| Requirements for checking baggage differ based on international or domestic travel. Please select the type of trip you are taking:
Domestic travel baggage information
United is announcing a new checked bag policy for customers who purchase nonrefundable domestic economy tickets.
Customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have status in Mileage Plus or Star Alliance may check one bag for free and a second bag for a $25 service fee.
Customers who have attained Premier status or higher in Mileage Plus or who have Silver status and above with a Star Alliance partner, are exempt from this policy change.
This policy is for travel exclusively within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and Canada and applies to tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008 for travel on or after May 5, 2008.
Please view the Domestic baggage questions for additional details on this policy.
All customers traveling on United may check at least one free bag. The number of free bags allowed per customer will vary according to your Mileage Plus status and/or the type of ticket purchased.
The tables below highlight the number of bags that customers can check free of charge:
| Tickets purchased before February 4, 2008 or any tickets for travel before May 5, 2008: |
| Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket |
Free bag allowance |
Maximum weight |
| Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares or Economy Saver Award Tickets |
2 |
50 lbs/23kg |
| All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Standard Award Tickets /
All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Silver members on any fare or Award Ticket |
2 |
50 lbs/23kg each |
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare or Award Ticket |
3 |
70 lbs/32kg each |
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Tickets purchased on or after February 4, 2008, for travel on or after May 5, 2008: |
| Mileage Plus status / Type of ticket |
Free bag allowance |
Maximum weight |
| Non-members or General Members of Mileage Plus on non-refundable Economy fares or Economy Saver Award Tickets |
1 |
50 lbs/23kg |
| All First or Business class customers / All Economy class customers on refundable fares / All Standard Award Tickets / All Premier and Premier Associate Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Silver members on any fare or Award Ticket |
2 |
50 lbs/23kg each |
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive Mileage Plus members and Star Alliance Gold members on any fare or Award Ticket |
3 |
70 lbs/32kg each |
- The maximum size of each checked bag is 62 inches/158cm (length + width + height)
- Each checked bag must have the name of the person traveling on the outside of the bag
- United recommends that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure to complete the check-in process
- Baggage must be checked at the airport at least 30 minutes in advance of flight departure time except for the following airports which have a 45 minute cut-off time for baggage check-in
| Airports with 45 minute cut-off time for baggage check-in: |
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Atlanta, Georgia (ATL)
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Phoenix, Arizona (PHX) |
| Charlotte, North Carolina (CLT) |
Portland, Oregon (PDX)
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Chicago, Illinois O'Hare (ORD)
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Reno, NV (RNO) |
| Denver, Colorado (DEN) |
Sacramento, California (SMF) |
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Indianapolis, Indiana (IND)
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Santa Ana (Orange County), California (SNA) |
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Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)
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Seattle, Washington (SEA)
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| Los Angeles, California (LAX) |
San Francisco, California (SFO) |
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New York, New York John F. Kennedy (JFK)
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Tampa, Florida (TPA)
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| Orlando, Florida (MCO) |
Washington DC Dulles International Airport (IAD) |
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL)
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- Departures from Canada require baggage to be checked in at least 45 minutes in advance of flight departure time. Effective March 1, 2008, departures from Canada require baggage to be checked in at least 60 minutes in advance of flight departure time.
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International travel baggage information
Customers traveling to/from the United States and all international destinations are required to have their baggage checked 45 minutes prior to flight departure time.
Please review the information below for additional details and exceptions.
International destinations
(excluding travel to/from Brazil, El Salvador, The Philippines):
| Customers |
 |
| Economy Class |
2 bags, maximum 50 pounds/23kg each |
|
 |
| First or Business Class |
2 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold Members |
3 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| Military customers on tour |
2 duffel bags, sea bags or B-4 bags up to 70 pounds/32kg and 115 linear inches/292cm |
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Fees for baggage more than 70 pounds/32kg or exceeding the maximum linear dimensions vary by destination. Contact United or your travel agent prior to your trip for details.
Baggage must be checked at the airport at least 45 minutes prior to flight departure time.
Travel to/from Brazil, The Philippines:
| Customers |
|
| Economy Class |
2 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| First or Business Class |
2 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold Members |
3 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| Military customers on tour |
2 duffel bags, sea bags or B-4 bags up to 70 pounds/32kg and 115 linear inches/292cm |
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Fees for baggage more than 70 pounds/32kg or exceeding the maximum linear dimensions vary by destination. Contact United or your travel agent prior to your trip for details.
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Travel to/from El Salvador, and Mexico City:
| Customers |
|
| Economy Class |
2 bags, maximum 50 pounds/23kg each |
|
|
| First or Business Class |
2 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold Members |
3 bags, maximum 70 pounds/32kg each |
|
|
| Military customers on tour |
2 duffel bags, sea bags or B-4 bags up to 70 pounds/32kg and 115 linear inches/292 cm |
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Fees for baggage more than 70 pounds/32kg or exceeding the maximum linear dimensions vary by destination. Contact United or your travel agent prior to your trip for details.
During the peak winter, spring and summer months, and during holiday periods, customers will be asked to voluntarily designate a secondary bag that may be placed on a later flight. We will only be able to guarantee a primary bag at times when capacity exceeds space limitations.
Travel to Mexico City:
During the peak winter travel period of December 1 - January 7, customers are limited to the number and size of their checked baggage when traveling to Mexico City, Mexico.
The following guidelines apply to all customers:
- No oversize, overweight or extra bags will be accepted.
- Pets will not be accepted as part of a customer's checked baggage
- Only one box is permitted as part of a customer's free allowance; it must be the original manufacturer's box containing the original item
Travel to Guatemala and El Salvador:
Passengers will be subject to certain fees for any excess, oversized or overweight bags. This applies to passengers originating from Los Angeles or passengers connecting through LAX from other U.S. points of origin. Further restrictions apply during peak travel seasons.
Travel during peak periods
Customers will be limited to the number of bags they can check if they are traveling on or between the following time periods:
- 10 days prior to Easter Sunday through the following Monday.
- The Saturday prior to Memorial Day through the Tuesday after Labor Day.
- The first Sunday in December through January 6 of the following year.
The following baggage guidelines apply to all customers:
- No oversize, overweight or extra bags will be accepted.
- Only one box is permitted as part of a customer's free allowance; it must be the original manufacturer's box containing the original item.
- Customers will have to declare a secondary bag. If secondary bags are not placed on the designated flight, bags will be routed to final destination on the first available flight.
The provisions above do not apply to customers originating travel from outside the U.S.
Travel during non-peak periods
Non-peak periods occur for travel other than the periods listed above.
The following checked baggage allowance applies for travel during non-peak periods:
- Only one box is permitted as part of a customer's free allowance; it must be the original manufacturer's box containing the original item.
The number of checked bags permitted varies with your Mileage Plus status and/or class of service:
- United Economy customers are limited to three additional checked bags.
- United First or Business customers are limited to three additional checked bags.
- United's 1K, Premier, Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold members are limited to two additional checked bags.
There is a fee of $100.00 for each additional checked bag. Added charges apply if the piece is overweight or over size.
If you have additional questions, please contact your travel agent or United reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331) in the U.S. for assistance.
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Travel originating in London:
The British Airport Authority strictly limits checked baggage originating in London to 70 pounds/32 kg per piece. Any piece exceeding the limit must be repackaged into smaller units.
We recommend contacting United Reservations in advance when checking items such as musical instruments, sporting equipment, camera equipment, etc. that cannot be subdivided to meet the weight limit.
Travel wholly within Asia:
| Customers |
Total combined weight of all checked bags not to exceed |
|
| Economy Class |
44 pounds/20kg |
|
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| Business Class |
66 pounds/30kg |
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| First Class |
88 pounds/40kg |
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| Global Services, 1K, Premier Executive and Star Alliance Gold Members |
An Additional 44 pounds / 20kg is allowed. |
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| Military customers on tour |
Any number of duffel bags, sea bags or B-4 bags up to a total maximum weight of 140 pounds/64kg |
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Fees for baggage weighing more than 70 pounds/32kg or exceeding the maximum linear dimensions vary by destination. Contact United or your travel agent prior to your trip for details.
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Oversized and excess baggage
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Oversized baggage
Some checked items are assessed a special handling charge because of size, fragility, or other handling requirements. Examples are:
- Antlers
- Bicyles
- Cellos
- Kennels
- Surfboards
- Sailboards
- Scuba gear
There is a charge for checked items between 62 linear inches (length+width+height) and 115 linear inches. We will not accept or check items in excess of 115 linear inches. No single dimension may be more than 62 inches.
Exceptionally bulky or fragile items will not be accepted as checked baggage, but may ride in a passenger seat in the cabin provided a ticket is purchased for the item and specific seating conditions have been met.
We strongly recommend contacting United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 in the U.S. or your travel agent prior to your trip for details about any item that may be subject to a special handling charge. Acceptance, restrictions, and charges will vary depending upon destination and aircraft.
Overweight baggage
On domestic flights, United considers a checked baggage item weighing more than 50 pounds as overweight. Any additional charges listed below are collected on a one-way basis.
The following information for overweight baggage applies to flights within the U.S. 50 states and to/from the Caribbean.
- Checked baggage weighing more than 50 pounds/23 kg will be charged $50 per piece.
- These charges are in addition to any charge assessed for additional or oversized baggage.
- Baggage weighing more than 100 pounds/45 kg will not be accepted as checked baggage.
International allowance, size and weight rules may vary by destination. Contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 in the U.S. or your travel agent prior to your trip for specific charges.
Excess baggage
If you check more baggage than the free baggage allowance permits, you will need to pay a charge that will vary by destination.
The following information for excess baggage applies to flights within the U.S. 50 states and to/from the Caribbean and will be charged as follows:
| Number of pieces in excess of free allowance |
Excess fee |
| 1st and 2nd piece |
$85.00 per piece |
| 3rd and 4th piece |
$125.00 per piece |
| 5th piece or more |
$200.00 per piece |
Oversized baggage
- Any checked bag with a single dimension more than 62 inches/158 cm is oversized.
- Checked baggage that exceeds 62 inches/158 cm will be charged $100.00 per piece.
- Any bag that is more than 115 inches/292 cm will not be accepted.
- Customers checking antlers as baggage for travel within the U.S. and to/from Canada will be charged $200.00 per set. Contact United Reservations at 1-800-UNITED-1 in the U.S. or your travel agent prior to your trip for other restrictions that apply.
Oversized and overweight baggage
- If a checked piece of baggage is oversized and overweight, the charges will be added together.
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Related information
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Dangerous objects not allowed in the cabin
No knives of any length, or made from any material, are permitted in the cabin of an aircraft. (Plastic knives are permitted for meal services.) Cutting instruments of every kind are banned, including but not limited to, carpet knives, box cutters, knives with folding or retractable blades (regardless of blade length), steak knives, straight edge razors, ice picks, and metal scissors with pointed tips. Other prohibited items include lighters, baseball bats, golf clubs, pool cues, ski poles, and hockey sticks.
Medically necessary needles and syringes are exempt from these prohibitions if passengers have in their possession prescription medication with a professionally printed label that identifies the medical office, pharmacy, or manufacturer of the medication.
Prohibited cabin items
The use of devices that prevent customers from reclining their aircraft seats is prohibited. Engineering test show that these devices can hinder passengers from exiting their seats in an emergency, and can cause damage to tray tables.
Hazardous materials
Articles listed in the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations and/or the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations are restricted. These will only be accepted subject to advance arrangements and compliance with regulations.
For safety reasons, dangerous goods may not be packed in checked or carry-on baggage or taken on board with you. Restricted articles include but are not limited to:
- Lighters
- Lighter fluid
- Acid
- Explosives
- Flammable solids/liquids
- Oxidizing materials
- Corrosive materials
- Compressed gases
- Poisons
- Etiologic agents
- Radioactive materials
- Irritating or incapacitating sprays
- Mercury
- Noxious materials
- Briefcases and attaché cases with installed alarm devices
Call United® at 1-800-United-1 in the U.S. for more information about hazardous materials.
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