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United Airlines
IATA: UA · Star Alliance

United Airlines Flights

Search and compare cheap United Airlines tickets across 370+ destinations worldwide. Find the best UA fares for your journey — only on FareOptic.

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About United Airlines

United Airlines (IATA: UA) is one of the world's largest carriers, operating 4,500+ daily flights to 370+ destinations in 60+ countries from seven major US hub airports. Founded in 1926 and headquartered in Chicago, United's fleet of 700+ aircraft — including Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, 787 and Airbus A319/A320 jets — connects virtually every major US city to destinations across six continents.

As a founding member of the Star Alliance, United partners with 27 other carriers including Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines, enabling seamless worldwide connectivity with a single booking. FareOptic compares United Airlines fares across all routes and cabin classes to find your lowest UA ticket price.

Find and compare cheap flights

Everything you need to find and book your next cheap flight — all in one place.

Price Match Promise

Found a better deal? We'll match it!

24/7 Customer Support

Speak to our travel experts anytime, anywhere.

ClubMiles Rewards

Stack points & airline miles to save.

Easy Cancellations

Convenient options online and 24/7 global concierge.

Recommended for your next trip

Based on popular routes and current airfare deals

Popular United Airlines Routes

Most searched United Airlines domestic and international flights

Domestic Routes

International Routes

United Airlines Hub Airports

United Airlines operates through 7 major hubs, offering connections across its 370+-destination global network.

ORD
Chicago O'Hare
Largest hub
EWR
Newark Liberty
East Coast hub
IAH
Houston Bush
Gulf Coast hub
DEN
Denver International
Mountain hub
SFO
San Francisco Intl
West Coast hub
LAX
Los Angeles Intl
West Coast hub
IAD
Washington Dulles
Capital hub

United Airlines Cabin Classes

Find the right United Airlines cabin for your journey and budget — from affordable Economy to premium Business.

💺

Basic Economy

  • Lowest available fare
  • No advance seat selection
  • No changes or cancellations after 24h
  • No carry-on bag (personal item only)
  • MileagePlus miles still earned
✈️

Economy

  • Standard Economy seat
  • Free carry-on + personal item
  • Advance seat selection
  • Complimentary snacks & beverages
  • Changes permitted (fare diff. may apply)
🛋️

Economy Plus

  • Up to 5 inches extra legroom (34–36 in)
  • Priority boarding in Group 2
  • More recline and wider seat
  • Full overhead bin access
  • Complimentary beer, wine, and spirits
🌟

Polaris Business

  • Fully lie-flat seat (78 inches) direct aisle
  • United Polaris Lounge access
  • Saks Fifth Avenue bedding & amenity kit
  • À la carte dining with sommelier selection
  • First 2 checked bags free

MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

United MileagePlus is one of the world's leading airline programs with 100+ million members. Miles never expire and can be earned on United flights and 100+ partners. Elite tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K) unlock complimentary upgrades, bonus miles, and lounge access.

Miles Never Expire

United MileagePlus miles never expire as long as your account remains active — no artificial expiry deadlines.

Star Alliance Network

Earn and redeem miles on 27 Star Alliance partners worldwide, plus access partner airline lounges with Premier status.

Premier Status Tiers

Four Premier tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K) unlock increasing benefits: complimentary upgrades, bonus miles, global lounge access, and dedicated phone lines.

PlusPoints Upgrades

Premier members earn PlusPoints for complimentary cabin upgrades on United flights — confirmed before departure rather than just at the gate.

United Airlines Baggage Policy

Fees and allowances vary by route and fare type. Always verify at time of booking.

Bag / PolicyBasic EconomyEconomyEconomy PlusPolaris Business
Personal itemFreeFreeFreeFree
Carry-on bagFee*FreeFreeFree
1st checked bag$35$35$35Free
2nd checked bag$45$45$45Free
Weight limit50 lb50 lb50 lb70 lb

* Basic Economy passengers may not bring a carry-on bag (personal item only) on most domestic routes. MileagePlus Premier members and United co-branded credit card holders receive free checked bags.

Check-In Options & Boarding

💻

Online Check-In

Opens 24 hours before departure at united.com or via the United app. Premier members enjoy dedicated check-in lanes at most airports.

📱

Mobile App Check-In

Download the United Airlines app on iOS or Android to check in, access your mobile boarding pass, and receive real-time gate and delay notifications.

🏢

Airport Check-In

Self-service kiosks and staffed counters are available at all United Airlines airports. Domestic gates typically close 15 minutes and international gates 30–45 minutes before departure.

Cancellation & Change Policy

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation

All Fares

All United Airlines tickets can be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund, regardless of fare type — provided the flight departs at least 2 days away.

Change Policy

Fare Dependent

United waives change fees on most Economy and above tickets originating in North America. Basic Economy cannot be changed after the 24-hour window.

Non-Refundable Ticket Credit

Non-Refundable

If you cancel a non-refundable United Airlines ticket after the 24-hour window, you typically receive a future travel credit valid for 12 months from the original issue date.

Refundable Fares

Flex Fares

Fully refundable fare types are available at a premium and provide maximum flexibility — suitable for travelers with uncertain plans.

In-Flight Experience on United Airlines

📡

Inflight Wi-Fi

High-speed Wi-Fi on most United aircraft. Complimentary for United Business/First passengers and Premier 1K members on many routes.

📺

United Airlines App Entertainment

Stream thousands of movies, TV shows, and music on United's free entertainment app — no seatback screen required on narrowbody aircraft.

🍽️

Polaris Dining

United Polaris Business Class offers an elevated à la carte meal service with sommelier-curated wines and Saks Fifth Avenue bedding for overnight flights.

🏢

United Polaris Lounges

Polaris passengers access United's premium Polaris lounges in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Los Angeles, and Washington Dulles.

Tips to Book Cheap United Airlines Flights

  • 1.Book United domestic flights 3–6 weeks ahead and international routes 8–12 weeks in advance for the best fares.
  • 2.EWR–LHR and ORD–NRT Polaris Business Class fares are often competitive — compare against British Airways and Lufthansa on FareOptic.
  • 3.MileagePlus miles never expire — accumulate them slowly for high-value redemptions on United Polaris routes.
  • 4.Economy Plus seats with extra legroom are an affordable upgrade, especially for long domestic flights over 3 hours.
  • 5.United frequently offers complimentary Economy Plus upgrades and checked bags with co-branded credit cards.
  • 6.Fly mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday) for consistently lower United fares across most domestic and international routes.
  • 7.Star Alliance partners (Lufthansa, ANA, Singapore Airlines) can often be cheaper for the same route — compare on FareOptic.
  • 8.Sign up for FareOptic price drop alerts on United routes — fares drop most often 3–6 weeks before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about booking United Airlines flights on FareOptic

What is United Airlines' baggage policy?

United Economy passengers receive one free personal item and one free carry-on. The first checked bag costs $35 and the second $45. Basic Economy passengers may not bring a carry-on bag on most domestic routes. Polaris Business Class passengers receive two free checked bags at 70 lbs each. Premier members and United credit card holders receive free checked bags.

What cabin classes does United Airlines offer?

United offers Basic Economy, Economy, Economy Plus (extra legroom), Polaris Business, and First Class on select domestic routes. United Polaris Business features fully lie-flat seats with direct aisle access, Saks Fifth Avenue bedding, and gourmet dining. Economy Plus provides up to 5 extra inches of legroom at an affordable upgrade price.

What is the MileagePlus program?

United MileagePlus miles never expire and can be earned on United and 100+ partner purchases. Four Premier tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K) unlock complimentary upgrades via PlusPoints, bonus miles, lounge access, and priority services. Miles can be redeemed for flights across the 27-member Star Alliance network.

What are United's hub airports?

United operates seven major US hubs: Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Newark Liberty (EWR), Houston Bush Intercontinental (IAH), Denver International (DEN), San Francisco International (SFO), Los Angeles International (LAX), and Washington Dulles (IAD). These hubs provide comprehensive domestic and international connectivity.

What is United's cancellation and change policy?

United charges no change fees on most Economy and above tickets originating in North America (excluding Basic Economy). Non-refundable tickets receive future travel credit; refundable tickets receive cash refunds. Basic Economy tickets cannot be changed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. All tickets may be cancelled within 24 hours of booking for a full refund.