What is United Airlines' (UA) Baggage Policy?

Travel may be a puzzle at times, and the baggage is one of the initial clues to unravel. It is the tacit agreement between you and the airline, a kind of unwritten rule on how much of your life you can take with you. Even before you come to your destination, your trip starts with the decision you make in packing. To most of us, it is a fine line between what is necessary and what is merely desired. Getting the united baggage policy wrong and your bags slide with ease off the counter to the cargo hold, and it's a sign of easy existence. Make a mistake and you can be caught up in a public, rushed negotiation with a scale and have to part with an item or two to avoid an unwanted fee. The United Airlines baggage system is not merely a set of rules but the initial test of your traveling preparation, a challenge to put on the bag smart enough to face the adventure that awaits.

What is United Airlines' (UA) carry-on baggage policy and restriction?

The carry-on policy of United Airlines is tailored to provide you with some choices regarding carrying the most important things with you in the cabin. This system is modeled on two bag categories that are a bigger united hand baggage weight that fits in the overhead baggage, and a smaller bag that is personal. 

A Carry-On Bag

This is the larger bag that you will store in the overhead bin. This bag will remain with you on the flight, so it must consist of things that will be required during the journey: 

• Your carry-on bag during the trip can be a small rolling suitcase or a bigger travel backpack.
• Your carry-on bag should not exceed 22 x 14 x 9 inches (56 x 35 x 23 cm) including handlebar and wheels.
• There is no defined United baggage weight limit when it comes to carry-on bags, but you need to be capable of lifting them into the overhead baggage by yourself.
• Make sure these bags are handy and do not cause trouble during the journey. 

A Personal Item

This is your smaller bag, which should be able to fit under the seat in front of you fully. The point is that it is supposed to be readily available on the plane. The rules for these items are discussed below: 

• A purse, a laptop bag, or a small backpack will be considered personal items. 
• The size dimension for your personal items will be 17 x 10 x 9 inches, and you will be asked not to go beyond this limit. 
• Stuff such as bags, infant cribs, comforters, cameras, books, and more can be classified as personal items. 
• The only extras allowed on the expedition are bags, binoculars, guitars, or other small musical instruments.

What is United Airlines' (UA) checked baggage / hold luggage policy and restriction?

The policy that United Airlines has implemented regarding checked baggage can be encapsulated into three key areas such as size, united checked bag weight, and fees. Whether you are flying a short, medium, or long distance, the type of ticket you have purchased affects the policy: 

• A conventional checked bag should not exceed 62 linear inches, which must be computed by summing the length + width + height.
• Depending on the type of service you are travelling with, there is a weight limit. In Basic Economy and united airlines economy baggage, you can carry a maximum of 50 pounds (23 kg) per bag.
• In the case of United Business, First, and Polaris Business, you are allowed to travel with 70 pounds (32 kg) per bag.
• Most domestic Economy tickets will require you to pay to check bags. 
• The cost usually varies between 35 and 45 dollars for the first and second bag, but these prices differ depending on your route. 
• You need to understand that they can offer you a better deal to pre-pay for your bags online. 

United Airlines (UA) Checked Baggage and Baggage Fees

The United Airlines baggage policy is a three-part system, which includes the bag size, weight limit, and a fee system that depends on your itinerary, the type of ticket purchased, and any elite statuses. Fares are not set and may vary depending on a number of factors: 

• Approximately, the charge for the first bag for a domestic flight is about 40 dollars, and the charge for the second bag is about 50 dollars. 
• These charges tend to be greater when they are paid at the airport rather than being paid beforehand online.
• A number of international flights, especially flights into Europe, Asia, and South America, have one or two free checked bags.
• The third bag charge is approximately 150 dollars, and an additional bag costs more.
• Bags with a weight of 51 and 70 pounds can cost approximately 100 dollars.
• Bags of 71-100 pounds will carry a premium that may be approximately 200 dollars. Bags weighing more than 100 pounds are not normally taken as checked baggage.
• Suitcases that are 63-115 inches in linear dimensions are regarded as oversized and can carry a charge of 200 dollars or higher. Any bag in excess of 115 inches is not generally accepted.

How to Get Free Checked Bags

Although most of the flights charge you to check a bag, there are a number of ways to receive a free checked bag. To determine the baggage fee that would be most accurate and current in your particular trip, use the baggage fee calculator on the United webpage: 

• Most international flights have 1 or 2 checked bags as an option on the Economy fare.
• Carrying one of the co-branded airline credit cards can provide you and a friend with a free carry-on or second bag on the same ticket.
• If you are an elite member of the frequent flyer program of the airline, you get more baggage allowance.
• On the Premier Silver, there will be one free bag weighing up to 70 pounds.
• With higher and Premier Gold, you can carry up to two free checked bags with a weight of up to 70 pounds each.
• Military members on active duty and their dependents are given a high baggage allowance, which is usually made up of several bags, but with an increased weight capacity.

United Basic Economy Restrictions

There are very strict baggage restrictions on a United Basic Economy ticket. The biggest limitation is that, in the majority of domestic flights, you can only carry a single carry-on.

• Personal Item: You can have one personal item that cannot exceed the size of the seat before your seat. Typical examples are a purse, a small backpack, or a laptop bag. Its largest size is 17 x 10 x 9 inches (43 x 25 x 22 cm).
• No Carry-On Bag: You do not have a carry-on bag in your ticket. Taking one to the gate, you will have to check it and pay a fee. This gate-checking surcharge is usually steeper than the normal checked bag surcharge.
• Exception International exception: This rule has an important exception. Basic Economy tickets include a carry-on bag on flights to Canada, South America, and flights across the Atlantic or Pacific oceans.
• Checked Bags: You do not get a free checked bag using a Basic Economy ticket on any route. You will have to pay the regular charges on the checked baggage, which are usually much higher than a regular Economy ticket on the same route.

What Can I Bring On Board a United Airlines Flight?

Most travelers aboard a United Airlines flight are allowed to carry one carry-on bag and one personal item. The carry-on has to be able to fit in the overhead bin with a size of 22 x 14 x 9 inches, and the personal item has to be able to fit under the seat in front of you with a size of 17 x 10 x 9 inches. Basic Economy tickets tend to only allow one personal item.

United Airlines Prohibited Items

Certain things are prohibited from being brought on the trip. Given the importance of passenger safety, these are some items that could endanger other travelers in any way. The following are the things that are prohibited on the trip:

• The airline will penalize you if you bring weapons, lighters, scissors, cigarettes, liquids, or prohibited items in your carry-on luggage.
• The airline does not permit certain gases and liquids, so you must obtain permission before boarding.
• Inform the airline in advance if you will be traveling with any injections or medically required equipment. You can carry anything on board if permitted.
• Handguns, batons, firearms, tasers, revolvers, rifles, toy guns, replicas, and shotguns are among the items that are prohibited from being brought on the aircraft.
• The airline will penalize you if you bring weapons, lighters, scissors, cigarettes, liquids, or prohibited items in your carry-on luggage.
• Electric skateboards, hoverboards, and other devices that run on large lithium batteries.

United international Baggage Fees (Table)

Before you plan and go ahead with your journey, it is important to be well-informed and have a clear understanding of the fee structure of the airline so you can have a comfortable journey experience: 

United Airlines Overweight Baggage Fee

When your bags exceed the normal size/weight limit, you will pay additional fees.

• Any bags that are overweight, 51 to 70 pounds, will be charged a fee, starting at about 100 dollars. 
• Bags between 71 and 100 pounds will be charged even more, about $200. Bags that are heavier than 100 pounds are not usually accepted.
• Bags with a linear size in the range of 63 to 115 inches are oversized and are generally an additional $200 or higher. The bags that are above 115 inches are largely not accepted.

United Airlines Baggage Policy (International and Domestic )

The United Airlines baggage policy is considerably different when traveling within the country as compared to when flying overseas, as the baggage fees and baggage allowances also differ greatly. Below is a breakdown of the policy of both categories of flights.

Domestic Baggage Policy

• On domestic flights, including flights to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Central America, most Economy fares are charged on a pay-per-bag basis.
• One bag and one personal item generally are free.
• Fees apply for checked bags. The price of the first bag is normally around $35, and the second is $45. These charges tend to be more expensive when at the airport.
• The size of an Economy bag is 50 lbs (23 kg) in weight and 62 inches in its maximum length.

Baggage Policy International

• With international flights, United Airlines baggage policy is usually more liberal, and free transfer of baggage is usually included in the ticket cost.
• The same rules apply, and one carry-on bag and a personal item are free.
• Included in your ticket price on most international flights is one or two checked bags at no additional charge. The economy has a weight limit of 50 pounds (23 kg) per bag.
• In case you require checking a third bag or even more than any other, you will receive an excess baggage fee, which might be substantial.
• Economy has a standard weight of 50 lbs (23 kg), and a largest linear measure of 62 inches. 

Traveling with Special Items

When it comes to special items, it clearly means that the objects that have some special value and will be required for specific work or a person?s need: 

Musical Instruments

United Airlines is aware that musical instruments are likely to be useful and fragile. Their size determines how they can be flown.

• As a carry-on or personal item, respectively, you can bring on board instruments that are small enough to fit in the overhead compartment or below the seat in front of you.
• When an instrument is too bulky to fit in the cabin, you can check it or buy it a seat.
• Any instrument that is being carried as baggage should be in a tough casing to safeguard it. 
• In the case of delicate or priceless instruments, it is possible to purchase an additional seat. 

Sports Equipment

The majority of sporting equipment is carried as checked baggage, but it will attract extra charges. The equipment tends to be included in your baggage allowance.

• Golf bags, ski/snowboard equipment, fishing rods, etc, are commonly counted as a single piece of checked baggage. They need to be packed safely, and even though there can be a waiver of charges on some of the items, overweight charges can be charged.
• In the case of taller objects such as surfboards, bicycles, or kayaks, the packing conditions are not always the same, and the service price usually increases. 

Flying with Pets

United Airlines also permits small cats and dogs to be carried in the cabin with you on most of their flights. This is the main method to bring a pet on board the airline since the airline has stopped its pet cargo program.

• Pets should be in a carrier that meets airline requirements, meaning that it must be smaller than the seat in front of you.
• Each way, a pet would cost about 150 dollars to pick up in the cabin.
• No weight or breed limits, although the pet should be able to stand up and turn around in its carrier.
• To travel internationally, pets must be well-documented with appropriate health certificates.

Flying with Children and Infants

United provides a number of family accommodations about which you must be well informed: 

• On domestic flights, children below the age of two may be carried on the lap of a passenger free of charge. In the case of international flights, they pay a percentage fare in addition to taxes.
• You can buy a ticket for an infant and bring an FAA-approved car seat to board.
• You are already allowed to have a stroller and a car seat as free baggage on top of the regular baggage allowance.
• Families with children under the age of two are allowed to board in the pre-boarding area.
• In cases of families with children not above the age of 12 on the same reservation, the airline has a policy of allowing such families to sit together free of charge.

United?s MileagePlus Program and Baggage

United?s mileage program provides generous baggage benefits, particularly for frequent flyers and cardholders of the airline?s co-branded cards. Premier members get a free checked allowance based on the tier: the higher the tier, the more checked bags and the more weight per bag. For instance, Premier Silver members receive one free bag, while Premier Gold and above receive two or more free bags, typically with a 70-pound weight limit. Carrying an eligible United credit card frequently exempts you from the first checked bag fee, as well as for a companion on a reservation.