Before you go to the airport
Where can I find United's flight schedule?
What is United's policy regarding changes to nonrefundable tickets?
How can I check on the status of my flight?
What am I allowed to carry-on?
What is United's checked baggage allowance?
What can I expect at the airport if I am checking my baggage?
What time should I arrive at the airport for my flight?
At the airport
Where do I check in for my flight?
What documentation do I need to check in?
If I have a nonrefundable ticket, can I standby for another flight?
What type of security should I expect at the airport or in the air?
Can friends or family accompany me to the gate?
What is United's policy for unaccompanied minors?
What do I do if I require special assistance to get to my gate?
Before you go to the airport
Where can I find United's flight schedule?
A complete up-to-date flight schedule is available at united.com.
What is United's policy regarding changes to nonrefundable tickets?
At the time a change is made to any ticket, any applicable service fees and/or additional collections will be collected and the ticket reissued.
Customers with nonrefundable tickets issued after August 23, 2003 who cancel their domestic reservations on or before their scheduled departure date will have a full year from the date their original ticket was issued to reschedule (less any applicable change fees), without losing the value of their tickets.
Most e-tickets can be exchanged over the phone with a credit card. Paper tickets for domestic itineraries will need to be reissued in person at the time your change is made. International itineraries may not need to be immediately reissued. However, any change fee due will be collected at the time your ticket is exchanged.
You may cancel or reschedule a flight by calling your travel agent or United Airlines at 1-800-UNITED-1
(1-800-864-8331).
How can I check on the status of my flight?
united.com is your best source for up-to-the-minute travel information. Just visit the "Flight Status" tool on the home page. If you do not have access to the website, please call United's Automated Flight Information line at 1-800-824-6200 or, United Reservations at 02-757-1691.
Customers can also sign up for EasyUpdate, United's flight status alerts service, to receive any changes in flight status through e-mail addressable pagers, cell phones, laptops or PDA's. Just visit united.com/flight services.
What am I allowed to carry-on?
Passengers on domestic flights and international flights are allowed to bring on a maximum of ONE carry-on, not to exceed 45 linear inches, plus one personal item such as a purse, laptop or briefcase.
In compliance with the Transportation Security Administration$)C!/s (TSA) security directive for all North American airports, United will not allow knives of any size, or made from any material, permitted on flights.
Additionally, United wants its customers to know that cutting instruments of every kind are banned in the cabin, including but not limited to, carpet knives, box cutters, knives with folding or retractable blades (regardless of blade length), steak knives, straight razors, ice picks, corkscrews, and metal-tipped scissors. Items such as metal nail files, corkscrews, baseball/softball bats, golf clubs, pool cues, ski poles and hockey sticks are also prohibited in the cabin.
Medically necessary needles and syringes are exempt from these prohibitions if passengers have in their possession prescription medicine with a professionally printed label that identifies the medical office, pharmacy or manufacturer of the medication.
Other permitted items include walking canes, umbrellas (once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed), nail clippers, safety razors (including disposable razors), tweezers and eyelash curlers.
Customers will also notice a heightened vigilance for baggage left unattended in the airport.
What is United's checked baggage allowance?
For specific information, see United's checked baggage policy.
What can I expect at the airport if I am checking my baggage?
For your security, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is screening all checked baggage. Unlocked bags can be examined quickly. Locked bags will be opened if necessary, then resealed. That process could result in delay or damage. You can find further information on the TSA website: www.TSATravelTips.us.
Checked baggage must have the customer!/s name on the outside of the bag. We also recommend that you place your name and address inside your baggage. Valuable items, as well as medications or prescriptions, should be carried personally by you.
What time should I arrive at the airport for my flight?
When traveling on United flights please remember to check-in as early as possible for your flight.
To facilitate an on-time departure, we recommend that you allow ample time for check-in, especially if you are checking baggage.
For travel within the United States, we recommend that you check-in:
- 60 minutes before your flight if you are not checking baggage
- 90 minutes before your flight if you are checking bags
- 2 hours before your flight
When traveling around holidays or other peak travel times, we recommend you allow additional time.
At the airport
Where do I check-in for my flight?
TSA security directives require each customer to check in before going through the security screening checkpoint at most airports. Eventually this will be a requirement at all airports in the U.S.
Customers may also check in using United!/s EasyCheck-in self-service units where available, curbside with Skycaps at select airports, or with a United Customer Service Representative.
What documentation do I need to check in?
It is recommended that you carry a government issued form of identification. Customers traveling on international flights must have a valid passport.
If I have a nonrefundable ticket, can I standby for another flight?
United will continue to allow customers on domestic nonrefundable tickets to standby for flights on their ticketed day of departure without a standby fee.
What type of security should I expect at the airport and in the air?
Customers should be prepared to encounter and witness more visible and frequent security checks throughout the airport, including screenings of passengers and checked and carry-on baggage; searches of aircraft cargo, passenger compartments and equipment; and random searches of flight crews and service personnel. There is also likely to be an increased number of uniformed law enforcement and military personnel in the airport areas.
During flight, more FAA air marshals - armed federal agents who travel incognito - will be present than ever before in U.S. history.
In addition to these, please be aware that many security procedures also take place behind the scenes. United is monitoring the entire airport check-in and boarding process to ensure passenger safety.
Can friends or family accompany me to the gate?
Only minors traveling unaccompanied or passengers needing special assistance can be accompanied beyond the security checkpoint. At major airports, where United has special assistance employees in red jackets in the lobby area, the escort can ask these individuals for assistance instead of waiting in line at the ticket counter.
What is United!/s policy for unaccompanied minors?
United accepts children from five through seven years of age on United flights that are nonstop or require no change of aircraft. They must be brought to the departure airport by a parent or responsible adult who will remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate. We accept children eight through eleven years of age for transportation entirely on United or for travel that includes flight connections to many other airlines. Unaccompanied minors must be brought to the departure airport by a parent or responsible adult who must remain at the airport until the child boards and the aircraft departs the gate. This individual must provide evidence that another parent or responsible adult will meet the child at their destination. Acceptable evidence includes a name, street address, and telephone number. Parents should be prepared to demonstrate why they need access beyond airport security checkpoints. Airports may require additional screening procedures, so allow extra time for this purpose.
