United States
Full service airline, Chicago hub United Airlines baggage allowance
United Airlines is a major U.S. carrier and a founding Star Alliance member, with an extensive domestic and international network.
| Allowance | Economy | Business and First |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on bagPlus one personal item under the seat | No weight limit56 x 35 x 23 cm | No weight limit56 x 35 x 23 cm |
| Checked bagMaximum weight per bag | 23 kgUp to 158 cm | 32 kgUp to 158 cm |
Cabin baggage
What you keep with you on board. The carry-on bag goes in the overhead bin, the personal item goes under the seat in front of you.
Carry-on bag
- Size
- 56 x 35 x 23 cm
- Weight
- No published weight limit; it must fit the overhead bin or under the seat
- Pieces
- One bag
Must fit in overhead bin or under the seat in front of you. Basic Economy carries no overhead bag. If you bring one you must check it, and on tickets bought from 3 April 2026 that costs $50 at the lobby desk or $75 at the gate.
Personal item
- Size
- 43 x 25 x 22 cm
- Weight
- Not specified
- Examples
- Must fit completely under the seat in front of you.
Liquids: containers of 100 ml or less, all inside one transparent resealable 1 litre bag. Baby food, medication and sealed duty free purchases are exempt.
Power banks and batteries
Lithium batteries travel in the cabin, never in the hold. Since 2025 most carriers also ban using or charging a power bank during the flight.
| Item | Cabin | Checked | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power bank up to 100 WhAbout 27,000 mAh at 3.7 V | Allowed | Not allowed | One per passenger, under the seat, not in the overhead bin. Do not use or charge it on board. |
| Power bank 100 to 160 Wh | Approval needed | Not allowed | Maximum two, with airline approval before the flight. |
| Power bank over 160 Wh | Not allowed | Not allowed | Cannot travel on United Airlines in any form. |
| Spare laptop and camera batteries | Allowed | Not allowed | Terminals taped or in original packaging, up to 100 Wh each. |
| Devices with built-in batteriesLaptops, phones, cameras, tablets | Allowed | Switched off | Better in the cabin. If checked, fully switched off and protected from accidental activation. |
| E-cigarettes and vapes | Allowed | Not allowed | Cabin only, never used on board. |
Checked baggage
United sets the weight by cabin and by status, and takes whichever is larger: 23 kg in Economy and Premium Economy, 32 kg up front, and 32 kg for every Premier tier whatever cabin they are sitting in. A bag may measure 158 cm in total and is refused outright above 292 cm.
| Cabin | First bag | Second bag | Max weight per bag | Max size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | $35 (domestic), Varies (international) | $45 (domestic), Varies (international) | 23 kg | 158 cm |
| Business/First | Included | Included | 32 kg | 158 cm |
Economy: Additional bags: $150+ each
Business/First: Additional bags: $150+ each Allowances change by route, fare family and booking date, so confirm on the official United Airlines baggage page before you pack.
Checked bag weight by cabin
United does not vary the number of bags by fare on this page, it varies the weight each bag may carry. Status overrides the cabin whenever status is more generous.
| United Economy and Premium Economy | 23 kg per bag | |
|---|---|---|
| United Business, First and Polaris | 32 kg per bag |
Every Premier tier from Silver to 1K carries 32 kg per bag in any cabin, and Star Alliance Gold carries 32 kg in Business and 23 kg in Economy. Where cabin and status disagree, United applies the larger. A bag may be 76 x 52 x 30 cm or 158 cm in total including handles and wheels, and anything over 292 cm is refused. Basic Economy carries no overhead bag at all, see status extras.
Excess baggage fees
What sits outside the bag your ticket includes.
| Situation | What you pay | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carry-on on a Basic Economy ticket | $50 at the desk, $75 at the gate | For tickets bought from 3 April 2026. Before that, $40 and $65 |
| Bag over 158 cm total | Oversize charge | Handles and wheels count |
| Bag over 292 cm total | Not accepted | The hard ceiling |
| Premier member and companions | Free bags | For you and up to nine others on the same itinerary |
| Any premium cabin, any Premier tier | 3 bags, 32 kg each | The same from Silver to 1K |
The published fee depends on route and purchase date and United prices it through a calculator rather than a table, so this page carries the limits and the Basic Economy penalty rather than a first bag price. Premier and Chase card waivers may not apply on partner airlines.
Before you pack
Six habits that keep you out of the excess baggage queue.
- Weigh bags at homeA luggage scale costs less than a single overweight bag fee, and it settles the argument at home rather than at the counter.
- Prepay extra weight onlineBuying through united.com is 10 to 20 percent cheaper than paying at the counter.
- Wear the heavy itemsBoots, coats and jackets on your body do not count toward any limit.
- Use compression bagsVacuum bags cut clothing volume by up to 75 percent, which helps with the 158 cm size rule.
- Check your credit card perksSome premium cards include extra baggage or refund fees on selected airlines.
- Use your MileagePlus statusPremier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and 1K and Star Alliance Gold members get 32 kg extra on top of the fare allowance, see status extras.
MileagePlus status extras
Frequent flyer status adds to the fare allowance. The extra applies to the member only, on United Airlines operated flights.
| Tier | Weight concept routes | Piece concept routes | Also included |
|---|---|---|---|
| MileagePlus member | None | None | Cabin allowance only |
| Premier Silver | 32 kg per bag | +1 bag | Two on Africa routes, three in a premium cabin |
| Premier Gold | 32 kg per bag | +2 bags | Three on Africa routes and in a premium cabin |
| Premier Platinum and 1K | 32 kg per bag | +3 bags | And for up to nine others on the same itinerary |
| Star Alliance Gold | 32 kg in Business, 23 kg in Economy | None | May not apply on partner airlines |
Sports equipment, instruments and infants
Special items travel with conditions. Every one of them needs advance reservation, and acceptance at the airport is not guaranteed without it.
| Item | Conditions | Fee estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Pet carriers | Subject to specific dimensions | |
| Mobility devices | Free of charge | Free |
| Sports equipment | Counts toward your checked bag allowance. Standard oversize and overweight fees apply, waived on a properly packed bicycle | Counts as a checked bag |
Book special items online before travel. Airport prices are higher than the same allowance bought online, and hold space is first come, first served.
Check-in and bag drop deadlines
Counted back from scheduled departure. Miss the bag drop cut-off and the bag does not fly, even if you do.
United Airlines sets its check-in and bag drop deadlines by airport rather than publishing one timeline. Check the times on your booking, and allow longer if you have bags to drop.
If your bag does not arrive
Delayed and damaged bags follow a strict clock. Most claims fail because the report was made after leaving the airport.
Report before you leave the hall
Go to the United Airlines baggage services desk in the arrivals baggage hall. You get a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) with a 10 character reference. Without it there is no claim.
Track with the PIR reference
Use the reference and your surname on the United Airlines baggage tracing page. Most delayed bags arrive within 48 hours and are delivered to your address free of charge.
Track a bagKeep receipts, mind the deadlines
Essentials bought while the bag is missing can be claimed. Damage must be reported within 7 days, delayed bag expenses within 21 days of delivery, under the Montreal Convention.
How United Airlines compares
Benchmark these limits against the rest of the industry before you decide which bag to bring.
Turkey
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