United Airlines

The world's largest airline, United Airlines, is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The airline was formed with the accumulation of several airlines at the end of the 1920s. As a result of the acquisitions and mergers, United Airlines has a vast route network and operates extensively in domestic and international destinations, including the USA and all six inhabited continents. The airline serves regional services for its domestic flyers via independent carriers, with United Express as its brand name. Moreover, United Airlines is one of the founding members of Star Alliance, which is the world's first airline alliance.  

Check-in For United Airlines Flights

Checking in for a flight is one of the most essential things to do before you board a flight. If you fail to do so, United Airlines will have to deny you boarding, which may cause you a significant loss and destroy all your excitement.  Thus, some of the basic check-in rules should be understood by you, so that your journey can go smoothly, including: 

• You can check in 24 hours before the flight departs with United Airlines.  
• You can check in for a United Airlines flight via its official website, United app, kiosk, or airport check-in counters. 
• If you are not carrying a checked bag, you must check in at least 30 minutes before your flight's departure. 
• While carrying checked bags, you must arrive at least 45 minutes before your United flight departs for check-in.
• For international flights, the maximum check-in time limit is 60 minutes before your flight's departure. 

Note:

• Though United Airlines offers an online check-in facility at all locations, not all allow you to use a mobile boarding pass.
• Apart from United Airlines' check-in time, many airports have individual minimum check-in times; consider them as well. 

Eligible Flyers For Online Check-in

An online check-in facility helps flyers to have an expedited boarding experience, where they don't have to wait in the long queues at airport check-in counters and thus can head directly to the other boarding process. But, before doing an online check-in, one must know whether s/he are eligible for it or not, which can be readily acknowledged by looking at the following details:

• United Airlines operates the first flight of your itinerary. 
• Your whole journey must contain a maximum of four segments.
• If the total number of reservations in a single itinerary is nine people or fewer. 
• You have already scanned your passport while travelling on a United Airlines flight.

Note: If you haven't scanned your passport previously with United Airlines, you can scan it using the United app or airport kiosk to complete your check-in process. 

Amenities Offered By United Airlines While You Travel With Children

Travelling with children can be daunting, and your flight experience will be tense if you face difficulties while travelling with them. United Airlines realises this, and thus offers various facilities to you and your children if you are travelling with them, which can be seen as follows: 

• If your child is under 18, they are not required to have an ID for domestic flights. However, passports are required for international flights. 
• You can carry your infants in standard strollers, car seats, or folding wagons till the gate, and afterwards, you can check the carrier with the airline for free.  
• United Airlines allows you to board with the pre-boarding group if you travel with children under two years old. 
• If you travel with children under 12, you can sit with them; thus, they won't have to sit alone during the flight. 
• After purchasing a flight ticket, United Airlines allows you to book your seat and your child's seat from the available Basic Economy and Economy seats. The seats for the rest of the members in your group may be provided in a different part of the plane. However, if you want to make your whole group sit together, you can pay and select seats for everyone.
• If your seat assignment changes due to an unscheduled aircraft change, causing you and your children to sit apart, you can switch to another United flight with open seats in the same cabin for free.  

United Airlines Refund Policy

Any acute event can cause you to cancel your United flight; however, after your plan fails, you don't want to miss out on your money as well. If possible, you would like your amount back for all your bookings. But, you are not entitled to get a refund for every fee you have paid and not all the time, thus you can look at the below section to know about United Airlines' refund policy:

• The amount that United Airlines refunds you will vary from situation to situation. 
• You will receive the credit using the original method you used to purchase your airfare ticket.
• If you cancel your reservations within 24 hours of booking, your refund will be subject to United's 24-hour booking policy. 
• If you purchased your ticket with a credit card, your refund will be sent to you within seven business days of requesting it. 
• If you purchase a United Airlines flight using a method other than a credit card, you are entitled to a refund within 20 business days of requesting it. 
• If the airline caused your flight to be cancelled or significantly delayed, you can get a full refund, provided that you haven't accepted its alternative flights. 
• You are entitled to a refund for the services you have paid for but haven't received from the airline for any reason.

Upgrade Your Seat Using Miles On United Airlines

You are already a United Airlines MileagePlus member and have earned miles. Now you may want to redeem your miles to upgrade your flight services. Congratulations, the airline allows you to do so. The process to upgrade your seat using miles can be seen as follows: 

• Visit the official website of United Airlines at united.com
• Log in to your United Airlines MileagePlus Account.
• In the search bar, type the criteria you want for an upgrade.
• Click "MileagePlus Upgrade Awards."
• Follow the further instructions.
• Confirm your desired upgrade after paying using miles. 

United Airlines offers four types of upgrades for its MileagePlus members, which can be seen as follows:

• MileagePlus Upgrade Awards: Using MileagePlus Upgrade Awards, you upgrade your and other travellers' seats when travelling with United Airlines using miles.
• Complimentary  Premium Upgrades: Complimentary Premium Upgrades are free upgrades for Premium members, subject to space availability. Moreover, Premium members can also receive a complimentary upgrade for one of their travel companions on some flights. 
• PlusPoints: United Airlines' Premium Platinum and Premium 1K members can use these flexible points as PlusPoints. You can use these points to upgrade United and some of its partner airlines. Moreover, you can upgrade for yourself and another traveller, not even on your reservation. 
• Star Alliance Upgrade Awards: You can even use some of your miles to upgrade your seat on selected Star Alliance member airlines. You can request an upgrade after you purchase their ticket. You can use your Star Alliance Upgrade Award for four people or fewer travelling on the same itinerary. 

United Airlines Pet Policy

Bringing your pet with you on a weekend can be a relaxing and enjoyable moment for both of you. However, before taking them with you on United Airlines, there are some rules that you have to comply with, which can be seen as follows:

• You are only allowed to bring cats and dogs with you onboard.
• Other animals should have to travel in cargo. 
• No pets are allowed to be checked in by United Airlines.
• For most United Airlines flights, you are allowed to bring two pets per person, for which you have to buy one extra seat, which must be assigned next to you only.
• Some United Airlines aircraft, including the A319 and A320, have limited space so that you can bring one pet per person on these flights. 
• Though your pet and pet carrier are not subject to a weight limit, they should fit perfectly under your seat.  
• The size of the hard-sided carrier should not exceed 22 x 44 x 30 cm (height x length x width) for your onboard carrier.
• The size of the soft-sided carrier should not exceed 27 x 45 x 27 cm (height x length x width) for your onboard carrier.

FAQs

Am I eligible for online check-in if a travel agency has booked my ticket?

Yes, you are eligible for online check-in with United Airlines even if a travel agent has booked your ticket. 

Does United Airlines accept checked car seats at the ticket counter?

Yes, United Airlines allows you to check one car seat per child for free at the ticket counter or the gate.  

Does United Airlines allow me to travel with a newborn?

United Airlines allows you to board with any child older than seven days; however, if your child is younger than seven, you can't.   

Is there any possibility that increases my chance of getting an upgrade on United Airlines?

To increase your chances of getting an upgrade, you can either book a higher fare class or use PlusPoints and MileagePlus Upgrade Awards rather than waiting for Complimentary Premium Upgrades. 

What is the minimum age requirement for my pet to become eligible to fly in the cabin with United Airlines?

For domestic flights, your pet can be at least two months old; for international flights, dogs must be six months old and kittens 4 months old.