United Airlines Carry-On Baggage
One full-size 9" x 14" x 22" (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) carry-on bag plus one 9" x 10" x 17" (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm) personal item. If you are traveling on a Basic Economy ticket, your personal item will be the only item you can take on board.
For Basic Economy travelers, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier® member or primary member on a qualifying MileagePlus credit card. If you exceed this limit, you will be required to check your bags and pay for the applicable checked bag plus a $25 gate handling fee as United's bag fee.
United has a fairly basic baggage policy, so you won't find many surprises here. The overweight/oversize fees are a bit higher, but that said, they are consistent with most other major US airlines.
Something to keep in mind: Economy fares are divided into Basic or Full Economy, which is important when considering the carry-on baggage allowance. Otherwise, in terms of luggage, the fees are pretty much the same in the two countries.
United Airlines Carry-on Allowance
1 Personal Item: FREE
1 Standard Carry-on Bag:
Standard Economy: FREE
Basic Economy: Does not include baggage (excluding transatlantic/transpacific flights where standard hand luggage is included*)
*Any Basic Economy fare passenger bringing a full-size carry-on to the gate will be required to check their bag and pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling fee; unless said passenger is a Premier member or a primary holder of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.
Size Restrictions
Personal: 17 x 10 x 9 inches (43 x 25 x 22 cm)
Carry-On: 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 22 cm)
Lap Infant Carry-on Policy
Customers may bring the following infant and child items on board, in addition to the maximum carry-on baggage allowance: 1 diaper bag, breast pump, or a government-approved child seat (infant seat or car seat).
Stroller Check Policy
United allows passengers to check in a stroller at the ticket counter or at the gate (strollers checked at the gate cannot exceed 20 pounds (9 kg). Passengers with a stroller and car seat may only check in 1 item on the door.
The following brands of approved compact strollers are allowed in the cabin: gb Pockit Stroller, BabyJoy Pocket and Silver Cross Jet Ultra Compact.
United Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance
All checked baggage must meet a maximum weight of 50 pounds (23 kg) for all Economy and Economy Plus fares and 70 pounds (32 kg) for business and first class fares, and must meet maximum linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm). .
Instead of providing a hard and fast table to assess baggage fees at a glance, United now encourages all passengers to use its official baggage fee calculator tool.
However, after doing some basic route searches, we found consistent fares, as detailed in the table below (you should, however, use the baggage calculator to verify your specific route).
For many routes, United now charges an additional $5 per bag when purchased at the airport instead of paying in advance.
Additional and Excess Baggage Fees
As with checked baggage fees, United encourages all passengers to use its official baggage fee estimator tool to calculate excess baggage fees.
We did some searching and found consistent fares for the destinations below, but we recommend that you check the baggage calculator for your specific route, as this could vary depending on your departure airport.
United Airlines carry-on baggage allowance. United Airlines' carry-on policy allows most travelers to bring 1 full-size carry-on bag and 1 personal item for free. However, passengers traveling on a Basic Economy fare can only take 1 personal item on board for free (except on transatlantic voyages, where they are allowed the same baggage allowance).
Carry-on bag rules on United partner-operated flights and codeshare flights may be different, so check with the airlines before you travel if your itinerary includes a flight with them.
Carry-on Bag— 1
Maximum size (includes handle, pockets and wheels): 56 cm x 35 cm x 22 cm
(22 inches x 14 inches x 9 inches) (H x W x D)
Hand luggage must fit in the overhead bin.
With charge for Basic Economy passengers except:
On transatlantic flights to/from the United States, Central America, Mexico, El Salvador, Panama and South America.
For MileagePlus Premier members and companions traveling on the same reservation.
Qualifying primary MileagePlus cardholders and Star Alliance Gold members.
Personal Item—1
Maximum size (incl. handle, pockets and wheels): 43 cm x 25 cm x 22 cm
17 inches x 10 inches x 9 inches (H x W x D)
The personal item must fit under the front seat.
Other items you can take on board for free
In addition to the carry-on items listed above, United Airlines' baggage policy allows all passengers to bring the following items free of charge:
An umbrella
A jacket
Reading material
Food or airport purchases
Assistive devices
Carry-on Baggage Allowance Tips
Basic Economy passengers may carry only 1 personal item, except on transatlantic flights.
Basic Economy passengers bringing an entire carry-on bag (except on transatlantic routes) must check it in at the gate and will be charged the applicable checked baggage fee plus a $25 gate handling fee. However, Premier and qualifying MileagePlus credit cardholders are exempt from this: they are entitled to 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item even on a basic economy fare.
You will have to pay an extra if your hand luggage exceeds the allowed dimensions.
United Airlines Carry-on Baggage Fees
What are United Airlines baggage fees for carry on bags?
Other than the $25 fee Basic Economy passengers must pay to bring a full-size carry-on bag, United Airlines does not charge a carry-on fee for any tickets. However, if your carry-on baggage is larger than the maximum size allowance, your baggage will be checked through to your final destination, but you will be charged the applicable checked baggage fee.
United Airlines baggage fees for other destinations
Once your flight takes you out of North America and Latin America, United Airlines' baggage policy becomes more complicated. Generally speaking, you can expect the following:
All economy class passengers on flights to/from South America will receive at least one free checked bag. When a second bag incurs a fee, passengers should expect to pay approximately $55-$75 per bag.
Economy class passengers traveling to Europe also receive at least one free checked bag. However, fees for a second bag will reach $100.
For those traveling to Asia, you can expect to be able to check two bags for free.
excess baggage charges
United's baggage policy seems designed to discourage you from bringing a third piece of checked baggage. Baggage fees start at $150 for domestic flights in the United States.
Additionally, it's worth noting that there are several disclaimers on United's website stating that the airline will only accept additional bags when space is available and that certain destinations, routes, and times may have additional restrictions.
Sports equipment
From bicycles to boogie boards, United Airlines will allow you to register many types of sports equipment for free. Skis, snowboards, hang gliding equipment, parachutes and many more items can count as a checked bag as long as they meet the requirements.
In most cases, there are no additional charges beyond the applicable checked baggage charges. Scuba tanks are an exception where a fee is charged and United will not accept kayaks or canoes.
You can review the requirements and fees for checking sports equipment on the United website.
Overweight and Oversized Baggage Fees
What are the oversized and overweight baggage fees charged by United Airlines?
As with checked baggage, United Airlines recommends that you use its free baggage fee calculator tool to calculate baggage fees for your specific route.
If you travel with bags that are overweight or oversized, you will be charged for this, depending on your route. Fees for oversized and overweight baggage charged by United Airlines are typically as follows:
Overweight baggage charges
For economy class passengers, overweight bags weighing between 51 and 70 lbs (23 and 32 kg) will typically cost between $100 and $400 per bag, depending on the route.
Overweight bags weighing between 70 and 100 lbs (32 and 45 kg) can cost between $200 and $600 per bag, depending on the route.
Oversized baggage charges
Oversized bags measuring between 63 and 115 inches in linear dimensions will be charged between $200 and $400 per bag, depending on your destination.
To find out the exact amount of excess baggage, use the baggage calculator. After viewing the results, check the Additional charges and other baggage charges box.
