United Airlines · fees checked 2026-10-21
What a United Airlines flight really costs
The fare is only the start. These are United Airlines's own published prices for bags, seats, priority and the fees that catch people out, with the date we checked each one. Prices vary by route and date, so we show the range the airline publishes.
Search flights with the true cost
Live fares from Kiwi.com across all airlines, with United Airlines's and every other airline's bags, seats and fees added.
Fares come from Kiwi.com at the moment you search and are not stored; you book on Kiwi.com. Bags are Kiwi's search prices for each flight where Kiwi quotes them (the airline's standard bag). Fares include Kiwi.com's service fee; with bags, Kiwi's checkout can add a baggage service fee its search does not show for some airlines (it does not publish these fees), so always check the total on Kiwi before paying. Airline logos are shown to identify the airline. Airport list: OurAirports.
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What's included free
- Small personal item (free, under the seat)43 × 25 × 22 cm source
- Carry-on bag in the overhead bin (free on transatlantic flights, Basic Economy included)56 × 35 × 23 cm source
- 23kg checked bag (one included with Economy on international flights; not with Basic Economy)76 × 52 × 30 cm, up to 23kg source
- 32kg checked bags (Business, First, Polaris business class and Premier members)76 × 52 × 30 cm, up to 32kg source
- Two checked bags included with Premium Economy (United Premium Plus)76 × 52 × 30 cm, up to 23kg source
Cabin bags
| What | When bought | Price | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bag that won't fit under the seat, checked at the gate (Basic Economy) For tickets bought from 3 April 2026 ($65 for tickets bought earlier). On flights across the Atlantic, Basic Economy already includes a carry-on bag, so this applies only to a bag beyond your allowance. You cannot gate-check a bag for free on Basic Economy. | at the airport | ≈€66.87 / ≈£56.19 / US$75 | per item | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
Checked (hold) bags
| What | When bought | Price | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st checked bag, Basic Economy, international flights Basic Economy includes no checked bag across the Atlantic. Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. | online, when booking | ≈€80.25 / ≈£67.43 / US$90 | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| 2nd checked bag, Basic Economy, international flights Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. | online, when booking | ≈€107 / ≈£89.91 / US$120 | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| 1st checked bag, Economy, international flights Free on Economy. Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. | online, when booking | €0 / £0 / US$0 | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| 2nd checked bag, Economy, international flights Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. Premium Economy and Business include two bags; their cheaper 'base' options pay $120 for the 2nd. | online, when booking | ≈€107 / ≈£89.91 / US$120 | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| Extra checked bag (3rd bag or more) 3rd and each further bag, up to 23kg and 158cm. Accepted only if there is space. Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. | at the airport | ≈€267.50 / ≈£224.77 / US$300 | per item | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| Heavy bag (23kg to 45kg / 51lb to 100lb) $200 for 24kg to 32kg, $400 for 33kg to 45kg, on top of the bag fee. Bags over 45kg or 292cm are not accepted. Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. | at the airport | ≈€178.33 to €356.67 / ≈£149.85 to £299.70 / US$200 to US$400 | per item | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| Oversized bag (158cm to 292cm in total) On top of the bag fee; a bag that is too big and too heavy pays both. Read by hand in United's own bag fee calculator (Newark to London, 10 Nov 2026, no MileagePlus status) on 21 October 2026. The prepaid and standard prices were the same. Charged each way. | at the airport | ≈€178.33 / ≈£149.85 / US$200 | per item | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
Seats
| What | When bought | Price | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choosing a standard seat (Basic Economy) Price varies by flight; United publishes no figure. Without paying, United gives you a seat before boarding and people travelling together may be split up. Up to two children under 12 can sit next to an adult for free. On Economy and better fares, choosing a standard seat is free. | online, when booking | not published Paid for this? Tell us → | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| Preferred seat (economy seat near the front, no extra legroom) Price varies by route; United publishes no figure. Can also be bought later in My Trips. Free for MileagePlus Premier members, except on Basic Economy tickets. | online, when booking | not published Paid for this? Tell us → | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| Economy Plus seat (up to 6 inches more legroom) Price varies by flight; United publishes no figure. Can be bought any time from booking to check-in, but Basic Economy travellers can only buy it at check-in. A year's subscription starts at $799. Example seen in United's booking search on 21 October 2026 (Newark to London, 10 November, one way, 1 adult): Economy from $300, Economy Plus sold as its own fare from $602. | online, when booking | not published Paid for this? Tell us → | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
Priority boarding
| What | When bought | Price | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Boarding (board with Group 2) Starting price; United gives no upper price. Bought in My Trips or the United app, on select flights only. Not available on Basic Economy. | online, after booking | ≈from €21.40 / ≈from £17.98 / from US$24 | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
| Premier Access (priority check-in, security lane and boarding) Starting price; United gives no upper price. Bought on united.com, in the app or at an airport kiosk, at some airports only. Does not include priority bag delivery. Not available on Basic Economy. | online, after booking | ≈from €21.40 / ≈from £17.98 / from US$24 | per person, per flight | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
Payment and admin fees
| What | When bought | Price | Charged | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booking, phone or card payment fee inferred United does not list a booking, phone or card payment fee on the pages checked. | online, when booking | not published | per booking | source, checked 2026-10-21 |
≈ = converted by us from US dollars and euros (as United Airlines publishes them) at the European Central Bank reference rate of 2026-10-20. The airline's own price in that currency may differ slightly.
Main source: United Airlines fees page. Next re-check due by 2026-11-21.
What travellers paid
No figures yet: we publish a price once at least 5 travellers have reported it.
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