seat assignment united airlines

• Planes & Seat Maps >
• Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 5

United Seat Maps

• Airbus A319 (319) Layout 1
• Airbus A319 (319) Layout 2
• Airbus A320 (320)
• Boeing 737 MAX 9 (7M9)
• Boeing 737-700 (737) Domestic Layout 1
• Boeing 737-700 (737) Domestic Layout 2
• Boeing 737-700 (737) Micronesia
• Boeing 737-800 (738) Layout 1
• Boeing 737-800 (738) Layout 2
• Boeing 737-800 (738) Layout 3
• Boeing 737-800 (738) Layout 4
• Boeing 737-900 (739) Layout 1
• Boeing 737-900 (739) Layout 2
• Boeing 737-900 (739) Layout 3
• Boeing 757-200 (752) Layout 1
• Boeing 757-200 (752) Layout 2
• Boeing 757-200 (752) Layout 3
• Boeing 757-300 (753)
• Boeing 767-300ER (76A) Layout 1
• Boeing 767-300ER (76C) Layout 3
• Boeing 767-300ER (76L) Layout 2
• Boeing 767-400ER (764)
• Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 1
• Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 2
• Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 3
• Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 4
• Boeing 777-300ER (77W)
• Boeing 787-10 (781)
• Boeing 787-8 (788) Layout 1
• Boeing 787-8 (788) Layout 2
• Boeing 787-9 (789) Layout 1
• Boeing 787-9 (789) Layout 2
• Bombardier CRJ-200 (CR2)
• Bombardier CRJ-550 (CRJ)
• Bombardier CRJ-700 (CR7)
• Bombardier Q200 (DH2)
• Bombardier Q300 (DH3)
• Bombardier Q400 (DH4) Layout 1
• Bombardier Q400 (DH4) Layout 2
• Embraer EMB 170 (E70)
• Embraer EMB 175 (E75)
• Embraer EMB-120 (EM2) Layout 1
• Embraer EMB-120 (EM2) Layout 2
• Embraer ERJ-135 (ER3)
• Embraer ERJ-145 (ERJ)
• Embraer ERJ-175 (E75) [SkyWest]
• Saab 340B (SF3)

Seating details Seat map key

Traveler photos (1).

In-flight amenities

Audio entertainment is available for all classes on this plane. 

More information .

Seatback on-demand and personal device entertainment is available for all passengersAllie .  

Power outlets are located at every seat.

USB power ports are located at every seat.

United Airlines offers access to internet service. Connectivity is available for laptops and mobile devices. The service is available once the aircraft reaches 10,000 feet cruising altitude.

Full service meals, snacks, and beverages are available on all United Airlines flights. Type of service depends on class and length of flight. Additional information may be accessed by clicking  here .

The United Boeing 777-200 is a long-range wide-body twin-engine jetliner with a cruise speed of 550mph and a wingspan of 199 feet and 11 inches.  This plane offers several inflight amenities such as music, video, power, internet and food.   The 777-200 is configured into four classes; United Polaris business, Premium Plus, Economy Plus and Economy.  

Featured user comments

Read user reviews for United Boeing 777-200 (772) Layout 5

See all featured user comments

Seat map key

• Be Aware - See comments
• Mixed Review
• Standard seat
• Blocked seat
• Premium seat
• Emergency exit

United flies 5 versions of Boeing 777-200.

Please choose the correct version from the list:

SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities.

• Adria Airways
• Aegean Airlines
• Aerolineas Argentinas
• Aerolineas MAS
• Afghan Jet International
• African Express Airways
• Afriqiyah Airways
• Air Algerie
• Air Antilles Express
• Air Arabia Egypt
• Air Arabia Jordan
• Air Arabia Maroc
• Air Austral
• Air Botswana
• Air Burkina
• Air Caledonie
• Air Caraibes
• Air Chathams
• Air Choice One
• Air Corsica
• Air Cote DIvoire
• Air Creebec
• Air Dolomiti
• Air Greenland
• Air Iceland
• Air India Express
• Air Labrador
• Air Madagascar
• Air Mandalay
• Air Mauritius
• Air Moldova
• Air Namibia
• Air New Zealand
• Air Niugini
• Air Nostrum
• Air Rarotonga
• Air Seychelles
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Air Transat
• Air Vanuatu
• Air Zimbabwe
• AirAsia Extra
• AirAsia India
• AirAsia Zest
• AirKenya Express
• Airlines of Tasmania
• Alaska Airlines
• Alaska Seaplane
• Allegiant Air
• Alliance Air
• AlMasria Universal Airlines
• American Airlines
• ANA - All Nippon Airways
• Andes Lineas Aereas
• Angara Airlines
• Angola Airlines
• Ariana Afghan Airlines
• Arkia Israeli Airlines
• Aruba Airlines
• Aserca Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• Atlantic Airways Faroe Islands
• Aurigny Air Services
• Aurora Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avia Traffic Company
• Avianca Brasil
• Avianca Ecuador
• Azal Azerbaijan Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Bearskin Lake Air Services
• Beijing Capital Airlines
• Belavia Belarusian Airlines
• Bhutan Airlines
• Binter Canarias
• Blue Panorama
• bmi Regional
• Boliviana de Aviacion
• British Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Bulgaria Air
• Caicos Express Airways
• Calm Air International
• Cambodia Angkor Air
• Cambodia Bayon Airlines
• Canadian North
• Caribbean Airlines
• Cathay Dragon (Dragonair)
• Cathay Pacific
• Cayman Airways
• Cebu Pacific
• Central Mountain Air
• Chengdu Airlines
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• China United Airlines
• Chongqing Airlines
• Citilink Indonesia
• Colorful GuiZhou Airlines
• Corendon Airlines
• Corsair International
• Croatia Airlines
• CSA Czech Airlines
• Daallo Airlines
• Dana Airlines
• Delta Airlines
• Divi Divi Air
• Donghai Airlines
• Dynamic Airways
• Eastern Airways
• Edelweiss Air
• El Al Israel Airlines
• Equaflight Service
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Etihad Regional
• Far Eastern Air
• Fiji Airways
• Fly Jamaica Airways
• Fuji Dream Airlines
• Fuzhou Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Georgian Airways
• Germanwings
• Gol Airlines
• Golden Myanmar Airlines
• Grand China Air
• Great Lakes Aviation
• Groznyy Avia
• Hainan Airlines
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Hebei Airlines
• Heli Air Monaco
• Helvetic Airways
• Hinterland Aviation
• Hokkaido Air System
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Hong Kong Express Airways
• IBEX Airlines
• Indonesia AirAsia
• InselAir Aruba
• Inter Iles Air
• InterCaribbean Airways
• Iran Aseman Airlines
• JAL Japan Airlines
• Japan Air Commuter
• Jazeera Airways
• Jet Airways
• JetBlue Airways
• Jetstar Japan
• Jetstar Pacific
• Jordan Aviation
• JSC Aircompany Yakutia
• JSC Nordavia
• Jubba Airways Limited
• Juneyao Airlines
• Kal Star Aviation
• Kenya Airways
• Kunming Airlines
• Kuwait Airways
• La Compagnie
• Lao Airlines
• LATAM Airlines Paraguay
• LATAM Argentina
• LATAM Brasil
• LATAM Chile
• LATAM Ecuador
• LIAT Airlines
• Libyan Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa CityLine
• Malaysia Airlines
• Malindo Air
• Malmo Aviation
• Mandarin Airlines
• Mann Yadanarpon Airlines
• Mauritanian Airlines International
• Maya Island Air
• Mega Maldives Airlines
• Meridiana fly
• Middle East Airlines
• Mokulele Airlines
• Monarch Airlines
• Montenegro Airlines
• Montserrat Airways
• Myanmar Airways International
• Nepal Airlines
• Nesma Airlines
• New Gen Airways
• Niger Airlines
• NokScoot Airlines
• Nord Wind Airlines
• NordStar Airlines
• Norra Nordic Regional Airlines
• North-Wright Airways
• Northwestern Air
• Norwegian Air Shuttle
• NOVA Airways
• Olympic Air
• Orient Thai Airlines
• Our Airline
• Pacific Coastal Airlines
• Pegasus Airlines
• Pegasus Asia
• Peoples Viennaline
• Perimeter Aviation
• Peruvian Air Line
• PGA-Portugalia Airlines
• Philippine Airlines
• PIA Pakistan International Airlines
• Polar Airlines
• Porter Airlines
• Precision Air
• Proflight Zambia
• Provincial Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Qingdao Airlines
• Ravn Alaska
• Regent Airways
• Regional Express
• Rossiya Airlines
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Brunei Airlines
• Royal Jordanian
• Ruili Airlines
• S7 Airlines
• Safi Airways
• Santa Barbara Airlines
• SAS Scandanavian Airlines
• SATA Air Acores
• SATA Internacional
• Saudia Airlines
• Shaheen Air International
• Shandong Airlines
• Shanghai Airlines
• Sharp Airlines
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Sichuan Airlines
• Silver Airways
• Singapore Airlines
• Sky Airline
• Sky Express
• Skymark Airlines
• Skywork Airlines
• Smart Wings
• Solaseed Air
• Solomon Airlines
• South African Airways
• South African Express Airways
• Southern Airways
• Spirit Airways
• Spring Airlines
• Spring Airlines Japan
• Sri Lankan Airlines
• Sriwijaya Air
• STP Airways
• Sudan Airways
• Sun Country
• SunExpress Deutschland
• Sunrise Airways
• Surinam Airways
• Swiss International Airlines
• Syrian Arab Air
• TACV Cabo Verde Airlines
• TAME Linea Aerea del Ecuador
• TAP Portugal
• TAR Aerolineas
• Tassili Airlines
• Thai AirAsia
• Thai Airasia X
• Thai Airways
• Thai Lion Mentari
• Thomas Cook Airlines
• Thomson Airways
• Thunder Airlines
• Tianjin Airlines
• Tibet Airlines
• Tigerair Australia
• TNT Airways
• Transavia France
• Travel Service
• Travel Service Polska
• Tri-MG Intra Asia Airlines
• Trigana Air
• Tunisair Express
• Turkish Airlines
• Turkmenistan
• Ukraine International Airlines
• Uni Airways
• United Airlines
• Ural Airlines
• Urumqi Airlines
• Uzbekistan Airways
• Vanilla Air
• Vietnam Airlines
• VIM Airlines
• Virgin America
• Virgin Atlantic
• Virgin Australia
• VivaAerobus
• VivaColombia
• Warbelows Air Ventures
• White Airways
• Wings Abadi Airlines
• Xiamen Airlines
• Yamal Airlines
• Yangtze River Express
• Find a seat airline origin destination Use a flight number? flight number No flight number? date Search
• Aircraft codes
• Airline Alliances
• Airport codes
• Frequent flyer glossary
• Loyalty programs
• Points bloggers

United Airlines Seat Maps, Seating Charts, and Seat Reviews

United airlines seat maps, airbus a319 (v1), airbus a319 (v2), airbus a320, airbus a321, boeing 737 max 9, boeing 737-700, boeing 737-700 (v2), boeing 737-800 (v1), boeing 737-800 (v2), boeing 737-800 (v3), boeing 737-800 (v4), boeing 737-900 (v1), boeing 737-900 (v2), boeing 737-900 (v3), boeing 747-400, boeing 757-200 (v1), boeing 757-200 (v2), boeing 757-300, boeing 767-300 (new polaris), boeing 767-300 (three class), boeing 767-300 (two class), boeing 767-400, boeing 777 (three class v2), boeing 777 (v2), boeing 777 (v3), boeing 777 (v4), boeing 777-300er, boeing 787-8, boeing 787-9, bombardier q200, bombardier q300, canadair regional jet (cr2), canadair regional jet 700, canadair regional jet 700 (cr7), canadair regional jet 900, embraer 170, embraer 175, embraer rj135, embraer rj145, embraer rj145 (erj), united airlines links.

•     Miles Credit Cards
•     www.united.com
•     Pet policy  
•     Food & beverage  
•     In-flight entertainment  
•     Baggage fees & policies  
•     Airport lounges  
•     Frequent flyer program  
•     Star Alliance member
• IATA:    UA      ICAO:    UAL

Flyer Reviews of United Airlines

Read 1 comment on this review   

Sign in to your Seatlink account

Forgot your password? We can fix that!

Enter your email address below and we'll send a password reset link:

Search for a new flight

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market.  See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our  credit card rating methodology .

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

Erin Miller

Content Contributor

188 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 26 U.S. States Visited: 28

Stella Shon

News Managing Editor

94 Published Articles 669 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 25 U.S. States Visited: 22

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

35 Published Articles 3230 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 47 U.S. States Visited: 28

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.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

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 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 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
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 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 and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 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 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
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• 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
• 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 .

Frequently Asked Questions

What alliance is united apart of.

United is apart of Star Alliance partnership.

What is the United carry-on baggage allowance?

Was this page helpful?

About Erin Miller

An experienced points hacker, Erin is Alex’s partner-in-crime and contributes to Upgraded Points with in-depth guides and relationship management. Erin’s work has been cited in multiple major publications.

INSIDERS ONLY: UP PULSE ™

Get the  latest travel tips, crucial news, flight & hotel deal alerts...

Plus — expert strategies to maximize your points & miles by joining our (free) newsletter.

We respect your privacy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA. Google's  privacy policy   and  terms of service   apply.

Related Posts

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.

• Credit cards
• View all credit cards
• Banking guide
• Loans guide
• Insurance guide
• Personal finance
• View all personal finance
• Small business
• Small business guide
• View all taxes

You’re our first priority. Every time.

We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are objective, independent, straightforward — and free.

So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products or services. Here is a list of our partners .

How to Navigate Costly Airline Seat Selection Fees

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Airlines always seem to have one more trick up their sleeves for adding fees to the cost of airfare. Anyone who has flown in the past few years knows that some airlines now charge for basics, like carry-on bags and a printed boarding ticket. Yet one sneaky charge is often ignored by even savvy travelers: seat selection fees.

On the surface, there’s nothing complicated about these fees. Some airlines will let you select a specific seat for a markup on the base cost of your ticket. However, the way the fees are presented is often misleading, making it seem like you must select a seat and pay the accompanying fee.

A seat selection chart from Frontier Airlines.

This approach, in which companies add fees throughout the checkout process, is called “drip pricing” by experts. And research indicates that it's an effective sales tactic, both for confusing customers and driving up overall prices.

But here’s the thing: You almost never have to pay these fees. Here’s how to avoid — or at least minimize — these pesky fees.

Ways to avoid seat selection fees

Skip seat selection altogether.

Though it might sound scary, there's one weird trick airlines don’t want you to know: You don’t have to select a seat. On most airlines, you'll get assigned a seat at check-in or at the gate if you don’t already have one.

Some airlines make it seem like you must (or at least should) select a seat during checkout. Frontier Airlines even has a graphic interstitial page telling you why selecting a seat is such a great option.

Don’t fall for it. You can always skip seat selection and save the money, but do keep a few things in mind:

Skipping seat selection doesn’t mean you won’t get a seat on the flight.

You might get stuck in the middle seat if you don’t pay for one.

Even if seat selection is free, you might want to skip it if only lousy seats are available (see the "upgrade hack” below).

Pick an airline with lower seat fees

Part of what’s so confusing about these fees is how inconsistently the industry is applying them. Unlike change and cancellation fees, which most U.S. airlines recently abolished, many airlines seem to be increasing the upcharge on selecting seats.

But some are charging much more than others.

According to an analysis of airline fees by NerdWallet, Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines charge the least for seat selection, while Frontier and Spirit Airlines charge the most.

Airlines with modest seat fees (less than $10 each leg):

Airlines with high seat fees ($15-plus each leg):

Southwest Airlines doesn’t technically charge for nor allow seat selection in the same way as other airlines, so it's excluded from this data. But you won’t get charged a seat selection fee on Southwest during checkout, so it’s also a good option.

Roll the dice with an upgrade hack

As a regular, non-frequent flyer, it’s hard to get your seat upgraded these days. Yet skipping seat selection sometimes offers the opportunity to get bumped into premium seating.

Here’s how it works. Airlines now offer a “premium economy” fare or similar. Sometimes, all of the good seats — including the exit rows — are considered premium. The airlines try to charge extra for these seats, but if nobody takes them and the flight is full, they have to assign them to somebody.

Specifically, airlines will assign these empty, better seats to those passengers who haven't selected a seat. So if you put yourself in this pool, you have a chance of scoring an even better seat than those who paid extra for advance seat selection.

Of course, there’s a potential downside: You could very well get stuck in a middle seat in the back of the plane rather than getting upgraded. But if you notice that your flight is full and not many passengers have upgraded to the good main cabin seats, skipping seat selection altogether can be an expert-level travel move.

» Learn more: How families can get seats together on a plane

Don’t pay for advance seat selection

Airlines are playing the same game. They want to show the lowest fares possible on search results, then upsell you during checkout. This drip-pricing tactic is a pain for passengers . Charging for seat selection is one way airlines try to make a buck at the last minute.

Know your options and avoid their trickery. Skip seat selection altogether or fly an airline with limited seat fees, like Alaska, Hawaiian or JetBlue. Each charges little or nothing for choosing a seat. Worst case, you’ll end up in the middle seat. Best case, you’ll get a seat with extra legroom.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2023 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee:   Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards:  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card  

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

75,000 Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's over $900 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Up to $300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X 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.

75,000 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.

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.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free new biweekly Aviation newsletter!

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!

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

How engineering lets economy airplane seats offer more legroom in a small space

HAMBURG, Germany - Many airline passengers associate seat pitch , or the distance between a point on a seat and the same point on the seat ahead, with legroom, and 30 inches of pitch is fairly standard on many U.S. domestic flights.

As I was getting ready to come to the Aircraft Cabin Interiors Expo , I expected to see that most of the innovations would probably be in luxury seating. 

While it is true that differences in economy layouts are pretty minor, little engineering tweaks can go a long way to making things more comfortable in the cheap seats.

At the Collins Aerospace display, I saw how small design choices can have a big impact on space.

Analysis: Premium economy is airlines' answer to shifting passenger expectations

Cruising Altitude: Why extra time, travel insurance are good ideas for your summer trips

“It’s all about getting living space into the seat. You want to get hard spots in the seat as high and as far forward as you can,” Alastair Hamilton, vice president for sales and marketing of interiors and aircraft seating at Collins Aerospace told me.

More ergonomic design allows seats to use more or less the standard economy footprint while giving passengers more knee and elbow room.

“You start with the width, obviously. The width of the fuselage of the aircraft, it is what it is. And you need an aisle, it is what it is. So you get as close to the sidewall as possible,” Hamilton said, but added that there was more possibility for legroom than shoulder room in the main cabin.

Speaking while sitting in the Collins Meridian seat, I was surprised that at even 29 inches of pitch, my knees had plenty of space (although I am pretty short at 5’7”). More noticeable than knee space however, the back of the seat ahead of me felt a little close to my face at that distance. 

Meridian seats are common on American Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, so many passengers will be familiar with how they feel. 

Hamilton also pointed out that travelers get a comfort boost because the seat cushion rests on a fabric diaphragm similar to wheelchair seats, rather than a hard shelf, which means the whole thing has a little more give.

Collins’ Meridian Plus seat was also on display in a 31-inch pitch configuration, but felt even roomier.

That model features a sliding cushion as part of the recline mechanism, which is more ergonomic and helps reduce how much the reclined seat back encroaches on a passenger’s neighbor to the rear.

“You get a bit more support, you’re less likely to slide off the foot of the thing,” Hamilton said, but quickly acknowledged that the extra comfort that comes from the Meridian Plus design isn’t likely to be available on short-haul flights because of airline economics.

“It costs a little more and weighs a little more,” he said, and passengers are less likely to recline in general on shorter flights.

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at [email protected]