United has a pretty basic baggage policy all around so you won’t find many surprises here. Overweight/oversized fees are a bit on the higher side but that being said, they’re consistent with most other major U.S. carriers.
Something to note: economy fares are split into Basic or Full Economy, which is of importance when you consider the carry-on allowance. Otherwise, in terms of baggage, fees are pretty much the same across the 2.
United Airlines Carry-on Allowance
1 Personal Item: FREE
1 Standard Carry-on Bag:
- Standard Economy: FREE
- Basic Economy: No bag included (excluding transatlantic/transpacific flights where a standard carry-on is included*)
*Any Basic Economy Fare passenger that brings a full-sized carry-on bag to the gate will be required to check their bag and pay the applicable checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge; unless the said passenger is a Premier member or a qualifying MileagePlus credit card primary cardmember.
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
Stroller Check Policy
- United allows passengers to check a stroller either at the ticket counter or at the gate (gate-checked strollers cannot exceed 20 pounds (9 kg)). Passengers with a stroller and a car seat may only check 1 item at the gate.
- The following approved compact stroller brands are permitted in the cabin: gb Pockit Stroller, BabyJoy Pocket, and Silver Cross Jet Ultra Compact.
United Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance
All checked bags must adhere to a max 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 adhere to max linear dimensions of 62 inches (158 cm).
Instead of providing a hard and fast table to assess your baggage fees at a glance, United is now recommending all passengers use its official baggage fee calculator tool.
However, after doing some basic route searches, we found consistent fees as detailed in the table below (however, you should use the baggage calculator to check your specific route).
For many routes, United now charges $5 more per bag when purchased at the airport rather than prepaying.
Route |
Economy
(Basic, Plus & Full) |
Premium Plus |
Business |
First |
Domestic U.S. & Canada/Central America/Caribbean (excluding Cuba) |
First Bag: $30
Second Bag: $40
3+ Bags: $150 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $150 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $150 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $150 |
U.S. to/from Cuba |
First Bag: $30
Second Bag: $100
3+ Bags: $500 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $500 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $500 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $500 |
U.S. to/from Mexico |
First Bag: $30
Second Bag: $55
3+ Bags: $180 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $180 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $180 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $180 |
U.S. to/from Europe/India/Middle East |
First Bag: FREE ($70 Basic Economy)
Second Bag: $100
3+ Bags: $200 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $200 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $200 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $200 |
U.S. to/from South America |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE ($55-$65 for certain destinations)
3+ Bags: $150 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $150 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $150 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $150 |
U.S. to/from East Asia, Australia & New Zealand |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE ($100 for New Zealand)
3+ Bags: $200 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $200 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $200 |
First Bag: FREE
Second Bag: FREE
3+ Bags: $200 |
Additional and Excess Baggage Fees
As with checked luggage fees, United recommends all passengers use its official baggage fee calculator tool for excess baggage fees.
We ran some searches and found consistent fees for the destinations below, but we advise you check the baggage calculator for your specific route as this could vary based on your departure airport.
Route |
Oversized Bags 63 to 115 Linear Inches |
Overweight Bags 51 to 70 Pounds |
Overweight Bags 71 to 100 Pounds |
Domestic U.S. & Canada |
$200 |
$100 |
$200 |
U.S. to/from Mexico |
$200 to $400 (depending on departure airport) |
$100 |
$200 |
U.S. to/from the Caribbean (excluding Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands/Cuba) |
$200 to $400 (depending on departure airport) |
$200 |
$400 |
U.S. to/from Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands |
$200 |
$100 |
$200 |
U.S. to/from Cuba |
$400 |
$400 |
$600 |
U.S. to/from Central America (excluding Panama/Guatemala/El Salvador) |
$200 to $300 (depending on departure airport) |
$200 |
$400 |
U.S. to/from Guatemala |
$250 |
$250 |
$450 |
U.S. to/from El Salvador |
$300 |
$300 |
$500 |
U.S. to/from South America |
$200 to $400 (depending on departure airport) |
$200 |
$400 |
U.S. to/from Europe/India/Middle East/Africa |
$200 |
$200 |
$400 |
U.S. to/from East Asia, Australia & New Zealand |
$200 |
$200 |
$400 |
For baggage fees related to special luggage (sporting equipment, musical instruments, etc.) please refer to United’s policy.
Can I Prepay for Baggage?
United Airlines does allow passengers the ability to prepay for luggage online or via the mobile app:
Here are the ways you can prepay:
Credit Cards That Give You a Free Checked Bag With United Airlines
You have several United co-branded credit card options if you would like to have checked baggage fees waived on United flights. 3 cards will even waive the fee for 2 checked bags.
Check out the details below:
Exclusions and Waivers
Use the United Airlines baggage calculator to check any exclusions and waivers for your route.
Mileage Plus Status free weight allowance:
Benefit |
Premier Silver |
Premier Gold |
Premier Platinum |
Premier 1K |
Complimentary checked bags in economy |
1 bag x 70 pounds |
2 bags x 70 pounds |
3 bags x 70 pounds |
3 bags x 70 pounds |
Complimentary checked bags in premium cabins |
3 bags x 70 pounds |
3 bags x 70 pounds |
3 bags x 70 pounds |
3 bags x 70 pounds |
Travel companions of MileagePlus Premier members will have the same exemptions as the Premier member whose status provides the benefit, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation.
Star Alliance Gold Members:
- Domestic flights: First checked bag free (50 pounds)
- International flights: 2 to 3 free checked bags (50 pounds)
Active U.S. Military Personnel
- Personal Travel: 3 checked bags FREE (770 poundslb, 62 linear inches)
- Official Business: 5 checked bags FREE (70 pounds, 100 linear inches)
Dependents of active U.S. military personnel will have the same exemptions as the military service member whose status provides the benefit, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation. If the dependent’s travel is due to official orders, the exemption applies. If dependents are traveling on their own for personal reasons, they’re subject to the normal baggage allowance & fees based on the purchased ticket type.
To see more airline baggage fees and policies, click here.
The information regarding the United Club℠ Business Card and United℠ Explorer Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
Featured Image Credit:
Shutterstock and United Airlines