United AirlinesUA

United Airlines is a full-service U.S. network carrier headquartered in Chicago and a founding member of Star Alliance. A United-marketed itinerary may include United Express or an alliance partner, so check the operating carrier before applying United's baggage or check-in rules to every segment.

Carry-On Allowance

Personal Item (free on all fares):

• Dimensions: 17" × 10" × 9" (43 × 25 × 22 cm)
• Must fit under the seat in front of you
• Examples: Backpack, purse, laptop bag

Cabin Bag (overhead bin):

• Dimensions: 22" × 14" × 9" (56 × 35 × 23 cm) including handles and wheels
• Weight: No limit on domestic or international
• Included: Economy, Premium Plus, Polaris, First
• Basic Economy: inclusion depends on route and qualifying exemptions; check the bag allowance shown in your reservation

Fare Class	Personal Item	Cabin Bag	Notes
Basic Economy (Domestic)	✓ Free	✗ Not included	Must gate-check for fee + $25 handling
Basic Economy	✓ Free	Check itinerary	Route and exemptions determine overhead allowance
Economy	✓ Free	✓ Free	Standard allowance
Premium Plus	✓ Free	✓ Free	Priority boarding
Business/First	✓ Free	✓ Free	2 bags on some routes

Warning: If you bring a carry-on to the gate on a domestic Basic Economy fare without purchasing, you'll pay the checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge.

Checked Baggage

Standard Size: 62 linear inches / 157 cm (length + width + height)

Domestic Flights (within U.S.):

Fare Class	1st Bag	2nd Bag	Weight Limit
Basic Economy	$35 online / $40 airport	$45 online / $50 airport	50 lbs (23 kg)
Economy	$35 online / $40 airport	$45 online / $50 airport	50 lbs (23 kg)
Premium Plus	Free	Free	50 lbs (23 kg)
Business/First	Free	Free	70 lbs (32 kg)

International checked-bag allowances and charges vary by origin, destination, cabin, fare, status, operating carrier, and ticket date. Use United's official bag-fee calculator for your itinerary rather than carrying a transatlantic or transpacific price from this page into checkout.

Overweight, oversized, and special items

Do not rely on a single excess-bag table: acceptance and charges vary by route and item, and multiple charges can apply. Enter the flights in United's baggage calculator, then review the separate sports-equipment or assistive-device policy if relevant.

Elite Status & Credit Card Benefits

Premier Status Benefits:

Status	Free Bags	Weight Limit	Companions
Premier Silver	1 bag	70 lbs (32 kg)	Up to 9 on same reservation
Premier Gold	2 bags	70 lbs each	Up to 9 on same reservation
Premier Platinum	3 bags	70 lbs each	Up to 9 on same reservation
Premier 1K	3 bags	70 lbs each	Up to 9 on same reservation

Star Alliance Gold members also receive 2 free bags up to 70 lbs each.

Qualifying MileagePlus cards can change checked-bag and Basic Economy carry-on benefits, but the card account, purchase method, and operating flight must satisfy the terms. Confirm the benefit in the reservation instead of assuming every United-branded card produces the same allowance.

Special Items

Sports Equipment:

Item	Fee	Notes
Golf clubs	Standard bag fee	Oversize waived up to 115 in, max 50 lbs
Skis/snowboards	Standard bag fee	Oversize waived up to 115 in
Surfboards	Standard bag fee	Oversize waived up to 115 in
Bicycles	Standard + potential oversize	Must be boxed

Baby & Child Gear (FREE):

• Car seat: One free per child, gate-check available
• Stroller: One free per child, gate-check available
• Does not count toward baggage allowance

Medical Equipment:

• CPAP: Free, doesn't count as carry-on
• Wheelchair: Free, gate-check available
• Portable Oxygen Concentrators: Allowed with 48-hour notice (call 1-800-825-6331)
• Canes, crutches, walkers: Free in addition to carry-on

Musical Instruments:

• Small instruments (guitar, violin): Allowed as carry-on if fits
• Large instruments: Can purchase a seat (up to 165 lbs)
• Checked: Standard bag fee, hard case required

Use United's Baggage Calculator for current pricing.

United First (Domestic)

• Seat pitch: 37-39"
• Seat width: 20-21"
• Configuration: 2-2
• Power: AC outlet and USB at every seat
• Meal service: Full meal on flights over 900 miles; snacks and alcohol on shorter flights

Premium Plus (International Premium Economy)

• Seat pitch: 38"
• Seat width: 18.5-19"
• Recline: 6" with legrest and footrest
• Configuration: 2-3-2 or 2-4-2 (aircraft-dependent)
• Power: AC outlet and USB
• Entertainment: 13" HD seatback screen
• Service: Multi-course meal, complimentary alcohol, Saks Fifth Avenue pillow and blanket, noise-reducing headphones

United Polaris (International Business)

• Seat pitch: 78-79" (fully lie-flat)
• Seat width: 20-22"
• Configuration: 1-2-1 (777/787) or 1-1-1 (767)
• Power: Universal AC outlet and USB
• Entertainment: 16" seatback screen
• Bedding: Saks Fifth Avenue duvet, pillow, pajamas on 14+ hour flights
• Dining: Multi-course service with wine pairings; Express Dine or Dine & Doze options for sleep-focused travelers
• Lounge access: Polaris Lounges at ORD, EWR, IAH, SFO, LAX, IAD

Economy & Economy Plus

Class	Pitch	Width	Power
Economy	30-32"	17-18"	USB + AC on newer aircraft
Economy Plus	34-35"	17-18"	USB + AC

Entertainment:

• Seatback screens: All widebody aircraft (777, 787, 767), newer 737 MAX
• Streaming only: Older 737-800/900, Airbus A319/A320
• Free movies, TV shows, and music on United app
• Live TV on select aircraft with DIRECTV

WiFi:

• Starlink (rolling out 2025-2026): Free for all MileagePlus members
• Legacy WiFi: $8/day for members, $10/day non-members
• T-Mobile customers: Free unlimited WiFi
• Free messaging (iMessage, WhatsApp) for all passengers

Food & Beverage:

Route	Economy	First/Business
Under 900 miles	Complimentary snacks and soft drinks	Snacks + alcohol
900-1,190 miles	Snacks + soft drinks	Hot meal + alcohol
1,190+ miles	Snacks + drinks; meals available for purchase	Full meal service
International	Full meal service + complimentary alcohol	Multi-course dining

Special meals available with 24-hour advance request (14 dietary options including vegetarian, kosher, halal, gluten-free).