Information on United Airlines Flights

Legacy U.S. carrier, United Airlines, officially began flying under that name in 1931, after the merger of four airlines: Boeing Air Transport, Pacific Air Transport, National Air Transport and Varney Air Lines, which was founded in 1926.

Now one of the world’s largest airlines, United flies to more than 210 domestic and 120 international destinations and, with its alliance partners, serves just about every destination on my wish list and likely yours too. This guide offers some tips about the airline that for many years invited passengers to “Fly the Friendly Skies.”

United Airlines hubs include Chicago (ORD), Denver (DEN), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Washington, D.C. (IAD). New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is also a focus or ‘key’ airport. So, it shouldn’t be difficult to get from your home base to anywhere on United.

Cabins and fare classes on United Airlines

United Airlines has multiple fare classes within each cabin, which can get a bit confusing. However, the core categories are Economy, Premium Plus and First/Business class.

Basic economy on United Airlines

Basic Economy fares on United come with few frills and a lot of restrictions. You’ll get the same snacks, drinks and in-flight entertainment other main cabin/economy passengers receive, but your seat won’t be assigned until boarding, you’ll board with the last group (Group 6) and no changes are allowed. With these fares, you’ll earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) towards MileagePlus status, but you won’t earn credit towards Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs).

Here’s the real deal breaker for me with Basic Economy: while you may bring a personal item that fits under the seat, no carry-on bags are allowed. Exceptions are made if you’re a Premier MileagePlus member, hold a qualifying credit card or are flying to Canada and on select other routes, but this is a restriction most other carriers don’t impose on similar basic economy-type fare classes.

If you have a basic economy ticket and try to board with a full-size carry-on anyway, you’ll have to pay to check that bag at the gate. You’ll also have to pay an extra handling fee, so think carefully before booking this fare.

Economy, Economy Plus and Premium Plus fares on United Airlines

United Economy fares let you choose a seat with standard legroom in the middle or back of the plane. Economy Plus fares give you access to seats with extra legroom towards the front of the economy cabin and may be booked for no extra fee if you have MileagePlus Premier status. Most Economy and Economy Plus tickets also include at least one checked bag on international flights but do not include checked bags on domestic routes.

Premium Plus seats are in a separate section in front of the economy cabin on United’s wide-body planes on international routes and on select transcontinental routes between New York/Newark and both Los Angeles and San Francisco. These seats are often equivalent to those you’ll see (and covet) in the First-Class cabin on domestic flights.

Pricewise, Premium Plus is my sweet spot for price and upgraded comfort on international flights. Seats are bigger and wider, with extra legroom, a footrest, upgraded food and drink, amenity kits and blankets. The fare also includes 2 checked bags, priority check-in and other perks at the airport.

United First, United Business and United Polaris Business Class

United First and United Business are the same premium cabin product, just titled differently depending on the route. United First is offered on flights in the U.S. (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada and the Caribbean. United Business is offered on flights between the U.S. and Latin America.

These seats are bigger and wider, with padded seat cushions, and extra space for work and storage. Passengers flying between the continental U.S. and Hawaii also get a special amenity kit. And on most flights over 900 miles, passengers are also served hot meals.

United First and United Business fares include 2 free checked bags and priority perks on the ground. Access to the United Club is also included, but only for United Business passengers on international flights, premium transcontinental flights and United First for Canada.

If you have the budget or plenty of banked miles, I’d encourage you to splurge on a Polaris Business Class ticket. This is United’s top offering (even better than First) and is available on most international long-haul routes and some premium transcontinental routes.

Perks of Polaris include lie-flat seats with lots of storage space, noise-reducing headphones, large entertainment screens, upscale amenity kits, and full meals with ice cream sundaes for dessert. Saks Fifth Avenue bedding with gel pillows that, like me, you’ll order for home or travel as soon as you get off the plane.

On the ground, Polaris passengers get special treatment too. These tickets include two free checked bags, priority check-in service and access to Polaris Lounges in Chicago (ORD), Houston (IAH), Los Angeles (LAX), Newark (EWR), San Francisco (SFO) and Dulles (IAD). These swank lounges have showers, cozy napping areas with daybeds and white noise, plenty of places to work and relax and both buffet meals and restaurant-style sit-down dining.

Checked bag fees

I’m in the camp carry-on, especially as checked bag fees just keep rising. If you’re checking a bag, save a bit by prepaying for it at least 24 hours before the flight. You may be able to skip checked bag fees entirely if your seat is in a premium cabin, you’re a Chase credit card holder, a MileagePlus Premier member, or an active military member.

United Airlines Lounges

Everyone’s definition of luxury is different. Back when United Airlines’ lounges were called Red Carpet clubs, my husband bought a membership because he imagined make-your-own sundae bars were behind those members-only doors. They weren’t. And the coffee wasn’t that good either.

Now, of course, United has joined other airlines in upping its lounge game. The more than 45 United Clubs offer healthy snacks, buffets filled with healthy dishes, signature cocktails, espresso machines, workspaces and lots of comfortable seating. The amenities are even snazzier at the half-dozen, more exclusive United Polaris lounges I gushed over above.

Access to the United Club lounges can be complicated. And even with access, you may be turned away when lounges are full. In addition to day passes (when available) and memberships (which can be purchased with money or miles), access to United Club lounges may depend on your cabin class, your airline alliance, credit card and other factors. Don’t be shy about asking at the club desk if you’re unsure.

Snacks and meals on United Airlines

No matter what cabin or class I’m flying in, I always tuck some healthy (and a few sinful) snacks in my carry-on. Snacks aren’t offered on very short United flights, and you never know if there will be a long delay or if you’ll arrive at your hotel long after the on-site restaurants have closed for the night.

While snacks, drinks and meals may be complimentary on your United flight, keep in mind that if you want to purchase a snack or a drink you will not be able to hand a flight attendant cash or a credit card for that purchase. United requires that you load a form of payment online or on the app before your flight.

United Airlines Mileage Program

I signed up for United’s Mileage Plus program when I was a teenager, and it was the first frequent-flyer program where I achieved Million Mile status. Which is why I have a soft spot for the program and the perks it bestows. Like all mileage programs, though, terms for accruing and spending miles do shift over time, sometimes in the passengers’ favor, often not.

One positive change United recently made to the program allows up to five MileagePlus members to pool miles in a fund or “reservoir” that others in the pool can use, with authorization from the pool leader.

This is a terrific way to gather up enough miles to get a ticket for a kid, friend, or family member who doesn’t have quite enough miles to get a free ticket or upgrade on their own. And it’s a good way to make use of small balances that infrequent flyers may have sitting in their accounts unused.

Just be careful before you jump into a mileage-sharing pool. There are waiting periods before you can contribute to the pool or use pooled miles. And once you contribute miles to the pool, they stay there until they are used by a pool member, even if you’ve left the pool.