--- title: "United Airlines Review & Rating | FlightLogic" description: "United Airlines review: FlightLogic editorial rating 7.7/10, safety score 9.1/10. United Airlines is a Star Alliance founding member with Polaris business…" url: https://flightlogic.co.uk/airlines/united-airlines/ source: FlightLogic (flightlogic.co.uk) licence: "Content © Elite Digital AI Solutions Ltd. Cite the URL above and the page author." --- *Links marked * may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. We do not provide financial advice. How we make money .* Airline review · UA # United Airlines Good leads the way Photo: JacobAviation / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 United Airlines is a Star Alliance founding member with Polaris business class on long-haul, an extensive global network from Chicago, Newark, and San Francisco, and MileagePlus as a core loyalty programme for UK–US routings. Last updated 30 June 2026 Very Good · FlightLogic editorial rating ## Should I choose United Airlines for my next long-haul work trip? United Airlines scores 7.7/10 (safety 9.1/10), ranking #24 globally — Wi-Fi is paid or route-dependent. Baggage: Intl often 1×23 kg; domestic fees apply. Economy seat pitch: 30–31"; loyalty programme: MileagePlus. Full passenger policy tables, category scores, and the fares search follow below. **FlightLogic score** 7.7/10 **Safety** 9.1/10 **Global rank** #24 **Wi-Fi policy** Partial / paid tiers ## Who should think twice about United Airlines Scores mean naming who a carrier is NOT for. From our rated findings: - Basic Economy restrictions - Polaris product varies by aircraft age ## Pre-Trip Planning ## Passenger policies at a glance Baggage, Wi-Fi, legroom, and lounge access for United Airlines — expand for the full matrix. ### View full policy matrix Baggage · Wi-Fi · lounges · changes | Cabin baggage | Included — standard carry-on allowance applies | | --- | --- | | Checked baggage | Intl often 1×23 kg; domestic fees apply | | In-flight Wi-Fi | Partial — free messaging or select routes/cabins only | | Economy seat pitch | 30–31" | | Lounge access | United Club / Polaris | | Changes & refunds | No change fees most fares; Basic Economy restricted | | Loyalty programme | MileagePlus | ## Awards & Recognition - Star Alliance founding member - Polaris business class ## Airline Details **IATA Code** UA **ICAO Code** UAL **Hub** Chicago O'Hare (ORD) / Newark (EWR) / San Francisco (SFO) **Alliance** star alliance **Founded** 1926 **Fleet Size** 900 aircraft ## Strengths - Polaris lounges and lie-flat business - Extensive Star Alliance network - Strong SFO and ORD hubs ## Weaknesses - Basic Economy restrictions - Polaris product varies by aircraft age ## Day-of Travel Support ### Compare United Airlines fares from the UK Search live prices on United Airlines (UA) routes departing from British airports. FlightLogic reviews airlines globally; booking links target UK-facing search partners. **Editor's note:** FlightLogic.co.uk links to UK-facing booking and card partners. Prices are typically shown in GBP for departures from British airports. Links marked * may earn us commission at no extra cost to you. [Affiliate policy](https://flightlogic.co.uk/how-we-make-money/#affiliate-links) ## United Airlines travel facts Verified baggage allowances, punctuality, fleet, safety and loyalty facts for United Airlines. ### Baggage & fees | Cabin bag | 22 × 14 × 9 in + personal item; no weight limit · No published weight limit | | --- | --- | | Checked bag (economy) | Domestic first bag from ~$45; transatlantic Basic first bag ~$75, standard economy 1 × 23 kg included | | Checked bag (business) | Polaris 2 × 32 kg | | Seat selection | Basic assigned at check-in; free standard seats in Economy | | Change fee | No change fee on most fares; Basic Economy restricted | [Full baggage & fees comparison](https://flightlogic.co.uk/airlines/baggage-fees/) · [Check your carry-on bag](https://flightlogic.co.uk/tools/carry-on-checker/) ### Punctuality 78.77% on time — Full year 2025 (arrivals within 15 min) Cirium 2025 On-Time Performance Review (Jan 2026) — North America #4 Punctuality is 20% of the FlightLogic score — [see our methodology](https://flightlogic.co.uk/methodology/). ### Fleet & cabins **Fleet size** 982 aircraft **Average age** 15 years **Main types** B737-800/900, B737 MAX 8/9, A320 family, B777-200/300ER, B787-8/9/10 **Economy pitch** 30–32 in **Business seat** Polaris — fully flat 1-2-1 **Wi-Fi** Free via Starlink for MileagePlus members (rolling out); paid otherwise ### Safety **Registry status** IOSA-registered IOSA-registered; FAA oversight **FlightLogic editorial safety score: 9.1/10** — our own assessment, separate from IOSA registry status. ### Loyalty **Programme** MileagePlus **Currency** Miles Premier tiers: Silver, Gold, Platinum, 1K ### Rating history - Q3 2026 7.7/10 Current quarter Quarterly tracking began Q3 2026 — earlier scores were not archived. Travel facts last verified July 2026 · Sources: united.com baggage policy (via search, Jul 2026) · Cirium 2025 On-Time Performance Review (Jan 2026) · ch-aviation fleet data via Simple Flying (Jan 2026) — mainline only ## About United Airlines United Airlines is a Star Alliance founding member with Polaris business class on long-haul, an extensive global network from Chicago, Newark, and San Francisco, and MileagePlus as a core loyalty programme for UK–US routings. Key strengths: Polaris lounges and lie-flat business. Extensive Star Alliance network. Strong SFO and ORD hubs. Areas for improvement: Basic Economy restrictions. Polaris product varies by aircraft age. ## Editorial United Airlines Reviews ## Verified reader reviews Coming soon We are building verified reader reviews for United Airlines. Readers will be able to submit a review with proof of travel — a boarding pass or booking confirmation — emailed to [hello@flightlogic.co.uk](mailto:hello@flightlogic.co.uk?subject=Reader%20review%20%E2%80%94%20United%20Airlines). Reader scores are published separately from FlightLogic editorial ratings and never change the editorial score. ## United Airlines — Frequently Asked Questions ### Is United Airlines a good airline? United Airlines scores 7.7/10 overall on FlightLogic (4-Star) — an editorial expert rating, not an aggregate of consumer reviews. Strengths include Polaris lounges and lie-flat business; Extensive Star Alliance network. ### What is United Airlines's safety score? United Airlines scores 9.1/10 on FlightLogic's safety index — calculated separately from passenger experience using IOSA certification, accident history, fleet age, and regulatory compliance. ### What alliance is United Airlines in? United Airlines is a member of star alliance. ### Where is United Airlines's hub? United Airlines's primary hub is Chicago O'Hare (ORD) / Newark (EWR) / San Francisco (SFO). The airline was founded in 1926 and operates approximately 900 aircraft. ## Similar Airlines