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Flyer Reviews of United Airlines

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Where to sit when flying United’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 with the new interior

United just added a new plane model to its fleet, and it's the most modern one yet.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8 — the smaller of the two MAX variants currently in service — joined the carrier's domestic fleet on July 16, marking the first of 270 new domestic jets that are slated to be delivered to United over the coming years.

This isn't just any domestic jet, though.

It's the first to feature United's newly unveiled "signature interior," with seat-back screens, larger overhead bins, power outlets and other passenger-friendly amenities from nose to tail. All new United planes will be delivered from the factory with the upgraded cabins, while existing ones will undergo a comprehensive retrofit program.

For now, if you're looking for the swankiest domestic experience offered by United, you'll want to book on the MAX 8. And once you're booked on Boeing's new ( and beleaguered ) workhorse, here's which seats to pick and which ones to avoid.

United First on the Boeing 737 MAX 8

If faced with the choice, you'll definitely want to snag one of the 16 first-class recliners on the United 737 MAX 8.

Seats are spread across four rows in a 2-2 configuration with roughly 37 inches of pitch.

Though the "bones" of the seat are identical to the new ones you'll find on other domestic UA jets, the seats feel more modern thanks to the 13-inch high-definition seat-back monitor and other refined touches, like a remote control and relocated power outlet.

Some travelers like sitting in the bulkhead, but I'd recommend avoiding row 1 on the United 737 MAX 8. That's because the screens are fixed into the bulkhead wall — if you're really tall or height-challenged, you'll need to bend your neck to watch your content.

Another drawback to the bulkhead is that there's a built-in airbag in each of the seat belts. Though this feature is designed for your safety, the airbag can get uncomfortable after resting on your hips throughout the flight.

I'd recommend choosing seats in row 2 or 3 when flying upfront on the 737 MAX 8.

Row 4 would be my second-to-last pick. You'll be reclining into the bulkhead wall dividing first class and coach, and the proximity to the coach cabin could be bothersome.

United Economy Plus on the Boeing 737 MAX 8

The first thing I noticed when boarding United's new MAX is the sheer number of extra-legroom Economy Plus seats.

These "purple seats," as they're affectionately called by some flight attendants, span nine rows in a standard 3-3 configuration.

As part of United's five-year plan , dubbed "United Next," the carrier's investing in growing the proportion of premium seats in its fleet, including both first-class and Economy Plus, by roughly 75% from 2019 to 2026.

These seats offer an additional three to four inches of pitch compared to regular economy, but the actual seats themselves are otherwise identical.

Some of the 54 Economy Plus seats are much better than others, so let's start with which ones you might want to avoid:

• Row seven is the bulkhead. Some people will undoubtedly enjoy these seats — no one reclines into you, and the bulkhead wall doesn't extend all the way to the floor, so there's ample under-seat storage below the two first-class recliners in front. However, two of the biggest drawbacks include immovable armrests and the fact that the seat-back screens swivel out from in between each seat.

• Row 11 is missing windows. If you're an aviation enthusiast who enjoys staring out the window, you'll be disappointed if you end up in Row 11.

• Row 12 and Row 14 each have just one window, compared to the two you'll find in other rows. This isn't a dealbreaker for me, but if you're after the perfect wing-view shot, you may prefer to sit elsewhere.

• Row 15 is right in front of the exit row. As such, these seats don't recline, so I'd recommend steering clear of these six spots.

As for where you should sit, anywhere else in the Economy Plus section works, but I have a strong preference for exit row 21. Here you'll find a total of 38 inches of pitch — eight more than in standard coach — and the seats recline as normal.

The only downside is that the window armrest is built into the exit door, so it's not nearly as comfortable as those you'll find elsewhere on the jet.

United Economy on the Boeing 737 MAX 8

With 96 seats, most flyers will end up sitting in the standard economy section. Good thing these are some of the best coach seats in the United fleet.

After all, you'll find a seat-back monitor, large overhead bins, power outlets and USB ports available throughout the cabin, including in economy.

Pitch is roughly 30 inches, so it could definitely feel tight depending on your body size.

The only seats to avoid in coach are those in the last row 38 due to limited recline. Otherwise, the remaining rows are roughly equal.

I'd try sitting as close to the front as possible for a faster deplaning experience, but otherwise, you can't really go wrong with other coach seats.

Bottom line

United's newest jet, the Boeing 737 MAX 8, is now flying the friendly skies. With an upgraded onboard experience, this is the plane that'll likely win United some awards. While the enhancements span nose to tail, all seats aren't created equally.

It pays to know where to sit, so that you avoid missing window views, and instead maximize your legroom.

In first-class, you'll find me in row two or three. In Economy Plus, I'll be in exit row 21, and in coach, I'll choose a seat as close to the front as possible.

If you notice that one of my preferred seats is already assigned when booking, perhaps we'll be on the same flight. If so, come up and say hi!

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United Airlines Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More

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Table of Contents

United ticketing options, united frequent flyer program, united airlines baggage fees & other fees/add-ons, how to avoid paying excess fees & travel expenses, united seat specs & inflight amenities, united customer satisfaction, charity partnership, final thoughts.

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Key Takeaways

• United Airlines offers a broad network of domestic and international routes, with various cabin classes ranging from Economy to Polaris Business.
• MileagePlus members can earn and redeem miles for flights, upgrades, and other rewards, with additional benefits for elite status holders.
• TripAdvisor’s airline review rating for United is 3/5, and Kayak’s customer rating is 7/10.

There’s no doubt you know United Airlines (and may have even flown with them before), but are you aware of their different fare types, the ins and outs of their baggage allowances, and all of their extra fees/add-ons? What about their seat specs and their consumer satisfaction ratings?

This helpful guide covers all you need to know about this large U.S. carrier so you hopefully won’t be caught unaware on your next flight.

In this post you’ll find a general company overview, ticketing/fare options, extra fees/add-ons (including baggage allowances ), cabin class amenities, seat specs, and more.

Airline: United Airlines

Alliance:  Star Alliance

Category:  Legacy domestic and international airline

Frequent Flyer Program: MileagePlus

Tag Line:  “Fly the Friendly Skies”

About/Mission Statement: “We are committed to providing a level of service to our customers that makes us a leader in the airline industry. We understand that to do this we need to have a product we are proud of and employees who like coming to work every day….” (source)

Daily Flights:  4,700

Main Hub:  Chicago-O’Hare International Airport ( ORD )

Destinations:  356 (including 125 international)

United’s fare types are pretty standard for a large U.S. carrier. But with stiff competition from lots of low-cost airlines, United recently introduced a Basic Economy fare — which pretty much just gets you a seat on the plane.

Handy for those traveling light, this reduced and restricted fare does not include any standard carry-on or checked luggage.

And for anyone part of United’s frequent flyer program (covered later on in this article), you won’t be eligible for premier qualifying miles that go toward your elite status when flying in this class.

Below are the additional differences in fare types and cabin classes, with inflight amenities covered later on in this article:

Basic Economy (most restrictive fare): 

• Pre-assigned seat before boarding
• Family or group seating not possible
• First checked bag costs an additional $120 (round-trip)
• Upgrades not available
• Changes or refunds not permitted

Economy (standard): 

• Seat selection at time of booking (if available)
• Customize your booking with other options

Economy (flexible):

• Refundable ticket (subject to cancellation fees)

Premium Plus:

• Spacious, larger seating with extra legroom
• Complimentary food and beverage
• Enhanced dining with complimentary food and beverage

The availability of certain cabin classes is dependent on the route and plane type. We’ve also covered how you can upgrade to business or first class on United Airlines .

Economy Plus

If you’re looking for a little extra legroom, you can upgrade your booking to Economy Plus. This will also seat you closer to the front of the aircraft so you can disembark quicker.

You can upgrade as a one-off, or subscribe to yearly upgrades when booking a regular economy ticket (where Economy Plus is available).

MileagePlus is United’s frequent flyer loyalty program where you can earn miles to redeem against reward flights and work your way up membership tiers to gain elite benefits, such as priority check-in and additional luggage.

These reward miles can also be used against flights with other Star Alliance members. You can earn miles through flying, shopping, dining out, and spending on certain credit cards.

Hot Tip: For more information, check out our article on United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program .

Baggage Fees

United Airlines Carry-On Allowance:

1 personal item: FREE 1 standard carry-on bag: FREE (including Basic Economy Transatlantic flights but excluding all other routes for basic economy)

United  Airlines Checked Allowance:

Max weight: 50lb (23kg) for all economy and premium plus fares and 70lbs (32kg) for business and first class fares.

Max size: 62 inches (158cm) linear

United recommends that passengers check their official baggage fee calculator tool to view baggage costs associated with their specific fare type.

We ran some basic route searches, and the fees appeared as the following (do a check on your specific fare before booking to confirm):

Domestic U.S. & Canada

• Economy (Basic, plus and standard): 1st bag $30, 2nd bag $40, 3rd+ bag $150
• Business and first: 1st and 2nd bags free, 3rd+ bag $150

U.S. to/from Mexico

• Economy (Basic, plus and standard): 1st bag $30, 2nd bag $55, 3rd+ bag $180
• Business and first: 1st and 2nd bags free, 3rd+ bag $180

U.S. to/from Europe

• Economy: 1st bag $0 (£60 for Basic Economy), 2nd bag $100, 3rd+ bag $200
• Premium Plus: 1st and 2nd bags free, 3rd+ bag $200
• Business: 1st and 2nd bags free, 3rd+ bag $200
• First: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd bags free; 4th+ bag $200

Additional and Excess Baggage Fees:

Oversized Fee: $200 per bag (up to 115in/292cm)

Overweight Fee (route dependent):

• Bags 51-70lb: $100-$200 per bag
• Bags 71-100lb: $200-$400 per bag

MileagePlus Status weight allowance:

• Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K: 70lb
• Star Alliance Gold (traveling in first, business or  United Polaris Business ): 70lb

Hot Tip: See our post on United Airlines baggage policy  which details specific baggage allowances for all types of cabin class, status and personnel such as the military. 

United’s Other Fees & Add-Ons

Service Fees

All reservations on United.com can be made without incurring a service fee. For other methods of booking made within the U.S. or Canada, the service fees are as follows:

By Phone: $25

City Ticket Office:  $30

At the Airport: $50

Reservations Made Outside of the U.S.: Fees vary according to country

Cancellation and Change Fees: (Cash Tickets)

• Domestic Cancellation Fee: $200
• International Cancellation Fee: Up to $400
• Waived for Gold, Platinum, and 1k members
• Cancellation : If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, no refund will be issued – but you can use the cost of the flight against a new ticket within 12 months.
• If your departure or arrival time changes by more than 30 minutes (due to a schedule change), you can change your flight at no extra cost or request a refund.

We’ve also gone into detail on United’s  award flight change & cancellation fees .

Seat Selection Fees

There is no charge to select a seat with United (where available), but you can opt for “Preferred seating” (closer to the front of the economy section) from $9 each way.

Economy Plus Upgrade: $16-$169 each way

Unaccompanied Minor Fee: $150 each way

Pet in Cabin Fee: $125 each way

Fare Holding Fees

If you’re not ready to book at the time of searching, then you can pay to reserve your fare using “Farelock.”

The fee varies by destination, but ranges from $5-$20 with the ability to hold a fare for either 3 or 7 days.

United Airlines Annual Subscription Fees

Economy Plus: From $499

Benefit from additional leg room and being closer to the front of the plane for quicker exiting when you reach your destination.

United Bundle Options

Bundles are offered during the reservation process combining different options, such as an Economy Plus upgrade and United Club trip pass. Prices vary per route, but United states that savings can be had by buying these bundles.

Wi-Fi: From $49

United Club Membership: From $550

Get access to all of the  United Club locations and select partner lounges.

Onboard Refreshments

For flights over 3 hours (within the U.S. and to/from Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America) customers can order from the “Bistro on Board” menu serving items such as a chorizo breakfast sandwich, pepperoni deep dish pizza, or a mezze sampler with prices ranging from $6.99-$9.99 . Menu choices depend on the flight route.

On flights over 1.5 hours (within North America, including select Latin American destinations and the Caribbean, in addition to Singapore , Australia , and New Zealand ) customers can order from the “Snack Shop” serving sweet and savory nibbles and snack boxes. Prices range from $3.99-$9.59 .

Beer and wine are $8, while premium spirits range from $8-$9 and specialty cocktails will run you $10.

Onboard entertainment

Available on select Boeing 737 and 757-300 aircraft, customers can purchase access to DIRECTV with more than 100 TV channels plus movies.

This is complimentary for United first passengers, and $5.99 for United economy passengers on flights less than 2 hours ($7.99 for flights more than 2 hours).

Many travel rewards cards come with an annual airline credit and can be used to offset fees such as baggage fees, such as The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  come with an annual $300 travel credit that can be used to offset almost  any  travel expense.

The cards below allow you to redeem Capital One miles for 1 cent each as a statement credit for previous travel purchases (within 90 days):

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Capital One Miles

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

• No annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• Ability to use transfer partners
• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

In addition, if you have the United Explorer℠ Card  you can get 1 free checked bag for you and a companion on your itinerary.

United Airlines has 14 different types of aircraft with varying cabin classes and seat specs.

United Express operates a further 5 aircraft through its partner airlines. You can view the aircraft and seat specs here .

United Inflight Amenities

United Business & First

• Premium leather seat with extra space and comfort, featuring a headrest that adjusts 6 ways
• Storage space for personal items
• Universal AC power plug
• Mobile device holder
• United Wi-Fi (fee applies)
• Complimentary inflight beverages including beer, wine, spirits, and illy coffee
• DIRECTV with more than 100 TV channels plus movies
• Dining options in partnership with The Trotter Project

Polaris Business & First

• Saks Fifth Avenue bedding
• Sleep-inspired amenities (cotton pajamas on flights over 10 hours)
• Soho House’s Cowshed Spa skincare items
• Lie-flat beds
• 16″ HD monitor

Premium Plus

• Larger seat with more legroom, leg and footrests
• Complimentary beverages
• 13″ monitor
• Power and USB sockets
• Noise-reducing headphones

• Extra legroom
• Situated nearer the front of the plane for quicker disembarkation
• Eligible to earn Premier qualifying dollars
• All standard economy benefits

Economy (Basic and Standard)

• On domestic flights and to/from the Caribbean and Latin America, customers receive complimentary soft drinks (including illy coffee) and can purchase snacks/meals and alcohol.
• On international flights, customers receive complimentary food and beverages including house beer and wine
• Entertainment varies by aircraft (details can be found on the Inflight Amenities tab on United’s Flight Status page )

Hot Tip: Check out our post on United Airlines’ boarding policy so you’ll know what to expect from the boarding process as almost all airlines have a different procedure!

Customer satisfaction is a real mixed bag with United Airlines. Their social media channels and Tripadvisor reviews seem to attract many compliments from loyal customers, which is unusual as these outlets are often utilized to rant and rave about poor service!

Additionally, their PR team is pretty genius, sponsoring a number of great causes and shouting about their good deeds on social media — so even if the service was only mediocre for a customer, their philanthropic ways may improve consumer brand impression.

Lost baggage is a real gripe for United customers, being one of the most prominent issues on review sites. Also, inconsistencies of aircraft age can lead to disappointment in inflight amenities.

One customer complaint we found said they had experienced a seat-back entertainment system on once international flight and not on another. That’s going to disappoint any traveler.

United prides itself on their personal device entertainment, but this does rely on the customer having a smartphone/tablet at their disposal.

Most Common Complaints

United Airlines had 1,169 complaints lodged against them from January-September 2018 according to the  September 2018 Air Travel Consumer Report . The chart below represents the complaints by category.

• Flight problems (cancellation, delay, or misconnection): 292
• Baggage: 185
• Customer service: 174
• Reservation, ticketing, boarding: 110
• Disability : 86
• Refunds: 45
• Oversales: 34
• Discrimination: 8
• Advertising: 5

Consumer Rankings, Ratings, Etc. 

There are a number of different review websites out there when it comes to airline ratings. Here are a few of the most popular so you can see the general consumer opinion for United Airlines.

Skytrax Ranking: 3 Star Airline (out of 5)

Skytrax Customer Rating:  3/10 (average from 2,594 reviews)

TripAdvisor Airline Review Rating:  3/5 (average from 36,791 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 7/10 (average from 61,414 reviews)

AirHelp.com Overall Rating: 7.59/10 (departure/arrival performance, service, and satisfaction of claims processing)

Safety and Performance

Airlineratings.com Safety Rating :  7/7 (takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification, government and crash records, plus information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body).

United Airlines supports numerous charities across their main hub locations and across the globe. It strives to be a more sustainable airline supporting environmental charities and operations such as Clean the World and Conservation International.

United also supports many youth projects, including Youth Guidance with the goal of inspiring future leaders.

Overall, customer satisfaction seems to be somewhere in the middle for United — and as with other legacy U.S. carriers, there will always be a place for the airline with reasonable fares and route availability.

United will never have the sass and style of Virgin Atlantic or the service and luxury of the Middle Eastern airlines, but it serves its purpose and does have a loyal customer base (although this may be dwindling slightly, with many referencing the “good old days” when United was great).

Their current focus seems to be on revamping their premium cabins, with their Polaris offering in business and first — but we’re hoping they don’t neglect economy for too much longer either.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

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UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

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United Basic Economy Passengers Can Now Pay To Assign Seats In Advance

• Ben Schlappig
• Published: February 2, 2018
• Updated: February 5, 2024

It’s quite interesting to see how United has modified their basic economy concept since introducing it early last year. United first introduced basic economy on select flights last February, and then extended it to almost all domestic flights last May.

United (in particular president Scott Kirby) was quite smug about the introduction of basic economy. Kirby thought for sure it would be successful if implemented across their network, and expected that better segmenting the marketing would generate a billion dollars in incremental revenue annually. When they presented the numbers, they did so based on the percentage of passengers they thought would opt for basic economy, and didn’t account for the customers they’d lose because of the introduction of basic economy.

The fact that an airline thinks they can introduce this without losing a significant percentage of their passengers shows how the US airline industry is desperately in need of more competition, because they basically feel like they have captive customers. The good news is that basic economy hasn’t worked out the way United had hoped, and they’ve backtracked on it quite a bit. Originally almost all domestic fares (even expensive last minute tickets) had basic economy, while now they’ve eliminated basic economy from many of their more expensive domestic fares.

Well, United has now decided that they want to segment their passenger base even further. One of the main restrictions on basic economy tickets has been that you can’t select a seat assignment in advance. As of February 1, 2018, United is letting basic economy passengers pay to assign their seats up until 24 hours before departure (at that point seat assignments become free).

As you’ll see during the booking process, the page asking you to choose whether you want a basic economy fare or not now says “choose a complimentary seat, or change or upgrade seats,” rather than “choose, change or upgrade seats.”

The next page shows “advance seat assignments may be available for purchase during booking and up until check-in opens.”

So, how much is United charging for seat assignments on basic economy fares? It will vary by flight, but for a Tampa to Chicago flight for later in the year, they’re charging $5 to assign a middle seat, $10 to assign a window seat, and $15 to assign an aisle seat.

For what it’s worth, the fare difference between economy and basic economy is only about $20 one-way

I guess there are two ways to view this change on United’s part:

• Basic economy isn’t panning out as United had hoped, and they’re acting desperately to try and generate more revenue, by now letting you buy one of the main perks that that’s excluded on these fares
• United is being smart in their effort to infinitely segment the market; after all, there are some people who may not value a carry-on, but who may still be willing to pay more to assign a seat; however, at some point this all seems a bit silly

What do you make of United now selling seat assignments on basic economy fares?

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It's terrible. Have to pay extra for seats just to sit next to my family. I have flying anxiety and they choose to seperate people. Smh! Paying for a checked bag, no carry-on, it's sad.

Just flew to kona. Three legs of our journey from Toronto. Stupidly paid to have aisle seats beside each other. Got to the check in...no record of us having paid, even though it had a receipt on my phone to provide proof. We lost our economy plus seats, but got to sit together. I spoke to the gentleman who was sitting in the seat I selected and paid for....guess what...he had paid for...

Just flew to kona. Three legs of our journey from Toronto. Stupidly paid to have aisle seats beside each other. Got to the check in...no record of us having paid, even though it had a receipt on my phone to provide proof. We lost our economy plus seats, but got to sit together. I spoke to the gentleman who was sitting in the seat I selected and paid for....guess what...he had paid for same seat! Is that not THEFT AND DECEIT? The customer service people were well versed in platitudes and passing the buck WORST AIRLINE EVER. CREW MEMBER TOLD BE STOP WHINING AND SUCK IT UP WHAT.......????

United Airlines practices kangaroo seating of late. Should you buy two seats at the same time (Economy or Basic Economy - makes no difference), they will separate you as a matter of principle. I was on a four-seats-abreast plane with a family member - we were assigned 'A' and 'C', while another couple was assigned 'B' and 'D'. Funny the length an airline will go to try to spite you! Of course, we traded. Of...

United Airlines practices kangaroo seating of late. Should you buy two seats at the same time (Economy or Basic Economy - makes no difference), they will separate you as a matter of principle. I was on a four-seats-abreast plane with a family member - we were assigned 'A' and 'C', while another couple was assigned 'B' and 'D'. Funny the length an airline will go to try to spite you! Of course, we traded. Of course, when traveling with a bratty kid, it can be better to count on sitting in a different part of the plane from him. Let him be someone else's problem for a few hours while you nap.

Some people pay for more leg room because they are tall.

We found ourselves on UNITED last week only because our usual JETBLUE non-stop was sold out and UNITED offered a convenient travel time. We booked our BOS-IAD-AUS round trip through EXPEDIA which immediately books you into UNITED's "basic economy" fare. I later received a tersely worded email from UNITED explaining what "basic economy" means and what NOT to expect at this fare. I upgraded to "preferred seating" and for an additional $243.00 later, my wife...

We found ourselves on UNITED last week only because our usual JETBLUE non-stop was sold out and UNITED offered a convenient travel time. We booked our BOS-IAD-AUS round trip through EXPEDIA which immediately books you into UNITED's "basic economy" fare. I later received a tersely worded email from UNITED explaining what "basic economy" means and what NOT to expect at this fare. I upgraded to "preferred seating" and for an additional $243.00 later, my wife and myself were allowed to sit together. In ALL FOUR flight segments the gate agents felt the need to continually remind all "basic economy" passengers in a condescending tone that you board LAST, sit where you are assigned, have NO ACCESS to the overhead storage bins and you will need to stuff any personal belongings under the seat ahead. The tone in ALL FOUR flight segments was basically you are steerage and clearly not as welcome as boarding groups one through four. If UNITED is going to offer a "basic economy" product and try to compete with the LCC's , they really need to reconsider their marketing and correspondence and scripting at the gate agent level. If I want to fly a LCC, I can fly SOUTHWEST for less, have service with a smile and no $30.00 checked bag fee. I can fly SPIRIT for MUCH LESS if I want the condescension I received with UNITED. Having flown AMERICAN and DELTA basic economy over the last few years, the treatment you receive from them was seamless and unnoticeable, but UNITED feels the need to shove the basic economy rules and hyperbole down your throat from the moment you book your flight. I had not flown on UNITED for about 10 years and was skittish on using them again after the Dr. David Dao/United Express Flight 3411 incident and countless poor reviews online regarding their customer service. It seems not much has changed and UNITED's contempt towards it's customers is still there. This may have been my last trip on UNITED. So much for "The Friendly Skies"....

I'm flying South West Airlines next time. UA is way out of line when they charge $45 dollars for an isle seat.

I have two United credit cards. I bought a ticket to/from NYC. I still haven't a clue if I can check a bag for free or board with a carry-on for free. The flight is direct so I will just wait and see on the seat situation. United needs to better integrate the credit card benefits.

This makes me so mad!It just boils down to same fate for no consideration for the passengers.I will avoid United for the concept of same fate less service.Southwest or Alaska would be a good way to handle their portion of the passengers ,which should get smaller with this scheme!!!

They will keep doing this until some pervert molests a kid because the greedy airline put the parents 20 rows away from thier kids. Guess I will have to find another airline the actually cares about the welfare and safety of my family.

Airlines like United make so much money from first class, that they have a vested interest in making non first class passengers as uncomfortable as possible. This helps ensure people In First Class don't look back at steerage and say "that's not so bad!" This is been true for a long time, and they're expanding that model into economy itself. Making some economy seats smaller, and more uncomfortable. This is one more reason I refuse...

Airlines like United make so much money from first class, that they have a vested interest in making non first class passengers as uncomfortable as possible. This helps ensure people In First Class don't look back at steerage and say "that's not so bad!" This is been true for a long time, and they're expanding that model into economy itself. Making some economy seats smaller, and more uncomfortable. This is one more reason I refuse to fly in a domestic carrier other than Southwest. Their open seating model makes these sorts of games and possible.

“I guess the should just change their name to Frontier ”

@Joe no they shouldn’t. The expectations are different here. With ULCCs like Frontier, the baseline is that you’re buying a ticket with zero perks/amenities. People except nothing when they fly, so buying seats, bags, etc. are seen as an upgrade that is only available through incremental purchases. With legacy carriers people generally expect more. The idea that you’re choosing to downgrade from ‘the standard’...

@Joe no they shouldn’t. The expectations are different here. With ULCCs like Frontier, the baseline is that you’re buying a ticket with zero perks/amenities. People except nothing when they fly, so buying seats, bags, etc. are seen as an upgrade that is only available through incremental purchases. With legacy carriers people generally expect more. The idea that you’re choosing to downgrade from ‘the standard’ for a legacy carrier and then are going to start throwing money to move yourself back to the baseline is totally different. I don’t think people are dumb enough to choose the lowest legacy BE price and then pay-up to move back to a standard ticket they probs should’ve bought in the first place.

I think the bottom line is there are of dumb people, rich people, and rich dumb people. UA is just trying to relieve them of that extra cash.

I've never ever understood what would possess someone to pay $70-200 for legroom alone but I guess some people have money to burn!

I guess the should just change their name to Frontier ;-)

@Tom Schneider UA does not permit online check-in for Basic Economy tickets. You are required to see an agent so they can verify you don't have a carry-on.

Whatever,? ! As an ex UAX employee who worked in sales, sound like they are grasping for straws to see whatever will work. So sick of them and their logic

So will this allow Basic Economy fare purchasers the opportunity to buy an Economy Plus Seating Assignment for a fee as well?

I think there were a lot of people who bought BE on Expedia and Co websites without realizing it so this is their way of trying to goose some extra revenue from them.

Wow what an amazing customer friendly enhancement! So glad that United let's me unbundle all of these services and pick and choose exactly what I want!!

@Mike Perhaps I am missing something from your comment but you can receive your boarding pass via the United App. Hell, I just used the boarding pass on the app to pass through security at IAH a few minutes ago.

$5 middle seats make sense if you have a companion with an aisle/window on a separate, non-Basic ticket. And IMO that situation is rare enough that it's rather an insult to the customer to offer for sale the inflight equivalent of shit on a stick.

$20 is a typical increment for one leg between basic and regular economy, so if you pay $15 to get an aisle seat you've now reduced your savings and given up flexibility, a carry-on and mileage earning for a whopping $5!

I need a cheap last minute round trip to EWR Spirit and united were both a 6 am departure and cost $45 a week and a half before departure (one way) I chose spirit because I can get my boarding pass on the mobile app on my way to the airport I don’t want to be “policed” at the kiosk with my personal item in order to print my boarding pass. And have to arrive 10 minutes earlier Bad move United !!!!

Haven't flown on United since the merger with Continental, so no big deal to me. I expect that at some point United with be like Allegiant, Frontier, etc charging for everything little thing they can get away with.

@chesterwilson - The irony of paying for a seat assignment pushing you to fly an airline where a seat assignment isn't even possible is not lost.

I would pay $20 for a seat in first class. Not a penny just for a regular economy seat

I would pay $5 just for "not the back row" so I guess I would pay $5 for a middle seat just to avoid that, but in reality I would pay $10 or $15 for the aisle or window toward the middle of the plane.

That I will continue to fly Southwest Airlines whenever possible.

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It's terrible. Have to pay extra for seats just to sit next to my family. I have flying anxiety and they choose to seperate people. Smh! Paying for a checked bag, no carry-on, it's sad.

United Airlines practices kangaroo seating of late. Should you buy two seats at the same time (Economy or Basic Economy - makes no difference), they will separate you as a matter of principle. I was on a four-seats-abreast plane with a family member - we were assigned 'A' and 'C', while another couple was assigned 'B' and 'D'. Funny the length an airline will go to try to spite you! Of course, we traded. Of course, when traveling with a bratty kid, it can be better to count on sitting in a different part of the plane from him. Let him be someone else's problem for a few hours while you nap.

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When we turned up in London to drop off our bags and get our boarding passes, the agent told me that she was able to get me some seats together (party of 3). I was quizzical at that point because I had seats already picked out, I thought. I never received any communication that maybe the plane type had changed and there was a new configuration that necessitated a seat change, which I know happens sometimes.

I said that I thought I had seats and she asked for proof. I am old school for my travel documents because I worry about my phone not working when I need it to so I pulled out the email confirmation that showed seat assignments clearly.

She implied there was nothing she could do as we weren't assigned those seats but went to talk to her supervisor.

They both came back a while later and the supervisor tried to explain that we had never been allocated those seats. He went on to talk about how our booking agent might have said that's what we were getting but they didn't get entered into the system. ??? I couldn't follow where he was going especially as I booked them directly myself on their website and the email had a clear "from" as United vs some 3rd party source.

Ended with him saying to call customer service. I know that would be pointless and it really isn't worth my time to have another not so helpful rep "look into this".

I mostly want to know what I can do in the future to secure the seats I want to have. Is that even possible? And, also curious how this happens, if anyone knows. It's just odd to be staring at a piece of paper that clear as day has my seat assignments but then they tell me no such thing existed.

I am grateful that that flight actually went ahead and I could sit in that section. We didn't have good luck on our outbound flight at all after United unceremoniously cancelled my flight a few hours before we were set to depart (mechanical issues on the plane )

I appreciate any insight. Thanks!

9 replies to this topic

Had you checked in online or checked your seat assignments previously on those 6.5 months ?

what surprises me that the agent told you ", we had never been allocated those seats", even if you had "the email confirmation page that showed our seat assignments".. grrr !!!

I do feel like I checked in on the reservation during that time and didn't recall seeing a change.

Wouldn't it have been their responsibility to communicate with me if the plane type had changed and my seat assignments did as well? I have definitely been notified by other airlines when that happens. They send an email or text to alert you of your new seat assignment and offer you a chance to change them. Never happened.

But, UA certainly rebooked you to get home, didn't they?

If there is an equipment or schedule change, your seats are often changed and assigned by a computer program, and I don't believe when this happens, that any CSR can see any previous seat assignments, but that's a moot point.

Equipment changes aren’t notified to travellers.

Where possible online check in should be done, leaving it until you get to the airport isn’t a good idea.

Airlines can rearrange seating as they need to on the day & that could be what happened as seating assignments are not guaranteed.

There is the general reminder that seats selected are not guaranteed.

In my experience United seems to make their notifications through their app. I've never been notified by email, it's always been within the "view/manage trip" area of the app. So I long ago made it a habit of checking my trips in the app regularly.

One time I had a booking scheduled on a 767 that changed to a 777 and then the next day back to a 767. Seats got shuffled and thankfully because I regularly checked the app, I was able to re-select my original seat. If I had never checked I'd have never noticed and been none the wiser.

I wouldn't necessarily rely on the original booking email. It's fine as a receipt and for the booking confirmation, but I view any other information as merely a snapshot in time that I expect to change.

Make it a habit to regularly check bookings in the app.

"But, UA certainly rebooked you to get home, didn't they?"

Appreciate all the advice. I know I logged onto the trip on the website multiple times over the months but never caught a change to the seat assignment. But, I might have simply paid attention to having a seat assignment rather than confirming that it was, indeed, my original seats.

Lessons learned.

Thanks again!

While I do get notifications of schedule changes, I never get ones for equipment or seat changes. As a result I regularly check my reservations

This post has been removed at the author's request.

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United Finally Lets Kids Sit With Parents for Free

Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

For parents traveling with young children, the inability to have guaranteed, side-by-side seats can be far more than annoying. It can be impractical, stressful and irritating — not just for them but the folks stuck sitting next to a kid who appears to be flying solo.

Many families fork over a seat selection fee to ensure a seat next to their kid. Such fees can often cost more than $20 per person, per direction.

This year, the United Airlines family seating policy is doing away with such aggravating fees — if you’ve got a tot in tow, at least.

» Learn more: The complete guide to United MileagePlus

United adds new and improved family seating policy

United announced a new family seating policy that allows children under age 12 to sit next to an accompanying adult for free when on basic economy tickets .

And while it had been free for children to sit next to an accompanying adult on standard economy tickets, it was complicated. United’s news is set to simplify the booking process. 

United says that customers traveling with children under age 12 will see more adjacent seat options starting in March 2023. Though this only applies to economy and basic economy seats — not United Polaris , United first class and Economy Plus seats.

» Learn more: United basic economy vs. economy vs. Economy Plus

“United's new policy is made possible through a series of investments in a new seat map feature that dynamically finds available adjacent seats at the time of booking,” according to a statement from the airline. “The online seat engine first reviews all available free economy seats and then opens complimentary upgrades to available Preferred Seats, if needed.”

If adjacent seats are not available, United says its new policy will let customers with a child switch to another flight to the same destination with adjacent seat availability in the same cabin at no additional cost.

That means families won’t owe the price difference if the new flight is more expensive.

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The president has been critical of airline fees

Extra fees that cover services that either used to be included or that don’t really cover any costs at all (it costs United the same whether you sit in row 15 or 16) have been the subject of recent debate on the federal regulation level.

The Biden-Harris Administration has proposed the Junk Fees Prevention Act, which would limit hidden fees and surcharges across a handful of industries including relatively-hidden resort fees at hotels, service fees at concerts and sporting events and, yes, surcharges for families to sit together on airlines.

President Joe Biden even referenced the family seating fees in his February 2023 State of the Union address.

“We’ll prohibit airlines from charging $50 roundtrip for a family just to be able to sit together,” he said. “Baggage fees are bad enough. Airlines can’t treat your child like a piece of baggage.”

» Learn more: How families can get seats together on planes

How to avoid airline seat selection fees

United’s new family seating policy only applies to children under age 12. But for families who still want to keep teens together (or anyone who just wants to sit with their friends and spouses), you can still avoid seat selection fees.

NerdWallet analyzed nine major carriers as part of its annual awards to understand which airlines charged the most fees . Consider booking with airlines that charge low or no fees.

One standout is Southwest Airlines. While the airline has made low fees a cornerstone of its business, it also has a wildly unconventional boarding process with no assigned seats. Passengers are instead assigned a boarding order and can select any available seat once onboard.

The airline offers family boarding, which allows families with children ages 6 and under to board relatively early on in the boarding order, making it almost certain families sit together.

Otherwise, simply ask in person. Some gate agents will facilitate seat swaps prior to boarding. And you might have luck simply asking the passenger seated next to your loved one if they’re willing to swap.

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All About United Basic Economy (& Why It’s the Worst)

Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. A professional journalist, he joined the comp...

Basic economy fares have reshaped travel, as airlines charge travelers more for what they once got free. And United basic economy fares are easily among the worst of them all.

United has the single most-punitive restriction for basic economy flyers, so it pays to be hyper-vigilant about what you get and what you don't. We gave it the lowest score in our battle of basic economy that compared all three major U.S. airlines – and it wasn't particularly close.

But why is it so bad? What do you get, and what don't you get? And how can you make United basic economy a little less painful? Let's break it down.  

Basic Economy is Strict with Carry-Ons

No online check-in, either, pay up for seats, what routes have united basic economy fares, get some perks back with a united credit card, avoid a dreaded middle seat selection.

• What's the Difference Between Basic Economy and Economy on United?

What Does United Economy Include?

What does united basic economy include, what is united basic economy.

United basic economy is much like a basic economy ticket on any other U.S. carrier: It's the airline's cheapest fare.

And while it gets you the same standard economy seat and experience once you get on the plane, it's loaded with restrictions that can make it more painful.

There's no way to spin this one: United has some of the worst basic economy fares out there of any major U.S. airline. Take a look:

• Baggage:  Get a personal item for free; pay at least $35 each way for a checked bag (or $75 each way to Europe). No carry-ons allowed unless flying to Europe or other long-haul international destinations.
• Seat Selection: Available for a fee, typically starting around $10. Otherwise, seats are automatically assigned at check-in.
• Boarding: Boards the plane last in the final boarding group.
• Earning United MileagePlus Miles: Yes, you'll earn redeemable United miles based upon the price of your ticket. 
• Earning Status: You’ll earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) but  not   Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) toward status with United.
• Upgrades: Not eligible for complimentary upgrades with United status, nor can you pay for an extra legroom Economy Plus seat.
• Ticket Changes and Cancellation: No free change or cancellation is allowed except within 24 hours of booking. Otherwise, you can cancel a domestic roundtrip for a voucher minus a $99 fee – or $199 for an international roundtrip ticket.

United's basic economy fares are easily the worst among the major U.S. airlines. And there are no signs that it will get any better.

Unless if you're flying to Europe or other long-haul destinations, you won't get a carry-on bag. That alone is proof that United is hoping to force flyers to pay up for a main cabin economy fare – generally another $70 to $80 or more on a roundtrip ticket within the U.S. … and a whopping $200 over to Europe and back.

Only JetBlue with its Blue Basic fares previously matched this punitive policy … and even JetBlue has wised up: Their cheapest fares will get a carry-on bag back soon .

These fares are a huge cash cow for United and other airlines. And unfortunately, basic economy fares are generally priced at what main cabin fares once were. On United and other airlines, you're paying the same amount but getting less with basic economy.

Read more:  No, You're Not Getting a Good Deal on a Basic Economy Fare

One saving grace of United basic economy? Unlike Delta basic economy , you'll still earn both redeemable United MileagePlus miles and at least some credits toward United elite status. After a brutal change in late 2021 , you no longer earn either with Delta.

Still, a few things about these fares are worth highlighting even further – some good, but mostly bad.

Let's start with the bad news: No carry-ons.

Unless you're flying across the Atlantic Ocean or to another long-haul international destination, all you get is a small personal item like a backpack when flying. And United executives say they have no plans to change this, even as both Delta and American allow carry-ons for all basic economy passengers. It's the most restrictive fare for the airline and the harshest measure of any basic economy fare in the U.S.

And that comes with a double whammy…

Because you can't bring a carry-on bag onboard, you have to finalize checking in for your flight at the airport. Yes, that's right: No online check-in when flying United basic economy.

Some travelers who purchase basic economy  might be able to check in online if they're also checking a bag. But that's a moot point: You'll have to go to the desk at the airport to check your bag, regardless.

Read more about checking in online with United!

If there's one upside to United basic economy, it's the ability to pay for a seat assignment.

The window to pay up for seat selection opens right when you book your flight – earlier than you'll find on many airlines. And the price is often right: We've seen seat selection fees as low as $10 or so a seat . Generally, seats toward the back of the plane are the cheapest. And a middle seat will almost always cost you less than an aisle or window.

Right now, United Basic Economy has been rolled out on all routes heading to the following locations:

• U.S. Domestic Flights
• Mexico and Central America
• The Caribbean
• South America

That's right: Practically every single route in United's network features basic economy at the starting point. Even ultra-long-haul flights to Singapore (SIN) and Sydney (SYD) have basic economy, though you can at least bring a carry-on bag and also get a free checked bag with these fares.

How to Beat United Basic Economy

There are no two ways about it: Flying on a United basic economy ticket can be a drag. Luckily, there are a few ways you can make it a little less painful.

The easiest way to beat some of these restrictions is by holding one of United's co-branded credit cards like the *united explorer card* .

Among the other benefits of the card, you'll be able to bring on carry-on luggage – as will any other travelers booked on your itinerary. You'll also get a checked bag for free, as will one companion else booked on your reservation.

Read more on United Airlines baggage fees !

And you'll also all get priority boarding – a significant improvement, considering United basic economy flyers typically board last.

But there's one catch: You have to pay for your ticket with the United Explorer card in order to get those benefits . It's one of the few airline credit cards that require you to pay with the card in order to get the perks.

Learn more about the  *united explorer card*

On paper, you don't get to select your seat with a United basic economy fare. But in practice, that's not quite true.

United sells seat selection to basic economy flyers for an additional fee. The window to pay up for a seat assignment is open from the moment you buy your ticket. Better yet, the fees are typically quite reasonable.

Just be warned: United may try to sell you a “bundle” with seat assignment. These typically aren't a good deal – you can buy it later for much cheaper.

So just click past it and proceed through checkout and you'll get the option to pay for a seat a la carte. Take a look at the seat map for an upcoming flight from Houston-Intercontinental (IAH) to Washington, D.C.-Dulles (IAD), and you'll see that a window seat starts at just $13. A preferred seat towards the front of the cabin, meanwhile, is $27 per passenger.

The price will vary from flight to flight, but those rates are about average. Expect to pay $10 to $20 per seat.  But keep in mind: That's a per-segment cost. So you'll have to pay double for a round-trip flight – and even more if your flight isn't nonstop.

If you want to make sure you get a certain seat, you're better off paying for an assignment right away. Not only will the number of available seats shrink as your departure approaches, but the price for a seat will likely increase, too. No matter what, you won't be able to upgrade from basic economy to an economy plus or first class seat.

And Unlike with Delta, you can't move around the cabin to get an available seat for free after the 24-hour check-in window opens when flying basic economy with United. But the ability to pay for a seat from day one is unrivaled.

That brings up an important point: You need to do the math on whether it makes sense to go for basic economy and add extra costs compared to buying a more-inclusive main cabin economy fare outright. 

If a main cabin fare costs an additional $70 or more roundtrip, going for a cheaper United basic economy fare could make sense. 

United Economy vs. Basic Economy

What's the difference between basic economy and economy on united.

The names may sound similar, but make no mistake: These two types of airfare are not the same. And too many United Airlines flyers find that out the hard way.

Comparing United basic economy vs economy boils down to one simple fact: United's basic economy tickets have fewer perks compared to a main cabin economy fare. 

One major – and painful – difference is that with a United basic economy ticket, passengers are given a much smaller baggage allowance. United flyers with a basic economy ticket are not allowed to put a carry-on in the overhead bin – they're limited to one small personal item underneath the seat. With a normal economy fare, you can bring a normal carry-on bag onboard. 

Because of that, basic economy passengers cannot check in online or via the United app. Basic economy passengers are forced to check in at the airline's counter at the airport. You also can't pick a seat for free with a United basic economy ticket, while you can with a standard economy fare.

One last notable difference comparing United basic economy vs economy comes with earning status with United. With a basic economy fare, you'll earn half the credits toward MileagePlus status as you do with a normal economy ticket: You earn Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) but  not Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs).

And you won't be eligible for complimentary upgrades, either.

United Economy is your standard airline fare, and it's typically more expensive than the basic economy fare. Here’s a summary of what United Economy includes:

• Includes a carry-on 22 inches by 14 inches by 9 inches
• Choose your seat for free (though some preferred seats at the front of the cabin or with extra legroom will cost you more)
• Boarding group 3-5
• Change your tickets for free or cancel for a credit
• Ability to upgrade to Economy Plus seats with extra legroom or First Class
• Able to check-in on the website online or via the United app

Along with some noticeable restrictions, here’s a final quick summary of what United Basic Economy includes:

• Only one personal item (sized 17 inches by 10 inches by 9 inches) allowed
• Can’t upgrade to Economy Plus or First Class
• Seats are automatically assigned at check-in, or you can pay extra for a seat assignment
• Last boarding group
• Flights can be canceled for a voucher minus a $99 fee on domestic roundtrips (or $199 for long-haul international trips)
• Unable to check-in online or via the app unless you pay for checked luggage

Bottom Line

There's no doubt about it: United basic economy fares are a pain. And given how much money the airline makes on them, they're not going away anytime soon.

They're among the most restrictive fares you'll find in the skies. While almost every other airline allows you to bring a carry-on bag while flying basic economy, United does not. And that means you can't check in online, either.

On the plus side, seat selection fees are often more than reasonable if you don't want to get stuck in a middle seat. And carrying a United co-branded credit card can make a lot of the pain of basic economy fade away.

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Kyle Potter

Kyle Potter is the executive editor of Thrifty Traveler, covering everything from aviation news to travel deals to in-depth guides on using airline miles. A professional journalist, he joined the company in November 2018 after five years covering state and national politics for T...

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25 Responses

Delta offers the ability to pay for a seat assignment on basic economy now too. Up to 24 hours before departure. Flew basic just yesterday PHX MSP and received an email two days before departure with the option to buy a seat assignment. Was only $20.

I just flew united basic economy and you are allowed to do online check in. It states you might have to wait to get assigned a seat at the airport but only one flight out of four didn’t give me a seat assignment till 2 hours before flight. Also they stated a very specific size bag that can go on and my backpack was bigger than stated but had no problem bringing it on.

I booked basic economy to Finland and I am allowed a personal item and a carry on….

That’s because it was to Europe. He said it’s allowed on international flights.

I purchased basic economy ticked from Poland to Newark NJ with the United Explorer Card. I was wondering if theres any chance to get an upgrade at the boarding counter or just pay for the upgrade on the united.com website. Anybody had luck getting the upgrade at the boarding counter?

I purchased a United basic economy fare, not aware of carry-on restriction. I never heard of such a thing. Big rip off by United. I won’t be fooled into flying this airline again.

I have realized that buying UA basic economy fare charges for carryon. I got going to chicago tickets one way was AA with free carryon then coming back was UA and I have to pay for it! Learned it the hard way, did not save at all!

How much did they charge you for your carry on?

Just got taken in by the basic economy fare. Wish I had read your excellent post first! (Since when did one of the major non-economy airlines start charging for carry-on’s!?!). There’s a reason I never liked United — and now there are more reasons.

With basic fare ( we the poor ) can’t check in and can’t have a carry on lane. Why even bother sending emails, txt message etc to check in if it’s not possible? They found a way to make more money. Next thing you won’t be able to arrive early to airport unless you pay an extra fee.

You can check in online if you check a bag. He didn’t mention that at first. I don’t think Basic Economy is that bad honestly. I’m saving $100 for my flight AND I’m checking two bags. But it’s a lot of math and calculations if you have the time.

Would love to benefit from your math and calculations. I have the time and would love to be able to check a bag while flying basic economy.

some body knows about carry on cost?

Are you allowed a small tote and a purse if traveling on UA from Chicago to Maui?

Likely just one or the other.

Just a heads up, as much as I’ve discovered that United basic economy purchasers are definitely shamed from United by making it the most restrictive ticket you can buy(like n intentional way to hit you with fees after saving on your ticket while also making sure you feel poor and humiliated on the way)- not allowing seat choice, not any single carry on except 1 purse etc, last to board so everyone knows you got a cheap ticket, and not allowing families or groups to sit together- one correction to your article is that I was able to check in online ahead of time. If your checking luggage you can then check in online, but I believe without luggage you cannot. Not sure where people are traveling with no carry on or checked bags so most people will be able to check in online and avoid doing it in person at the airport.

I fly United basic economy often. Also charge the trip on the United card. Not really a problem for me. Get my free carry-on, priority boarding and am rarely assigned a middle seat. Always able to check in on the app 24 hours before the flight. And when I do I can change my seat for free on the app. But you have to be quick. Not to a great seat but can occasionally move to an aisle or window seat or up a few rows. still stuck in row 31 or above, but it works for me.

Basic economy Newark to Dublin, what carry on am I allowed

One carry-on bag 22″ x 14″ x 9″ is allowed for Basic Economy Newark to Dublin. Also one personal item.

I booked a Basic Economy flight from Boston to Denver and then later paid for a seat choice. I am not sure now which class that puts me in. The question is am I allowed a carry on along with my personal item now?

No, you’ll still be unable to bring a carry-on bag despite paying for a seat assignment.

We have the United Explorer card. According to the fine print, only the card holder and one companion can bring a carry on and check one piece of luggage for free. Everyone else on the reservation must stick to the 1 personal item and pay for checked bags.

HI, considering that if the UA flight is transcontinental, hand luggage is allowed in Basic economy, does anyone know/has experienced whether it is also possible to check in online? Thanks to whoever will respond

do you earn lifetime miles still on basic economy?

There’s no mention of whether you can check in online if flying transcontinental. Does anyone know if this is possible? Figured carry-on bags are allowed on international flights so an online check in would make sense.

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United Airlines Lufthansa Seat Assignments

We have booked tickets thru United for San Francisco to Frankfurt to Tallinn. The Frankfurt to Tallinn flight is on Lufthansa. We were able to secure seat assignments on the United portion of the flight but not the Lufthansa part.

The Lufthansa website indicates that the seat assignments are not made until 23 hours prior to check-in.

That is disturbing. Has anyone Experienced this? Does anyone have any idea how to get seat assignments in this case?

We've had this twice with Lufthansa code share flights. That's just how it works.

That's exactly how it worked for me on my last UA/Lufthansa codeshare flight. I avoided it for my upcoming trip by purchasing a flight marketed and operated by one airline, United. Admittedly, this limited my options.

One piece of good news that I read is that Lufthansa will reserve a block of seats for the codeshare flyers to book when they open the 23 hour checkin window. I was ready when that window opened. For some reason I recall that it may have been earlier than 23 hours, but that could have been due to my not knowing which timezone to use. My foggy recollection is that it wasn't my departure timezone.

The Frankfurt to Tallinn leg is a short flight so very few people will pay for an advance seat assignment. You will get a seat assignment when you check in.

Yes, you pay for seat assignments if you want them in advance.

As Laura from Virginia noted, this will be a short flight ... I would just take whatever seats are assigned. Flying Transatlantic (Munich - SFO) on Lufthansa a few years ago we called up in Munich within the 23-hour window and reserved OK seats for free.

It makes a difference if you buy air tickets from a third-party, like a travel site. If you bought from United, there us a chance you can get the LUFTHANSA confirmation code for the trip, and get an online seat assignment. Wait three days after the purchase.

Yup, that is how it works. That is an inter-European flight and not your hop across the pond so they won't assign seats until much closer to the flight. You have your long haul assignments so you should be good to go.

As Tim suggests, do get the Lufthansa confirmation number. I always like to have that for any code share flight anyway. If you have a special need, perhaps Lufthansa can help...try calling them. Or use your Lufthansa confirmation number to log in and see if you can buy an advance seat assignment on your own.

Yes just a few days ago, I booked an international flight through United.....using United on the initial flight and Swiss Air on the return flight. I received both United and Swiss Air confirmation numbers. I was able to secure seats on the United flight segment and not the Swiss Air segment. Even more troubling was not being able to pull up my flight reservation under Swiss Air. I called United and representative was great. They confirmed the reservation was properly scheduled with Swiss Air and fixed the problem so I could pull up the flight information under both United and Swiss Air. They waited on the phone until I confirmed access on the Swiss Air login. They then transferred my call to Swiss Air representatives. I was concerned that I inadvertently selected a restricted fare with no seat assignment and extra bag fees. Swiss Air confirmed this was not a restricted fare, As others have posted, free seat assignments are selected during flight check about 24 hours before the flight and I was given the option to purchase advanced seat assignments starting at $29 for each seat. If, sitting together on Lufthansa is important, suggest going on-line to their website or calling them and pre-pay additional fees to secure the seat assignments.

Have you tried calling Lufthansa to ask for a seat assignment? I have booked flights with United and Lufthansa and they gave me the seat assignment in advance. You will need to give them your confirmation number.

I have flown several times on Air Canada/Lufthansa combined routes. In each case I obtained Lufthansa seat assignments from them well in advance using the data contained in my Air Canada reservations. And yes, I had to pay in advance, separately, to Lufthansa. Maybe it's a nuisance, but it works. Anyhow these days I pay in advance for seat assignments on most airlines so it's nothing new.

This is what is happening now. In the past two years, I've not been able to book a seat on a codeshare flight to Europe no matter if I was paying in advance or not. It's some new rule that seems to have taken effect in the past few years. I did once keep phoning Lufthansa till I got someone to agree to give me an aisle seat, which I believe I did pay for. You just have to have your computer all lined up, ready to press the right button at the exact second, 24 hrs pre flight these days.

You might try calling Lufthansa to see what they say. I have at times gotten seat assigned this way. However since it is a short flight u prob will not have a prob. Hopefully u have no preferences

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Travel | Travel Troubleshooter: When reserving an extra seat on United, don’t forget to do this

But how can they resell the seats I paid for? I’ve sent emails to the executive contacts for United on your website, but United won’t even give me a travel credit. Can you help me get the $660 back I spent for the extra seat?

— Leigh Roberts, Winter Garden, Florida

ANSWER: United Airlines should have kept the middle seat (that you paid for) empty. United offers the option of buying an extra seat for the same price as your original ticket, if you need more room. This obligates United to keep the seat empty; it can’t resell the seat halfway through the flight.

Your case brings up a long-standing grievance among air travelers. When you have a nonrefundable ticket and can’t make your flight, your airline can resell the ticket, collecting money for the same seat twice. This strikes many air travelers as unfair. In the past, lawmakers have suggested legislating this unfairness and mandating that an airline should refund a nonrefundable ticket if it can resell the seat. But so far, nothing has passed.

You were smart to escalate this to the executives at United. But I would have kept going. I list multiple executives on the site , and you could have been more persistent. Also, you might have considered a credit card dispute. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you can file a charge-back for items that you paid for but didn’t receive, such as an airline seat.

So, what went wrong with your ticket? I checked with United, and it said that for some reason, the boarding pass for your extra seat wasn’t scanned when you boarded your first flight. You told me that you reached out to United the day before your flight when you had a problem checking in, and the agent instructed you to deselect the extra seat when you checked in.

“The reservation was marked as a no-show by our team in Orlando, who ended up canceling the advance seating assignments,” the representative said. “That made the extra seat available for reassignment.”

United should have seen the problem when you reached out to the airline, then to its executives. Instead, it kept turning you down. But after the airline reviewed your case, it decided to change its answer:

“We’ve processed a refund for the extra ticket that was purchased,” the representative told me.

Lesson learned: If you buy an extra seat, always scan the boarding pass for the extra seat. All airlines — not just United — will cancel the rest of your reservation, if you miss one leg of your flight. In fact, this could have turned out much worse. United could have canceled all of the tickets on your reservation, which might have left you stranded during your stopovers in Rome or Frankfurt, Germany.

Christopher Elliott is the founder of Elliott Advocacy , a nonprofit organization that helps consumers solve their problems. Email him at [email protected] or get help by contacting him at elliottadvocacy.org/help/ . (c) 2024 Christopher Elliott Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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