United Airlines is one of the world’s largest airlines and has a long history dating back to the 1920s. It was established in 1926 as Varney Air Lines and went through several mergers over the decades before taking the United Airlines name in 1961. Today, United operates a large domestic and international route network spanning North America, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and Latin America. united airlines reservations

The airline is headquartered in Chicago and has major hubs located at airports across the United States, including Chicago-O’Hare, Denver, Houston-Intercontinental, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles. Its regional arm, United Express, serves many smaller destinations. United’s route network provides extensive coverage across the Americas, with a particularly strong transcontinental and West Coast presence. The airline also offers many long-haul flights to Europe, Asia, and Australia from its hubs.

As a founding member of the Star Alliance, United has partnered with various international carriers over the years to expand its global reach. Today, it flies to well over 300 destinations worldwide, providing service to all inhabited continents. While United has gone through periods of financial struggle, it remains one of the most recognized airline brands in the world.

Booking Reservations united airlines reservations

Booking a flight on United’s website is easy and straightforward. Here are some tips for finding and booking the best fares:

• Use the online booking tool on United’s website. This allows you to search for flights, compare fares, and complete your booking in one place.

• Be flexible with your travel dates and times if possible. Flights on less-popular days and times are often cheaper.

• Book well in advance for the lowest fares. Last-minute bookings will be more expensive.

• Sign up for fare alerts. You can get notifications when flights for your chosen route go on sale.

• Consider flying into alternate airports that are close to your final destination. Nearby airports sometimes have lower fares.

• Check both one-way and round-trip fares. Sometimes two one-way tickets are cheaper than a roundtrip.

• Use the low-fare calendar to find the cheapest travel dates. It’s a great tool for flexibility.

• Check both economy and premium cabins. Sometimes upgrading your ticket is surprisingly affordable.

• Use private or incognito browsing to search for fares. This prevents cookies from hiking up prices.

• Paying with United Miles is an excellent way to get value from your rewards program.

• Consider getting a United credit card. The sign-up bonus miles can offset the cost of a flight.

• Call United’s reservations line if you need help finding a complex fare. The agents can access special deals.

By being a savvy and flexible shopper, you can get great deals on United flights. The tips above will help you search smarter and maximize your savings.

Seat Selection united airlines reservations

When booking a flight on United Airlines, passengers can choose from a variety of seating options depending on the cabin class.

Upgrades with Miles

MileagePlus members can use miles to upgrade to United Economy Plus, Premium Economy, and Business Class seats. Requirements and availability vary, but upgrades generally start at 5,000 miles for Economy Plus, 15,000 miles for Premium Economy, and 30,000–60,000 miles for Business Class, depending on the route. Mileage upgrades are clear in the order of MileagePlus elite status level.

Baggage Allowance

When flying United Airlines, passengers are allowed to check in one suitcase and bring one personal item on board as a carry-on.

Checked Bags

For transatlantic flights, the maximum dimensions of standard checked bags are 158 cm (62 inches) and the maximum weight is 23 kg (50 pounds). For all other international flights, the maximum size is 158 cm, and the maximum weight is 32 kg (70 pounds). There are overweight and oversized bag fees if your bag exceeds these limits. The fee for the first overweight bag is €100 and €200 for the second. Oversized bags are €200 for the first bag and €400 for the second.

For domestic US flights, the maximum dimensions for standard checked bags are 158 cm, and the maximum weight is 23 kg (50 pounds). The fees for overweight bags on domestic US flights are €25 for the first overweight bag and €100 for the second. Oversized bag fees are €100 for the first oversized bag and €200 for the second.

Carry-On Baggage

For international and domestic US flights, United allows 1 personal item,, such as a purse, briefcase, or laptop bag that must fit under the seat in front. You are also allowed 1 carry-on bag that will fit in the overhead bin, with a maximum dimension of 115 cm (45 inches) and a maximum weight of 10 kg (22 pounds). If your carry-on is oversized or overweight, expect to pay a fee of €100 at the gate. Make sure your carry-on baggage complies with TSA regulations as well in terms of prohibited items.

Frequent Flyer Program – MileagePlus

United Airlines’ frequent flyer program is called MileagePlus. This program allows members to earn miles when flying with United and their partner airlines, as well as through everyday purchases and hotel stays. Miles can then be redeemed for free flights and seat upgrades.

The basic MileagePlus membership is free to join. All members earn Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM) on United flights, which count toward Premier Elite status. Members also earn redeemable Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) based on ticket price and flight distance.

Once enough miles are accumulated, members can redeem them for reward flights with United and their partners. Domestic flights start at around 15,000 miles for a one-way economy ticket. A one-way business or first-class reward could cost 50,000–80,000 miles, depending on the destination. International flights cost more miles based on the region. Miles don’t expire as long as there is account activity every 18 months.

There are four Premier elite tiers that offer additional travel perks like priority boarding, upgrades, and lounge access. Premier Silver requires 25,000 PQM in one year. Premier Gold needs 50,000 PQM. Premier Platinum requires 75,000 PQM. The highest tier is Premier 1K which needs 100,000 PQM. Higher tiers receive more perks like extra award miles, more upgrade priority, and United Club membership.

MileagePlus members can also earn miles through everyday spending. By shopping online through the MileagePlus Shopping portal or using a co-branded credit card from Chase, members can easily rack up thousands of additional miles annually. Hotels, car rentals, restaurants, and retailers all offer ways to earn miles.

Airport Lounges

United operates more than 50 airport lounges worldwide where first-class passengers, business-class passengers, and premium-fare passengers can relax, dine, and get work done before their flight. United Club locations feature complimentary snacks, beverages, WiFi, TVs, and comfortable seating.

The United Clubs are located throughout United’s hub airports in Houston, Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Newark. Major international gateway cities like London, Tokyo, and Sydney also have United Club locations.

To access the lounges, passengers must be flying in United’s premium cabins that day, be a United Club member, or hold Premier Elite status in MileagePlus. The United Club membership starts at €600 per year and offers lounge access plus other benefits like extra baggage allowance and Premier upgrades. MileagePlus Premier Platinum and 1K elite flyers receive complimentary United Club access when traveling on any ticket.

The lounges provide an oasis to relax, dine, and get work done amid a hectic travel day. Passengers can enjoy complimentary snacks, a full premium bar, high-speed WiFi, printer and fax services, television, and clean bathrooms. Certain locations also feature shower suites. The United Club offers a comfortable place to pass the time until your flight departs.

Food and Entertainment

United Airlines offers complimentary meals and snacks on long-haul international flights. The airline offers special meal options for various dietary needs if requested in advance.

On domestic flights within Europe, United offers buy-on-board meals, snacks, and beverages for purchase. Complimentary soft drinks are offered on flights over 2 hours. On shorter flights, snacks like peanuts or pretzels and soft drinks are complimentary.

United offers free inflight entertainment on smart devices only. Travelers can connect to the United Wi-Fi network and access a library of movies, TV shows, music, games, and more using the United app. There is no seatback screen entertainment.

On long-haul flights, United offers premium cabin passengers an elevated inflight dining experience with restaurant-style entrees, welcome cocktails, mid-flight snacks, and ice cream sundaes. First- and business-class passengers also enjoy premium wines and spirits.

Customer Service

United Airlines provides customer service through multiple channels for assistance with reservations, ticketing, baggage, delays, cancellations, and other issues.

• Phone Support – United offers 24/7 phone support in multiple languages. Travelers within the US can call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331). International numbers are available on United’s Contact page. Wait times can vary depending on call volume.

• Social Media – United is active on Twitter @United and Facebook @UnitedAirlines. They generally respond to comments and messages within a few hours. Direct messages can also be sent for individual support.

• Airport Clubs – United manages over 50 airport lounges worldwide, known as United Clubs. United Club agents can assist with reservations, ticketing, rebooking, and other support. Access requires membership or a day pass.

• Compensation for Delays/Cancellations – United’s guidelines for compensation follow industry standards. For delays over 4 hours on domestic flights, meal vouchers are provided. Overnight delays qualify for hotel accommodations and transportation. Canceled flights allow rebooking options or full refunds. EU Regulation 261 provides additional passenger rights.

• Reputation – United had some high-profile customer service issues in recent years, especially related to overbooking and baggage policies. They have focused on improving training and procedures to better handle disruptions and meet customer expectations. Satisfaction scores have rebounded while still lagging behind some competitors.

Overall, United provides extensive customer service touchpoints. Travelers have multiple options to reach agents for assistance before, during, and after trips. Proactive compensation for major delays demonstrates a commitment to customer satisfaction. While still recovering from past struggles, United continues to improve support services through updated policies, staff training, and digital channels.

Safety and On-time Performance

United Airlines has maintained a good safety record in recent years. According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, United had 0.23 accidents per 100,000 flights in 2018, below the U.S. airline average of 0.28. Their last fatal accident was in 2013.

In terms of on-time performance, United Airlines arrived within 14 minutes of schedule 80% of the time in 2020 according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This ranks them 6th among major U.S. airlines for on-time arrivals. Approximately 4% of United Airlines flights were canceled in 2020, which is comparable to other large U.S. carriers.

Causes for delays and cancellations can include mechanical issues, crew shortages, weather conditions, air traffic control constraints, and other operational challenges. United has received criticism in the past for canceling flights too readily during minor irregular operations. The airline has said it is working on improving its completion rate when recoverable delays or aircraft swaps are possible.

Overall, United Airlines has a strong safety record and an on-time performance that is on par with competitors. They aim to provide their customers with safe, reliable air transportation while minimizing disruptions. However, flying does come with some risk and unpredictability inherent to the aviation industry.

Conclusion

Booking a flight on United Airlines comes with many options and benefits for travelers. When reserving your ticket, be sure to consider seat selection for extra legroom or specific locations, as well as checking baggage allowance to avoid fees. United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program offers members opportunities to earn award miles and loyalty perks. At the airport, United Club locations provide comfortable lounges for relaxing before your flight. Onboard entertainment, WiFi, and meal options will make your time in the air more enjoyable. United prides itself on customer service, safety, and on-time arrivals, so you can feel confident in choosing to fly with them.

When booking your next United flight, sign up for MileagePlus to start earning rewards, and check the app or website for seat options. Consider your baggage needs to minimize fees. Arrive early to access the United Club lounge if you have a membership. Download the app to stay entertained inflight with movies, shows, music, games, and more. United Airlines offers full-service flights to destinations worldwide, with perks and amenities for travelers focused on productivity, comfort, and relaxation.

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