United Airlines Baggage Policy

According to United Airlines’s policy on bags, the following items are included in the basic economy baggage allowance:

  • Carry-on baggage
  •  One carry-on item
  •  One small personal item
  •  Checked baggage
  •  Oversize baggage
  •  Overweight baggage
  •  Sports equipment

United Airlines has different rules for carry-on and checked bags. If you want to avoid problems at the airport, you should learn everything you can about the airline’s baggage policy. Read the whole piece below so you can get ready for your trip with United Airlines.

Carry-on Baggage Rules and Requirements

According to United Airlines’ rules and standards for carry-on bags, a passenger can bring along one personal item (like a handbag, laptop bag, camera bag, briefcase, etc.) and one carry-on bag for free.

Baggage Weight and Size/Dimensions 

  • Including the bag’s wheels and handles, the largest piece of carry-on luggage that United Airlines will let you bring is 56 by 36 by 23 centimeters (115 centimeters) or 22 by 14 by 9 inches (45 square inches).
  • The bag must fit under the seat in front of the person or in the overhead compartment.
  • Personal items can’t be bigger than 89 centimeters (41 inches by 28 inches by 20 centimeters) or 16 inches by 11 inches by 8 inches (36 linear inches).
  • The personal item should fit completely under the passenger’s seat or in the overhead compartment.
  • Items like a baby bag, jacket, duty-free items, umbrella, and assistive devices (strollers, wheelchairs, child restraint seats, crutches, walkers, etc.) do not count as carry-on luggage.
  • Before reading, check out your name on the flight ticket. If you find any mistake, then read out the United Airlines Name Change Policy to correct the name on the flight ticket.

Don’t forget that the bulkhead seats don’t have storage under them, so people will have to put their carry-on bags in the overhead bins while the plane takes off and lands. 

Checked Baggage Rules and Requirements

According to United Airlines’ rules and standards, passengers can bring two bags as checked baggage (for Economy class, there are fees and charges).

Baggage Size/Dimensions and Weight

  • The maximum size for checked baggage on United Airlines is 157 centimeters, or 62 inches (length + width + height).
  • The weight of checked bags can’t be more than 50 pounds or 23 kilograms. 

Baggage Fees

United Airlines charges a fee for both carry-on baggage and checked baggage. The baggage fees for United Airlines vary based on different factors. These factors include the type of fare purchased, the destination mentioned on the ticket, whether the passenger is an active U.S military personnel or dependent, membership in United Airlines’ frequent flyer program, membership in any partner airlines, or if the passenger has a sponsored charge card or credit card from United Airlines. Below is the complete structure of United Airlines baggage fees. 

Checked Baggage Fee

  • First baggage- $30USD 
  • Second baggage- $40USD 
  • Third baggage and more: $150USD per baggage

Oversize Baggage Fee

The United oversize baggage fees apply to any baggage with dimensions between 160 to 292 centimeters or 63 to 115 linear inches. You cannot bring checked baggage that is larger than 292 centimeters or 115 inches in size.

Overweight Baggage Fee

United charges an extra fee for luggage that weighs more than the usual amount (23 kilograms or 50 pounds). Read on to find out how much United charges for different weight ranges of over-sized bags.

  • 24 to 32 kilograms, or 51 to 70 pounds, each extra bag costs $100 USD.
  • 33 to 46 kilograms, or 71 to 100 pounds, each extra bag costs $400 USD.
  • United Airlines will not let you check a bag that weighs more than 100 pounds or 46 kilograms.
  • The trip to or from the U.S. costs between $200 and $400 USD. You can use United Airlines’ “Baggage Calculator” to get an idea of how much the baggage fee will be.

Extra Baggage Fee

The United Airlines extra bag fee starts at $150USD for the third bag and goes up from there. We recommend that you go to the United Airlines website and use the “Baggage Calculator” service to find out the fees for your bags based on your needs and plans.

Please be aware that there are sometimes restrictions on how much extra luggage you can bring on trips to/from Central America, Mexico, Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. These restrictions can last for a certain amount of time or be permanent. You can find out about “baggage embargoes” on the United Airlines website (www.united.com).

Call the United Airlines baggage phone number if you need more information about the airline’s baggage policies, fees, etc.

Conclusion

In summary, understanding United Airlines’ baggage policy is crucial for a smooth journey. The policy covers carry-on and checked baggage, with specific size and weight restrictions. Baggage fees vary based on factors like fare type and destination. Oversize and overweight baggage incur additional fees. For precise fee calculations, use United Airlines’ “Baggage Calculator” on their website or contact their baggage phone number for more information.

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