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Guides
United basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
October 22, 2024 • 11 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Quick summary
United Airlines basic economy is the most restrictive fare, limiting seat selection, boarding group, baggage allowance and flexibility for changes or refunds.
Passengers can only bring a small personal item unless traveling on select international routes, where a standard carry-on or checked bag may be included.
Seat assignments are not included but can be purchased; families with children under 12 are usually seated together without charge for the child.
Elite status or select travel rewards cards can provide additional benefits, such as priority boarding, carry-on allowance and free checked bags, even on basic economy fares.
What to consider
Basic economy tickets cannot be changed or upgraded for free, and refunds are only available within 24 hours of booking if departure is at least a week away.
Travelers without elite status or eligible cards must check in at the airport to verify personal item size and may face a $65 fee if their bag exceeds size limits.
MileagePlus members earn miles and qualifying points but not qualifying flight segments toward elite status on these fares.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of exceptions, upgrade options and how elite status or select cards can significantly improve the basic economy experience.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
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You've likely arrived at this guide while deciding whether to book a United Airlines basic economy fare or after booking a United basic economy fare. In either case, you may wonder what this fare allows and how your experience may differ from any previous trips with United. Let's dive in and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about United basic economy.
What is United Airlines basic economy?
United has three types of economy fares: basic economy, United Economy and Economy Plus. United basic economy will usually offer the lowest fare. However, travelers flying in United basic economy usually face restrictions on seat assignment, boarding, carry-on baggage, upgrades, changes, refunds, elite earnings and elite benefits.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
United waives some basic economy restrictions for Star Alliance elite members and cardholders of cobranded United credit cards. Throughout this guide, we'll discuss the regulations for travelers without elite status or a United credit card. If you do have elite status or a United credit card, check out the relevant sections near the end of this guide.
If you're flying on a United basic economy ticket, know that your fare usually won't include a carry-on bag or checked luggage. However, you can bring a personal item (such as a shoulder bag, backpack or laptop bag) that is no larger than 17 inches by 10 inches by 9 inches and fits under the seat in front of you. If you bring a larger carry-on item to the gate that won't fit under the seat in front of you, you'll usually need to pay a $65 fee to gate-check it.
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However, United includes a 22-inch by 14-inch by 9-inch carry-on bag on its basic economy tickets to Canada, South America, across the Atlantic and on international flights across the Pacific. You can even check a bag without cost if you fly United basic economy on an international flight across the Pacific that isn't to China or Tahiti.
You can use the United baggage calculator to determine the cost of checking bags on a United basic economy itinerary. If you're not checking a bag, you'll need to check in at the airport so a United agent can ensure your personal item is small enough before issuing you a boarding pass.
You usually can't select a seat for free when flying on a United basic economy ticket. However, you can buy a seat assignment during booking or until check-in opens for your flight.
If you don't opt to purchase a seat assignment, United will assign you a seat for free before boarding. "If you're traveling with a child under 12, we have new tools that make it easier for them to sit next to a family member for free," according to United's website. So, one adult should be able to sit with each child under 12, but the rest of your group will likely be separated if you don't buy seat assignments for your entire group in advance.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
You can book United basic economy tickets for unaccompanied minors. In this case, you can call United after you book the ticket and pay the unaccompanied minor fee to request a seat assignment for the unaccompanied minor. Likewise, if you have a disability that requires you to sit in a specific type of seat, call to notify United at least 24 hours before your scheduled basic economy flight.
United basic economy passengers usually board in Group 6 unless an exception applies.
As we'll discuss in subsequent sections, exceptions apply for select United cardmembers, travelers with United elite status and travelers with Star Alliance Gold or Silver status. Likewise, travelers with disabilities or who need additional assistance can preboard even when flying on a United basic economy ticket.
You can not change a United Airlines basic economy ticket; this includes same-day changes.
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However, if your United basic economy itinerary experiences an involuntary schedule change of more than 30 minutes, you can request another United or United Express flight departing from the same airport within 24 hours of your original flight time.
Otherwise, you can upgrade your basic economy ticket to economy or a premium cabin and then change your flight.
You can cancel your United basic economy ticket and get a refund if you cancel within 24 hours of booking and at least one week before your scheduled departure. Otherwise, you can cancel your trip and get a partial travel credit. The amount of the partial credit will depend on your specific trip but will be displayed before you finalize the cancellation.
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However, if United changes the schedule and this significantly alters your departure or arrival time, you can cancel your trip and request a refund.
United MileagePlus members will earn United miles and Premier qualifying points when flying on a basic economy fare, but they won't earn any Premier qualifying flights. MileagePlus members will earn lifetime miles toward United Million Miler status and the four-segment minimum required for United status.
If you have a United credit card, you may escape some of the worst parts of flying United basic economy, because your credit card benefits still apply on United- and United Express-operated flights — even if you're flying on a basic economy fare.
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For example, you and up to one companion on the same reservation get a first standard checked bag free on United- and United Express-operated flights if you are a primary United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees) member, you use your card to purchase tickets and you include your MileagePlus number in your reservation.
Likewise, United Explorer cardmembers and companions traveling on the same reservation can board during Group 2 priority boarding for United- and United Express-operated flights — as long as the primary cardmember includes their MileagePlus number in their reservation.
With select United credit cards — such as the United Explorer Card, United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees), United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees) or the United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees) — you can still enjoy the following perks when flying in basic economy on United- and United Express-operated flights:
One carry-on bag no larger than 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches for you and each of your companions traveling on the same reservation
Group 2 priority boarding for you and your companions traveling on the same reservation
First checked bag free for you and one companion traveling on the same reservation (You must book the tickets using your United credit card; the United Quest Card and United Club Card offer a first and second checked bag free.)
However, upgrades you might be eligible for as a perk of select United credit cards (such as the United Quest Card and the United Club Card) aren't available on tickets containing basic economy fares.
United Premier members and Star Alliance Gold members can avoid some negative aspects of basic economy fares as a benefit of their status. Particularly, United Premier members and Star Alliance Gold members get the following benefits even when flying in basic economy on United- and United Express-operated flights:
One carry-on bag no larger than 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches for you and each of your companions traveling on the same reservation
Your normal checked baggage allowance
Your normal boarding group for you and your companions traveling on the same reservation
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Elite members won't get many other standard benefits, including complimentary Economy Plus seating, complimentary upgrades, paid upgrades, mileage upgrades and PlusPoints upgrades. However, you can pay to add United Economy benefits to your basic economy ticket if you want access to your standard benefits.
As mentioned a few times throughout this guide, you can pay to add United Economy benefits to most basic economy tickets (excluding award tickets). By doing so, you get access to the following additional benefits on United and United Express flights:
Bring a carry-on bag no larger than 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches.
Select an Economy seat before check-in. (You can change your seat multiple times after selecting it; you can also opt to purchase an Economy Plus or premium cabin seat.)
Change or cancel your flight without paying a change fee (you'll be required to pay the difference if you change to a flight with a higher fare).
If your reservation includes multiple travelers, each traveler on the reservation must add United Economy benefits.
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As a United Premier member, you will become eligible for standard Premier status benefits on United and United Express flights if you pay to add United Economy benefits to a basic economy ticket. However, you'll earn Premier qualifying points on the original basic economy fare, and you won't earn any Premier qualifying points for the service charge to add United Economy benefits.
United basic economy fares are restrictive. Many routes don't allow passengers to carry on more than a small personal item. But United basic economy is better with elite status or an eligible United Airlines credit card.
Most eligible United credit cards allow new cardmembers to pay with a different card for flights completed during the 90 days following the account open date. Say you have an upcoming United basic economy flight operated by United or United Express and would get value from one or two complimentary checked bags for you and a companion on your same reservation. In that case, you may want to sign up for a United credit card that offers the perks you need.
The priority boarding benefit offered by most eligible United credit cards won't go into effect until two weeks after account opening. So if you have a flight within the next two weeks, you likely won't be able to enjoy priority boarding and a carry-on. But in the longer term, the perks on eligible United cards can easily outweigh the fees — even if you only use them to book United basic economy fares a few times each year.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
