United Airlines Baggage Policy

Are you planning to travel with United Airlines shortly? It is therefore important to understand their policies on baggage to be better prepared for the trip. As a result, this blog seeks to offer readers a comprehensive guide to United Airlines baggage policies like carry-on baggage, checked baggage and other extra policies like the one provided to military personnel. When you know and understand United Airlines’ baggage policy at length, it will help you plan your trip with ease.

United Airlines Carry-On Baggage Policy

United Airlines have the specific regulation that permits every passenger to have one carry-on baggage and one personal item for free on most of their flights. This segment will present the guidelines of size and weight of the carry on baggage as well as exceptions and any extra charges that are chargeable.

• Carry-On Baggage: The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches. This includes handles and wheels. The bag should be of a size that it can go into the bin overhead.
• Personal Item: The personal item should fit under the seat in front of you, with maximum dimensions of 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches. Some common examples of personal items include backpacks, laptop bags, and purses. Other than your carry-on or personal item, you aren’t permitted to bring any bags or small purses. However, there are some other things which you can carry as a personal item, that too free of cost. These include:

a) Coat or jacket; b) Umbrella; c) Items to read; d) Food or any other items which you purchased at the airport; e) Mobility devices (like crutches, canes, wheelchairs) f) a car seat, child safety harness or a stroller, g) diaper bag and/or a breast bump (which you can bring even if you aren’t flying with your kid), h) camera

Essential Tips For Your Carry-On

When at the airport and you are quite unsure about about the appropriateness of your carry-on size, in such cases you may use United Airlines’ bag sizers to measure your luggage and know about their appropriate weight. If you are carrying an extra bag other than one carry-on and one personal item, or if your carry-on is oversized, then in such cases, you may have to check the bag or even pay a fee.

Things to Keep In Mind When Packing Special Items In Your Carry-On On A United Airlines Flight

When it comes to packing some special items in your carry-on, here is what you must keep in mind:

1. If carrying smart bags having lithium batteries, you have to remove the batteries prior to carrying them onboard.
2. As per TSA rules, gels, sprays, and liquids are permissible in carry-ons. However, the size of the container shouldn’t exceed 3.4 ounces or 100 ml. It has to be carried within a transparent, sealable, quart-sized bag.
3. Powders must be carried in checked bags as per TSA guidelines. However, for domestic travel within the United States, you may bring not more than 12 ounces or 350 ml in your cabin baggage.
4. You can carry small musical instruments within a hard case. It will be regarded as carry-on when put in the bin overhead or a personal item if stored in the space beneath the seat to your front.
5. If you have to check in a bulky or a fragile item or you feel that the item that you are going to bring as your carry-on needs special handling, then a good option will be purchasing a separate seat for the same. The item should however, weigh lesser than 165 pounds or 75 kgs, and must be packaged well. It should be in the seat beside the owner and even fastened with a seatbelt. The item that you will be carrying shouldn’t have any dangerous goods, and mustn’t block the signage, aisles, or exits.

Carry-on Bag Limits for United Airlines’

On most United flights, you can carry a single personal item on Basic Economy class of United flights. You are allowed a carry-on only if you have flights to South America, or across Pacific or Atlantic. Any extra bags should be checked. If you have the Basic Economy Fare and have decided about bringing a carry-on, in such cases, you are required to pay a fee which starts at $35.

If you have brought a carry-on up to the gate which won’t accommodate in the seat below you, then you should check-in your bag at a $65 check.

United Airlines Checked Baggage Policy

The maximum dimensions for checked baggage on United Airlines flight is 30 inches x 20 inches x 12 inches. These include wheels, and handles. The weight specification varies as per the cabin class and the MileagePlus status.

1. For United Economy and Premium Economy class a maximum weight of 50 pounds of 23 kg is permissible.
2. For United Business, United First, and United Polaris class a maximum weight of 70 pounds of 32 kg is permissible.
3. In case of Mileage Plus Status passengers, Premium Silver, Premium Gold, Premium Platinum, and Premium 1 K memberships have a maximum weight of 70 pounds or 32 kg. Star Alliance Gold members are allowed 70 pounds or 32 kg in business, and 50 pounds or 23 kg in Economy.

United Airlines Baggage Check Process

You have to timely check your bags. That’s why it is essential to reach the airport before time. You must even get your claim check for each of your bags which functions like a receipt.

Keep all of your claim checks till you get back of all your bags at the final destination. In case of connecting flights, you may have to re-check your baggage once again between the stops, especially if there’s a layover or if your connection requires you to stay overnight, or if the departure time of your connecting flight exceeds 12 hours from when you reach the airport, and so on.

How Much Fees Does United Airlines Charge?

The charges of baggage may differ with route, ticket type and whether the baggage is oversized/overweight or not.

• Standard Baggage Fees:
  • The fees begin at a standard of $30 applying only to the first checked baggage in domestic flights and the other bags attract more fees. Sometimes baggage fees for international flights are higher and their amount depends on the given flight destination.
• Excess Baggage Fees:
  • Over sized and over weighed luggage also referred to as excess baggage attract extra charges. After checking-in, bags that exceed the allowed weight have charges from $100 to $200.

United Airlines Extra Baggage Policy

If a traveller plans on having additional luggage than usual, then it would be wise to go for this type of travel. Below are the key facts concerning the extra baggage policy.

• The passengers are allowed to check items more than the normal luggage weight bearing in mind that they will be charged extra fee for baggage.
• The exact fees are determined by the flight route and the number of extra bags that is to be allowed.

United Airlines Military Baggage Policy

United Airlines has privileges for baggage allowances to any serving U. S. military personnel and or dependents. This segment explains the following benefits of the proposed recommendations.

For military personnel with official travel orders, the airline permits check-in of up to five bags free of charge. Each bag must not exceed 100 lbs or 45 kg, and should have a specified dimension of 115 inches or 292 cm. Military personnel on personal travel are permitted to carry two checked bags free of charge. The maximum weight is 70 lbs or 32 kg, and the dimensions shouldn’t be more than 62 inches or 158 cm. Military dependents having travel orders are also permitted to carry without services charges with each having a minimum weight and dimension of 70 lbs or 32 kg and 62 inches or 158 cm.

If the travel is due to military orders then the dependants may travel alone. However, if the dependent travel alone without a military order proof, then the standard baggage allowances, and fees will apply.

United Airlines’ Policy for Handling Excess, Oversized, and Overweight Baggage

Space is limited on United Airlines flight, and you will be charged more for overweight or oversized bags, and even extra bags. Moreover, as per United Airlines’ policy, oversized, overweight as well as extra bags aren’t accepted on some flights heading to certain locations. It is always advisable to check the list of destinations at length where overweight, oversized, as well as extra bags aren’t permissible.

You must remember that the maximum dimensions for accepting oversized bags are 115 cm or 292 inches. Whereas, the maximum weight for overweight bags are 100 pounds or 45 kgs. There’s an exception for musical instruments that can be of a maximum weight of 165 pounds or 75 kgs. All assistive devices are accepted as well.

Extra bags are accepted only in the case of availability of space. This doesn’t apply for assistive devices like manual and electric wheelchairs, canes, scooters, walkers, and crutches. United Airlines accepts them free of cost. The crutches or canes may be foldable as well as non-foldable.

Special Items and Sports Equipment

As people stated before, customers usually have certain requirements regarding the luggage, for instance, they may need a bag which can contain sports gear or musician’s instrument. United Airlines has the following allowances and charges with regard to these items.

• Sports Equipment: United allows most sports equipment to be taken as checked baggage but they should be packed appropriately and within the required sizes and weights. Some items may attract extra charges based on the size of the item or its shape. United is not responsible for any kind of damage that your sports equipment ,might encounter during carriage or transportation. They are also not responsible for cases where you do not comply with the rules, and regulations.
• Musical Instruments: These can usually be taken on to the plane if they will fit in the overhead locker or under the seat directly in front of you. Larger instruments must be checked or additional seat has to be bought for the instrument.
• Special Items: When it comes to items that are not fitting the general baggage rules and regulation, but is commonly transported like medical equipment, child restraint seats and many more, United has the common practice of offering facilities for those without charge though bound with Some conditions.

Adjustments for Special Circumstances

There are always special circumstances that may necessitate adjustments to standard policies. United Airlines tries to accommodate these situations as best as possible, often through specific policies and guidelines.

• Military Baggage Policies: As noted, active duty U.S. military personnel have more generous baggage allowances. This includes free checked bags (up to five when on official orders) and waived fees for oversized and overweight luggage.
• Group Travel: Groups traveling together might be eligible for waived fees or discounts, depending on the group size and itinerary.
• Medical and Mobility Devices: United Airlines accepts most medical and mobility devices without charge, provided they meet certain criteria.

United Airlines’ Baggage Insurance

A trip or travel insurance offers protection for travel plans in case anything unexpected occurs. A Travel Guard which is United Airlines’ travel plan helps you get a proper reimbursement in the case of any travel mishaps like falling sick or getting injured prior to your trip, encountering flight delays, unpredictable weather, and so on.

To purchase the insurance, you may visit United Airlines’ official website and go to the Manage Reservation tab. You may even do the same through the United App. You could directly call the Travel Guard Agent and enquire more about the baggage insurance.

Fee Structure for Multi-City Flights

When flying to multiple cities, baggage fees are typically assessed based on each leg of the journey. It’s essential to know how fees will be applied for each segment, which can affect the total cost of your travel.

Customer Service Support

In the event of baggage-related issues, United’s customer service provides support through various channels:

• Lost or Delayed Baggage: You can file a report at the airport or through United’s website if your baggage is lost or delayed.
• Damaged Baggage: If your baggage is damaged during travel, report the damage to United’s baggage office at the airport immediately upon arrival.

Online Check-In and Baggage Drop

United Airlines offers online check-in, which can streamline your travel process.

• Mobile App: Using United’s mobile app, you can check in for your flight and prepay for your checked bags.
• Baggage Drop: After online check-in, proceed to United’s baggage drop area at the airport to hand over your checked bags.

You Can Read More: United Airlines Rules for Carrying Valuable and Fragile Items

Final Tips for United Airlines Travelers

• Pack smart: Use space-saving techniques and travel-sized items to minimize your luggage.
• Arrive early: Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, especially if you’re checking bags.
• Stay informed: Keep an eye on email or text notifications from United for any changes or updates regarding your flight.

Conclusion

To make a correct decision you should familiarize yourself with all important aspects of United Airlines baggage policies: carry-on baggage, checked baggage, and baggage that costs extra. However, it is important to note that these particulars may differ depending on your ticket kind and your test destination; thus, we suppose that you will check the particulars on United Airlines website or calling the airline’s customer support. It doesn’t matter if you only carry a hand bag or if you need to check in a number of bags, being informed of the baggage charges and policies is quite useful for anyone intending to fly with United Airlines in the near future.

This interactive policy guide is intended to help you to more easily find your way around all of the policies and be aware of your responsibilities when traveling on United Airlines. Don’t forget to search for policy changes before you go for those fees that may have been altered by the airline. 

Have a good trip, and travel with United Airlines without worrying about any baggage issues! 

Frequently Asked Questions