Having flown United Airlines a countless number of times over the years, I am very familiar with their baggage fee policy, and luckily it is pretty straight forward policy.
However, the baggage fees can vary based on the fare class you book, your elite status, credit card membership, flight route (international), and weight and size of your luggage. Below is everything you need to know about the United’s baggage policies.
What are the United Airlines baggage fees?
Generally, you’ll get one free carry-on and one free personal item and you’ll have to pay $40 for your first checked bag and $50 for the second checked bag. Your can now save $5 on your first and second checked bags if you prepay for them. There are many rules and restrictions that apply though so I suggest that you keep reading below for more detailed information.
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United Airlines carry-on policy
United has a pretty standard carry-on luggage policy. They’ll allow you to bring the following for free:
- 1 Carry-on bag
- 1 Personal item
Carry-on bag dimensions
The maximum dimensions for a carry-on bag are 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (23 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm), including handles and wheels.
Personal item dimensions
The maximum dimensions for a personal item are 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). Personal items typically consist of the following:
- Backpacks
- Shoulder bags
- Purses
- Laptop bag
- Other small items
The personal items should be able to fit beneath the bottom of the seat in front of you and bag sizers are available in the check-in area, so you can double check the size of your items once you get to the airport.
If you are bringing in a carry-on item and a personal item, the flight attendants will ask you to place your smaller item beneath the seat and to store your larger item in the overhead bin.
Related: What’s a Personal Item on a Plane?
Weight limit for United carry-ons
There are no published weight limits for carry-ons but rather only size dimension limitations.
Still, just because there are no published weight limits you still want to keep the weight of your carry-ons reasonable. And if your carry-on is especially heavy I would recommend that you handle your bag yourself while storing your bag.
Carry-on exceptions
Like many other airlines, United makes certain exceptions for certain items brought on board.
If you bring one of the following items on board, they won’t count towards your one carry-on and one personal item limit.
- Jacket or coat
- Umbrella
- Reading material
- Food or merchandise purchased in the airport
- Assistive devices (collapsible wheelchair, cane, one set of crutches, medical devices needed to administer prescription medications, portable oxygen concentrator, etc.)
- FAA-approved child restraint system or safety seat
- Diaper bag
- Breast pump
- Pet carrier (service charges apply for in-cabin pets)
- Camera
Basic economy carry-on policy
Note that if you purchase a Basic Economy fare, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you’re flying to South America, across the Atlantic or across the Pacific or if you are a Premier member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card.
If you aren’t familiar, Basic Economy fares are the newer economy fares that are cheaper than economy but come with less benefits (many of which are standard). For example, you don’t get a free carry-on and you are not allowed to choose your seat for free.
United Express carry-ons
United Express flights are served by regional partner carriers using smaller aircrafts which means that they often have less overhead bin space. Sometimes the space is so limited that roller bags aren’t able to fit. If you’re flying in an EMB170, EMB175 or CRJ-700 you should be fine though.
United checked baggage fees
United does not provide you with free checked luggage. The fees charged can vary by route so I suggest that you enter in your route here to calculate the exact amount for your luggage. However, to provide you with some guidance, I’ve supplied fee amounts that you can probably expect to pay.
Unless you’re given free checked baggage due to airline status, cabin class, or credit card membership, you’ll generally have to pay:
- $40 for the first checked bag
- $50 for the second checked bag
- $150 to $200 for the third checked bag ($200 for some international flights)
These prices are the same that you would generally pay when flying other domestic airlines like American Airlines. However, it is always a good reminder that Southwest Airlines offers you the ability to check two bags for free.
If you want all the tips on how to deal with checked baggage, be sure to check out the ultimate guide to checked luggage here.
United checked baggage dimensions and weight
The maximum exterior dimension (length + width + height) of standard checked baggage is 62 inches (158 cm), including handles and wheels. The maximum weight for United checked baggage depends on which class you’re flying and/or your level of elite status.
Class of ticket
- Economy: 50 pounds (23 kg)
- Business/First: 70 pounds (32 kg)
Elite status
- Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K: 70 pounds (32 kg)
If you qualify for different allowances based on your class of service and your MileagePlus status, the larger of the two allowances will apply.
United Airlines excessive baggage fees
United will charge you based on each measure that your luggage exceeds the limits. So for example, if one of your bags is oversized, overweight, and above the allowance then you will be subject to three individual extra charges. This can get very pricey so always be aware of that if you’re planning on bringing oversized luggage.
Remember, baggage fees will always depend on the airline you are flying. Therefore, if you’re flying one of United’s partners then you will have to pay partner’s prices. For example, if you’re flying Lufthansa and then connecting onto United, you will need to know Lufthansa baggage fees, even though you’re flying United on the second leg.
United Airlines baggage policy for oversized baggage
Generally, for luggage that is 63.0 to 115.0 linear inches (160 to 292 cm), you can expect to pay $200 extra per bag. That sounds like a lot but it is on par with other domestic airlines.
Baggage with total outer dimensions (length + width + height) measuring more than 115 inches (292 cm) will not be accepted as checked baggage.
United Airlines baggage policy for overweight baggage
Generally, for luggage that is from 51.0 to 70.0 pounds (24 to 32 kg) overweight, you’ll pay $100 extra per bag but on international flights this could be up to $200 per bag.
For luggage that is from 71.0 to 100.0 pounds (33 to 45 kg) you’ll pay $200 extra per bag
With the exception of assistive devices and musical instruments, baggage weighing more than 100 pounds (45 kg) will not be accepted.
Musical instruments up to 165 lbs. (75 kg) will be accepted along with all assistive devices.
Something to keep in mind is that extra baggage is only accepted if space permits. Oversized, overweight and extra baggage is not accepted on flights to certain destinations and on certain flights during specific timeframes.
For example, the following destinations don’t allow bags that weigh more than 70 pounds (32 kilograms):
- Australia
- Belgium
- Cuba
- France
- Germany
- Ghana
- Greece
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Jordan
- The Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Peru
- Portugal
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
For a current list of destinations where oversized/extra baggage may not accepted check out the Excess Baggage Embargo page.
MileagePlus Premier members
United will allow you to check your bags for free if you have elite status with them.
Below are the different checked baggage policies for different levels of elite status. 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.
| Premier Level | Complimentary checked bags in Economy, 70 lbs. (32 kg) | Complimentary checked bags in premium cabin, 70 lbs. (32 kg) |
| Premier Silver | 1 | 3 |
| Premier Gold | 2 | 3 |
| Premier Platinum | 3 | 3 |
| Premier 1K | 3 | 3 |
United credit cards
If you hold the United Explorer Card you’ll be able to check a bag for free for yourself and up to one companion on the same itinerary. This benefit applies even to international itineraries which is different from other airline cards like the American Airlines cards that only applies to domestic itineraries.
If you want to check two bags for free, the United Club Card will offer you that benefit. That card is the more premium card that also offers complementary lounge access to United lounge us along with a host of additional benefits.
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Active U.S. military personnel and their dependents
The United Airlines baggage policy allows active military personnel and their dependents to check a certain number of bags for free. The size limit and number of bags depends on the purpose of the travel, however. Notice how when traveling on official business the maximum weight per bag is increased to 100 pounds.
Here are the United policies for military members and their families:
- Dependents of active U.S. military personnel have the same exemptions as the service member whose status provides the benefit, as long as they are traveling on the same reservation.
- When travel is due to official orders, dependents may travel unaccompanied.
- When dependents travel on their own for reasons other than relocation, they are subject to the normal baggage allowance and applicable bag fees based on ticket type.
So basically the only time a military family member does not get the baggage benefit is when they are traveling for reasons other than relocation and they are traveling alone.
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Sporting equipment
United Airlines will accept most sporting equipment. However, you need to be aware that there might be specific guidelines and packaging requirements that you must abide by when transporting certain types of equipment. You can find out more about the specific restrictions here.
Here are some examples of accepted sporting equipment:
- Archery
- Baseball
- Biking
- Boating & surfing
- Bowling
- Camping
- Fencing and kendo
- Firearms
- Fishing
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Hang gliding
- Hockey or lacrosse
- Javelins
- Paintball
- Parachutes and parasails
- Pole vaulting
- Pool cues
- Scuba
- Skating
- Skiing and snowboarding
- Tennis
United animal policy
United will allow domesticated cats, small dogs, rabbits and birds in the aircraft cabin on most flights within the U.S. You can read more about their in-cabin animal policy here.
Their Pet Safe program has been updated recently and you can find out more about the animal policies here.
United Baggage Fees FAQ
If you are traveling with baggage, you must check in at least 45 minutes prior to departure on a domestic flight and 60 minutes prior to departure on an international flight. (This applies to most airports although there are exceptions.).
Of course, I always advocate for you to arrive to the airport much earlier than this. For a domestic flight, I will try to arrive around two hours before departure and for an international flight I will try to arrive around three hours prior to departure. Click here to see U.S. airports with special minimum required times.
For a trip that includes one or more connections, United will check bags to the final destination stated on the ticket. Usually luggage will be stored on the same flight as the traveler but that’t not always the case.
You’ll need to claim and re-check baggage if you are:
Making a voluntary stopover
Making a connection that involves an overnight stay
Connecting to an itinerary booked on a separate ticket that doesn’t include a Star Alliance partner airline
Traveling internationally and connecting to a domestic flight within your destination country
I would always recommend to avoid flying two separate itineraries when connecting. That is because it increases the risk of you missing a flight and if you miss a flight in a situation like that you will likely have to pay for a new second flight.
Also, if your luggage is lost for some reason it can become much more difficult to work through that process since it is harder to coordinate efforts to retrieve your bag.
Effective January 15, you must remove spare lithium batteries or lithium batteries that are part of bags themselves (“smart bags”) before checking or gate-checking baggage. These batteries can be transported in your carry-on baggage. Bags with non-removable lithium batteries are not allowed on any United flights, including United Express flights.
Final word
The United Airlines baggage policy is for the most part straight forward and pretty similar to what other legacy carriers provide. However, you need to be aware of the different rules and restrictions that apply to overweight and oversized luggage as well as all of the special rules for class fares such as Basic Economy.
Daniel Gillaspia is the Founder of UponArriving.com and the credit card app, WalletFlo. He is a former attorney turned travel expert covering destinations along with TSA, airline, and hotel policies. Since 2014, his content has been featured in publications such as National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, and CNBC. Read my bio.
can I pay cash for checked bags?
I think that’s going to depend on the airport. Some airports no longer take cash for baggage fees, so I suggest calling in to your airport.
What’s the maximum number of extra luggage that one can fly with on an international flight?
Does the baggage fee cover the whole trip, two way ticket.
The baggage fees are only good for one-way travel.