Ariana is a travel rewards expert who has been covering points, miles and free travel for over seven years. She previously served as managing editor for FlyerTalk and Frugal Travel Guy. When she's not contributing to NerdWallet, she runs her own travel hacking blog, PointChaser.com.
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Giselle M. Cancio is a former editor for the travel rewards team at NerdWallet. She has traveled to over 30 states and 20 countries, redeeming points and miles for almost a decade. She has over eight years of experience in journalism and content development across many topics.
She has juggled many roles in her career: writer, editor, social media manager, producer, on-camera host, videographer and photographer. She has been published in several media outlets and was selected to report from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
She frequents national parks and is on her way to checking all 30 Major League Baseball parks off her list. When she's not on a plane or planning her next trip, she's crafting, reading, playing board games, watching sports or trying new recipes.
She is based in Miami. Fact Checked Co-written by Elina Geller Lead Writer Elina Geller
Lead Writer | Airline miles, hotel points, travel insurance
Elina Geller is a former NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs and travel insurance. In 2019, Elina founded TheMissMiles, a travel rewards coaching business. Her work has been featured by AwardWallet. She is a certified public accountant with degrees from the London School of Economics and Fordham University.
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MORE LIKE THIS Travel Insurance Travel Travel Rewards Credit Cards Airline Credit CardsAs airlines have begun offering cheaper basic economy fares, checked baggage and carry-on baggage fees, as well as other incidental charges, are helping make up the difference to their bottom line. If these fees are getting you down, don’t worry. We’ve done our research on United’s baggage fees to help you figure out what to expect and how to avoid them altogether.
Checked baggage, carry-on baggage, overweight baggage and oversized baggage are the four different types of luggage fees United charges. Your baggage allowance depends on many factors including your elite status, what United credit card you pay with (if any), your route and the fare type you’ve purchased.
United’s checked bag fees vary by destination and travel class.
Barring exemptions for elite status or co-branded credit cards, economy class passengers can expect to pay $40 (or $35 if prepaid) for the first checked bag and $50 ($45 if prepaid) for the second checked bag on domestic flights. Premium economy, business and first class passengers receive up to two checked bags free of charge.
On international routes, economy passengers generally receive one or two free checked bags, depending on the destination.
Here’s a summary of what you can expect to pay for baggage fees so long as your bag adheres to United’s size and weight requirements. Prepaid prices apply to bags purchased at least 24 hours before departure.
Premium economy, business class or first class
U.S. to/from the Caribbean
Same as economy.
1st bag, $40 ($35 if prepaid); 2nd bag, $50 ($45 if prepaid).
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $0.
U.S. to/from Canada
Same as economy.
1st bag, $40 ($35 if prepaid); 2nd bag, $50 ($45 if prepaid).
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $0.
U.S. to/from Mexico
Same as economy.
1st bag, $40 ($35 if prepaid); 2nd bag, $50 ($45 if prepaid).
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $0.
U.S. to/from South America
1st bag, $70; 2nd bag, $100.
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $100.
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $0.
U.S. to/from Europe
1st bag, $75; 2nd bag, $100.
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $100.
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $0.
U.S to/from Asia, Africa or Australia
Same as economy.
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $100.
1st bag, $0; 2nd bag, $0.
Get up to 80,000 miles with our favorite United cards Check out our nerdy picks for the best United credit cards and find the right card for you. BROWSE CARDS
Most flights allow passengers to bring on board a personal item and a carry-on bag. The personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and the dimensions must not exceed 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches. The carry-on bag needs to fit into the overhead bin, and its dimensions can be a maximum of 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches.
Domestic basic economy tickets are an exception to the free-carry-on policy. Those traveling on domestic basic economy tickets are only allowed to bring a personal item — no free carry-on.
If you bring a carry-on bag with you to the gate, you’ll have to pay the checked bag fee and a $25 gate handling charge. If you’re traveling with more than just a personal item, evaluate whether a basic economy ticket truly provides a cost savings.
However, there are some conditions under which basic economy tickets allow a carry-on free of charge:
Trans-Pacific flights to/from the U.S. Flights to/from Canada, South America or across the Atlantic. Elite members and companions traveling with them. If you pay with a qualifying United credit card . Star Alliance Gold elites.Here's the maximum allowable checked baggage weight, along with fees for overweight baggage.
Economy and premium economy passengers, United non-elites, Star Alliance Gold elites or passengers who book with a United credit card that allows a free checked bag: If you fall into this category, your bag allowance is 50 pounds. Depending on your destination, if your bag exceeds 50 pounds but is less than 70 pounds, you may have to pay up to $200 per bag. If your bag weighs more than 70 pounds but less than 100 pounds, you may have to pay up to $400 per bag.
United Premier Elites or those traveling in premium cabins. Those who are traveling in business or first class and/or have elite status with United can check a bag up to 70 pounds for free — even on a basic economy ticket. If you’re a heavy packer and your luggage weight usually exceeds 50 pounds, you may want to consider going for United elite status.
If you’re a Marriott Titanium Elite , you’ll get an automatic match to United Silver thanks to the United-Marriott partnership and be able to check a bag up to 70 pounds.
If your checked bag measures more than 62 inches (length + width + height), you will be charged an additional checked bag fee. The maximum size your checked bag can be is 115 inches (length + width + height); anything larger than that exceeds United’s allowable luggage size and will not be accepted.
Now that you’re familiar with the different baggage fees United charges, you can use United’s website to figure out what you’ll have to pay to bring a bag with you on your flight. United Airlines has its own helpful baggage fee calculator , where you can enter a destination, travel date, cabin class, credit card and elite affiliations to determine checked bag fees.
If you’d like to see how United stacks up against other carriers, you can use NerdWallet’s calculator below to compare checked bag fees across multiple airlines. It’s especially helpful if you’re considering booking basic economy tickets and want to understand how additional fees could add up.
Note that this calculator only applies to domestic itineraries; international baggage fees are more complicated.
The simplest way to avoid United checked bag fees is to pay for your flight with a credit card that automatically entitles you to a bag-fee waiver. United and its issuing partner, Chase, offer five such cards — three consumer cards and two small-business cards.
In each case, the benefit applies to the primary cardholder and one travel companion booked on the same reservation. It’s valid only on United-operated flights, and cardholders must add their MileagePlus number to the reservation and pay for it using one of the qualifying credit cards:
United cards and baggage perks
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Read review Annual fee$0 intro for the first year, then $95 .
$0 intro for the first year, then $99 .
Checked bag benefitFirst checked bag free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First and second checked bags free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First and second checked bags free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First checked bag free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
First and second checked bags free for both the primary cardholder and one companion traveling on the same reservation.
Still not sure? Read Review Read Review Read Review Read Review Read ReviewYou can avoid United checked bag fees by paying more to travel in premium economy, business or first class. Passengers in these cabins receive two free checked bags on domestic flights. Those flying in business or first class have a 70-pound baggage allowance.
If you plan on checking two bags, it’s a good idea to compare economy and premium economy fares to see if the free baggage allowance you get with premium economy could be worth the higher ticket price.
United MileagePlus elite members receive up to three free checked bags, depending on the destination and cabin class. Below is a breakdown of the free checked bag benefit for those with MileagePlus status:
One free checked bag when traveling within the continental U.S. or to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
Two free checked bags when traveling between the U.S. and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
One free checked bag (in addition to the standard allowance) on all other economy class travel, including intra-Asia and Micronesia.
Three free checked bags when traveling in business class, first class or United Polaris.Two free checked bags when traveling within the continental U.S. or to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
Three free checked bags when traveling between the U.S. and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
One free checked bag (in addition to the standard allowance) on all other economy class travel, including intra-Asia and Micronesia.
Three free checked bags when traveling in business class, first class or United Polaris.Three free checked bags when traveling within the continental U.S. or to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
Three free checked bags when traveling between the U.S. and South America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
One free checked bag (in addition to the standard allowance) on all other economy class travel, including intra-Asia and Micronesia.
Three free checked bags when traveling in business class, first class or United Polaris.Active-duty U.S. military personnel and their accompanying dependents qualify for free checked bags when traveling on United Airlines. Up to five bags can be checked per person while traveling on official business and three bags for personal travel.
This benefit also applies to dependents when traveling without the military member for relocation or on official orders.
You may already have a card in your wallet that covers checked bag fees. If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express , you receive an annual $200 airline fee credit. Terms apply.
To redeem airline incidental credits through American Express, you will need to designate United as your airline of choice every year. You’ll then receive a statement credit when you pay for checked bags (or other airline incidentals) with one of these credit cards.
If that sounds too restricting, you might want to opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which comes with a $300 annual travel credit applicable to all travel purchases. The Citi Prestige® Card offers a lower $250 annual credit, which can be applied to any travel purchase. These two cards offer more flexibility for those times when you need to check a bag with an airline other than United.
If you book your United flight in the Capital One travel portal with your Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card , you can pay upfront for checked luggage and your $300 annual travel credit will kick in to cover those charges.
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on American Express' website
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
on Chase's website
NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Read Review Read Review Read Review Read ReviewUnited also offers a baggage subscription for $349 per year for United and United Express flights. A United baggage subscription could be a good solution if you frequently travel with family or friends. The subscriber and up to eight companions can each bring two free checked bags when traveling on the same reservation. This applies to standard-sized bags (50 pounds max); overweight and oversized charges apply if bags exceed the standard allowance.
The subscription is only valid on United and United Express flights. You will need to select a geographic region where you want to use your subscription. If you’re traveling on other carriers or to other regions, additional baggage fees may apply.
When traveling on United, you need to consider the different types of baggage fees you may incur. Depending on your cabin class, elite status (or lack thereof), your origin/destination, and other factors, you may need to pay a fee for checked, carry-on, oversized or overweight bags. Luckily there are ways to reduce or eliminate these fees.
The information related to the Citi Prestige® Card and United Club℠ Business Card ( $450 annual fee) has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product or service.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card About the authorsYou’re following Ariana Arghandewal
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
Ariana is a travel rewards expert whose work has been featured by U.S. News Travel, Frommer's and The Huffington Post. See full bio.
You’re following Elina Geller
Visit your My NerdWallet Settings page to see all the writers you're following.
Elina Geller is a former NerdWallet travel writer specializing in airline and hotel loyalty programs. Her work has been featured in AwardWallet. See full bio.
United Cards from our Partners
on Chase's website
United℠ Explorer Card NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rateEarn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, hotel stays and United® purchases. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
Intro offerEarn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
on Chase's website
United℠ Business Card NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rateEarn 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, dining, at gas stations, office supply stores and on local transit and commuting. Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Intro offerEarn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
on Chase's website
United Quest℠ Card NerdWallet RatingNerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features.
Rewards rate3 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases. 2 miles per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services & all other travel. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, each year, receive up to a $125 United® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits (terms apply) and earn up to 6,000 Premier qualifying points.
Intro offerEarn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
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