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If you’re planning on flying with United Airlines this year then you’ll want to know what to expect in terms of potential fees and luggage restrictions for both your carry-on items and checked bags.

So for your convenience, whether you’re traveling with carry-ons, checked bags, or both, here’s a comprehensive list of every important United baggage policy all passengers should be aware of in 2022.

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United Airlines Carry-On Allowance

Don’t risk arriving at the airport for your flight and having your carry-on luggage turned away or unexpectedly checked. United Airlines lets most passengers travel with one carry-on bag and one personal item each, free of charge, as long as the items do not go over the airline’s size and weight restrictions.

Basic Economy tickets allow for one personal item only and do not include free carry-on luggage. If you do bring a full-sized carry-on bag when flying economy, you will be required to check the bag and pay the checked bag fee (whatever it is for your flight) and a $25 gate handling charge on top of that. All other flight classes include one free carry-on and one personal item.

Your carry-on bag technically has no weight restrictions, but it is expected to fit in the overhead bin. This means it must not exceed 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 22 centimeters x 35 centimeters x 56 centimeters. This includes all exterior hardware such as handles and straps. Your personal item, which is expected to fit under the seat in front of you, must not exceed 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches or 22 centimeters x 25 centimeters x 43 centimeters.

Other items that all passengers may bring in addition to their carry-ons include standard “special” items such as umbrellas, FAA-approved child restraint systems and safety seats, assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers, and pet carriers.

If you are going to be traveling with an infant or young child, there are a number of necessary items you can bring that United Airlines will not charge you for. These include: 

• A diaper bag 🎒
• A breast pump and milk 🍼
• An FAA-approved child or infant restraint seat 👶
• A compact folding stroller that meets carry-on size restrictions (9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches or 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches) 👩‍👧‍👧

All children under the age of two may travel with one car seat and one stroller. This allowance is included in all flight classes and on all flights. Strollers usually need to be checked at the gate but if they do not collapse, you’ll need to check them at the ticket counter.

Bringing Pets Onboard

Small dogs and cats are allowed on most domestic and international flights, but you will, of course, need to pay for your pet to travel with you in the cabin. A service charge of $125 is charged each way for a pet, and an additional charge of the same amount is assessed for every stopover of greater than four hours.

Service animals are not under the same restrictions as pets. See this page for information on traveling with service animals.

Pit Bull breeds are not permitted on the airplane at all.

The requirements for traveling with pets are as follows:

• Puppies and kittens must not be younger than 16 weeks old
• Unaccompanied minors are not permitted to fly with pets
• Additional pets require an extra ticket and an additional $125 each way
• Pets that don’t fit in kennels may not accompany you in the cabin and will need to travel in a separate compartment of the plane through United Airlines’ PetSafe transport program
• You and your pet must be on the same flight
• Oxygen services are not available for pets in the event of an emergency

Your pet will need to be up-to-date on its rabies vaccinations and you must bring a health certificate showing that they are to the airport. Some states, like Hawaii, have their own restrictions in place that you need to research.

Musical Instruments

Small instruments such as violins and guitars are permitted as long as they are in a hard case. If they are placed in the overhead bin, they’ll count as your carry-on. If they are placed beneath the seat in front of you, they’ll count as your personal item.

Prohibited Items

Certain items are strictly prohibited on United Airlines flights. These restrictions are put in place by the federal government and there are no exceptions.

Items never allowed on a flight include:

• Self-balancing or self-riding bags
• Camping equipment that contains fuel of any kind
• Defense sprays such as pepper spray, tear gas, or mace
• Explosives including but not limited to fireworks, flares, and gunpowder
• MREs containing flameless heaters
• Shock absorbers
• Smart bags with batteries that cannot be removed
• Tasers
• Select electronic devices
• Perishable items

Items allowed on flights with restrictions include:

• Batteries
• Power tools
• Mobility devices
• Firearms

United Airlines Checked Baggage Allowance

How many bags you can check for a United flight and how much each of those bags will cost to check depends on your loyalty status with the airline and the flight class you’ve chosen. Size and weight restrictions are also dependent on flight class and loyalty status.

Here’s a Visual Breakdown:

For United Economy flyers, checked baggage may weigh up to 50 pounds or 23 kilograms. United Business, United First, and United Polaris checked baggage may weigh up to 70 pounds. The latter is also the restriction for passengers with Premier Silver, Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Star Alliance Gold (First, Business, or Polaris) MileagePlus status. 

No bag may exceed a combined total of 62 inches (length + width + height) unless checked by an active-duty U.S. military member traveling for official business.

You can pay for your checked baggage, provided that it meets size and weight requirements, online before your flight or at check-in.

Cost of Checked Bags

To get the most accurate cost breakdown on how much it will cost to check your bags on your next United flight, use their baggage cost calculator.

The cost varies not only by route but also by which cabin you’re sitting in (economy, premium economy, business or first) as well as your membership and status. Your membership and status are determined by the credit cards you hold and whether or not you are active in the U.S. military.

In general, for North American economy flights you can expect to pay $30-$35 per bag depending on whether you prepay or not. If you need to carry a second bag this will cost an additional $40-$45.

For flights to Europe the first checked bag is free even for those in the economy cabin, however second bags will cost up to $100 to check.

Here’s a closer look of what you can expect to pay per bag from the US to popular international destinations:

Destination	1st Bag	2nd Bag
London, UK	$0	$100
Madrid, Spain	$0	$100
Berlin, Germany	$0	$100
Hong Kong	$0	$0
Beijing, China	$0	$0
Tokyo, Japan	$0	$0
Mexico City, Mexico	$35 at airport, $30 prepaid	$60 at airport, $55 prepaid
Cancun, Mexico	$35 at airport, $30 prepaid	$60 at airport, $55 prepaid
San Jose, Costa Rica	$35 at airport, $30 prepaid	$45 at airport, $40 prepaid
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil	$0	$65
Cape town, South Africa	$0	$0
Sydney, Australia	$0	$100
Perth, Australia	$0	$100
Queenstown, New Zealand	$0	$100

If you’re flying any level above economy both your first and second bag will be checked free of charge. Same goes for acting U.S. military members. You can read more about this in our “Exceptions and Waivers” section further below.

📍 Please Note: If you’re flying Basic Cabin to Europe your first bag will cost $75 and your second bag remains at $100. Also, when flying Basic Cabin to Asia your first bag will still be $0 but your second bag will be $100. This differs from United Economy Cabin which is the prices you see in the chart above.

Checked Baggage for Children

The same checked baggage policies apply to children with purchased tickets and infants flying internationally on 10% of adult fare as for adult passengers. Should a child’s baggage exceed their personal allowance, the fare-paying adult accompanying them will need to assume the excess baggage as part of their own allowance.

Excessive Baggage Fees

If you must bring a bag that exceeds the above size and weight restrictions or you want to bring an additional bag, you may do so for a fee. Some flights do not allow oversized or overweight bags at all, so be sure to look into this every time you fly.

Checked baggage may never exceed 115 linear inches. Most baggage may never exceed 100 pounds. Musical instruments and mobility devices, however, may weigh up to 165 pounds. Overweight bags (weighing over 70 pounds but less than 100) can cost up to $200 each. Oversized bags measuring more than 62 linear inches also incur a fee, which is dependent on the flight destination and subject to change.

Please note that if a bag is more than one of these things—extra, overweight, or oversized—you’ll be charged more than one service fee. Extra bags are permitted only when there is space available on the plane.

Fragile and/or Bulky Items

If you happen to be flying with an oversized, bulky or fragile item that is too delicate to transport as checked baggage, you may choose to purchase a ticket for it and have it sit next to you or in another open seat. This item and ticket purchase must be approved by a United Airlines agent.

Some examples of cabin-seat baggage that would be approved by United may include the following:

• large musical instruments
• electronic devices (cameras, computer hardware, medical devices)
• artifacts
• garment bags

Please note the following cabin-seat baggage restrictions:

• Item(s) must not exceed 165 pounds (75 kg).
• Item(s) must be safely covered in a way that avoids injury to other customers.
• Item(s) must be secured in a seat adjacent to the owner.
• Item(s) must be properly secured by a seat belt to avoid shifting during flight.
• Item(s) must not restrict access to, or use of, any regular or emergency exit or aisle of the cabin.
• Item(s) must not obscure any customer’s view of “seatbelt,” “no smoking” or “exit” signage.
• Item(s) must not contain dangerous goods.
• Item(s) must be reserved in advance and applicable charges paid.

You can read more on United’s cabin-seat baggage restrictions here.

Exceptions and Waivers

Both active-duty U.S. military personnel and their dependents and MileagePlus Premier members and their travel companions can have checked baggage fees waived. For these flyers, a maximum weight of 70 pounds is enforced rather than the standard 50 pounds.

Active-duty military personnel and their dependents receive 3 complimentary checked bags for personal travel, 2 for travel orders, and 5 for official business travel. MileagePlus Premier Silver members receive 1 complimentary checked bag on most domestic and select international economy flights, Gold receive 2 complimentary checked bags on economy flights, and Platinum and 1K members receive 3 complimentary checked bags on economy flights. All premium cabin travel permits 3 complimentary checked bags for those with Silver, Gold, Platinum, or 1K status.

Some destinations such as flights to San Salvador and Havana have additional restrictions in place when it comes to complimentary checked baggage. See these here.

Credit Cards That Give You a Free Checked Bag With United Airlines

As you can see, United Airlines does not offer free checked baggage to just any customer, as some budget airlines do, but there are a couple of ways to check a bag for free when you’re a United passenger. 

Not a member of the military or a United Airlines favorite customer? A United Airlines credit card might be the way to go for you. United offers five different credit cards through Chase bank and all cardholders receive at least one checked bag for free.

Here’s how many free bags you can check when you’re a United cardholder:

• United℠ Explorer Card: 1
• United Club℠ Infinite Card: 2
• United℠ Presidential Plus℠ Card: 2
• United^SM Business Card: 1
• United Club^SM Business Card: 2

According to United, having the United℠ Explorer Card (first card on the list above) can save you up to $140 per round trip! The primary card holder plus one companion on the same United reservation both get their first standard checked bag for free on all United-operated flights. You’ll have to make the purchase with the United Explorer card for the deal.

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• Best Airlines Credit Cards
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Many airlines have classes of service that bridge the gap between coach fares and the much more expensive business and first class seats. In some cases there are a few types of fares that usually come with names like comfort and premium attached to them.

These fares are different from the basic fares that sprung up to compete with low-cost carriers. With those fares, which are generally the lowest offered on any route, you can’t pick a seat in advance and you need to pay extra for checked bags. You will also lose your money if you miss or cancel the flight.

But not everyone is looking for bargain basement fares. Some people just need a little extra legroom over what traditional economy seats offer, and they are willing to pay extra to avoid being cramped during their flight.

There are also some other fares that add extras. But it’s not always clear what you are getting for the extra price paid because many airlines use similar sounding names. There are also bundles that add extras to your flight experience which can make it all very confusing, and even subscriptions that allow you to book an Economy Plus fare class on all of your flights.

In this article we’ll take a look at United’s Economy Plus fares and outline what they include compared to other fare types offered by the carrier. We’ll also go over how much extra it might cost and whether it is worth it.

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• Best Airlines Credit Cards
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What is United Economy Plus?

Economy Plus was first introduced in 1999, so it has been around for over 20 years. The main thing you get with an Economy Plus fare on United is some extra space to stretch your legs. These seats come with up to six inches of extra legroom, and they may be wider or have extra recline though that varies by aircraft. You can check for specifics on a site like seatguru.com. They are also closer to the front of the economy cabin, which allows you to deplane sooner.

This type of fare is available on all United and most United Express flights, but not on Star Alliance partner flights. Don’t get it confused with Preferred Seating on the carrier. Those seats are actually located just behind the Economy Plus seats, but the preferred seat itself is the same as the one you get with a regular economy fare and even a basic economy fare. ​​Preferred seats cost from $9 per flight to upgrade from Economy tickets and from $16 per flight for Basic Economy ticket holders.

Economy Plus vs Premium Plus

United also has a new class of service called Premium Plus. It is considered a premium economy experience, but is only available on select domestic flights including premium transcontinental routes and select long-haul international flights, as well as flights to Hawaii.

This level of service includes a better seat than Economy Plus. Premium Plus seats are made of plush materials and include adjustable foot and leg rests, and include a dedicated power outlet and USB charger in the arm rest. 

You also get a larger entertainment screen and an upgraded dining experience complete with custom dinnerware, flatware and a cloth napkin. Complimentary alcoholic beverages are also included with this fare where it is available.

What is the Cost to Upgrade to Economy Plus?

You can book an Economy Plus fare when you book your flight, or you can choose to upgrade before your flight through the website, in the app or by calling customer service before your flight or at check-in online or at the airport if available. 

There are two basic ways to purchase United Economy Plus. You can buy it for a single flight, or you can get a subscription for the year and upgrade every time you fly on United as long as the fare  purchased is not Basic Economy. The cost to upgrade to Economy Plus from Economy ranges for a single flight ranges from $9 to $299 per person. 

An annual Economy Plus subscription costs from $499 to $1,099. It can be purchased by region, and it can be bought for multiple passengers if they are traveling on the same itinerary. You can also upgrade to a different region or add passengers to an annual subscription in your account, but that will automatically extend the subscription for another year and any value on your existing subscription will be applied to the new price.

Another way to get Economy Plus seating is by bundling your trip.  Bundles include a custom combination of Economy Plus seating, checked bags, Premier Access, a United Club trip pass, extra award miles, a seat assignment if you booked a Basic Economy fare and/or a Wi-Fi pass for the day. You can buy a bundle when you book your flight.

You can also switch from one Economy Plus seat to another prior to flying if the cost is the same as your original seat, but if it costs more than the original price will be refunded and the new seat must be purchased in full.

For United MileageClub members 

If you are a MileagePlus Premier Platinum member, you can request access to Economy Plus seats for yourself and up to eight passengers traveling with you. Premier Gold members get advance access for themselves and one companion, and Premier Silver members can request the upgrade at check-in. If the fare you booked is a Basic Economy ticket, you have to wait until check-in to upgrade and pay the appropriate fee.

If you purchased the upgrade and the airline is unable to accommodate you in Economy Plus, the extra charge will be refunded. You can also purchase a subscription for someone else. If you are the recipient of a Comfort Plus subscription you can activate it here.

If you get upgraded because of your status and no longer need Economy Plus seating, it will be automatically refunded unless the upgrade is a complimentary Premier upgrade or if you are given a seat that is of similar or greater value because of an aircraft change.

Premium Cabins

You can purchase a Basic Economy, Economy and Economy Plus on just about any United flight, but the choice of premium cabins has a lot to do with the destination you are flying to. Depending on where you are headed, there are different upgraded options beyond Economy Plus including Business Class, Polaris Business Class and First Class.

If you’re flying on a transcon flight between Boston or New York/Newark and Los Angeles or San Francisco, you have two upgraded options. You can choose to fly in Economy Plus or Business Class.

Economy Plus vs Business Class

You can book business class on United for flights between the US and select cities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Business class tickets come with Premier Access, which will get you through airport security and check-in quicker, and you’ll board earlier.

Flying business class on United will cost a lot more than upgrading to Comfort Plus. Ticket prices for business class on international flights vary based on a number of factors, but generally cost between $3,000 and $5,000. A flight from New York to London in United Business Class runs around $4,000 for example.

Polaris Business Class

Premium cabins vary by aircraft, but you can book the United Polaris business class product on select long-haul international routes. This is the airline’s most premium product which includes a suite-like space with ergonomically designed seats that lie flat and privacy dividers.

You can customize the recline on these seats, and for entertainment you have a 16-inch HD monitor and a full library of movies and shows to watch. You also get noise-reducing headphones and elevated service.

You also get access to the United Polaris lounge before you board if it is available in the airport. Polaris lounges can be found at Chicago O’Hare, Houston Intercontinental, Washington Dulles, New York/Newark, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Most were closed during the pandemic, but have reopened. The two California are expected to reopen in 2022. At the lounge you can take a shower and get a multi-course meal to eat before you board so you can sleep while flying.

On board the flight you get restaurant-quality meals created in partnership with the Trotter Project and complimentary alcoholic beverages. Or you can slip into 100% cotton pajamas and enjoy Saks Fifth Avenue bedding including a mattress cushion, cooling gel pillow, duvet and throw.

Economy Plus vs First Class 

United First will also get you extra space in its first class seats. These fares are available on flights throughout North America and Alaska and Hawaii. In addition to the added comfort of a first class seat in the front of the plane, you also get Premier Access. First class tickets on United also come with two free checked bags and priority handling of those bags.

These spacious leather seats have a six-way adjustable headrest and a padded seat cushion. They also have an in-arm slot for your tablet or laptop as well as a personal water bottle console and double pockets on the back of the seat.

The seats also come with a flip-up mobile device holder and charger, and a granite-topped table in the center of the console, which frees up the tray table for working or eating. You also get United Private Screening, which includes on-demand entertainment from DirectTV, and you can stream entertainment to your personal device. Youdo have to pay extra for United Wi-Fi though where available.

You’ll also get upgraded food and dining choices which vary depending on the length of the flight. They include a full meal with two entree choices, premium snacks, fresh fruit and Illy coffee. Alcoholic beverages are also included in the fare including On the Rocks Cocktails and craft beer selections.

Food and Beverages on United Comfort Plus

The meals and drinks served to Economy Plus passengers are the same as you would get in the rest of the main cabin. Flights that are less than two hours and 20 minutes don’t have any meal service or snacks, so bring your own or eat before you board. 

If the flight is longer than that or you are flying on a premium transcontinental flight in United Economy, you’ll receive a pack with two snacks and an 8.5 ounce bottle of water. Passengers on international flights receive a salad, entree, snack and a cup of ice cream if available, and complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and tea/coffee.

Snacks include chookies, pretzels or snack mix. You can also choose to purchase Choice Menu Bistro meals on select flights or Choice Menu Snack boxes.

Non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary for all passengers, but if the flight is less than an hour you will need to request them. Wine and beer are only complimentary for United Economy passengers on premium transcontinental flights and long-haul international flights, but alcoholic beverages including beer, wine and spirits are available for purchase on other flights.

Baggage Allowances 

With Economy Plus you also get the same allowance for bags as coach passengers. You are allowed to bring a carry-on bag and a personal item for no charge. The maximum size for the bag is 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches including the handles and wheels. Personal items like a shoulder bag, backpack or laptop must be smaller than 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches.

If you have to check an item at the gate, the first checked bag costs $35, a second one is $45 and a third one is $150. If you purchased a basic economy fare, there is also a $25 charge to check the bag at the gate.

There is a fee of $200 if the bag is oversized, which is more than 62 linear inches. Bags that weigh more than 50 pounds (but under 70 pounds) will cost from $100 to $200 each depending on the cabin, status level and itinerary. If the bag weighs between 70 and 100 pounds, it can cost up to $400 per bag.

If you have Gold elite status with the carrier, you are allowed two complimentary checked bags at 70 pounds each for domestic destinations and up to three checked bags to select international markets. 

Is Economy Plus Worth it? 

That depends on how much the upgrade costs and how much you need the extra legroom. United Economy Plus will definitely give you more room, especially on transcontinental or international flights. But it may not be worth it to upgrade on shorter domestic flights unless you need the extra space.

Also, if boarding or getting off the plane sooner is important to you, an Economy Plus ticket will get you in an earlier boarding group ahead of Economy and Basic Economy passengers. And you’ll be closer to the front of the plane when it’s time to deplane.

You also earn extra Premier qualifying points in the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program for the purchase of a one-time or annual subscription to Economy Plus, which will help you achieve elite status faster. So if you’re chasing a higher status tier, this will help you attain that goal and the cost may be worth it to you.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

Full disclosure: We may receive financial compensation when you click on links and are approved for products from our advertising partners. Opinions and product recommendations on FlyerGeek are those of our writers and have not been influenced, reviewed or approved by any advertiser. Learn more about how we make money.

An electronic travel certificate with United Airlines can be used to book trips on most United flights. These certificates, which can be easily redeemed for flights and/or preferred seating, can be a great way to save money.

Issued when a flight is canceled, these vouchers do not cost anything to you and are worth the full price of a canceled ticket.

So how do you get them, how do they work, and are they worth having? Find out below.

✈️ Looking for a new travel credit card this year? See today’s top offers below:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards
• Best Airlines Credit Cards
• Best Hotel Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Overall in 2022

What is United’s Electronic Travel Certificate?

A United electronic travel certificate can be used to purchase tickets for United flights, United Express flights, and flights through other airlines that are United Express-branded. However, these certificates are not redeemable for flights on airlines within the Star Alliance network or United-branded flights elsewhere. These certificates are not the same as award tickets.

In addition to select flight tickets, these certificates can be used to purchase upgrades such as Economy Plus seating, Basic Economy seating, and preferred seating.

Travel certificates are valid for two years after issuance and go into effect immediately after a flight is canceled. They are offered as an alternative to rebooking and paying a change fee to customers that need to cancel their flight. You can apply the full value of your canceled flight to one of these certificates and use it to purchase any qualifying flight even if it is for a different reservation. 

Electronic travel certificates are issued by United for situations such as irregular operations, customer goodwill, fare difference during a ticket exchange, and instances of denied boarding. They are also offered as an option to passengers that voluntarily cancel a flight, but not all canceled flights are eligible to receive full refunds in the form of electronic travel certificates (certain payment types such as credit card points, for example, may not qualify). In some cases, you may only be offered future flight credit.

Electronic Travel Certificate vs Future Flight Credit: Which is Better?

Electronic travel certificates and future flight credit are often compared to each other because they are very similar: they are both issued when a flight is canceled and can both be used to book flights. But which is better?

That depends. Travel certificates have the advantage of being more flexible with time and future flight credit has the advantage of being more flexible with flight options; certificates have residual value and FFC does not. Basically, which is better comes down to when and how you’re most likely to use your credit to fly.

Here’s a breakdown of how the two compare.

When booking new travel you can:	Travel Certificate	Future Flight Credit
Change dates and/or locations	✅	✅
Book on partner airlines	✅	✅
Use for new travelers	❌	✅
Book on United and United Express	✅	❌

In a nut shell…

Both: 

• Allow you to change travel dates and/or cities
• Let you book United or United Express
• Are eligible to earn miles

Electronic travel certificates:

• Can be used to book new travel
• Do not place restrictions on the travel-by date
• Do not carry rules and restrictions from the original ticket
• Can be used to book multiple flights
• Can be used to book travel for someone else
• *May maintain United card benefits such as priority boarding and free checked baggage. Learn more about United’s baggage policy in 2021.

Future flight credit:

• Can be used to book flights on partner airlines
• Maintains United card benefits such as priority boarding and free checked baggage

If you’re a United Chase cardholder, you’re going to want to read this closely. When you use your United card to pay for a ticket and end up canceling that flight in exchange for flight credit, your card benefits will carry over when you rebook. But if you receive a travel certificate instead and the cost of your new flight is less than the value of your certificate, your benefits will not transfer. If, on the other hand, the cost of the flight exceeds the value of your certificate and you pay the difference with your card, you’ll get those perks. If you have a United Explorer, Club, Presidential Plus, United Business, or United Club Business card, one of those perks will include either one or two free checked bags.

Another major difference between the two is that certificates are typically valid for twice as long. Normally, future flight credit expires within 12 months of issuance while electronic travel certificates take 24 months to expire. With that said, future flight credit for tickets issued between May 1, 2019 – March 31, 2021, is valid for travel commencing on or before March 31, 2022 gives passengers 24 months to rebook. Please note that the certificate expiration policy has been recently extended and used to be just 12 months. This is subject to change again but unlikely to do so in the near future.

One major benefit of travel certificates is that they can be put toward more than one flight. If you book a flight with your certificate that is valued at less than the value of your certificate and still have credit left over, the extra will remain in your account for use on your next purchase until the full value of the certificate has been used or the certificate expires—whichever happens first. 

So as you can see, electronic travel certificates beat future flight credit in many ways because they are generally more flexible. They usually have a longer expiration period and fewer booking restrictions. But if you need the option of traveling through a United partner airline and/or you want to be able to use your United credit card perks with a flight that costs less than your voucher is worth, future flight credit might be the better choice for you.

How To Use or Redeem a United Electronic Travel Certificate

To redeem your United electronic travel certificate, visit united.com and select Deals & Offers navigate to Promotional certificates, then enter the code or PIN on your certificate. This will tell you how much is left on your credit and how long you have until it expires. You do not need to pay anything when you redeem your certificate to book travel online except for service fees associated with any flight. But if you redeem over the phone, you’ll be charged a small redemption fee.

Travel certificates, which are always issued in USD, do not have monetary value and may not be sold, transferred, or redeemed for cash. Trying to sell or trade a certificate will result in said certificate automatically becoming invalid, even for the original recipient. But if you do intend to use a certificate to purchase a ticket for a flyer other than yourself, which is permissible, you’ll need to make sure to do this from your own account and know that the certificate can only be redeemed by you. United will require identification at the time of purchase and your last name will be linked to the ticket.

Travel certificates may not be used in conjunction with MileagePlus awards, PlusPoints upgrades, or prepaid tickets and are not valid when redeemed through a travel agency. Service charges and fees may not be paid for with certificates—you will need to pay these with a card at the time of purchase and check-in. You may combine up to ten separate certificates as long as they are all valid.

Current Status of United Electronic Travel Certificates From United

Due to current and past travel restrictions put in place in accordance with COVID-19 safety regulations, United electronic travel certificates are now valid for 24 months from the date they are issued. They take effect immediately after you cancel a flight and select this option. Your certificate will be automatically sent to your email.

Lately, there has been some debate about whether travel certificates are actually a good alternative to just rebooking a flight like normal. This is because recently and temporarily, United has loosened up its flight change policy by allowing passengers to rebook without incurring a typical change fee of $200. However, this will result in you forfeiting some of the value of your original ticket if you opt for a flight that is priced lower than what you first paid. 

Remember that travel certificates maintain the full value of your original ticket and can be used on more than one flight. So even with this flexibility in mind, electronic travel certificates are probably the way to go if you intend to fly through United or United Express in the next two years.

Final Thoughts

These electronic travel certificates are just another way that flyers can stretch their money and save when traveling. Electronic travel certificates come out on top when compared to future flight credit in many instances and are the logical choice over a traditional flight change. Across the board, these certificates are generally going to save you more than rebooking and the pesky change fees that come with that, but if you can wait to see if United will cancel your flight—in which case they are required to issue a full refund—or make changes to it, do that.

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It’s not uncommon for large airlines to partner with corporations including but not limited to other airlines, hotel networks, rental car companies, and even cruises. Having business partners like this allows airlines and other companies to streamline their booking processes and share customers. These agreements are mutually beneficial for partners in a network and they benefit customers too. By taking advantage of airline alliances, customers can typically book tickets more quickly and easily—and save money—when they fly within a network. 

There are many ways to earn points through United Airlines’ frequent flyer program, MileagePlus, when you often find yourself on United planes, but why limit yourself to one airline? United is partnered with many airlines. In fact, United is a member of the Star Alliance network and has several partners outside of this for a grand total of over 35 partners. Learn more about how to earn MileagePlus points when flying with other airlines, book award tickets with partner airlines using miles you’ve earned with United, and more here.

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United Airlines’ Star Alliance Network

As a member of the Star Alliance network, the largest global airline network in the world, United is partnered with some industry giants. As of 2021, there are 26 members of Star Alliance. These are:

• Aegean (Greece)
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• All Nippon Airways (Japan)
• Asiana Airlines (South Korea)
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca (Colombia)
• Brussels Airlines (Belgium)
• Copa Airlines (Panama)
• Croatia Airlines
• Egyptair
• Ethiopian
• Eva Air (Taiwan)
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa (Germany)
• SAS (Denmark-Norway-Sweden)
• Shenzhen Airlines (China)
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• SWISS International
• Air Portugal
• Thai
• Turkish Airlines

As you can see, these airlines represent countries across the globe. Frequent United flyers should definitely brush up on this list and get to know the airlines on here to save major cash.

So what does it mean for United Airlines to be a part of this network? Essentially, this partnership makes it possible for Star Alliance passengers to earn miles on any flight they take with a participating airline. So if you take a flight through Singapore Airlines, for example, you can earn miles for your MileagePlus account with United.

And this miles exchange goes both ways. You can also use United miles to book award flights with any Star Alliance airline, whether you are a member of that individual airline or not. However, the more Star Alliance airlines you are a member of, the more opportunities you will have to transfer points to and from your different accounts for ultimate savings potential. Alternatively, you can just use your MileagePlus miles as you normally would when booking United tickets. More on how to use United award miles later.

But beyond helping you save money, this network of airlines can also save travelers time. Rather than searching various separate airlines every time you want to fly somewhere new, simply search for a flight right through Star Alliance. 

This will allow you to input your desired itinerary and see all available airlines within the Star Alliance network that can complete your trip. If more than one airline is required to complete a trip, the search results will automatically populate with these options as well. Using this tool is especially helpful when booking long flights with complex itineraries (i.e. multiple stopovers, class changes, etc.). You can book United flights this way too.

How to Become a Star Alliance Member

To become a member of the Star Alliance, you just need to become a member of at least one of the participating airlines in the network. In this case, you’ll need to join the United Airlines MileagePlus program if you haven’t already.

Star Alliance also has its own membership program to reward loyal flyers with perks like complimentary checked baggage, seat upgrades, and pre-boarding food and beverage All Elite Star Alliance members enjoy priority check-in and baggage handling, free lounge access at over 1,000 partner airline airport locations, and much more. See a complete list of perks for every status level here. 

All MileagePlus members are automatically Star Alliance members. To become an elite Star Alliance member, you need to reach elite status with United Airlines. Premier Silver MileagePlus members are automatically granted Star Alliance Silver status. Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, and Global Services members are automatically granted Star Alliance Gold status. So when you’re earning MileagePlus miles, you’re really earning points for two loyalty accounts.

Other Worldwide Partners

Although the Star Alliance network is one of the most extensive airline networks in the world, United Airlines’ partner program doesn’t stop there. Beyond the Star Alliance, United partners with the following worldwide airlines:

• Aer Lingus (Ireland)
• Azul (Brazil)
• Edelweiss Air (Switzerland)
• Olympic Air (Greece)
• Aeromar (Mexico)
• Boutique Air (U.S.)
• Eurowings (Germany)
• Silver Airways (U.S.)
• Air Dolomoti (Italy)
• Cape Air (U.S./Caribbean)
• Hawaiian Airlines (U.S./Hawaii)
• Vistara (India)

Some of these are low-cost or budget carriers and others are luxury carriers; some offer international flights and others feature short commuter flights. Between these airlines and those in the Star Alliance, United partners with over 30 countries.

You can also earn MileagePlus points when you fly with any of these airlines and can use United miles to book award flights. 

Earning Premier Qualifying Credit With United Partners

MileagePlus members are eligible to receive premier qualifying credit on all flights flown on or after January 1, 2020, through United, United Express, and most United partner airlines (and a few other partner airlines not yet mentioned). 

Premier qualifying points determine your MileagePlus status level. Whether you have already reached Premier status with MileagePlus or are still working your way up through the ranks, points you earn taking flights with partner airlines can help you reach the next award tier with MileagePlus.

These partners are divided into two categories: preferred partners and MileagePlus partners.

When you fly with a United preferred partner, you will earn slightly more premier qualifying points (PQP) than when you fly with a United MileagePlus partner. 

As of 2021, the preferred partner airlines are:

• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air Dolomiti
• Air New Zealand
• All Nippon Airways
• Austrian Airlines
• Avianca
• Azul Brazilian Airlines
• Brussels Airlines
• Copa Airlines
• Edelweiss
• Eurowings
• Lufthansa
• SWISS International Airlines

The MileagePlus partner airlines are:

• Aegean Airlines
• Air India
• Asiana Airlines
• Croatia Airlines
• EgyptAir
• Ethiopian Airlines
• EVA Air
• Juneyao Air
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Olympic Air
• SAS
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• South African Airways
• TAP Air Portugal
• Thai Airways International
• Turkish Airlines

Miles caps for these partner flights are as follows:

	Preferred PQP	MileagePlus PQP
First/Business class	1,500	1,000
Economy/Premium Economy	750	500

All flights taken on eligible partner airlines, preferred or MileagePlus, qualify as premier qualifying flights in your United account. This will bring you closer to your Premier 1K status, the most elite tier. For reference, Premier Silver requires 3,500 PQP and Premier 1K requires 15,000 PQP.

Many people are able to reach MileagePlus elite status or maintain elite status faster or more easily by flying with both United and its partners (prior to these point caps, flying with United partners exclusively sometimes earned more points). 

Just remember that not all flight segments qualify for points. For example, certain airline partners do not award MileagePlus miles to passengers with economy tickets and sometimes short flights are not eligible either.

For additional information about what flights are eligible, the tickets with the most earning potential, and more, visit this page.

United Partner Airlines That Are Not Eligible for PQP

Airlines that partner with United but are not participating in this premier qualifying credit program are:

• Aer Lingus
• Aeromar
• Boutique Air
• Cape Air
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Vistara
• Silver Airways

These airlines still partner with United to make booking more smooth for travelers, but you won’t earn MileagePlus points when you fly with them.

Best Ways to Earn United Miles

The best ways to earn United miles are by: 

• Booking flights through United or a United partner
• Booking hotel stays, car rentals, and other travel-related reservations with United partners
• Making purchases with a United credit card or other travel credit card
• Taking advantage of the MileagePlus shopping and dining programs and the MileagePlus X app (see “H3. Other Financial Products Partnered With United” below)

Keep in mind that when flying with one of United’s many partner airlines, the precise details of your ticket are important if you’re going to earn as many United points as possible. Using an algorithm provided by United, you can calculate exactly how many points a flight is worth by doing the following:

• If you’re flying with a preferred partner: divide base award miles by five
• If you’re flying with a MileagePlus partner: divide base award miles by six

How to Keep Your MileagePlus Account Active

Maybe you don’t fly that often and want to make sure your MileagePlus account stays open to continue taking advantage of miles-earning opportunities with partner airlines. There are many ways to accomplish this, many of which don’t require a flight ticket at all. 

Here are several popular ways to keep your MileagePlus account active: 

• Use a United-branded credit card
• Make a purchase through MileagePlus shopping or the MileagePlus app or dine through MileagePlus dining
• Rent a car from a United partner car rental agency (Hertz, Thrifty, or Dollar)
• Book a hotel stay through a United partner hotel
• Buy more miles or transfer some of yours to someone else

Conveniently, everything you can do to keep your MileagePlus account active are also ways to earn more miles.

Also, it’s important to note that MileagePlus miles never actually expire. So as long as your account is open and in good standing (not suspended for any reason or closed by your United), you’re good to use your miles whenever. However, it’s always a good idea to use your miles sooner rather than later, because you never know when an airline may change its policy and cause you to lose some or all of your balance.

Using United Miles for Partner Perks

There are so many ways to use the miles you’ve accumulated in your MileagePlus account, but you’re probably interested in using them to book award flights. In some cases, booking with miles costs less per mile than booking with cash (whether your miles have been earned or purchased). This is important to keep in mind and it’s definitely worth keeping an eye on ticket prices to scope out savings opportunities.

Here’s how to use your United miles to easily book flights with United Airlines partners.

How to Book Partner Flights With MileagePlus Miles

To use your MileagePlus miles to book a flight with a United partner airlines, visit the United Airlines site booking tool as you normally would when booking a flight. Enter the details of your desired flight and check the box at the top of the search field that says “book with miles.” This will convert all prices to miles. All award flight ticket options will be displayed and you will see which Star Alliance airline or airlines will complete your flight. Miles are eligible to be used on connecting partner flights or flights with no changes.

Please keep in mind that award flights with United and partner airlines are now priced dynamically. This means that they are subject to change and will fluctuate based on peak flying times and capacity.

Can Award Tickets With Airline Partners Earn Points?

If you’re taking a flight on a United partner airline and that ticket is an award ticket, you’re unfortunately not eligible to earn premier miles on that flight. Award tickets are restricted from points accrual. If you’re planning on taking a long flight, make sure you crunch the numbers to see whether booking an award ticket or using cash to pay and earning miles like normal would save you more money.

However, there are plenty of ways to keep earning United Miles when you’re far from home that don’t involve flying.

How to Earn MileagePlus Miles Through Partner Flights

You don’t need to do anything special to earn MileagePlus miles when flying with one of United’s partner airlines. They will automatically deposit into your account just as they would after a United flight has been completed.

To see the miles you’ve earned in this way, just sign in to your MileagePlus account. If for some reason you can’t see your miles, get in touch with United’s customer support at 1-800-864-8331 to resolve this.

Travel Credit Cards to Earn More MileagePlus Miles

A trusty travel credit card can make it possible to earn miles on just about any other purchase you make beyond flight tickets, hotel bookings, and rentals. Get points not only by booking flights with United partner airlines but by always keeping a good travel card with you.

United Airlines has two co-branded credit cards issued through Chase Bank, the United℠ Explorer Card and the United℠ Business Card. Both offer two miles for every dollar spent on United purchases and dining and hotel purchases.

Other excellent travel credit cards with great bonus offers include:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (a Chase Ultimate Rewards-eligible card. See credit score required + odds of approval)
• The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

These travel cards and the ones offered through United are eligible to earn points on all purchases including dining, gas, grocery, and more.

Other Financial Products Partnered With United

If you don’t feel like you need another credit card, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to rack up United miles when you spend.

Recently, United has rolled out a couple of co-branded financial products. The MileagePlus GO Visa Prepaid Card is your standard prepaid card in that it doesn’t require a credit check to get, doesn’t charge interest or fees, and is continually reloadable from a linked account, but it also lets you earn MileagePlus credit to the tune of up to 2,500 miles a month on qualifying purchases. 

The MileagePlus X app awards users with miles when they make purchases through the app at approved retailers including Domino’s, Walmart, Starbucks, and many more.

United also partners with mortgage broker Quicken Loans and currency exchange company Travelex to award flyers with miles when they make big purchases with either corporation.

And of course, MileagePlus members should always be on the lookout for ways to earn miles when shopping and dining through MileagePlus.

Final Thoughts

United Airlines makes it easy to keep enjoying the benefits of a MileagePlus membership no matter where you are in the country and earn miles flying with over 35 airlines globally. And remember, according to sources like WalletHub, United’s membership program is generally considered to be one of the best and most rewarding airline frequent flyer programs out there.

If you’re a frequent flyer with United Airlines, get familiar with this airline’s many business partners. This will help you save money on tickets, make your life easier when it’s time to book international travel, and rack up even more points for your MileagePlus account.

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