united airlines baggage allowance

United Airlines 2019 Baggage Allowance

Flying with United Airlines? Discover everything you need to know about United Airlines baggage allowance, restrictions, fees and charges.

United Airlines Carry-On Baggage

One full-sized carry-on bag 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) plus one personal item 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). If you are travelling on a Basic Economy ticket, your personal item will be the only item you can bring on board.

For Basic Economy travellers, you will only be allowed one personal item, unless you are a Premier® member or a primary card member using a qualifying MileagePlus credit card. If you exceed this limit, you will be required to check their bag, and pay the applicable checked bag plus a $25 gate handling charge.

Need to purchase a suitable hand luggage case for your upcoming flight? We recommend this, available on Amazon, as they are approved by most airlines.

United Airlines Checked Baggage

The maximum exterior dimension of standard checked baggage is 62 inches (158 cm), including handles and wheels.

The maximum weight for checked baggage is based on the class of service as well your MileagePlus Premier® status.

Class of service

Maximum weight per bag

United Economy®

50 lbs.
(23 kg)

United Business®

United First®

United Polaris^SM first class

United Polaris business class

70 lbs.
(32 kg)

MileagePlus status

Maximum weight per bag

Premier Silver

50 lbs.
(23 kg)

Premier Gold

Premier Platinum

Premier 1K®

Star Alliance™ Gold
(traveling in First, Business or United Polaris business class)

70 lbs.
(32 kg)

United Airlines Excess Baggage

Sign in to your MileagePlus account to determine checked baggage service charges for an existing reservation, or select the “Any flights” tab to calculate the service charges for any United itinerary. See “Baggage Calculator“.

For checked baggage service charge exceptions, please see this page for details.

United Airlines Oversized, Overweight and Extra Baggage

Additional service charges apply to any checked baggage that exceeds the size and/or weight limitations and baggage beyond your allowance. Oversized, overweight and extra baggage is not accepted on flights to certain destinations and on certain flights during specific time frames. For a list of cities where overweight or extra baggage is not accepted please see the Excess Baggage Embargo page.

Oversized baggage:

Baggage with total outer dimensions measuring more than 115 inches (292 cm) will not be accepted as checked baggage.

Overweight baggage:

With the exception of assistive devices and musical instruments, baggage weighing more than 100 lbs. (45 kg) will not be accepted.

Musical instruments up to 165 lbs. (75 kg) will be accepted.

Extra baggage:

Assistive devices are accepted at no charge.

Important note: For travel between the U.S. and Brazil, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, no more than three extra checked bags are accepted.

My Baggage – Airline Baggage Alternative

It’s no secret that airline baggage can not only be complex depending on the route you’re travelling, but it can also be expensive. Thankfully, that’s where My Baggage comes in.

My Baggage provides a great low cost alternative to airline baggage, with a low cost, fast and convenient luggage shipping service which allows you to travel hands-free! It means you’ll save yourself a lot of time at the airport when you don’t have to check-in your bags, no waiting around at luggage carousels on the other side and ultimately, one less thing to worry about whilst you travel. To give you that extra peace of mind, My Baggage offers up to £1000 compensation cover on every single shipment.

Book online and My Baggage will collect your luggage and deliver it quickly and safely to where it needs to go. As well as providing a reliable door to door service, My Baggage offers luggage tracking, SMS and email notifications the entire way through. My Baggage ships to 200+ countries worldwide. To find out more, visit our luggage shipping page.