United Airlines Policies: Everything You Need to Know

The Big Picture on United Airlines

United is one of the largest airlines in the world, operating from major hubs in Newark, Houston, Chicago O'Hare, Denver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Washington Dulles. It has particularly strong international coverage, especially to Asia and Europe.

The catch? Basic Economy on United is more restrictive than on American or Delta. You don't get a carry-on bag on the cheapest fare, and seat selection is limited. On the flip side, United's wifi game is strong with Starlink rolling out, there are no change fees on standard fares, and the airline has been investing heavily in new aircraft and cabin upgrades. If you're picking between the big three for domestic travel, United's Basic Economy restrictions are the main thing to watch out for.

Carry-On and Personal Item Policy

Personal Item (Free on All Fares)

Every United passenger gets one free personal item that fits under the seat. Maximum size is 17 x 10 x 9 inches -- that's smaller than what most airlines allow, so measure your bag before you go.

Carry-On Bag (Not Free on Basic Economy)

Here's where United differs from American and Delta: Basic Economy passengers don't get a carry-on bag. Only a personal item is included. If you show up at the gate with a carry-on on a Basic Economy ticket, you'll pay the checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge.

For Economy and above, you get one free carry-on bag with a maximum size of 22 x 14 x 9 inches including handles and wheels.

Checked Baggage Fees

United's checked bag fees depend on whether you prepay online or pay at the airport:

• 1st checked bag: $35-$40 online, $40-$50 at the airport
• 2nd checked bag: $45-$55 online, $50-$60 at the airport
• 3rd+ bags: $150+ each

Exact fees vary by route. The lesson: always prepay online to save $5-$10 per bag. Standard bags must be 62 linear inches or smaller and weigh 50 lbs or less.

Overweight bags (51-70 lbs) cost $100-$200. Oversized bags (63-115 linear inches) run $200+. Bags over 100 lbs or 115 linear inches aren't accepted.

How to Avoid Bag Fees

• Premier Silver: 1 free checked bag
• Premier Gold: 2 free checked bags
• Premier 1K and above: 3 free checked bags
• United Explorer Card: 1 free checked bag for cardholder and a companion on the same reservation
• United Club Infinite Card: 2 free checked bags
• Active military: Free checked bags with valid ID
• Premium cabin tickets: Polaris and First Class include checked bags

Cancellation and Change Policy

United has eliminated change fees on most fare types:

• 24-hour rule: Cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, as long as you booked at least 7 days before departure and directly with United
• Economy and above: No change fees. You'll pay any fare difference when rebooking
• Basic Economy: Non-refundable and non-changeable after the 24-hour window. You lose the ticket value entirely
• Refundable fares: Full refund to your original payment method at any time

If United cancels your flight or significantly changes the schedule, you're entitled to a full refund regardless of your fare type -- that's required by federal regulations.

Travel Credits

When you cancel a non-refundable ticket outside the 24-hour window, you'll receive a travel credit. Credits are valid for future United flights and are tied to the passenger's name.

Name Change Policy

United's name change policy is fairly standard for a legacy carrier:

• Minor corrections: Spelling errors and small typos can usually be fixed at no charge through United's customer service
• Legal name changes: Changes due to marriage, divorce, or court orders are accommodated with proper documentation
• Transfers: Tickets cannot be transferred to a different person. You'd need to cancel and rebook under the new name

The safest move is to double-check your name against your ID before completing your booking. Fixing it within the 24-hour cancellation window is easiest -- just cancel and rebook with the correct name.

Seat Selection Policy

Seat selection on United is tied closely to your fare:

• Basic Economy: No seat selection. Your seat is automatically assigned at check-in. You might get stuck in a middle seat
• Economy: Free standard seat selection at booking
• Economy Plus: Extra-legroom seats available for purchase, starting around $30-$80+ per segment depending on route
• Polaris and First: Full seat selection included

Premier members get complimentary Economy Plus seats when available, with higher tiers getting earlier access. Families traveling together on Basic Economy should be aware that you could be seated separately across the cabin.

Upgrading Your Seat

United offers paid upgrades through the app and website. You can also bid on upgrades using MileagePlus miles. Premier members are eligible for complimentary upgrades to domestic First Class when available -- 1K members get the highest priority. United's Polaris Business Class on international routes features lie-flat seats, premium dining, and access to Polaris Lounges at select hubs.

Pet Policy

United allows small dogs and cats to fly in the cabin:

• Cabin fee: $150 each way
• Carrier requirements: Must fit comfortably under the seat in front of you. Hard or soft-sided carriers are accepted
• Limit: One pet per passenger, but you can bring two pets if you buy an adjacent seat
• Species: Only cats and dogs are allowed

United discontinued its PetSafe cargo program, so checking pets as baggage is no longer an option. In-cabin is the only way to fly your pet on United. For larger animals, you'll need to use a third-party pet transportation service.

Emotional support animals are not accepted. Only trained service dogs can fly without a carrier, subject to United's documentation and behavior requirements.

Wifi and Entertainment

United is rolling out Starlink satellite wifi across its fleet, which is a significant upgrade:

• MileagePlus members: Free wifi on Starlink-equipped aircraft. MileagePlus is free to join
• T-Mobile users: Free wifi on most United flights, including streaming where available
• Everyone else: Starting at $8 (or 1,600 miles) for MileagePlus members, $10 for non-members on domestic flights
• Automatic refunds: United monitors connectivity quality and automatically refunds you the next day if wifi performance was poor on your flight

United's seatback entertainment screens are available on many widebody aircraft. On planes without screens, you can stream content through the United app on your personal device. Download the app and your content before your flight for the smoothest experience.

Other Key Policies

Unaccompanied Minors

Children ages 5-11 must travel as unaccompanied minors on nonstop flights. The fee is $150 each way for domestic travel. Kids 12-17 can fly alone without the service but can opt in.

Boarding

United boards by groups (1 through 5). Group 1 is pre-boarding and premium cabins. Group 2 is Premier members and premium credit card holders. Groups 3-5 are economy passengers based on fare type. Basic Economy always boards in the last group.

Standby

Same-day standby is free for Economy and above on domestic flights. List yourself through the United app for an earlier or later flight. Same-day confirmed changes are free for Premier members. Basic Economy isn't eligible for standby.

Food and Drinks

Complimentary snacks and soft drinks on most flights. Buy-on-board food options are available on domestic flights over 3 hours. Polaris Business Class offers multi-course meals with wine pairings on long-haul international flights.

MileagePlus Program

United's loyalty program earns miles based on fare cost. Premier status tiers are Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K, with perks including upgrades, lounge access, bag fee waivers, and bonus miles. Global Services sits above 1K as an invitation-only tier for United's highest-value customers.

United Club Lounges

United operates United Club lounges at its hubs and major airports. Access requires a United Club membership ($650+/year), a United Club Infinite Card, a Polaris Business Class ticket, or Star Alliance Gold status. Day passes are available for around $59. Lounges offer complimentary food, drinks, wifi, and a quiet working environment.

Star Alliance

United is a member of the Star Alliance, the world's largest airline alliance. That means your MileagePlus status and miles work on over 25 partner airlines including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, ANA, Swiss, and Air Canada. This makes United particularly strong for international travel -- you can earn and redeem miles across a massive global network.

Power and Charging

Most United mainline aircraft have power outlets at every seat. Newer planes offer USB-C, USB-A, and AC outlets. Regional jets may have more limited charging options. Download the United app before your flight for entertainment streaming and boarding pass access.