Checked bags

Check your bags in just a few easy steps.

Size and weight

Common items

Bag check process

Additional info

Size and weight

The maximum size of a checked bag can be 30 in x 20 in x 12 in (76 cm x 52 cm x 30 cm) or 62 total in., including handles and wheels.

Starting February 24, 2024, fees for your first and second checked bag will go up by $5 in most markets. See what the cost for your trip will be with our baggage fee calculator.

Other fees apply for extra checked bags or any bags that go over these limits. Visit the oversized, overweight and extra bags section or the bag guidelines section for more info.

Baggage Fee Calculator

Depending on where and how you travel, you may have to pay to check your bag. Use our baggage fee calculator to see how much it’ll cost.

Calculate bag fees

Starting February 24, 2024, fees for your first and second checked bag will go up by $5 in most markets. See what the cost for your trip will be with our baggage fee calculator.

Other fees apply for extra checked bags or any bags that go over these limits. Visit the oversized, overweight and extra bags section or the bag guidelines section for more info.

Weight limit

The weight limit for a checked bag depends on your cabin and your MileagePlus status. If they have different limits, we’ll go by the one that has the larger limit.

Cabin	Maximum weight per bag
United Economy^® Premium Economy^®	50 pounds (23 kilograms)
United Business^® United First^® United Polaris^® business class	70 pounds (32 kilograms)

MileagePlus status	Maximum weight per bag
Premier Silver Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K^®	70 pounds (32 kilograms)
Star Alliance™ Gold	70 pounds (32 kilograms) in Business 50 pounds (23 kilograms) in Economy

Common items

Some items have a few extra rules for how they can be packed.

Electronic devices

Policies and restrictions for electronic devices.

Fragile and valuable items

Policies and suggestions for high-value items.

Dangerous goods

Restrictions for lithium batteries and smart bags.

Sporting goods

Specific guidelines and packing requirements.

See list of items prohibited by the TSA

Bag check process

Check your bag on timeCheck your bag on time

There is a time limit for checking bags and we can't check yours if you’re not on time. Find out your airport’s cut off time for checking bags.

Keep your claim checkKeep your claim check

Go to the airport kiosk to get a claim check for each checked bag. A claim check is like a receipt. Keep each one until you reclaim all your bags at your last stop.

Learn about connecting flightsLearn about connecting flights

If you have a connecting flight, you might need to re-check your bags between stops. Visit the connecting flights section below for more information.

Bag drop shortcut

This drop-and-go service lets you check your bags faster. First, check a bag during check-in on united.com or the United app. Then, drop your bag in the bag drop shortcut area at the airport.

Bag drop shortcut

This drop-and-go service lets you check your bags faster. First, check a bag during check-in on united.com or the United app. Then, drop your bag in the bag drop shortcut area at the airport.

Traveler pro tips

It's unlikely your bags will be lost during travel. But there are a few steps you can take to help reduce this risk:

Before going to the airport, remove all old bag tags.
If you're checking a bag, make sure you get to the airport early.
Keep your bag tag receipt. You should also take a picture of your bag and bag tag receipt together for your records.
Place your phone number or email on a luggage tag or inside the front pocket of your bag so if your bag tag is lost, we can contact you to confirm where to send it.
Use our bag tracker or a device like an AirTag to keep an eye on your bag.
Place medication, valuables and other essentials, like keys and your wallet, in the bag you plan to bring on the plane with you.
Pack all liquids in a resealable bag. Liquids more than 3.4 oz (100 ml) should be packed in your checked bag.

Bag tracking

Bag tracking is a feature of the United app that lets you see the status and location of your checked bags.

Learn more

Bag tracking

Bag tracking is a feature of the United app that lets you see the status and location of your checked bags.

Learn more

Additional info

Save time at the airport by prepaying for your bags. If you’re traveling on a United or United Express flight within the U.S., you can use your miles to pay the baggage fees before check-in.
If your flight is canceled, you can request a refund for any checked bag fees. Visit our refunds page to find out more.
United Business^®, United First^®, and United Polaris^® business class seats come with free checked bags. If you upgrade to one of these cabins before you check your bags, you won't have to pay for them. If you're still assigned to United Economy when you check your bags, then you will have to pay bag fees.

Some customers don’t have to pay fees for checked bags. This only applies to United- and United Express®-operated flights. If you’re eligible for different types of exemptions, the larger one will apply.

Active U.S. military personnel and their dependents.

The benefits below apply only on United- and United Express-operated flights.

Type of trip	Class of service	Number of bags without service charges	Medium size	Maximum weight per bag
Personal travel	All classes of service	3 bags	62 in. (158 cm)	70 lbs. (32 kg)
Military dependent with travel orders	All classes of service	2 bags	62 in. (158 cm)	70 lbs. (32 kg)
Military orders	All classes of service	5 bags	115 in. (292 cm)	100 lbs. (45 kg)

Dependents of active U.S. military personnel also share these benefits if they’re traveling on the same reservation.

When travel is due to military orders, dependents can travel alone. When a dependent travels on their own without proof of military orders, the normal allowance and fees apply.

MileagePlus Premier members

If you’re a Premier member, you and up to nine others on the same itinerary can check bags for free. Use this chart to see what each status level provides.

Cabin and route	Premier Silver	Premier Gold	Premier Platinum	Premier 1K
Economy travel between the U.S. and: Continental U.S. Alaska Hawaii Canada Mexico Caribbean Central America	1 bag, 70 lbs. (32 kg)	2 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each
Economy travel between the U.S. and: South America Asia Australia New Zealand Europe Middle East Africa	2 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each
All premium cabin travel	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each	3 bags, 70 lbs. (32 kg) each

There are currently some exceptions to the following destinations. Please see the complete rules and details of the MileagePlus program.

Destination	Number of bags without service charges	Maximum weight per bag	Travel period (departures)
San Salvador (SAL)	2 bags	70 lbs. (32 kg)	January 1 - December 31
Havana (HAV)	2 bags	70 lbs. (32 kg)	January 1 - December 31
Santo Domingo (SDQ) Managua (MGA) San Pedro Sula (SAP) Tegucigalpa (XPL)	2 bags	70 lbs. (32 kg)	January 1 - December 31
Guatemala City (GUA)	2 bags	70 lbs. (32 kg)	January 1 - December 31

Space is limited. We charge more if your bags are oversized, overweight, or you have extra bags. If your bag is both oversized and overweight, each charge will apply.
We can’t accept oversized, overweight, and extra bags on flights to certain destinations and on flights during certain times. Check the list of destinations that don’t allow overweight, oversized, or extra bags.
If you plan to check oversized, overweight, or extra bags, keep the following in mind:
Oversized bags
We can’t accept bags that measure (length + width + height) more than 115 inches (292 centimeters).
Overweight bags
We can’t accept bags weighing more than 100 pounds (45 kilograms). Musical instruments and assistive devices are exceptions. We’ll accept musical instruments up to 165 pounds (75 kilograms) and all assistive devices.
Extra bags
We only accept extra bags if there’s space available. Assistive devices don’t apply, and we’ll gladly accept them for free.
To qualify as a bag, your item:
- Must be fully enclosed.
- Must be made of a material that withstands normal handling.
- Must meet all size and weight requirements.
- Can’t be multiple bags secured together to create a single checked item.
- Can’t have protrusions, sharp points or removable straps.
- Can’t contain items prohibited in the cargo hold, such as lithium batteries or personal vaporizers.
For most trips that include a connection, your checked bags will follow you to the last stop on your ticket. You'll need to go to baggage claim and re-check your bags if:
- You have a layover
- You make a connection that involves an overnight stay
- Your connecting flight departs more than 12 hours after you arrive at the airport
- You’re connecting to a trip on a separate ticket and the flight is not with a Star Alliance™ partner airline
- You’re traveling internationally but connecting to a domestic flight in your destination country
Usually, we keep checked bags on the same flight as the traveler. If we can't, we send your bags on the next flight with available space.
If you check a bag with our partner airlines for the first segment of your trip, they decide what bag fees apply. There may be an exception if United's code is used for the first flight on the ticket.
Fee waivers for MileagePlus Premier members or United MileagePlus Chase card members may not apply on our partner airlines.
For details and information about each partner airline, you can visit their website.
United follows the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations when setting bag fees.
- The airline for the first segment of your trip will set the bag fees for your entire trip. If you decide to make a change to your trip and use a different airline, the policies of the new airline will apply. The flight number assigned to the first segment of your trip will come from the first airline you used for your trip. If this airline is not United or United Express, different fees may apply.
- Bag fees are based on the date of ticketing and on the ticketed cabin. They're also based on the traveler's status or membership on the date of travel. Checked bag fees apply at any point where you check a bag.
- For a trip that includes one or more connections, checked bags go to the final stop on the ticket. The fee for checking a bag from your starting point to your last stop will apply. If your connection is to a different airline, you must recheck bags with the new airline. Checked bags can go to your last stop if your new flight is Star Alliance member airline operated.
- If you chose to have a layover, your checked bags will go to your layover point, where you can collect them. When you resume travel, you may check your bags again. Fees may apply.
- Certain airports may reject your luggage based on size, weight or number of bags.

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Checked bags

Size and weight