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United Airlines Baggage Fees & Policies

Everything you need to know about United Airline's checked baggage fees, restrictions, and policies.

United Airlines Luggage Policies and Fees

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Carry-On Luggage

United Airlines like most airline carriers, besides checked baggage will also allow you to bring 1 carry on and 1 personal item per person.

Carry On Size Restrictions

Your 1 carry baggage must be smaller than 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) so it can fit in the overhead compartment.

United Airlines Carry On Size Dimensions

Personal Item Policy

Your 1 personal item must fit under the seat in front of you, and must be 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22cm x 25cm x 43cm) or smaller. Purses, backpacks, computer bags are common items most often seen and accepted as a personal item.

Checked Baggage Fees & Size Allowances

United recommends that you use their baggage fee calculator to get exact cost, but from what we have discovered these fees below are accurate and they are determined by cabin class.

United Airlines Checked Baggage Fees for 1st and 2nd Bags

Region	First Checked Bag	Second Checked Bag
U.S. Domestic	$35 (prepaid) / $40 (at airport)	$45 (prepaid) / $50 (at airport)
Canada	$40 (prepaid) / $45 (at airport)	$50 (prepaid) / $55 (at airport)
Mexico	$40 (prepaid) / $45 (at airport)	$50 (prepaid) / $55 (at airport)
Caribbean	$40 (prepaid) / $45 (at airport)	$50 (prepaid) / $55 (at airport)
Central America	$40 (prepaid) / $45 (at airport)	$50 (prepaid) / $55 (at airport)
South America	$0 for first bag, $100 for second	$100
Europe	$0 for first bag, $100 for second	$100
Middle East (excluding Israel) and South Africa	$200	$200
Asia	$0 for first bag, $100 for second	$100
Australia/New Zealand	$200	$200
India	$300	$300

Additional Notes:

Free Bags: Economy passengers generally receive one or two free checked bags on international routes depending on the destination.
Basic Economy: Basic economy tickets have different restrictions and fees, so it’s essential to verify the specifics if traveling on this fare.
Exclusions and Waivers: Premier members, active U.S. military personnel, and co-branded credit card holders may have different allowances or fee waivers.
Prepaid Discount: Fees are generally lower when bags are prepaid online at least 24 hours before departure.

Checked Luggage Size Allowances

The maximum size of your checked baggage that United Airlines allows is 30 inches x 20 inches x 12 inches (76cm x 52cm x 30cm).

United Checked Baggage Fees & Size Allowances

Weight limit For Checked Baggage

The weight limit for a checked bag depends on your cabin and your MileagePlus status. If they have different limits, we’ll go by the one that has the larger limit.

weight limit for united airlines checked baggage chart by cabin class

*If you are a frequent flyer with United Airlines, you can have higher weight limits as shown in the chart below.

United MileagePlus baggage weight limits

Other fees apply for extra checked bags or any bags that go over these limits. Visit the oversized, overweight and extra bags section below for more info.

Other Items Allowed Onboard United Flights

United Airlines baggage policies all0w you to bring other items not considered baggage on your flight. In addition to your carry-on bag and personal item for free.

Jacket or coat
Umbrella
Things to read
Food or other items bought at the airport
Mobility devices, including wheelchairs, canes, and crutches
A car seat, child safety harness or stroller
A diaper bag and breast pump
Camera

United Airlines Baggage Calculator

If you would like to see exactly what your baggage will cost you, you can use United Airlines baggage fee calculator.

United Airlines Checked Baggage Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prepay for bags over the phone?
No. You can only prepay for bags online or on the United app in the My Trips section.
Can I get a discount if I prepay for my bags?
You can save on checked bag fees if you prepay for bags on United or United Express^® flights inside the U.S. You can also save on flights to the Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America that start in the U.S. Use our baggage calculator to find out how much it will cost to check a bag for your flight.
Can I prepay for my sports gear or overweight bags?
No. Special items like sports gear, oversized bags and overweight bags must be paid for at the airport.
Why can’t I prepay for my bags even though I just bought a flight?
It can take time for our system to make tickets for new reservations. Try again in a couple of hours.
What if I make changes to my flight?
If you change your flight, the bags that you paid for will transfer to your new itinerary.
Will I still get free bags as a MileagePlus® member if I prepay?
Yes. Our system will know if you get any free checked bags.
Can I prepay for my bags if I bought my ticket from a third party?
Yes. As long as your flight is operated by United or United Express, you can prepay for bags.
Can I prepay for bags for multiple passengers on the same reservation?
Yes. You can prepay for bags for multiple passengers with the same confirmation number.

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