United Airlines states that “Basic Economy fares are available on select routes” so you might not be able to find these on every route.

Does United offer you a carry on for Basic Economy fares?

On domestic flights you are not offered a free carry-on but on many international routes you will be allowed a free carry-on bag.

Can you change a United Basic Economy fare?

No, you cannot change a Basic Economy fare. Instead, you will have to add economy benefits in order to make a change to your flight. This essentially works out to be a “change fee.”

Does United Basic Economy count towards status?

Yes, you can earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) as well as lifetime miles and accrue toward the four-segment minimum. But Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). 

What can you take on United Basic Economy?

You can take a personal item with you but full-sized carry-on bags are not allowed on many routes. When flying internationally, you may be allowed a carry-on bag so be sure to check the terms of your booking.

How much does it cost to check a bag with United Basic Economy?

The standard checked bag fees will apply. However, if you have to check a carry-on bag you will have to pay an additional $25.

How do you upgrade from United Basic Economy?

Upgrading can be done after the time of booking by visiting the Trip Details page on united.com or Reservation Details in the United mobile app. You may not be able to add economy benefits to all Basic Economy tickets. 

How much is it to choose a seat on United Basic Economy?

The price will differ based on the route and where in the cabin you are selecting a seat. Prices can be as cheap as $10 but can increase to $20+.

How much cheaper is United Basic Economy than standard economy?

We analyzed 100 data points and found that United Basic Economy is approximately 18% cheaper on average.

Final word

United Basic Economy is a way to save money on airfare no doubt. If you don’t have a need for a carry-on and don’t care where you sit on the plane, it could make sense for you to purchase a Basic Economy fare.

The problem is that if an unexpected situation arises and you need to make a change or cancellation, you may end up spending more money than you initially would have had you simply booked an economy ticket.

Also, while you can retain some elite benefits like priority boarding and free checked baggage, you lose out on things like upgrades to economy plus.

United Airlines Premier Access Benefits Guide: (Worth It?) [2023]

Getting through the airport can sometimes be an extremely stressful experience. Whether it is dealing with those dreaded long security lines, trying to secure valuable overhead storage bin space, or waiting for what seems like an eternity to get your checked baggage from baggage claim, frustration can mount at various times.

Luckily, there are some programs that can help remedy these situations. One of these programs is called United Airlines Premier Access, and I have had a lot of experience with it.

In this comprehensive article, I will discuss all of the benefits of United Premier Access and give you some insight into whether or not these benefits are worth it. I’ll also show you which airports offers these benefits and what to expect.

What is United Premier Access?

United Premier Access is a collection of benefits that allows certain customers to have a more convenient airport experience from the time of check-in, through the time of boarding, and even when picking up their luggage. These benefits are only offered to specific United customers and I’ll discuss who is eligible below.

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United Premier Access line
United Premier Access at IAH.

How do I get United Premier Access?

United Premier Access is available for the following customers:

Customers traveling on the same reservation as someone who is eligible to receive complimentary Premier Access will also receive complimentary Premier Access.

MileagePlus Premier members

If you are a MileagePlus Premier member (meaning you hold elite status with United Airlines), then you will be offered United Premier Access with all of your tickets. 

Here are the different elite statuses with United Airlines and how to achieve them.

Premier levelPQF and PQP Requirement
Premier Silver12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
Premier Gold24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
Premier Platinum36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
Premier 1K54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP

There is also the invite-only status of Global Services as well.

Travelers in United Polaris business class, United First and United Business

If you are flying business class or first class, then you will be offered United Premier Access. This includes domestic flights so you do not need to be taking an international flight to get access.

In addition to the Premier Access perks, you will also be able to check in free baggage with an increased weight allowance. For example, on a typical domestic flight you could check two bags in for free and their weight allowance would be up to 70 pounds (up from 50). To find out more about United baggage fees click here.

United Airlines first class
United business class on the 787.

Star Alliance Gold members

If you are a Star Alliance Gold member, then you should be given access.

United Club Infinite Card and Presidential Plus credit cardmembers

If you are a United Club Infinite and/or Presidential Plus credit cardmember, you will get access. 

The United Club Infinite Card is a great card for people who fly United and are interested in taking advantage of perks like free bags and priority check-in and who value United airport lounge access.

In addition to Premier Access, you’ll earn 4X United miles on all United purchases which is nice but the biggest perk is that you get access to United Clubs, which are United airport lounges found all across the country. (You’ll also get access to participating Star Alliance affiliated lounges worldwide.) 

Purchase Premier Access

You can now purchase Premier Access. A Premier Access purchase includes priority check-in, security lane access (where available) and boarding, but it does not include priority baggage handling. Prices, starting at $15, are segment-based, and subject to change.

You can purchase Premier Access on united.com anytime from booking through check-in. This means that you can call the United customer service number and request this purchase or you can even make the purchase at a check-in kiosk at the airport.

You may have the option to purchase Premier Access for one segment of your trip or all of your segments — it just depends. You can also purchase it for multiple people on your itinerary. Keep in mind that Premier Access purchases are generally nonrefundable (unless a flight is canceled).

Also, remember that if you purchase a basic economy ticket you cannot purchase Premier Access.

Whether paying $15 dollars for this benefit is worth it or not will depend on the person and on the airport that they are traveling through. For example, if you are traveling through a major airport that you know is backed up during the peak holiday travel season, then it could absolutely be worth it to pay $15 to avoid those depressingly long lines.

However, if you are just traveling through an ordinary airport at non-peak/busy times and you already have something like TSA Pre-Check, then you likely won’t get that much benefit from this.

United Premier Access check in area
United Premier Access check-in.

How do I know I have United Premier Access?

You can verify that you have United Premier Access by checking your boarding pass. You should be able to see it on your mobile boarding pass or if you have printed out a boarding pass it should be on the top of the boarding pass as shown below. 

United Premier Access boarding pass
Boarding pass showing Premier Access.

United Premier Access benefits

Here are the United Premier Access benefits:

  • Premier Access check-in
  • Premier Access security lane
  • Premier Access priority boarding
  • Premier Access priority baggage handling

Premier Access check-in

The first benefit that you will notice when you arrive at an airport that has Premier Access perks, is that you will have a dedicated area to check in.

The Premier Access check-in lines are often very short compared to the standard check-in lines available to the public. In fact, most times I have checked in, I have been able to go immediately up to the desk at IAH.

There will usually be lines for different levels of elite status at the Premier Access check-in. For example, you might see a line for 1K and a line for Global Services. But if there are no elite members in those lines, you should be able to check in at those desks even if you have lower elite status.

Premier Access priority check-in lines are available at all airports United serves.

Premier Access security lane

You will also have special access to the Premier Access security lane. This security line should be much shorter than the standard security lines available to the public. Also, sometimes the Premier Access security lane is shorter than the TSA Pre-Check line.

So, you often have to make a judgment call on which line to go into. I would typically choose the TSA Pre-Check line because those are usually quicker and you will not have to take off/out your shoes, jacket, electronics, and liquids. The exception would be if the Premier Access security lane is just moving much quicker than the TSA Pre-Check line.

Some airports provide you with TSA “light” benefits when you go through the Premier Access security lane. For example, you may not have to remove your laptop or remove your liquids or something along those lines. You might even be funneled into the TSA Pre-Check screening.

So getting the Premier Access security lane is nice, but TSA Pre-Check will often be better. To read more about TSA Pre-Check, click here. 

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Premier Access priority check-in airport locations

Premier Access priority check-in and boarding are available at all airports United serves, but access to priority security lines is offered only at the following airports:

  • Albuquerque (ABQ)
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)
  • Anchorage (ANC)
  • Austin (AUS)
  • Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)
  • Boston Logan (BOS)
  • Brussels, Belgium (BRU)
  • Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
  • Cleveland (CLE)
  • Columbus (CMH)
  • Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
  • Denver (DEN)
  • Detroit (DTW)
  • Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
  • Fort Myers (RSW)
  • Guam (GUM)
  • Harlingen (HRL)
  • Hartford (BDL)
  • Honolulu (HNL)
  • Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
  • Jacksonville (JAX)
  • Kansas City (MCI)
  • Las Vegas (LAS)
  • Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Melbourne, Australia (MEL)
  • Miami (MIA)
  • Milan, Italy (MXP)
  • Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP)
  • Nashville (BNA)
  • New York LaGuardia (LGA)
  • New York/Newark (EWR)
  • Oklahoma City (OKC)
  • Orange County (SNA)
  • Orlando (MCO)
  • Panama City, Panama (PTY)
  • Paris, France (CDG)
  • Pensacola (PNS)
  • Philadelphia (PHL)
  • Phoenix (PHX)
  • Pittsburgh (PIT)
  • Portland, Oregon (PDX)
  • Providence (PVD)
  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
  • Quebec City, QC Canada (YQB)
  • Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
  • Reno (RNO)
  • Richmond (RIC)
  • Rochester, NY (ROC)
  • Sacramento (SMF)
  • Salt Lake City (SLC)
  • San Antonio (SAT)
  • San Francisco (SFO)
  • Savannah (SAV)
  • Seattle (SEA)
  • Singapore, Singapore (SIN)
  • St. Louis (STL)
  • Sydney, Australia (SYD)
  • Tampa (TPA)
  • Tulsa (TUL)
  • Washington Dulles (IAD)
  • Washington National (DCA)
  • West Palm Beach (PBI)

Additional airports may be added in the future. ​​

Priority Boarding

Your boarding group will be determined based on the way that you obtained United Premier Access. If you have elite status, then you will board according to the established boarding groups that United publishes. Depending on your status, you could be boarding with pre-boarding, Group 1, or Group 2.

If you purchased United Premier Access or obtained priority boarding via a United credit card, then you will be boarding in Group 2. Here is a look at all of the United boarding groups to give you an idea of how the boarding process works.

Pre-boarding

  1. Unaccompanied minors
  2. Customers with disabilities
  3. Active members of the military
  4. United Global Services members
  5. Families traveling with children age 2 and younger
  6. Premier 1K members

Group 1

  • Premier Platinum members
  • Premier Gold members
  • Star Alliance Gold members
  • Customers seated in premium cabins: United Polaris, United First and United Business

Group 2

  • Premier Silver members
  • Star Alliance Silver members
  • Customers who have purchased Premier Access or Priority Boarding
  • United Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus and Awards Cardmembers

Groups 3 – 5

  • Economy Plus
  • United Economy
  • Basic Economy

Tip: As you might be able to tell, there are a lot of people who can board with Group 2. As a result, if you want to take advantage of the priority boarding then you should try to get in line for Group 2 as early as possible.

The line is not always that long but it can get pretty backed up at times, especially with big aircraft.

United boarding signs.

Premier Access priority baggage handling

When you check your bags, the agents should place a specific tag on your luggage for priority baggage handling. In theory, this tag should allow your bag to be one of the first bags that is unloaded off of the plane and so you should be able to be one of the first passengers to pick up your bag.

However, this does not always work out and so this benefit can be a bit hit or miss. In fact, many report that their bags are rarely the first to come out so I would be reluctant to place a lot of value on this perk. In my personal experience, my bags have come out first over 50% of the time.

Do I get lounge access?

Unfortunately, you will not get lounge access with United Premier Access. However, if you had one of the credit cards like the United Explorer Card, then you can get a couple of annual complimentary lounge passes and also get some of the Premier Access benefits like priority boarding.

United Club Lounge at IAH.

Premier Priority Desk phone number

If you are a Premier customer and have questions you can call the Premier Priority Desk phone number — the number is listed on the back of the membership card or you can call the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331).

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United Airlines Premier Access FAQ

How can I get United Premier Access?

United Premier Access is available for the following customers:

– MileagePlus Premier members
– Travelers in United Polaris business class, United First and United Business
– Star Alliance Gold members
– MileagePlus Club and Presidential Plus credit cardmembers
– Those who purchase Premier Access for a particular flight.

What credit card offers United Premier Access?

You can get United Premier Access with the United Club Infinite Card.

Do travel partners also get United Premier Access?

Yes, people traveling on the same reservation as someone who is eligible to receive complimentary Premier Access will also receive complimentary Premier Access.

Do business class passengers get United Premier Access?

Yes, If you are flying business class or first class, then you will be offered United Premier Access. This is true even if you are flying domestically.

Can I purchase United Premier Access?

Yes, you can now purchase Premier Access. 

A Premier Access purchase includes priority check-in, security lane access (where available) and boarding, but it does not include priority baggage handling. 

Prices start at $15.

Note: If you purchase a basic economy ticket you cannot purchase Premier Access.

What are the United Premier Access benefits?

– Premier Access check-in
– Premier Access security lane
– Premier Access priority boarding
– Premier Access priority baggage handling

When does Premier Access get to board?

Your boarding group will be determined based on the way that you obtained United Premier Access.

Depending on your status, you could be boarding with pre-boarding, Group 1, or Group 2.

If you purchased United Premier Access or obtained priority boarding via a United credit card, then you will be boarding in Group 2. 

Do I get lounge access with Premier Access?

No, unfortunately you do not get lounge access.

What is the Premier Priority Desk phone number?

The United Customer Contact Center is 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331).

Final word

Overall, United Premier Access offers a lot of benefits that will make your airport experience much more convenient and streamlined. However, the value that you get from these benefits will often depend on the the times of the day and year that you travel, how frequently you travel, and also will be dependent upon the airport that you are frequenting.

United Airlines Boarding Groups Guide: (Avoid Group 4 & 5!) [2023]

Figuring out the boarding process for airlines is not always the easiest task because there are so many different types of boarding groups (and sub-groups).

Between pre-boarding and all the elite level passengers, it can be tough to keep tabs on when you need to line up at the gate.

But we’ve got you covered.  

In this article, I will break down all of the United Airlines boarding groups and explain to you exactly how the boarding process works including how to avoid getting stuck in the dreaded Group 4 or Group 5 boarding groups.

I will also show you what to expect in terms of things like leg room with the different types of aircraft you might be flying in.

How many boarding groups does United have?

United Airlines has a total of five official boarding groups (plus pre-boarding): 

  • Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
  • Group 1 (Business class and first class, upper elite levels)
  • Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
  • Group 3 (Economy passengers)
  • Group 4 (Economy passengers)
  • Group 5 (Basic Economy)

Keep reading below to find out who exactly qualifies for each of these boarding groups.

How soon to arrive before boarding a United flight?

The general rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before departure on a domestic flight and three hours before departure on an international flight.

If you are an experienced traveler or are familiar with the airport and wait times of course you can arrive even sooner than that, especially if you have TSA Pre-Check and/or CLEAR. 

Once you get to the airport, the first thing you want to do is confirm the boarding time and gate.

You can usually find the estimated boarding time on your boarding pass. Just note that this time is subject to change depending on the status of delays.

In addition, it’s always possible that your gate could change as well so always keep your eye on the flight monitors located throughout the airport and lounges. 

For a lot of flights, you can utilize the United Airlines app and set up push notifications for when boarding begins. Of course, it would still be wise to keep an eye on the time yourself just in case you don’t receive the push notification.

The planes usually start to board about 35 to 50 minutes prior to departure depending on the size of the aircraft. For example, a 737 may begin to board 35 minutes before departure but a 757 will be closer to 50 minutes. 

I like to arrive at the gate about 15 minutes prior to the estimated boarding time.

However, if you are flying on a large aircraft and you want to get close to the front of the line you might have to arrive even sooner than 15 minutes before boarding.

Related: How Early Should You Get to the Airport?

United airlines plane on tarmac

How does United Airlines boarding process work?

Once you arrive at the gate to board you should see signs telling you where you need to lineup.

Groups 1 and 2 will be able to line up but United may ask for groups three through five to have a seat until those groups are called at a later time.

Group 1 will board through the blue lane and Group 2 will board through the green lane (as you can see in the photo below).

The remaining Groups 3 to 5 will then board through the green lane when called.

If you are in Group 1 or 2 and show up late, you can always enter through the blue lane and bypass the line of other passengers. 

A good practice is to simply walk up to the front of the blue lane and then wait for the agent to motion for you to come forward.

This can avoid situations where other passengers feel like you have rudely cut them off.

Related: What Happens if You Miss Your United Airlines Flight?

United Airlines boarding group area
United Airlines boarding group signs.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What order does United board its planes?

I will go into detail about each boarding group below but once again here is a summary of the order of United boarding groups per United’s website.

  • Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
  • Group 1 (Business class and first class, mid elite levels)
  • Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
  • Groups 3 – 5 (Economy passengers)

Pre-boarding

Unaccompanied minors

Unaccompanied minors are children who are 5 to 14 years old and traveling without a parent, legal guardian or someone who is at least 18 years old. There are special rules regarding traveling as an unaccompanied minor and you can read more about those here. 

Customers with disabilities

If you have a visible disability (such as being in a wheel chair, on crutches, etc.), you will be able to board without questions.

But if your disability is not as apparent, you should speak to a gate agent about getting priority boarding.

Remember that preboarding is something you self identify for so a gate agent should be very careful about pushing back on your reasoning for needing preboarding.

Typically, the gate agent should make an announcement about boarding with a disability but they may not. However, those with disabilities should be called before elite members, members of the military, passengers with small children, etc.

Related: Guide to Visiting Airports & Flying with Vision Impairments.

Active members of the military

United Airlines does not require active members of the military to be in their military uniform.

Related: check out all of the benefits military members can take advantage of when flying.  

United Global Services members

United Global Services is the top elite status for United Airlines.

It is somewhat mysterious in that you have to get invited to join this status. The requirements have a lot to do with the amount of money that you spend and the types of airfare that you book. You can read more about United Global Services and the requirements for it here. 

Families traveling with children age 2 and younger

If you are traveling with children two years or younger, you can also get pre-boarding. 

Premier 1K members

Premier 1K is the second highest elite membership level. This elite level is not an invite only status and can be earned by meeting the following requirements:

Premier levelPQF and PQP Requirement
Premier Silver12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
Premier Gold24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
Premier Platinum36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
Premier 1K54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP
United Airlines preboarding sign

Group 1

Group 1 caters to the mid-level elite members and also to anybody flying first class, business class, or Polaris. 

Premier Platinum members

Platinum is the elite level just under 1K. 

Premier Gold members

Premier Gold is the level just under Platinum. 

Star Alliance Gold members

Star Alliance Gold status is the higher level of Star Alliance status and you will receive this if you are a United Premier Gold member. This status is useful because it comes with lounge perks.

Customers seated in premium cabins: United Polaris, United First and United Business

If you are flying in the front of the plane (United Polaris, United First, and United Business) then you will be able to board with Group One.

If you are flying on a large aircraft like the Dreamliner the line in Group 1 can get quite long so you may want to arrive extra early to the gate if you want to be the first to board. To find out more about the United first class experience click here. 

United Airlines business class seats

Group 2

Group Two is for the lower-elite members and also for certain customers who have co-branded cards or who have purchased priority boarding perks. This line can be pretty long sometimes, too. 

Premier Silver members

United Premier Silver is the lowest level of the status with United Airlines. This status can easily be achieved and you can even get it with Marriott status. Click here to read more about United Silver status.

Star Alliance Silver members

Star Alliance Silver status is the lowest level of Star Alliance status and you will receive this if you are a United Premier Silver member.

Customers who have purchased Premier Access or Priority Boarding

Even if you don’t have elite status and you are not flying business class or first class you can still get upgraded to priority boarding by purchasing it or by purchasing Premier Access.

Priority boarding prices start at $15 and whether or not it’s worth it just depends on how much you value getting on board earlier. 

If you choose to purchase Premier Access, in addition to Priority Boarding, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of dedicated airport check-in lines and exclusive security lanes, where available. Read more about purchasing Premier Access.

United Airlines check-in area
United Premier check-in area.

United Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus and Awards Cardmembers

If you are a United cobranded cardholder for the Explorer Card, United Club Card, or Presidential Plus Card you can also get priority boarding.

I am a big fan of the Explorer card because it offers some great benefits like free checked baggage (even on international flights), priority boarding, increased award inventory, and you also get two free day passes to United Club lounges each year. And on top of that the Explorer card often comes with a great welcome bonus. 

Tip: Check out the free app WalletFlo so that you can optimize your credit card spend by seeing the best card to use! You can also track credits, annual fees, and get notifications when you’re eligible for the best cards!

Groups 3, 4, and 5

Groups 3 through 5 don’t line up until the others have begin boarding and it consists of pretty much everybody in economy class. The secret to getting a Group 3 vs Group 4 or Group 5 boarding group is to pick the right type of seat. 

Economy passengers who choose a window seat should get Group 3, passengers who pick a middle or aisle seat should get Group 4, and passengers who choose Basic Economy will get Group 5.

This order is optimized so that passengers don’t have to trample over each other and I confirmed with a United representative that they were still utilizing this order as of late 2022. 

Economy Plus

Economy Plus will get Group 3 although the United rep I spoke with said it’s possible for them to also get Group 4.

Economy plus is the slightly more expensive version of economy that allows you to have more leg room.

The prices for upgrading to economy plus will vary depending on the location of the seat and the duration of the route.

If you have United elite status you will often get bumped up from economy to economy plus. (This is the case even with the lowest level of status.)

United Economy

Traditional economy tickets will board before basic economy. 

Basic Economy

If you purchased a basic economy ticket you will be the last to board.

Basic economy tickets are the cheapest type of tickets and they do not come with privileges such as bringing on a free carry on or being able to select a seat.

These are not very ideal for families traveling who would like to stick together on the plane but if you are just trying to find the cheapest way to get from point A to point B this could be a good option.

There is an exception to note here. Premier members, Chase Cardmembers of qualifying cards and Star Alliance Gold members, will still receive their priority boarding.

Related: United Airlines Basic Economy vs Economy (Key Differences)

United plane cabin

Bringing on a carry-on 

If you are in the first few groups, you shouldn’t have any issues bringing on a carry-on to the aircraft but if you are boarding at the end, such as in Group 4 or Group 5 it’s possible that you might not have enough room for your carry-on in the over head bins.

In that case, you’ll need to gate check your bag. (Read here for more about what type of luggage you can bring on to the plane).

Related: Airline Overhead Storage Bin Etiquette Guide

Choosing a seat on United Airlines

The seats are assigned on United airlines. So unlike the Southwest boarding process, you’ll have a seat dedicated to you. You can choose your seat whenever you purchase your ticket or at the time of check-in. 

United seating details (seating chart)

Below is what you can expect in terms of leg room and seats with different United aircraft.

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

  • Business: 6’6″ pitch; 20.6″ width
  • Economy Plus: 35″ pitch; 17.3″ width
  • Economy: 30″ pitch; 16.3″ to 17.3″

Boeing 777-200 (777)

  • Business: 6’4″ to 6’6″ pitch; 18.8″ to 22″ width
  • Economy Plus: 34″ pitch; 18.1″ width
  • Economy: 31″ pitch; 17.2″ to 18.1″ width

Boeing 777-300ER (77W)

  • Business/Polaris: 6’6″ pitch; 18.8″ to 22″ width
  • United Premium Plus: 38″ pitch; 18.5″ width
  • Economy Plus: 34″ pitch; 17.05″ width
  • Economy: 31″ pitch; 17.05″ width

Boeing 737-700

  • Business: 38″ pitch;
  • Economy Plus: 34″ to 38″ pitch; 
  • Economy: 30″ pitch;   

Boeing 737-800 (738)

  • Business: 37″ pitch; 20.5″ width
  • Economy Plus: 34″ pitch; 16.3″ to 17.3″ width
  • Economy: 30″ pitch; 16.3″ to 17.3″ width

Airbus 320 (320)

  • Business: 39″ pitch; 19″ width
  • Economy Plus: 35″ pitch; 17″ width
  • Economy: 30″ pitch; 17″ width

There are several other different types of aircraft and also different versions of those planes. So if you want to check out a complete list of all of those click here. 

United boarding FAQ

What order does United board its planes?

Pre-boarding (Top tier elites, Military, Disabilities, etc.)
Group 1 (Business class in first class, upper elite levels)
Group 2 (Lower elite levels, United credit card holders)
Group 3 (Economy window passengers)
Group 4 (Economy aisle/middle passengers)
Group 5 (Basic Economy)

How can I get priority boarding?

You can get priority boarding by having elite status with United or by holding certain credit cards such as the Chase United Explorer card. You can also get priority boarding by flying in a premium cabin such as business class.

How do I know what time to board?

Your boarding time should be printed on your boarding pass. You can also use the United app.

Just be aware that boarding times are subject to change so always verify the boarding time by looking at the flight monitors at the airport.

When do military members get to board?

Active military members can board during pre-boarding. They are not required to be in uniform.

Do families get priority boarding?

Families traveling with children ages two or younger can board during pre-boarding.

When do United Silver members board?

Silver members will board with Group 2.

When do Chase United Explorer cardmembers get to board?

Chase United Explorer cardmembers will get to board with group two.

Final word 

It’s very easy to get priority boarding with United so that you board within the first two groups. In fact, it’s so easy that many times you’ll find that these lines are very long. If you’re not able to get a boarding position in the first two groups, consider choosing a window seat so that you can board the plane in Group 3 and stay away from the basic economy tickets that will have you boarding last. 

Buying an Extra Seat on United Airlines: What You Need to Know About the Process

Buying an extra seat on an airline can help make your flight much more comfortable for not only yourself but other adjacent passengers.

But how exactly can you purchase an extra seat on United Airlines and what are some things you should know when doing this?

Below, we will take an in-depth look at purchasing an extra seat on United. We will give you some tips and answer a lot of common questions about the process regarding booking, prices, baggage, etc.

How to purchase an extra seat on United Airlines

There are a few different ways that you can purchase an extra seat on United.

You can call to make your booking and book the extra seat at that time which is the recommended way. You should not be charged an online booking fee if you go this route.

The way that I used was to call a few days after I had already booked my tickets and selected my seats.

You can ask the agent if all of your tickets will be on the same PNR but it may not matter.

In my case, my extra seat was on a different PNR but the United agent assured me that if there were irregular operations, that extra seat would follow my main booking.

Some people also book an extra seat online by purchasing a ticket for a fictitious extra person. If your name was John Smith your first ticket would be booked with the name “John Smith” and then your second ticket would be booked as “EXTRASEAT Smith.”

You will then get an extra boarding pass for “EXTRASEAT Smith” and you will need to show that to the gate agent when boarding.

There are lots of success stories of the “EXTRASEAT” name option working and I confirmed with a United agent that it is possible but personally I would rather just call or chat with an agent to get it done.

That’s because at least I can put the blame on United if something goes wrong instead of potentially getting called out for doing some type of weird “fake name” booking. This is especially true for international flights where security is much stricter regarding IDs, names, etc.

If you make your booking through an agent, the agent should select the extra seat for you so make sure you know what seat to pick.

If you purchase an extra seat via an agent it will be issued in a new ticket with “EXTRASEAT” or “EXST” after your name (as seen below)

United extra seat reservation details

Purchasing an extra seat with award miles

It is possible to purchase an extra seat with United miles if there is award availability.

In addition, you can even purchase an extra seat with United miles if your original seat was booked with partner miles. For example, I recently booked two United seats with Aeroplan miles and then booked the extra seat with United miles.

Make sure that you do your own research for the award pricing because when I purchased an extra seat with miles the agent was trying to charge me 25,000 miles when I saw a seat available for 17,000 miles.

Eventually, they adjusted the pricing but only after I called attention to it so I’m not sure if there’s something weird about their systems. Just a heads up.

How much will the extra seat cost on United?

The extra seat is going to cost you the same as a normal ticket would cost you to your destination. If you purchase the extra seat at the time of booking, the cost could be the same as your main ticket.

However, if you wait longer or until the time of departure, the cost of that ticket could rise significantly.

Even worse, an extra seat may not be available which is why you don’t want to wait until later on to purchase your extra seat if you think it might be required.

If an extra seat is not available then United will not downgrade or boot other passengers. Instead, they will book you on the next available flight with an extra seat. The good news is that United is willing to waive the additional fees that would apply to the change.

Also, if you were forced to rebook to a flight on the next day United will also cover amenities, including meals and hotel accommodations for one night.

United economy seats

Will you be required to purchase an extra seat?

Some oversized passengers will be required to purchase an extra seat. Specifically, United provides three circumstances where you would have to purchase an extra seat.

If you don’t meet one of the requirements below, you will be required to purchase an extra seat.

Must be able to properly use seatbelt with only one extension

If you need to use a seatbelt extension, you must be able to properly attach, buckle, and wear the seat belt with only one extension.

The average length of a United seatbelt extension is approximately 25 inches. But because the design of your seat can vary between aircraft, the exact amount of “extension” that you get may not be 25 inches.

Remember, you cannot bring your own seatbelt extension — you have to ask for one.

Stay seated with the armrest down

United says “You must be able to stay seated with the seat armrest(s) down for the whole flight.”

This gets interesting whenever you are sitting next to someone who is okay with the armrest staying up. For example, you could be seated next to a family member who is willing to keep the armrest up to make you more comfortable.

United attempts to answer this question in their FAQ but does not do a very good job in my opinion.

From what I can gather, they make it sound like you will still have to demonstrate that the armrest can go down even if you are seated next to a family member who would be okay with the armrest remaining up. Presumably, this is for safety reasons.

That part I get but they make things unclear whenever they say that you “must remain seated with the seat armrest(s) down for the whole flight” but that “[t]his doesn’t mean that you can’t lift up the armrest.”

You could imagine someone who is in a snug fit but can get through the flight if they occasionally can relieve some pressure by lifting up the armrest for a short while. Based on what United says above, it seems unclear on whether or not this person would be required to purchase an extra seat.

Must not “significantly encroach” on other passengers

In order to avoid purchasing an extra seat, United states that “You must not significantly encroach upon the adjacent seating space.”

This is interesting language because some airlines just state that you cannot encroach upon an adjacent passenger. But in this case United says that you must not “significantly encroach” (emphasis added).

What exactly they determine is “significant” will be a subjective determination.

This could also depend on the passenger as some passengers are more tolerant with someone else’s body brushing up against them, while others won’t hesitate to complain to the crew.

Like some other airlines, United does a good job of providing you with information about their fleet. You could look up any aircraft and see how much width you will have to work with in your seat. It will generally be around 16 1/2 to 17 1/2 inches.

If you upgrade to a standard reclining domestic first class seat, a first class seat could get you around 20 to 21 inches of width.

Here’s a look at the width of different seats on United aircraft:

AircraftE+ PitchWidth
Airbus A31935″17.7″
Airbus A32035″17″
Boeing 737-700 V134″ – 38″17.1″
Boeing 737-800 V134″16.3″ – 17.3″
Boeing 737-900 V333″ – 38″17″
Boeing 757-200 V236″ – 40″17.8″
Boeing 757-30034″ – 38″17.3″
Boeing 767-300ER V134″ – 43″18.5″
Boeing 767-400ER35″18.5″
Boeing 777-200 V134″17.05″
Boeing 777-300ER34″17.05″
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner34″17.3″
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner V134″17.3″
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner34″17.3″

Remember that the person in the middle seat is (unofficially) entitled to use both armrests. If you are taking away one of those armrests that’s a breach of airplane etiquette.

Can you purchase an extra seat simply for extra comfort?

Yes, if you just want a more comfortable flying experience in economy and don’t necessarily need an extra seat you can still purchase an extra seat.

In fact, this is one of the best ways to significantly improve your experience in economy, especially if you were dealing with something like a cough.

What happens if you don’t purchase an extra seat but you need one?

If you do not purchase an extra seat but cannot meet the requirements above, United stresses that, “We will not board you if you decline to buy a ticket for an additional seat or an upgrade for each leg of your itinerary when required.”

How exactly this process plays out will depend on the circumstances but it can often lead to very embarrassing situations. This is one reason why you may want to be proactive about purchasing a second seat.

Otherwise, you may have to go through the process of sitting down, having an adjacent passenger complain, getting into it with a flight attendant, and then being asked to move, etc.

How an extra seat affects your luggage

Your checked luggage is tied to the amount of seats that you purchase so if you purchase an extra seat, your luggage allowance is doubled.

However, your carry-on is tied to the individual passenger. So that means that you will not be able to bring on an additional carry-on item even if you have an extra seat.

Seats that you may want to avoid

Some aircraft may not have armrests that can be pulled up. These typically don’t have space underneath the armrest because that is where the tray table comes out.

You’ll often find these in the bulkhead row or perhaps emergency exit row so if you are pushing it on size, these seats could make it a lot harder on you.

A warning about your extra seat

Sometimes you may need to tell other poaching passengers to get out of your extra seat or block them from taking your extra seat.

For example, it’s possible that someone could sit in the wrong seat or would prefer to have your extra aisle seat over their middle seat. In these cases, you just need to let them know you have an extra seat and if needed call over a flight attendant.

Let them know that you paid $X amount of money for that seat so that they understand they are essentially stealing something you paid for.

There are some isolated reports of airline agents (not limited to United) trying to fill an extra seat with a standby passenger. If this happens to you, then you just need to reiterate to the flight attendant that you have a boarding pass with “EXTRASEAT.”

At that point, you have paid for the extra seat and done everything you were supposed to do to ensure comfort for you and other passengers so an airline should acknowledge that.

It’s also possible that during an overbooking situation your extra seat could be taken by the airlines. Personally, I don’t think people who buy extra seats should be targeted when an airline overbooks.

That’s because these people have taken steps to remedy any discomfort for themselves or for other passengers. So many people complain about plus sized passengers so if a plus sized passenger takes initiative to solve that problem, airlines should respect that.

I’m not aware of this being a problem with United Airlines but it’s something to be mindful of when flying on any airline.

FAQ

Can I use my own seat belt extension?

No, you can request for a seatbelt extension from a flight attendant on board but you cannot use your own.

Will I have to pay extra change fees for my extra seat?

Yes, if you make a change to your flight and fees apply you will be expected to pay extra fees for the extra seat per the fare rules for the tickets purchased.

Does the law require United to provide me with an extra seat for free?

No, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) confirmed that airlines are not required to provide free additional seats or upgrades.

Do you earn award miles on United when purchasing an extra seat?

Yes, If you buy a second seat on United or United Express, you will earn award miles equal to the number of base miles for the flight. However, you don’t get Premier qualifying earnings or Premier benefits on the extra ticket.

Can you get extra food and beverages with an extra seat?

Yes, if you request it a United agent may provide you with additional food and beverages based on your extra seat.

Final word

Purchasing an extra seat on United is not so straightforward because there are multiple ways to do the booking and the requirements are not always so black and white.

I would always recommend passengers to be as proactive as possible if they think an extra seat will be a requirement and always be prepared to notify flight attendants that you have purchased an extra seat.

United Airlines Pet Policy (International, Cargo, Carry-on) [2023]

There are a few different United Airlines pet policies depending on how and for what purpose you’re bringing along your animals.

This article will take a detailed look at the pet policy for shipping animals on United.

I’ll cover in-cabin transport (carry-on), PetSafe (cargo), international, service animals, and show you where to go to get all of the forms and documents you’ll need to transport your animals.

What is the United Airlines pet policy?

United Airlines will allow pets to fly in-cabin but they no longer offer the ability to fly pets in the cargo hold as part of the PetSafe program (except for limited exceptions for the military).

The pet policies require you to follow some very specific rules and guidelines so if you’re thinking about transporting your pets on United you need to pay very close attention to the different rules.

If you need to read more about United’s baggage policies in general you can do that here. 

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How to avoid United pet fees

One of the easiest ways to avoid pet fees is to use the right credit card. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a good card for general travel expenses and its points can be used to offset airline pet fees since they will often code as travel.

You can also use an incidental credit attached to a travel credit card. For example, the Platinum Card has a $200 incidental credit.

Other cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve have a $300 travel credit that could be used on virtually any type of travel purchase including pet fees.

United in-cabin animals

In the past, United stated that they would allow domesticated cats, dogs, rabbits and household birds (excluding cockatoos) to travel accompanied in the aircraft cabin on most flights within the U.S.

They recently changed their website and now do not list out all of the different animals so it’s not clear to me what pets they allow beyond cats and dogs. For that reason, you may want to call and clarify what animals are allowed.

Fees

The fees for an in-cabin pet are $125 each way. Also, there is an additional $125 service charge for each stopover of more than four hours within the U.S. or more than 24 hours outside of the U.S.

Booking

Booking a ticket for your pet is very easy to do with United.

Whenever you are making a booking, just be sure to select “Travel with a pet” as a traveler. If you already made a booking, you can still go to My Trips and add a pet to an existing trip. You cannot add a pet using the United app.

Do everything you can to make this reservation in advance because there are limited slots available for pets on aircraft.

Check-in

Whenever you arrive at the airport, be sure to check in and get your pet tag. Remember, you’ll need both your own and your pet’s confirmation numbers.

Also remember that your pet is expected to remain in the kennel while in the airport. If you need to take them to a relief area you can check the airport maps feature on the United app to see if you can find one.

Kennel rules

Before your bring your pet on-board, make sure that you are towing them in a kennel that complies with the United pet policy rules.

The kennel must fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times and the door needs to be secured as well.

Also, the animal must be able to stand up and turn and around inside the kennel. There may only be one pet per kennel.

There are also specific dimensions required for these pets:

  • Hard-sided kennels: 17.5 inches long x 12 inches wide x 7.5 inches high (44 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm).
  • Soft-sided kennels: 18 inches long x 11 inches wide x 11 inches high (46 cm x 28 cm x 28 cm).

United will allow you to bring along soft-sided pet carriers that slightly exceed these dimensions so long as they don’t block the aisle.

While your pet must remain under the seat, some people will purchase an extra seat because it makes it easier to deal with their pet.

For one, it gives the passenger space to put a personal item underneath the difference seat. It also allows them to more easily bend over to check on the animal.

No unaccompanied minors

Pets are not allowed to travel with unaccompanied minors.

Age limits

Puppies and kittens traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 2 months (8 weeks) old to be accepted for travel on United. Puppies and kittens traveling internationally must be at least 4 months (16 weeks) of age to be accepted for travel on United.

International travel

Pets are not permitted on flights to, from or through Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand and other locations. Please verify if your destination allows in-cabin pets prior to travel.

Rules for international in-cabin pets vary. To book international in-cabin travel for a pet, contact the United Customer Contact Center or call 1-800-864-8331 to add a pet to your reservation.

Health declarations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) require all dogs entering the U.S., except those arriving from certain rabies-free countries, to be immunized against rabies.

Vaccinations must be completed at least 30 days before arrival in the U.S.

Since puppies cannot be vaccinated against rabies before 3 months of age, puppies under 4 months old will not be admitted into the U.S. unless they are arriving from a rabies-free country.

Each dog entering the U.S. must be accompanied by a valid certificate of rabies vaccination, signed by a licensed veterinarian and including the following information:

  • Name and address of the dog’s owner
  • Identifying information for the dog, including breed, sex, age, color and markings
  • Date of vaccination and the name of the vaccine used
  • Date when the vaccination expires. If no expiration date is stated, the vaccination must have been completed within 12 months before arrival in the U.S.

Visit the CDC website for more information.

Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the U.S; however, some states require vaccination of cats for rabies, so it is a good idea to check with state and local health authorities at your final destination.

Restrictions based on aircraft

You should note that there are some restrictions for specific types of aircraft that you’ll be flying on.

Keep in mind that many routes are served by different types of aircraft so you’ll always need to check and see exactly what type of aircraft you’re flying on.

You can do this be utilizing Google Flights or you can simply check on the United website.

Here are the restrictions:

  • In-cabin travel for pets is booked on a space-available basis.
  • A customer traveling with an in-cabin pet cannot be seated in the bulkhead or an emergency exit row.
  • Two pets per flight are allowed in premium cabins on select aircraft. Pets are not permitted in premium cabins on Boeing 757, 767, 777 or 787 aircraft due to limited storage space under the seat.
  • Four pets per flight are allowed in United Economy® on all United flights.
    • A customer traveling with an in-cabin pet in United Economy on Boeing 757-200 aircraft will need to be seated in a window seat due to limited storage space under aisle and middle seats.
  • The number of in-cabin pets allowed varies by United Express partner airline.
United plane

United PetSafe (cargo) [no longer available]

2023 Update: United no longer accepts PetSafe reservations.

United recently made changes to its PetSafe program so make sure that you’re up to date on all of the changes.

You can request your PetSafe booking here, but I highly advise that you read all of the details below before making a booking.

Pet age

Puppies and kittens traveling within the U.S. and Puerto Rico must be at least 8 weeks of age to be accepted for travel on United.

Puppies and kittens weighing less than 2 pounds must be at least 10 weeks of age. International requirements can be complex, so please contact an International Pet and Animal Transport Association (IPATA) shipper for assistance.

Cats and dogs (breeds allowed)

Only cats and dogs are allowed

United will no longer accept reservations for the following brachycephalic (or short- or snub-nosed) dogs and cats and strong-jawed dog breeds:

  • Affenpinscher
  • American Bully
  • American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull
  • American Staffordshire Terrier/”Amstaff”
  • Belgian Malinois
  • Boston Terrier
  • Boxer
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Bulldog
    • American Bulldog
    • English Bulldog
    • French Bulldog
    • Old English Bulldogges
    • Shorty Bulldogs
    • Spanish Alano/Spanish Bulldog/Alano Espanol
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chow Chow
  • English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel
  • Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Mastiff
    • American Mastiff
    • Boerboel/South African Mastiff
    • Bullmastiff
    • Ca de Bou/Mallorquin Mastiff
    • Cane Corso/Italian Mastiff
    • Dogo Argentino/Argentinian Mastiff
    • Dogue de Bordeaux/French Mastiff
    • English Mastiff
    • Fila Brasileiro/Brazilian Mastiff/Cao de Fila
    • Indian Mastiff/Alangu
    • Kangal/Turkish Kangal
    • Neapolitan Mastiff/Mastino Napoletano
    • Pakastani Mastiff/Bully Kutta
    • Pyrenean Mastiff
    • Presa Canario/Perro de Presa Canario/Dogo Canario/Canary Mastiff
    • Spanish Mastiff / Mastin Espanol
    • Tibetan Mastiff
    • Tosa/Tosa Ken/Tosa Inu/Japanese Mastiff/Japanese Tosa
  • Pekingese
  • Pug
    • Dutch Pug
    • Japanese Pug
  • Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei
  • Shih-Tzu
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier/”Staffys”
  • Tibetan Spaniel

Cat Breeds

  • Burmese
  • Exotic Shorthair
  • Himalayan
  • Persian
puppy
Photo by Paul VanDerWerf.

Temperature restrictions

United’s PetSafe program uses climate-controlled vans and keeps animals in holding areas within a temperature range of 45-85° F but United may decline to transport your pet if the outside temperatures are too extreme.

United will no longer accept reservations to and from the following airports annually between May 1 and Sept. 30, due to high summer temperatures.

  • Las Vegas (LAS)
  • Palm Springs (PSP)
  • Phoenix (PHX)
  • Tucson (TUS)
Phoenix hotel lawn

Reservations

Reservations are accepted between 30 days in advance (maximum) and five (5) days (minimum) prior to travel

Documents

United will require you to submit several documents to United PetSafe prior to travel which include:

  • Scanned copy of the completed, signed and dated Customer Acknowledgement Form
  • Scanned copy of your pet’s Health Certificate from a licensed veterinarian dated within 10 days of travel (or the timeframe required by the destination country)
  • Digital photo of your pet clearly showing their face to verify breed
  • Digital photo of your pet’s travel crate to verify compliance with Petsafe’s crate requirements

You can find out more about these documents here.

No India or Australia

Not accept any reservations to and from India and Australia at this time

Connections

United will not accept PetSafe itineraries with more than three flight segments (or two connections).

Also, cats and dogs are required to have a comfort stop if the total length of their journey is more than 24 hours. However, you can purchase a comfort stop if you’re worries about your pet’s health on a long journey.

International routing

United requires international routing to be arranged through an International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) pet shipper only. A list of IPATA members near you can be found at https://www.ipata.org

Crate guidelines

United will not accept a crate taller than 30″, including the 700 series crates. Also, they do not sell or lend crates at airports. Instead, crates can be purchased at united.com/petmate.

Find out more about the crate guidelines here.

If you need help selecting a good crate watch this.

Pet crate positions

PetSafe Documents

United requests that you complete two forms.

One is a Customer Acknowledgment Form and the other is a Pre-Travel Checklist

I suggest that you print out both forms but for your reference here is the checklist:

Before you book (30 days prior to travel)

  • Review new PetSafe acceptance policies
  • Confirm your pet is acceptable for travel based upon age, breed, health and international travel restrictions
  • Assess the overall health of your pet and if your pet is fit to fly
  • Confirm the trip length and temperature is appropriate for your pet
  • If you are shipping your pet internationally, engage an IPATA shipper for assistance with travel requirements and to make your booking

Preparing your pet for travel: Crate requirements (at least two weeks prior to travel)

  • Review PetSafe Customer Pre-Travel Information Packet
  • Obtain an airline-compliant crate that meets all guidelines and requirements
  • Ensure crate is the appropriate size for your pet and does not exceed 30 inches in height
  • Begin “crate acclimation” process as soon as possible to reduce your pet’s stress during travel

Preparing your pet for travel:

  • Documentation and other requirements (5-10 days prior to travel)
  • Fully complete and sign the Customer Acknowledgement Form
  • Prepare digital copies of two photos to submit to PetSafe (one clearly showing your pet’s face to verify breed, one showing your pet’s travel crate to verify compliance with PetSafe’s crate requirements)
  • Obtain the required Health Certificate from a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of travel (or the time frame required by the destination country)
  • Email the four required items to [email protected] at least five days before travel. Include your confirmation number in the subject line of the email
    • Required items include the Customer Acknowledgement Form, a Health Certificate from a licensed veterinarian, the photo of your pet and the photo of your pet’s crate
    • Each attachment must be 2 MB or less and total email size cannot exceed 19 MB

Day-of-travel preparations

  • Follow guidelines for pre-travel feeding and watering of your pet Gather all documents and photos you must present when you drop off your pet:
    • Two copies of the signed and completed Customer Acknowledgement Form
    • Print two copies of a photo of your pet, clearly showing your pet’s face (image should be no smaller than 3” x 3” and no larger than 4” x 6”)
    • Health Certificate completed and signed by a licensed veterinarian
    • Any additional required documents for travel / entry to the destination (for international travel, required documents should be confirmed by your IPATA shipper)
  • Check unitedcargo.com for the drop-off location and time for your pet
  • Prepare approved food and water containers for the inside of the crate
  • Ensure that only allowable items are placed in or attached to the crate At the airport on travel day
  • Confirm PetSafe drop-off location and time
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes in advance of the minimum drop-off time to allow for processing
  • Ensure person dropping off your pet has a current, government-issued photo ID to present at check-in

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United Service animals

United Airlines has several different types of classifications for service animals and they have different regulations depending on the type of service animal.

Trained service animals

Trained service animals are animals that receive specific training to perform life functions for individuals with disabilities, such as:

  • Visual impairments
  • Deafness
  • Seizures
  • Mobility limitations.

Trained service animals are accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability.

The service animal should sit in the floor space in front of the customer’s assigned seat but cannot protrude into the aisles. Customers may use an approved in-cabin kennel for smaller animals provided its use meets stowage requirements.

Exit row seating is prohibited.

Note that documentation may be required for an animal traveling to international destinations.

Emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals

Emotional support animals and psychiatric service animals that provide emotional, psychiatric or cognitive support for individuals with disabilities, but may or may not have task-specific training with respect to a disability.

Emotional support and psychiatric service animals are also accepted in cabin for qualified individuals with a disability if certain information and documentation are provided in advance of travel.

With prior documentation and clearance a customer may travel with no more than one emotional support animal.

Additional documentation beyond United’s requirements may also be required for an animal traveling to an international destination, Hawaii and other locations.

Customers traveling with an emotional support animal or a psychiatric service animal must provide the required documentation at least 48 hours before the customer’s flight by email ([email protected]).

Service animals in training

Animal trainers are permitted to bring one service animal that is training to assist disabled passengers onboard free of charge. These service animals must not occupy a seat. Trainers transporting service animals in the ordinary course of business or service animals who are not in training must check these animals.

Therapy animals

Therapy animals, which are pets that have been trained and registered by a therapy organization in order to visit nursing homes, hospitals, schools and other facilities, are not considered to be service animals.

When traveling with a therapy animal, standard pet-related regulations and restrictions will apply.

You can click here to read more about United service animals. 

Customer service number

For questions, please contact the United Customer Contact Center number at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331).

Is United Airlines safe for pets?

You might be wondering if it’s even safe to transfer your pet on United Airlines.

According to the DOT, United had the most animal deaths of all U.S. airlines in 2017 for the third year in a row on scheduled domestic or international passenger flights.

United had a total 18 deaths of animals in 2017, which amounts to 2.4 animal incidents per 10,000 animals transported in 2017. Delta Air Lines had 1 animal death in 2017 and American Airlines had 2 deaths of animals in 2017.

Since United has the wort track record in recent memory, I’d personally try to avoid transporting my furry friends with them in all honesty. But just in case you can’t avoid it, the odds are still very low that there will be an incident since we’re talking about 2.4 animal incidents per 10,000 transported animals.

Still, even with those odds some advise against transporting your animals in the cargo hold.

The Humane Society of the United States “strongly discourages” having your pet travel by air in the cargo hold of a plane, since the experience can be so stressful.

United Airlines Pet Policy FAQ

How much are the United Airlines pet policy fees?

The fee is $125 each way for an in cabin pet.

How can I avoid the pet fee?

You can use airline credits to avoid the fee with some credit cards such as the Amex Platinum Card. 

Can an unaccompanied minor travel with a pet?

No, an unaccompanied minors cannot travel with a pet.

Are pets allowed to Hawaii and international flights?

United Airlines doesn’t allow in-cabin pets on flights to, from, or through:

Australia
Barbados
Cuba
Guam
Federated States of Micronesia
Hawaii
Hong Kong
Iceland
Ireland
Jamaica
Marshall Islands
New Zealand
Norway
Palau
Panama
Philippines
Singapore
South Africa
Sweden
Tahiti
Trinidad and Tobago
UK

Are pets allowed in business class and first class?

Pets are not allowed in business class or first class on select aircraft including: Boeing 757-200, 767, 777 or 787.

Final word

As you can tell, there are a lot of restrictions and regulations for transporting pets on United flights. You should always be sure to check what the most up-to-date rules are since they can change from time to time.

Cover photo by Lynn Friedman via Flickr. 

United Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy Guide [2023]

United Airlines unaccompanied minor policy is standard, but it does have differences compared to JetBlue and Southwest. So, you’ll want to compare and contrast this program with other programs for both price and benefits added for the unaccompanied minor service.

In this article, I’ll discuss everything you will need to know about the United unaccompanied minor policy. I will be covering things like fees, booking, and all the rules. I’ll then walk you through the entire experience of what the unaccompanied minor and you should expect.

What is the United unaccompanied minor policy?

United requires children between the ages of five to 14 years old traveling without an adult (someone at least the age of 18) to use United’s unaccompanied minor service.

The United unaccompanied minor service allows the unaccompanied minor to always be watched over by dedicated ground staff and the onboard flight attendants. The service starts at the point of check-in and lasts until the unaccompanied minor is picked up by an adult like a legal guardian or parent.

I’ll get into all of the specific details you need to know below.

What are the United unaccompanied minor fees?

The fee structure for United unaccompanied minors is not per child, but per child pair. The fees for United unaccompanied minors are as follows for both domestic and international flights:

  • 1 to 2 total children traveling: $150 each way
  • 3 to 4 total children traveling: $300 each way
  • 5 to 6 total children traveling: $450 each way

If the unaccompanied minor(s) had roundtrip tickets, it would be double. So, two children traveling on a roundtrip itinerary will pay a total of $300 instead of the $150 on a one-way itinerary.

In comparison to Southwest, an unaccompanied minor will only be $50 each way.

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United unaccompanied minor rules

Age requirement

An unaccompanied minor defined by United would have to be between the ages of five and 14 years old. So, a passenger that is five years old flying without an adult at least 18 years old, would be considered an unaccompanied minor. The same goes for a 14 year old traveling alone without an adult at least 18 years old. 

Travelers that are between the ages of 15 and 17 years of age can travel alone, but cannot be a guardian to a traveler that is 14 years of age or younger. However, anyone at least 18 can accompany a traveler between the ages of five and 14 as they will not need United’s unaccompanied minor service. 

Unaccompanied minors cannot travel with anyone that is four years old or younger as they will need a parent, legal guardian, or someone who is at least 18 years old. 

Also, passengers aged 15 to 17 can travel as unaccompanied minors similar to other airlines like Delta.

Nonstop

Unaccompanied minors can only fly nonstop on either United or United Express flights. Plus, unaccompanied minors cannot fly any codeshare flights and other flights operated by United’s partner airlines. You should also note, when comparing to Southwest, United does not allow unaccompanied minors on direct flights (a flight that makes a stop but does not change aircraft).

United will also not provide any escort for an unaccompanied minor to flights connecting with any other airlines. 

Seating

Unaccompanied minors cannot make a prior seat selection as United wants full control over the unaccompanied minor’s seat selection. You will only know where the unaccompanied minor will be seated 48 to 72 hours after you finish booking.  

Children and adults traveling together on separate reservations

Sometimes the child and adult are on the same flight, but separate reservations. If that’s the case, the child under 14 years old will not need to have United’s unaccompanied minor service. All the adult has to do is call up United Customer Service at +1-800-864-8331 to link the separate reservations. 

Want more details? Check out the Ultimate Guide to Unaccompanied Minor Policies

How to book a United unaccompanied minor reservation

Making a United unaccompanied minor booking is pretty easy and it doesn’t require you to call. (If you wish to call, there will be a $25 call center service fee.)

When inputting your flight details and number of passengers, you can see many different options for passenger’s age. Select how many passengers in the right age bracket and then press search. 

When you select “search”, you will be brought to the next page which will display United’s unaccompanied minor information. It will then also want you to verify the age of the passenger(s). If the age of the passenger(s) is between five and 14 years old, there will be an unaccompanied minor service fee applied relating to the number of passengers that are unaccompanied minors. 

Once you select your flight(s), the total will reflect the unaccompanied minor service fee.

When you are proceeding with the passenger and payment information, you will need to add two adults picking up the unaccompanied minor at both the departure and arrival airports. 

If the drop-off or pick-up adult changes, you will have to contact United Customer Service to change the relevant details for the unaccompanied minor. 

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Dropping off an unaccompanied minor at the airport

Give yourself plenty of time

United suggests adding 30 minutes to their suggested check-in and airport processing times. That means, if you normally arrive at the airport two hours prior to your departure, add another 30 minutes for an unaccompanied minor. The adult dropping off the unaccompanied minor has to factor in the time for:

  • Parking the car
  • Checking in at counters
  • Submitting documents and verify documents
  • Obtaining escort wristbands
  • Getting through security
  • Arriving in time for pre-boarding

At the time of check-in the adult with the unaccompanied minor must provide the following documents:

  • Photo ID (License, passport, etc.)
  • Contact phone number and address 
  • The name, address, and phone number of the adult meeting the unaccompanied minor at the destination

Note that if you are given a gate pass, it is still TSA’s decision as to whether a young child may pass through security with the adult, so it’s not 100% guaranteed. Also, not all airports issue gate passes, especially when trying to get one for an international arrival. Check the unaccompanied minor section under the specific airport the unaccompanied minor is traveling from to determine if a gate pass may be issued.

International flights

For international flights departing outside of the US, an adult cannot escort the unaccompanied minor to the gate. In this case, a uniformed United representative will meet you and the unaccompanied minor at the check-in counter. Then the representative will also escort the unaccompanied minor through security and customs all the way to the gate.

For some international destinations, you’ll need to provide additional documentation for the minor when departing. For example, you might be required to submit a notarized letter that spells out specific information like: 

  • Parent’s names
  • Child’s Name
  • Name of anyone traveling with the child
  • Notarized signature of the absent parent (s)
  • Travel Dates
  • Destinations
  • Airline
  • A brief summary of the reason for traveling

Or you might need to supply a copy of their birth certificate and a copy of their parent’s or legal guardian’s ID. Thus, it’s a good idea to contact the nearest embassy or consulate to get the latest info on these special requirements. 

Boarding

In most cases, the adult will accompany the unaccompanied minor all the way to the gate. The adults are expected to remain at the gate or at the airport until the flight departs.

Flight attendants on the flight will personally greet the unaccompanied minor during the pre-boarding process.

The flight attendants will also try to make the flight interesting and as unintimidating as possible.

They will take the unaccompanied minor to their seat and help with carry-on items, brief the unaccompanied minor about the safety features of that particular aircraft, point out the lavatories, and might even invite the unaccompanied minor to the flight deck to meet the pilots (depending on the amount of time they have).

In the air

The great thing about the United unaccompanied minor program is the fact that the unaccompanied minor is allowed to have one free food item during the flight from the inflight menu. This means, one free premium food option from the menu is available for the unaccompanied minor to choose from the flight. 

During the flight, a flight attendant will keep tabs on the child during the flight but they do not continuously monitor them (they aren’t babysitters). Therefore, you want to make sure that your child is okay with being left alone for a little before deciding to let them fly alone. 

The goods news is that United has in-flight entertainment which should keep them busy, though I would recommend to give them a small backpack with toys, a tablet, etc., which will help occupy your child. Note: United accepts no responsibility for the content viewed by your child.

Pick-up

The person picking up the minor will need to check-in at the United ticket counter to obtain an escort pass so they can get through security. This person must be at least 18 and they must show a valid, government-issued ID. 

United suggests that parents or guardians picking up an unaccompanied minor should arrive at the gate 30 minutes prior to scheduled arrival but I would recommend 45 minutes to be on the safe side. 

Many times planes can arrive very early which is why they want you to arrive so early. The parent or guardian will need to present a valid government-issued photo ID at the time of pick up. 

United will not release an Unaccompanied Minor to anyone other than the designated parent or guardian listed on the form. If something unexpected comes up and that guardian can’t make it to the pick-up, you need to call United ASAP to modify the form. 

International flights 

Unaccompanied minors cannot be greeted at the gate for an international flight that is arriving in the United States. Therefore, the adult must wait outside of the baggage claim in the arrival hall. This means the unaccompanied minor will be escorted by a uniformed United employee directly from the plane to the adult.

United unaccompanied minor FAQ

What is the age requirement for a United unaccompanied minor?

United requires children ages 5 to 14 years old to travel as an unaccompanied minor if they are not accompanied by someone who is at least 18.

How much are the United unaccompanied minor fees?

For 1 to 2 total children, the fees are $150 each way. For 3 to 4 total children, the fees are $300 each way. And for 5 to 6 total children, the fees are $450 each way.

How can I avoid the fees?

You can avoid the unaccompanied minor fees by using a credit card with an airline credit such as the Amex Platinum Card.

Can unaccompanied minors fly on connecting flights?

Unaccompanied minors can only fly on nonstop flights.

Can an unaccompanied minor select his or her seat?

No, United will select a seat for the unaccompanied minor and you will know about seat selection 48 to 72 hours after you finish booking.

Can I book an unaccompanied minor online?

Yes, you can book a flight for an unaccompanied minor online and also pay for the unaccompanied minor fee(s) as well.

What information is needed to book an unaccompanied minor ticket?

You will need to provide the contact information for the individual dropping off the child and picking them up. Make sure that the individuals have a government-issued ID with information that matches their contact information.

Do I need to arrive early at the airport?

United Airlines recommends that you add approximately 30 minutes to the suggested check-in times.

If you are picking up the child you should also arrive extra early to ensure that you have enough time to obtain your escort pass and get through security. Many times flights arrive extra early so you should be prepared for that scenario.

Can I escort the unaccompanied minor on an international flight?

For international flights departing outside the US, and adults cannot escort the unaccompanied minor all the way to the gate.

Can an unaccompanied minor fly on an international flight?

Yes, but keep in mind that additional documentation is often needed for an unaccompanied minor to fly internationally.

Do unaccompanied minors get to board extra early?

Yes, unaccompanied minors can board during pre-boarding which is the first group to enter the plane.

Final word

United doesn’t have the cheapest unaccompanied minor service fees, but the program does try to offer unaccompanied minors a unique experience when flying alone. On top of that, the program tries to make it straightforward with the online booking process where you can fill out everything and not have to worry about anything else. 

Compared to other airlines, United does have similar age requirements and policies, but not allowing connections might make it hard for unaccompanied minors to get around with only nonstop options.

United Economy Plus Review: Worth It in a Game of Inches?

Sitting in economy is truly a matter of inches.

With every precious inch adding up to help you achieve a minimum level of comfort, you’ll probably consider bumping up to United Economy Plus if you ever fly United.

But is it actually worth it to pay extra for just a few more inches to stretch out your legs?

In this article, we will break down all of the benefits offered with a United Economy Plus ticket.

Plus, we surveyed over 300 data points to break down the costs and provide you with some insight such as what type of Economy Plus seats are the cheapest.

What is United Economy Plus?

United Economy Plus is the slightly upgraded version of Economy that provides passengers with about 3 to 4 extra inches of extra legroom.

United does things a little bit differently than other airlines when it comes to their upgraded Economy seats and not necessarily in a good way.

So you definitely want to read up on some of the details below so that you’ll know what to expect.

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United Economy Plus seats

How do you book United Economy Plus?

It’s extremely easy to book United Economy Plus.

Simply select Economy as your fare and then progress through the booking process until you can select a seat.

You will then see the seat map and if there are any Economy Plus seats available you can select them while also viewing the price.

If you decide after booking that you want to upgrade to Economy Plus then you can manage your booking and change your seat. You can also do this at the time of check-in.

Note: customers traveling on a Basic Economy ticket are able to purchase an Economy Plus seat only at check-in.

Some airlines allow you to upgrade once you are in the cabin but it’s not clear to me that United allows this.

United Economy Plus seat map

United also offers annual subscriptions to Economy Plus. They start at $599 and you can purchase them for yourself or for you plus up to eight companions.

The price will depend on if you want to choose a subscription for just the continental US, North and Central America, or a global one.

It’s an interesting concept that could make sense depending on your travel plans but if you plan on quickly reaching Premier Silver then it probably won’t be worth it.

United Economy Plus upgrades

One of the most common ways that frequent United flyers get seats in United Economy Plus is by getting upgraded via status.

Each level of MileagePlus elite status will grant you a way to get free upgrades to United Economy Plus. Here are the different policies:

Premier levelEconomy Plus Policy
Premier SilverAt check-in for you + 1 companion
Premier GoldAt booking for you + 1 companion
Premier PlatinumAt booking for you + 8 companions
Premier 1KAt booking for you + 8 companions

If you are trying to upgrade somebody who is not on your itinerary it is possible but be prepared for a little bit of pushback.

That’s because apparently the official policy for this is a little bit vague.

The best way to do this is to call United whenever you are ready to check in and tell the agent you would like to upgrade yourself and someone else flying on your flight to Economy Plus.

If the agent does not seem like they will be willing to do it, simply hang up and call back to speak with someone else.

You can also do this whenever you arrive at the airport but in my experience it can be more difficult.

United plane

Economy Plus experience: Worth it?

Let’s walk through some of the key aspects of the Economy Plus experience that you are probably curious about.

Seats at the front of the cabin

The first benefit of flying in Economy Plus is that your seat will be in the front half of the economy cabin.

Typically, it’s the first few rows behind First Class in addition to the emergency exit rows. You can usually tell if you’re looking at an Economy Plus seat because the headrest is a different color.

Some of them are also branded with subtle Economy Plus insignia.

United Economy Plus seats

On a domestic aircraft like a Boeing 737-700, you’ll find a mini Economy Plus section made up of the first three rows behind business class in addition to the emergency exit rows.

But on some of the larger aircraft such as the wide bodies the Economy Plus section can be much bigger. For example, the Boeing 767-400ER has ten rows of Economy Plus!

On newer aircraft equipped with Polaris Business Class seats, the Economy Plus section is only about six rows and you’ll find it behind Premium Economy.

And on smaller regional aircraft, you may only have 3 to 4 rows or they may not offer Economy Plus at all.

Economy Plus cabin

Extra legroom

The biggest perk of flying Economy Plus is that you will get extra legroom, usually around 3 to 4 inches although some seats will provide even more extra space.

The normal pitch for United Economy seats is about 30 to 31 inches but you can take a look at the chart below and see that Economy Plus seats offer at least 34 inches of pitch.

An extra 3 to 4 inches doesn’t sound like much but if you are over 6 feet tall, you know that those extra inches can add a good amount of comfort, especially if the passenger in front of you decides to recline the chair.

Personally, I like to sit in the bulkhead row directly behind business class when there is no hard partition because you get a lot of extra legroom.

AircraftE+ PitchWidth
Airbus A31935″17.7″
Airbus A32035″17″
Boeing 737-700 V134″ – 38″17.1″
Boeing 737-800 V134″16.3″ – 17.3″
Boeing 737-900 V333″ – 38″17″
Boeing 757-200 V236″ – 40″17.8″
Boeing 757-30034″ – 38″17.3″
Boeing 767-300ER V134″ – 43″18.5″
Boeing 767-400ER35″18.5″
Boeing 777-200 V134″17.05″
Boeing 777-300ER34″17.05″
Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner34″17.3″
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner V134″17.3″
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner34″17.3″
United Economy Plus legroom
Legroom in a standard Economy Plus seat.

Boarding

Unlike other airlines like Alaska or Delta that provide you with priority boarding whenever you upgrade to an equivalent Economy Plus seat, United does not currently provide that.

Instead, you will not board until Group 3/4 is called. So you’re not at the end but still not priority.

If you want priority boarding you will have to add that on.

That’s a big deal because priority boarding virtually guarantees that you will have overhead storage bin space.

The good news is that they at least have bin spaces reserved for United Economy Plus.

Whether or not other passengers actually pay them any mind is another matter…. But if you board with Group Three you shouldn’t struggle to find open space.

United Economy Plus overhead storage bin
Overhead storage space reserved for united economy plus.

Priority boarding will still be available to you if you are willing to shell out a little extra dough.

You can purchase certain add-on bundles during your booking that might have priority boarding although a lot of the bundles I’ve seen in past only allow you to add things like United Club access, extra miles, Wi-Fi, or a checked bag.

So if you want priority boarding you may have to purchase Premier Access which starts at $15 per segment.

That will put you in Group 2 boarding, which is for the lower-elite members and also for certain customers who have co-branded cards.

United Airlines boarding sign

Drinks and meals

Economy Plus passengers will have the same drinking and food experience as those flying regular economy.

You’ll get complimentary drinks like soda and some light snacks but you will need to pay for anything else. On flights traveling less than 300 miles, drinks are available upon request

Flights over 500 miles will also have products like snack boxes and flights 1,500 miles and over have Bistro on Board items available for purchase. Read more on economy dining.

Seatback TVs

Flying Economy Plus will have no effect on if you have a seatback TV.

Instead, it’s just a matter of whether or not you get lucky enough to fly on a United plane with a seatback TV.

The good news is that United is trending towards adding more screens to their seats so it should become more common in the future.

Related: What Airlines Have Seatback TV Screens?

Economy Plus seatback

Because you may not have a seatback TV, you might need to rely on your own personal device to connect to the in-flight entertainment and stream movies and TV shows during your flight.

But that also means also relying on power outlets to keep them juiced up.

A lot of times you can find shared power outlets in both Economy Plus and Economy. But on some aircraft, the outlets may be limited to Economy Plus.

USB ports can be difficult to find on domestic planes with United but they are on lots of the wide bodies.

Related: Which Airlines Have Power Outlets & USB Ports?

Economy Plus power outlet

Lavatory situation

One of the drawbacks of Economy Plus is that you may be located in the front of the Economy cabin but the lavatories are located in the very back.

Sometimes the crew will allow you to use the First Class lavatory but technically that should only be reserved for limited cases, such as when the beverage cart is blocking your way to the back.

Some aircraft do have lavatories in the front of the economy cabin which can work out great so it does depend on the aircraft.

How much does United Economy Plus cost?

The big question for a lot of people is: how much will it cost to upgrade to Economy Plus?

The prices range based on the length of your route and also where inside the cabin you choose to sit.

We’ve broken down a lot of data points below to show you a bunch of insightful price data.

First, we found that the average Economy Plus upgrade price was $111 for a domestic flight. That was on average 72% more expensive than a standard economy ticket.

But that was the average factoring in both short, medium, and long-haul domestic routes.

It’s more helpful if you break down the pricing based on routes and distance:

DistanceExample RouteUpgrade Price
224 miHouston (IAH) to Dallas (DFW)$26 to $35
606 miChicago (ORD) to Atlanta (ATL)$59 to $79
1,597 miHouston (IAH) to Boston (BOS)$99 to $129
2,704 miSan Francisco (SFO) to Boston (BOS)$154 to $199

We also found that the window and aisle seats were more expensive than the middle seats (shocker, I know). Typically, the window and aisle seats cost the same amount to upgrade to while the dreaded middle seats were about $5 cheaper.

The prices for Economy Plus in the emergency exit rows were extremely similar to those upfront although in a few cases they were just slightly cheaper.

When you are traveling abroad, the price to upgrade can be much higher.

In case you’re curious about international prices for Economy Plus, here are some data points:

DistanceExample RouteUpgrade Price
2,200 miNew York (EWR) to Panama City (PTY)$134 – $179
3,465 miNew York (EWR) to London (LHR)$169 – $197
5,451 miLos Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT)$205 – $262
7,921 miLos Angeles (LAX) to Melbourne (MEL)$205 – $262
3,133 miHouston (IAH) to Lima (LIM)$154 – $199
1,280 miHouston (IAH) to Toronto (YYZ)$89 – $99

If you want to take a look at some of the sample pricing that we found, check out the data points below.

New York – Newark (EWR) to Seattle (SEA)

  • Economy: $169
  • Economy Plus Window: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$162 – $189
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$162 – $199
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$154 – $192
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$162 – $199

New York – Newark (EWR) to Tampa (TPA)

  • Economy: $163
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$75 – $84
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$84 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$84 – $99

New York – Newark (EWR) to Phoenix (PHX)

  • Economy: $222
  • Economy Plus Window: +$134 – $169
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$127 – $164
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$134 – $169
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$142 – $174
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$134 – $167
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$142 – $174

New York – Newark (EWR) to Dallas (DFW)

  • Economy: $99
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $106
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$75 – $99
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $106
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$99

New York – Newark (EWR) to Las Vegas (LAS)

  • Economy: $168
  • Economy Plus Window: +$169 – $189
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$154 – $189
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$169 – $189
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$189
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$189
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$189

San Francisco (SFO) to San Diego (SAN)

  • Economy: $93
  • Economy Plus Window: +$45 – $52
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$43 – $49
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$45 – $52
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$43 – $53
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$39 – $49
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$43 – $53

San Francisco (SFO) to New Orleans (MSY)

  • Economy: $264
  • Economy Plus Window: +$122 – $139
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$116 – $134
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$122 – $139
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$116 – $143
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$109 – $137
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$116 – $143

San Francisco (SFO) to Orlando (MCO)

  • Economy: $199
  • Economy Plus Window: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$162 – $189
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$162 – $199
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$154 – $192
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$162 – $199

San Francisco (SFO) to Boston (BOS)

  • Economy: $199
  • Economy Plus Window: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$162 – $189
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$162 – $199
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$154 – $192
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$162 – $199

San Francisco (SFO) to Atlanta (ATL)

  • Economy: $149
  • Economy Plus Window: +$149 – $179
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$142 – $169
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$149 – $179
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$142 – $174
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$134 – $167
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$142 – $174

Los Angeles (LAX) to Boston (BOS)

  • Economy: $265
  • Economy Plus Window: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$162 – $189
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$169 – $197
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$162 – $199
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$154 – $192
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$162 – $199

Los Angeles (LAX) to Tampa (TPA)

  • Economy: $180
  • Economy Plus Window: +$149 – $169
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$142 – $164
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$149 – $169
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$142 – $174
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$134 – $167
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$142 – $174

Los Angeles (LAX) to San Francisco (SFO)

  • Economy: $74
  • Economy Plus Window: +$45 – $52
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$43 – $49
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$45 – $52
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$43 – $53
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$39 – $49
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$43 – $53

Los Angeles (LAX) to Denver (DEN)

  • Economy: $99
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $96
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$76 – $89
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $96
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$76 – $94
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$72 – $89
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$76 – $94

Los Angeles (LAX) to Seattle (SEA)

  • Economy: $149
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $92
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$76 – $89
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $92
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$76 – $94
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$72 – $89
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$76 – $94

Chicago – O’Hare (ORD) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

  • Economy: $269
  • Economy Plus Window: +$89 – $99
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$84 – $97
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$89 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$84 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$84 – $99

Chicago – O’Hare (ORD) to Boston (BOS)

  • Economy: $93
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $96
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$76 – $89
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $96
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$76 – $94
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$72 – $89
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$76 – $94

Chicago – O’Hare (ORD) to Dallas (DFW)

  • Economy: $99
  • Economy Plus Window: +$66 – $76
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$63 – $73
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$66 – $76
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$63 – $77
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$59 – $74
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$63 – $77

Chicago – O’Hare (ORD) to Atlanta (ATL)

  • Economy: $99
  • Economy Plus Window: +$66 – $79
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$63 – $76
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$66 – $79
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$63 – $77
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$59 – $74
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$63 – $77

Chicago – O’Hare (ORD) to Phoenix (PHX)

  • Economy: $174
  • Economy Plus Window: +$109 – $125
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$104 – $119
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$109 – $125
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$104 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$99 – $122
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$104 – $129

Houston (IAH) to Dallas (DFW)

  • Economy: $150
  • Economy Plus Window: +$27 – $35
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$26 – $33
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$27 – $35
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$29 – $35
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$27 – $34
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$29 – $35

Houston (IAH) to Boston (BOS)

  • Economy: $164
  • Economy Plus Window: +$109 – $129
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$104 – $123
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$109 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$104 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$99 – $122
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$104 – $129

Houston (IAH) to Las Vegas (LAS)

  • Economy: $129
  • Economy Plus Window: +$89 – $106
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$84 – $97
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$89 – $106
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$84 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$84 – $99

Houston (IAH) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)

  • Economy: $109
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $96
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$76 – $92
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $96
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$76 – $94
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$72 – $89
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$76 – $94

Houston (IAH) to Seattle (SEA)

  • Economy: $169
  • Economy Plus Window: +$122 – $139
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$116 – $134
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$122 – $139
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$116 – $143
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$109 – $137
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$116 – $143

Denver (DEN) to New Orleans (MSY)

  • Economy: $169
  • Economy Plus Window: +$89 – $106
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$84 – $99
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$89 – $106
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$84 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$84 – $99

Denver (DEN) to San Francisco (SFO)

  • Economy: $99
  • Economy Plus Window: +$79 – $94
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$72 – $89
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$79 – $94
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$94
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: N/A
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$89

Denver (DEN) to Seattle (SEA)

  • Economy: $94
  • Economy Plus Window: +$89 – $99
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$84 – $97
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$89 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$84 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$79 – $99
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$84 – $99

Denver (DEN) to Orlando (MCO)

  • Economy: $175
  • Economy Plus Window: +$109 – $129
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$104 – $125
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$109 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$104 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$99 – $122
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$104 – $129

Denver (DEN) to Boston (BOS)

  • Economy: $114
  • Economy Plus Window: +$109 – $129
  • Economy Plus Middle: +$104 – $125
  • Economy Plus Aisle: +$109 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Window: +$104 – $129
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Middle: +$99 – $122
  • Economy Plus Emergency Row Isle: +$104 – $129

Final word

United Economy Plus does not offer the full range of benefits that you will find from similar products with other major airlines. There is no free alcohol and no priority boarding. Instead, the focus is just on the legroom.

So when it comes to purchasing Economy Plus, your focus should be on how much value that extra bit of legroom affords.

United Airlines Club Access Rules (Polaris, Star Alliance) [2022]

Whether you’re getting ready to embark on a long-haul journey across the Pacific or just looking to pass a few hours by on a long layover, sometimes there’s nothing better than being able to escape the crowds and enjoy some nice lounge access prior to a flight.

Unfortunately, sometimes the rules and policies for lounge access can be quite confusing.

In this article, I will walk you through the United Club access policy for getting entry into the United Club airport lounges.

I’ll tell you everything you need to know about your access privileges based on things like your ticket fare (including Polaris), elite and Star Alliance status, and credit card memberships and also discuss some of the rules.

Interested in finding out the hottest travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out! 

What is the United Club access policy?

Getting access to United Club lounges is not always straightforward. Whether or not you will have access, will depend on the following factors:

  • Club membership and credit card membership
  • Class of service
  • Destination
  • Which airline you’re flying
  • Elite status

I’ll discuss each of these in detail below and provide you with some insight on when you can expect to receive United Club lounge access.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

United Club Lounge at Houston IAH.

United Club Membership and credit card membership

Three popular ways to get access to these lounges are the following:

United Club membership

With a United Club membership, you’ll get access for yourself and two adults or one adult and dependent children under 21 years of age. 

You can purchase a United Club membership on an annual basis for you or for you and a spouse. The price in cash or miles will depend on your level of elite status with United. Below are the prices that you can’t expect to pay.

MileagePlus statusAnnual membership
General member$650 or 85,000 miles
Premier Silver$650 or 85,000 miles
Premier Gold$650 or 85,000 miles
Premier Platinum$650 or 85,000 miles
Premier 1K$550 or 75,000 miles
  • A copy of the marriage certificate or an affidavit of marriage or spouse equivalency is required to obtain a membership card for a spouse or domestic partner with a different last name
  • Memberships are open to anyone 18 or older.

United Club access via credit cards

You can get access to United Clubs if you or a cardholder of the United Club Infinite Card.

This is a premium credit card that comes with a $525 annual fee which is pricey but it’s $125 cheaper than the United Club membership available to the public.

In addition to getting United Club Membership, this card also offers some other valuable perks like getting your first and second checked bags for free and United Premier Access benefits.

If you fly United a lot it’s not a bad card to go with although I still think the Amex Platinum is the better overall credit card for lounge access.

The United Explorer Card is the more popular United credit card option in my opinion. This card comes with a much lower annual fee of only $95 and it offers you two one time passes for United club access. It also provides you with some great perks like a free checked bag and priority boarding.

One-time pass

United Club one-time passes are available for purchase for $59 at club locations or through the United app. This pass will allow one person one-time access to any United Club location.

If you join within 30 days of your one-time pass purchase, United may waive the price of your initiation fee, a $50 value.

Effective November 1, 2019: United Club customers, including members and their guests, and one-time pass holders will need to provide a same-day boarding pass for travel on United, Star Alliance or a contracted partner for entry into all United Club locations.

Class of service/airlines

Your lounge access will often depend on the type of class that you are flying and on what kind of airline you’re flying.

Generally speaking, you will have broader lounge privileges when you are flying on United Airlines versus when you are flying on a Star Alliance partner.

United Polaris business class

Customers in United Polaris business class may access United Club locations at departure, connecting, and arrival airports along their eligible same-day routing.

No guests are allowed.

United business class

If you are just flying standard United business class, you get the same access at departure, connecting and arrival airports along their eligible same-day routing but you need to be traveling internationally.

So, for example, if you are flying from Houston to Chicago in United business class you will not get access to a United Club lounge on the basis of your class of service.

No guests are allowed.

Related: United Domestic First Class Review (What to Expect)

Premium transcontinental flights

The exception to this domestic rule is when flying on premium transcontinental flights. 

Customers on premium transcontinental flights may only access United Club locations at the origin and destination of their premium transcontinental flight.

Premium transcontinental flights are those between airports like San Francisco and New York or Los Angeles and New York.

United business class on the Dreamliner (787).

First class and business class on Star alliance partners

When you are flying first class or business class on a Star Alliance partner you will not get the same lounge privileges.

The biggest difference is that you will only get to lounge access from the airport that you are departing from on your long-haul flight.

So, for example, let’s say you were flying economy on United from Houston (IAH) to San Francisco (SFO) and then business class on EVA Air from SFO to Taipei (TPE). In that case you would only get lounge access at SFO based on your fare class.

However, if all of your flights were on United Airlines, then you would have gotten lounge access in Houston as well as San Francisco.

One major difference between business class and first class on Star Alliance partners is that first class passengers can bring along one guest and business class passengers are NOT allowed to bring along one guest.

Tip: You might also be interested in Priority Pass airport lounge access.

Business class on Singapore Airlines would get you United Club lounge access from the airport that you are departing from.

Star Alliance Gold status

Star Alliance Gold status is one of the best ways to get access to United Club Lounges.

If you have Star Alliance Gold status with an airline other than United and have a same-day boarding pass for travel on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline, you can get access for you and a guest when departing from that same same airport.

(The guest must also be traveling on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline and departing from the same airport.)

If you have Star Alliance Gold status with United and have a same-day boarding pass for travel on an international flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline, you can get access for you and a guest even when departing an airport different from that of the United Club location being entered.

So if you were flying United economy from New York (EWR) to Chicago (ORD) and then ANA economy to Tokyo (NRT), it’s my understanding that you’d still have access to United Clubs at EWR.

United Polaris lounge

United Polaris lounges are the new, nicer United lounges popping up at hubs around the country.

If you have a United Polaris business class ticket, then you may access a United Polaris lounge at departure, connecting and arrival airports along their eligible same-day routing.

No guests are allowed.

So, for example, if you were flying from Chicago to San Francisco and then on to Tokyo, and you were flying this in United Polaris, then you could access the United Polaris lounges at both ORD and SFO. 

However, if your long-haul flight is on a Star Alliance partner then the same rules come into effect where you can only access the United Polaris lounge from the airport where your long-haul flight is departing from. In the example above, you’d only get Polaris access at SFO.

United Club Rules

There are quite a few rules that United publishes for their lounges. Here are a few of the rules that I think you should be aware of.

Age limit

Guests must be at least 21 years of age to access a United Club location with a self-service bar, unless accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years of age.

Getting cut off

United reserves the right to refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any patron who appears to be intoxicated or is otherwise unruly.

Outside food

United states that food may not be brought into United Club locations.

In practice, I’m not sure how strictly this rule is enforced. If you are setting up a full spread of fried chicken from a restaurant in the airport then that might be an issue but if you are just snacking on some items you purchased in an airport that’s probably not a big deal. 

There is also a rule that prohibits you from taking food, beverages, and the periodicals from the lounge. Taking a water bottle with you probably won’t be an issue but walking out with a handful of NatGeo magazines definitely won’t be a good look.

Sleeping

United states that sleeping is prohibited in all United Club locations. However if you have arrived at a lounge very early in the morning and there are very few other guests in the lounge you can probably get away with getting some shut eye.

It only becomes an issue in my experience when you have rearranged the furniture and you are taking up seats from other guests or if the staff at the lounge could mistake you for a dead body.

Dress code

There is no stated dress code in the rules. I would advise to try to keep it a little classy but don’t feel the need to dress up for a special occasion.

  • You can read about all of the rules here

Are pets allowed in the lounges?

Service animals are accepted into most United Club and United-operated lounge locations; all other pets must remain in a kennel while in the Club.

Where can I find United Club lounge locations?

Here is the full list of locations taken directly from the United Airlines website as of June 2020. You can go here to view an updated list of all of the United Club Lounges and see what types of amenities are offered at these lounges. 

Atlanta, GA, US (ATL)

United Club

Location

  • North Terminal, Concourse T, between Gates 11 and 12

Hours

  • Daily: 4:45am to 8:45pm

Amenities

  • Light snacks
  • Self-service bar
  • Wi-Fi

Austin, TX, US (AUS)

United Club

Location

  • West Concourse, Mezzanine Level, across from Gate 22

Hours

  • Daily: 4:30am to 7:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Boston, MA, US (BOS)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal B, Level 3, near Gate 24

Hours

  • Daily: 4:30am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Chicago, IL, US (ORD)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 1, Concourse B, near Gate B18

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 1, Concourse B, near Gate B6

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 9:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 1, Concourse C, near Gate C16

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 9:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 2, Concourse F, across from Gate F9

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 9:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Polaris Lounge – Eligible Customers are Welcome

Location

  • Concourse C, near Gate C18

Hours

  • Daily: 6:00am to 9:00pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Pre-flight dining
  • Quiet suites
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Cleveland, OH, US (CLE)

United Club

Location

  • Main Terminal, Concourse C, between Gates C14 and C16

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 7:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX, US (DFW)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal E, between Gates E6 and E7

Hours

  • Daily: 4:30am to 7:45pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Denver, Co, US (DEN)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse B West, near Gate B32

Hours

  • Daily: 5:30am to 9:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • United Club pop-up location, near Gate B59

Hours

  • Daily: 7:00am to 9:30pm

Amenities

  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Concourse B East, near Gate B44

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Fort Lauderdale, FL, US (FLL)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 1, next to the escalators near Gate C1

Hours

  • Daily: 5:15am to 8:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Guam, GU, US (GUM)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse level East, between Gates 10 and 12

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Hong Kong (HKG)

United Club

Location

  • West Concourse, Airside, Level 7, Room 7W504 (Take the escalator located just before Gate 61)

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Light snacks
  • Self-service bar
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Honolulu, HI, US (HNL)

United Club

Location

  • Diamond Head Concourse, Level 3, above Gates G2 and G3

Hours

  • Daily: 6:00am to 10:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Houston, TX, US (IAH)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal E, between Gates E11 and E12

Hours

  • Daily: 5:45am to 9:15pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal C, South Concourse, toward Gate C33

Hours

  • Daily: 5:45am to 9:15pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal B, South Mezzanine, above the United Express ticket counter

Hours

  • Daily: 5:45am to 9:15pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal A, North Concourse, across from Gate A9

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal C, near Gate C1

Hours

  • Daily: 5:45am to 9:15pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

United Polaris Lounge – Eligible Customers are Welcome

Location

  • Terminal E, between the United Club location and Gate E12

Hours

  • Daily: 5:30am to 9:00pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Pre-flight dining
  • Quiet suites
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Las Vegas, NV, US (LAS)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 3, Concourse D, between Gates 33 and 35 *Use the elevator to access the third floor

Hours

  • Daily: 4:30am to 12:30am

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

London, GB (LHR)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 2, across from Gate B46

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 6:00pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Los Angeles, CA, US (LAX)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 7, next to Gate 71A

Hours

  • Daily: 4:30am to 12:15am

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Polaris Lounge – Eligible Customers are Welcome

Location

  • Terminal 7, between Gates 73 and 75A

Hours

  • Daily: 6:30am to 10:30pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Pre-flight dining
  • Quiet suites
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Mexico City, MX (MEX)

United Club

Location

  • Airside, Mezzanine Level, Terminal 1 near Gate H

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Light snacks
  • Self-service bar
  • Wi-Fi

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, US (MSP)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse E, between Gates E6 and E8

Hours

  • Monday – Friday: 5:00am to 6:00pm
  • Saturday – Sunday: 5:00am to 5:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

New Orleans, LA, US (MSY)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse C, near Gate C7

Hours

  • Daily: 6:00am to 6:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

New York/Newark, NY, US (EWR)

United Club

Location

  • Mezzanine level, near gate C123

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Extensive buffet
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal C, Upper Level, near Gate C74

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal A, Concourse A2

Hours

  • Daily: 5:15am to 9:15pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Pop-up United Club Location

Location

  • Terminal C, near Gate C93

Hours

  • Daily: 5:15am to 9:15pm

Amenities

  • N/A

United Polaris Lounge – Eligible Customers are Welcome

Location

  • Terminal C, following security screening between Gates C102 and C120

Hours

  • Daily: 5:15am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Pre-flight dining
  • Quiet suites
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

New York, NY, US (LGA)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal B, Level 3, near the entrance of Gates 40-59

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 8:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Orange County, CA, US (SNA)

United Club

Location

  • Main Terminal, across from Gate 9

Hours

  • Daily: 5:30am to 8:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Orlando, Fl, US (MCO)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse B, near Gate 43

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 8:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Philadelphia, PA, US (PHL)

United Club

Location

  • Level 2, between Concourses C and D

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 7:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Phoenix, AZ, US (PHX)

United Club

Location

  • Coming soon to Terminal 3

Hours

  • Closed

Amenities

  • N/A

Portland, OR, US (PDX)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse E, across from Gate E3

Hours

  • Daily: 4:30am to 11:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Raleigh/Durham, NC, US (RDU)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 2, across from Gates D1 and D3

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 7:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

San Antonio, TX, US (SAT)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal B, between Gates B3 and B5

Hours

  • Daily: 4:00am to 7:15pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

San Diego, CA, US (SAN)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 2 West, Mezzanine Level above Sunset Cove, between Gates 47 and 48

Hours

  • Daily: 5:15am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

San Francisco, CA, US (SFO)

United Club

Location

  • International Terminal, Boarding Area G, between Gates G6 and G9

Hours

  • Daily: 7:00am to 10:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 3, Boarding Area F, Rotunda, near Gate F11

Hours

  • Daily: 5:00am to 12:00am

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Terminal 3, Boarding Area E, near Gate E4

Hours

  • Daily: 5:45am to 6:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Polaris Lounge – Eligible Customers are Welcome

Location

  • International Terminal, across from the security checkpoint for Boarding Area G

Hours

  • Daily: 6:30am to 10:30pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Pre-flight dining
  • Quiet suites
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Seattle, WA, US (SEA)

United Club

Location

  • Concourse A, across from Gate A10 on the mezzanine level

Hours

  • Daily: 4:15am to 11:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Tokyo, JP (NRT)

United Club

Location

  • Airside, Satellite 3

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Light snacks
  • Self-service bar
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

Washington, DC, US (DCA)

United Club

Location

  • Terminal B, opposite Gate 11

Hours

  • Daily: 6:00am to 6:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

Washington, DC, US (IAD)

United Club

Location

  • Midfield Terminal, Concourse C, near Gate C4

Hours

  • Temporarily Closed

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Midfield Terminal, Concourse C, near Gate C7

Hours

  • Daily: 9:00am to 6:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Midfield Terminal, Concourse D, near Gate D8

Hours

  • Daily: 5:30am to 6:30pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Club

Location

  • Midfield Terminal, Concourse C, near Gate C17

Hours

  • Daily: 5:30am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Full-service bar
  • Light snacks
  • Wi-Fi

United Polaris Lounge – Eligible Customers are Welcome

Location

  • Midfield Terminal, Concourse C, near Gate C17

Hours

  • Daily: 5:30am to 10:00pm

Amenities

  • Extensive buffet
  • Full-service bar
  • Pre-flight dining
  • Quiet suites
  • Showers
  • Wi-Fi

United Club lounge FAQs

How much is a United Club membership?

The price depends on your elite level membership:

General member: $650 or 85,000 miles
Premier Silver: $650 or 85,000 miles
Premier Gold: $650 or 85,000 miles
Premier Platinum: $650 or 85,000 miles
Premier 1K: $550 or 75,000 miles

Can I get United Club access with a credit card?

Yes, you can get access with the United Explorer Card or the United Club Infinite Card. However, the Explorer card only offers two annual passes per year.

How much does a day pass to the United Club cost?

You can purchase a one-time pass for $59.

Do I get lounge access when flying business class?

You only get lounge access when flying business class internationally. The exception is if you are flying on a premium transcontinental route such as between San Francisco and New York.

Do I get United Club access with Star Alliance Gold status?

If you have Star Alliance Gold status with an airline other than United and have a same-day boarding pass for travel on a flight operated by a Star Alliance member airline, you can get access for you and a guest when departing from that same same airport.

Can I sleep in a United Club lounge?

Sleeping is prohibited although it may be tolerated when the lounge is mostly empty.

Where are United Club lounges located?

You can go here to view an updated list of all of the United Club Lounges and see what types of amenities are offered at these lounges. 

Final word

United Club lounges hard nice places to relax and unwind before a flight or while waiting for a connecting flight. The access rules do get a little bit confusing when talking about partners and the different types of guest policies, but generally you can expect to get more lounge access when you are flying on United’s own metal.

What Happens if You Miss Your United Airlines Flight? [2022]

What happens if you miss your United Airlines flight?

Well, you may not be in as bad of a situation as you think. In fact, if you arrive to the airport shortly after your flight or after check-in closes, you might still be able to get put on the next flight headed to your destination.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the United Airlines flat tire rule and try to get a sense of what their policy is for those of you who happen to miss your flight.

What happens if you miss your United Airlines flight?

If you miss your United Airlines flight you still may be able to get put on the next available flight or take advantage of the standby list. Keep reading below to find out just how you might be able to take advantage of a lesser known exception called the “flat tire rule.”

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Flat-tire rule explained

The concept behind the “flat tire rule” is that if you were on your way to the airport and experienced something out of your control such as a flat tire which forced you to miss your flight, the airline would not hold that against you and work with you to put you on another flight.

While the name flat tire rule sounds like it’s limited to automobile issues and unexpected circumstances out of your control it can usually be applied to any type of scenario regardless of your own fault.

So for example even if you slept late, forgot to set your alarm, had the wrong departure time, etc. you would still be able to take advantage of this flat tire rule.

The biggest thing to know about this rule is that it’s sort of an unofficial/unpublished type of rule. No doubt, United employees should be well aware of the rule but it’s not something that’s really advertised much.

There are multiple reasons for that.

One of the reasons is that if cheaper flights were available later on in the day, this rule could incentivize people to intentionally miss their flight to take advantage of a cheaper flight.

It could also cause issues for logistics for the airline by making it more difficult to predict how many passengers will show up for each flight.

How does the flat tire rule work?

If you miss your flight but arrive at the airport you can proceed directly to the check-in desk and let them know about your situation.

(If you don’t want to waste a trip to the airport you could also call customer service and potentially sort this out.)

You’ll need to act within the recognized cut off time in order to take advantage of this policy.

According to the United Premier rep I spoke with, this window is 30 minutes before departure and two hours after your departure time.

Why 30 minutes prior? Well, because there is a cut-off for check-in usually about 30 to 45 minutes prior to departure.

When speaking with a representative, you should proactively bring up the flat tire rule and request for them to accommodate you since you are arriving to the airport within two hours from your scheduled departure time.

A good check-in agent should acknowledge the flat tire rule but it is possible for an uninformed employee to not know about it or to perhaps even feign ignorance because they don’t want to deal with that type of situation. Just be ready to request a supervisor just in case you get push back.

You need to know that nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the flat tire exception. Even if you show up within two hours from departure, it’s possible that there will not be any available flights for you to be put on.

If there are no available flights and/or no way for you to utilize standby, then you will be forced to purchase a walk up fare which is basically just the standard rate available at that time.

If there is a flight open for you, you may be placed on the next available flight, or if there are no spots on that flight you’ll likely be put on the standby list which is sometimes called the “late arrival standby list.”

United reiterated that if you are placed on the next available flight you do not have to cover the fare difference but if you are placed on the standby list you will have to cover the fare difference.

According to United, you should know if you have been selected from the standby list at least 30 minutes before departure for domestic flights and 60 minutes for international flights.

United Airlines publishes the information about the standby list and they state the following.

First, the people put on the standby list usually consist of three types of people:

  • Involuntary standby customers – Customers who did not travel on their original flight because a flight is canceled or an itinerary is changed by United.
  • Voluntary standby customers – Customers on eligible fares who are voluntarily standing by for a different flight from their original flight.
  • Pass riders – United employees or their eligible dependents standing by on a space-available basis. Pass riders are prioritized last, and are only assigned seats after all other standby customers are accommodated.

Note that as a late arrival you don’t really fall into any of those categories.

I guess you could say you are voluntarily standing by but you don’t really have a choice so it’s hard to say that you belong to one of the three groups.

As far as how they prioritize people on the standby list, they first are prioritized by elite status. The elite status order would work in the following order:

  • Global services
  • Premier 1K
  • Premier Platinum
  • Premier Gold
  • Premier Silver members
  • other MileagePlus® program members
  • All remaining customers

If there are multiple members with the same Premier status, the fare class originally purchased is used to determine priority.

And if there are passengers with the same elite status and for a class, they then use priority based on whether or not you have a Chase United credit card, are a member of United corporate preferred participants, and then finally the date and time that you were added to the list.

Interestingly, there is no explicit mention of late-arrival passengers.

Reports online indicate that as a late arrival, you would be last on the list by default but I’m not sure if that is always the case. Recall that above United states that pass riders are prioritized last.

I tried to get clarification on the priority order for late arrivals but I was told by United that they cannot provide me with this.

So it’s still not clear to me if you have elite status are you able to jump up higher on the list as a late arrival?

Related: Why You Should (And Shouldn’t) Check in Online for Flights

Does United still honor the flat tire rule?

You can find reports of United officially confirming that they do have a flat tire policy but some of those claims are almost 10 years old.

Airlines are also notorious for making changes to policies like this every few years so things can definitely change.

However, I confirmed that United still does honor the flat tire rule as of 2022.

Next day flight

If you have missed the last flight of the day things might be a bit more complicated.

I found mixed reports with some indicating that you could get put on standby for the first flight on the next day and others indicating that you are just out of luck.

But when I checked with United they said that they would try to put you on the earliest available flight the next day (morning) or the standby list if no flight was available.

Connecting flights

Note that if you had a flight booked with United Airlines and because of a delay by United you missed your connection, they are responsible for finding you another flight or providing you with compensation.

This also applies if you had booked with a codeshare partner like Lufthansa. You will not have to resort to the flat tire rule in those situations.

However, if you have a flight booked with an entirely separate (non-partner) airline and you missed your connection to a United flight, that is on you. In that case, you will have to rely on the flat tire rule or look into booking another flight.

Final word

Missing your flight with United Airlines does not have to end as badly as you might suspect.

If you arrive 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure or within two hours of that time, you might be able to get put on the next available flight or on a standby list free of charge.

You may not be guaranteed a spot on one of these flights but at least you have a fighting chance in a lot of cases.

United Airlines Baggage Fees Policy Guide (International, Carry-On, Checked) [2022]

Having flown United Airlines a countless number of times over the years, I am very familiar with their baggage fee policy, and luckily it is pretty straight forward policy.

However, the baggage fees can vary based on the fare class you book, your elite status, credit card membership, flight route (international), and weight and size of your luggage. Below is everything you need to know about the United’s baggage policies. 

What are the United Airlines baggage fees?

Generally, you’ll get one free carry-on and one free personal item and you’ll have to pay $35 for your first checked bag and $45 for the second checked bag. There are many rules and restrictions that apply though so I suggest that you keep reading below for more detailed information.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

United Airlines carry-on policy

United has a pretty standard carry-on luggage policy. They’ll allow you to bring the following for free:

  • 1 Carry-on bag
  • 1 Personal item
United Airlines baggage policy
United Airlines carry-on and personal item dimensions.

Carry-on bag dimensions

The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels.

Personal item dimensions

The maximum dimensions for a personal item are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). Personal items typically consist of the following:

  • Backpacks
  • Shoulder bags
  • Purses
  • Laptop bag
  • Other small items

The personal items should be able to fit beneath the bottom of the seat in front of you and bag sizers are available in the check-in area, so you can double check the size of your items once you get to the airport.

If you are bringing in a carry-on item and a personal item, the flight attendants will ask you to place your smaller item beneath the seat and to store your larger item in the overhead bin.

Related: What’s a Personal Item on a Plane?

Weight limit for United carry-ons

There are no published weight limits for carry-ons but rather only size dimension limitations.

Still, just because there are no published weight limits you still want to keep the weight of your carry-ons reasonable. And if your carry-on is especially heavy I would recommend that you handle your bag yourself while storing your bag. 

Carry-on exceptions

Like many other airlines, United makes certain exceptions for certain items brought on board.

If you bring one of the following items on board, they won’t count towards your one carry-on and one personal item limit.

  • Jacket or umbrella
  • Reading material
  • Food or merchandise purchased in the airport
  • Assistive devices (collapsible wheelchair, cane, one set of crutches, medical devices needed to administer prescription medications, portable oxygen concentrator, etc.)
  • FAA-approved child restraint system or safety seat
  • Diaper bag
  • Breast pump
  • Pet carrier (service charges apply for in-cabin pets)

Basic economy carry-on policy

Note that if you purchase a Basic Economy fare, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.

If you aren’t familiar, Basic Economy fares are the newer economy fares that are cheaper than economy but come with less benefits (many of which are standard). For example, you don’t get a free carry-on and you are not allowed to choose your seat for free.

  • You can read more about United’s Basic Economy fares here and here. 

United Express carry-ons

United Express flights are served by regional partner carriers using smaller aircrafts which means that they often have less overhead bin space. Sometimes the space is so limited that roller bags aren’t able to fit. If you’re flying in an EMB170, EMB175 or CRJ-700 you should be fine though.

United checked baggage fees

United does not provide you with free checked luggage. The fees charged can vary by route so I suggest that you enter in your route here to calculate the exact amount for your luggage. However, to provide you with some guidance, I’ve supplied fee amounts that you can probably expect to pay.

Unless you’re given free checked baggage due to airline status, cabin class, or credit card membership, you’ll generally have to pay:

  • $35 for the first checked bag
  • $45 for the second checked bag
  • $150 to $200 for the third checked bag ($200 for some international flights)

These prices are the same that you would generally pay when flying other domestic airlines like American Airlines. However, it is always a good reminder that Southwest Airlines offers you the ability to check two bags for free. 

If you want all the tips on how to deal with checked baggage, be sure to check out the ultimate guide to checked luggage here.

United checked baggage dimensions and weight

The maximum exterior dimension (length + width + height) of standard checked baggage is 62 inches (158 cm), including handles and wheels. The maximum weight for United checked baggage depends on which class you’re flying and/or your level of elite status.

Class of ticket

Elite status

If you qualify for different allowances based on your class of service and your MileagePlus status, the larger of the two allowances will apply.

United Airlines excessive baggage fees

United will charge you based on each measure that your luggage exceeds the limits. So for example, if one of your bags is oversized, overweight, and above the allowance then you will be subject to three individual extra charges. This can get very pricey so always be aware of that if you’re planning on bringing oversized luggage.

Remember, baggage fees will always depend on the airline you are flying. Therefore, if you’re flying one of United’s partners then you will have to pay partner’s prices. For example, if you’re flying Lufthansa and then connecting onto United metal, you will need to know Lufthansa baggage fees, even though you’re flying United on the second leg.

United Airlines baggage policy for oversized baggage

Generally, for luggage that is 63.0 to 115.0 linear inches (160 to 292 cm), you can expect to pay $200 extra per bag. That sounds like a lot but it is on par with other domestic airlines.

Baggage with total outer dimensions (length + width + height) measuring more than 115 inches (292 cm) will not be accepted as checked baggage.

United Airlines baggage policy for overweight baggage

Generally, for luggage that is from 51.0 to 70.0 pounds (24 to 32 kg) overweight, you’ll pay $100 extra per bag but on international flights this could be up to $200 per bag.

For luggage that is from 71.0 to 100.0 pounds (33 to 45 kg) you’ll pay $200 extra per bag

With the exception of assistive devices and musical instruments, baggage weighing more than 100 pounds (45 kg) will not be accepted.

Musical instruments up to 165 lbs. (75 kg) will be accepted along with all assistive devices.

Something to keep in mind is that extra baggage is only accepted if space permits. Oversized, overweight and extra baggage is not accepted on flights to certain destinations and on certain flights during specific timeframes.

For example, the following destinations don’t allow bags that weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms):

  • Auckland, New Zealand (AKL)
  • Lima, Peru (LIM)
  • Melbourne, Australia (MEL)
  • Sydney, Australia (SYD)

For a current list of destinations where oversized/extra baggage may not accepted check out the Excess Baggage Embargo page.

MileagePlus Premier members

United will allow you to check your bags for free if you have elite status with them.

Below are the different checked baggage policies for different levels of elite status. Travel companions of MileagePlus Premier members will have the same exemptions as the Premier member whose status provides the benefit, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation.

Premier LevelComplimentary checked bags in Economy, 70 lbs. (32 kg)Complimentary checked bags in premium cabin, 70 lbs. (32 kg)
Premier Silver13
Premier Gold23
Premier Platinum33
Premier 1K33

United credit cards

If you hold the United Explorer Card you’ll be able to check a bag for free for yourself and up to one companion on the same itinerary. This benefit applies even to international itineraries which is different from other airline cards like the American Airlines cards that only applies to domestic itineraries.

If you want to check two bags for free, the United Club Card will offer you that benefit. That card is the more premium card that also offers complementary lounge access to United lounge us along with a host of additional benefits.

Hot Tip: Use a travel card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred to earn extra points on travel purchases like airline tickets — you can even transfer your points to United (at a 1:1 ratio) and use them to fly for free! Find the detailed review here!

Active U.S. military personnel and their dependents

The United Airlines baggage policy allows active military personnel and their dependents to check a certain number of bags for free. The size limit and number of bags depends on the purpose of the travel, however. Notice how when traveling on official business the maximum weight per bag is increased to 100 pounds.

united airlines baggage policy
United Airlines baggage policy for military members.

Here are the United policies for military members and their families:

  • Dependents of active U.S. military personnel have the same exemptions as the service member whose status provides the benefit, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation.
  • When travel is due to official orders, dependents may travel unaccompanied.
  • When dependents travel on their own for reasons other than relocation, they are subject to the normal baggage allowance and applicable bag fees based on ticket type.

So basically the only time a military family member does not get the baggage benefit is when they are traveling for reasons other than relocation and they are traveling alone.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Sporting equipment

United Airlines will accept most sporting equipment. However, you need to be aware that there might be specific guidelines and packaging requirements that you must abide by when transporting certain types of equipment. You can find out more about the specific restrictions here.

Here are some examples of accepted sporting equipment:

  • Archery
  • Baseball
  • Bicycles
  • Boogie/skim/speed boards
  • Bowling equipment
  • Camping equipment
  • Fencing and kendo equipment
  • Firearms
  • Golf equipment
  • Gymnastic equipment
  • Hang gliding equipment
  • Hockey or lacrosse equipment
  • Javelins
  • Kayaks or canoes
  • Kiteboards
  • Life jackets
  • Oars
  • Paintball equipment
  • Parachutes and parasails
  • Pole vaulting equipment
  • Pool cues
  • Scuba equipment
  • Skating equipment
  • Ski and snowboard equipment
  • Surfboards, wakeboards and paddleboards
  • Tennis equipment
  • Wave ski
  • Windsurfing equipment

United animal policy

United will allow domesticated cats, small dogs, rabbits and birds in the aircraft cabin on most flights within the U.S. You can read more about their in-cabin animal policy here.

Their Pet Safe program has been updated recently and you  can find out more about the animal policies here. 

United Baggage Fees FAQ

What are the check-in times when traveling with baggage?

If you are traveling with baggage, you must check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure on a domestic flight and 60 minutes prior to departure on an international flight. (This applies to most airports although there are exceptions.).

Of course, I always advocate for you to arrive to the airport much earlier than this. For a domestic flight, I will try to arrive around two hours before departure and for an international flight I will try to arrive around three hours prior to departure. Click here to see U.S. airports with special minimum required times.

Do I pick up my luggage if connecting on a United flight?

For a trip that includes one or more connections, United will check bags to the final destination stated on the ticket. Usually luggage will be stored on the same flight as the traveler but that’t not always the case.

You’ll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:

Making a voluntary stopover
Making a connection that involves an overnight stay
Connecting to an itinerary booked on a separate ticket that doesn’t include a Star Alliance partner airline
Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country

I would always recommend to avoid flying two separate itineraries when connecting. That is because it increases the risk of you missing a flight and if you miss a flight in a situation like that you will likely have to pay for a new second flight.

Also, if your luggage is lost for some reason it can become much more difficult to work through that process since it is harder to coordinate efforts to retrieve your bag.

Does United Airlines allow smart luggage?

Effective January 15, you must remove spare lithium batteries or lithium batteries that are part of bags themselves (“smart bags”) before checking or gate-checking baggage. These batteries can be transported in your carry-on baggage. Bags with non-removable lithium batteries are not allowed on any United flights, including United Express flights.

Final word

The United Airlines baggage policy is for the most part straight forward and pretty similar to what other legacy carriers provide. However, you need to be aware of the different rules and restrictions that apply to overweight and oversized luggage as well as all of the special rules for class fares such as Basic Economy.

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