If you are part of any of the groups listed in the chart below, you are exempt from the fees for checking your first two bags. Please refer to the chart to determine the number of bags you can check for free, as well as the maximum weight and size for each checked bag to avoid an oversized and/or overweight baggage fee. If you are part of multiple groups in the chart, the greater allowance will apply.
| Mileage Plus program status or fare type |
Free baggage allowance |
Max. bag weight
(to avoid overweight baggage fee) |
Max. bag size
(to avoid oversized baggage fee) |
|
• Global ServicesSM
• 1K®
• Premier Executive®
• Star Alliance® Gold
|
3 |
70 lbs.
(32 kg) |
62 linear inches
(158 linear cm)* |
• Premier®
• Premier Associate®
• Star Alliance Silver |
2 |
50 lbs.
(23 kg) |
• United First® fares
• United Business® fares
• United First award tickets
• United Business award tickets
• Economy tickets with confirmed upgrades to United First or Business |
| • Active U.S. military personnel and/or dependants with ID and traveling on orders |
3 |
70 lbs.
(32 kg) |
115 linear inches
(292 linear cm) |
*linear measurement = length + width + height
Oversized, overweight and excess baggage and special items
You may be subject to additional fees if:
- you check more than two bags;
- any of your bags weigh more than the maximum bag weight shown above;
- any of your bags exceed the maximum bag size shown above*; and/or
- any of your checked bags are considered special items.
For more information on these baggage limits and applicable fees, please visit the Oversized, overweight and excess baggage page and the Special items page.
Additional baggage information
• Each checked bag must have an external tag or label showing the name of the customer who checked it in.
• We recommend that you arrive at the airport 90 minutes prior to departure to complete the check-in process.
• Cut-off times for checking in baggage vary depending on the departure city. Consult the following chart to determine the cut-off time for specific locations:
Cut-off times for U.S./Canada baggage check-in
(minutes prior to scheduled departure) |
30
minutes |
• United States*
• U.S. Virgin Islands |
• Puerto Rico |
|
45
minutes |
• Atlanta, GA (ATL)
• Baltimore, MD (BWI)
• Charlotte, NC (CLT)
• Chicago-O'Hare, IL (ORD)
• Denver, CO (DEN)
• Indianapolis, IN (IND)
• Kona, HI (KOA)
• Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
• Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
• L.A./Ontario, CA (ONT)
• New York, NY (JFK)
• Orlando, FL (MCO) |
• Philadelphia, PA (PHL)
• Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
• Portland, OR (PDX)
• Reno, NV (RNO)
• Sacramento, CA (SMF)
• San Jose, CA (SJC)
• Santa Ana (Orange County), CA (SNA)
• Seattle, WA (SEA)
• San Francisco, CA (SFO)
• Tampa, FL (TPA)
• Washington-Dulles, D.C. (IAD) |
|
60
minutes |
• Canada |
*Except for U.S. cities listed below
|
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