United Airlines Baggage Fees 2023
Carry On Size & Weight - Checked Bag Fee

Most United Airlines passengers are permitted to check one carry-on bag and one personal item free of charge. This does not apply to United's new "Basic Economy" price, where customers are only permitted one complimentary personal item.

If you are traveling in "Basic Economy," you are only allowed to bring one personal item. If you arrive at the gate with more than one item, or a bag that exceeds the personal item dimensions, it will be gate checked, and you will be charged the appropriate regular checked luggage fee, as well as a $25 "gate-handling" fee.

Flying on trans-Atlantic flights to or from the U.S., Mexico, Central America, as well as to and from El Salvador, Panama, and South America, taking trans-Pacific flights to or from the U.S., or if specific Mileage Plus statuses or credit cards permit a standard carry-on bag with your ticket are the only exceptions to this rule for Basic Economy passengers.

Carry-on bag
The maximum size for a carry-on bag, including handles and wheels, is 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm). You cannot bring a full-size carry-on bag if you are flying in "Basic Economy." If you do, the bag will be sent as checked baggage, and a $25 gate-check cost will be added to the standard checked baggage fee.

Personal item
Your personal item's maximum size is 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches, which applies to shoulder bags, backpacks, laptop bags, and other compact items (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). This is the only thing you can carry for free when flying in "Basic Economy."

Cabin-seat baggage is defined as carry-on items that can be transported in the cabin but are fragile or large. Customers can purchase a ticket to carry on and transport a piece of luggage in a seat in the cabin.

You may bring the following goods and they do not count against your one bag and one personal item allowance:

Jacket or umbrella
Reading material
Pet carrier (service charges apply for in-cabin pets)
FAA-approved child restraint seat
Diaper bag
Breast Pump
Food or merchandise purchased in the airport
Assistive devices (collapsible wheelchair, cane, one set of crutches, medical devices needed to administer prescription medications, portable oxygen concentrator, etc.)

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
If there is room in the overhead bins or under the seat in front of you when you board the aircraft, you may bring a violin, guitar, or other small musical instrument on board as part of your carry-on luggage allowance.

Carry-on Baggage on United Express flights
Given the limited space on board the aircraft to store all carry-on luggage, local flights operated by smaller United Express flights can necessitate gate-checking your carry-on bags. Gate agents will give green tags for items that have been gate checked, and baggage handlers will put those items into the baggage hold when the flight takes off. Instead of travelling to baggage claim, you can pick up your green-tagged luggage when exiting the aircraft.

Checked baggage service charges may apply on United Airlines flights for the first two pieces of checked baggage. If flying United Economy or Basic Economy, the maximum allowed weight for a single bag is 50 pounds (23 kg) per bag, with maximum exterior linear dimension of 62 inches (158 cm) per bag. You may be charged for either the first or second checked bag, depending on your itinerary.

If flying United Business, United First, United Polaris First Class, or United Polaris Business Class, the maximum allowed weight per checked bag is 70lbs (32kgs). This also applies to Mileage Place Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Star Alliance Gold members.

You can check your free baggage allowance and the cost of any checked bag fees using the
United Airlines Baggage Calculator. If your itinerary begins with a codeshare flight or with another airline as the marketing carrier, the allowance and charges may differ.

United Airlines Flights to/from Brazil
Please note that there are no longer special baggage allowances on United Airlines flights to/from Brazil - the free baggage allowances are now more restrictive, and fees for excess and overweight baggage are much higher than they used to be a few years ago.