How to beat United Airlines fees (2026)

Updated: 2026-02-15

Verdict: United’s fee machine is predictable: it punishes airport bag payments, sells seat anxiety, and uses Basic Economy restrictions to force paid add-ons. If you control bags + seats + fare rules, you can avoid most of the damage.

Traps & hack Bags Basic Economy Seats Changes Pets Fee-stack math

1) Bags: stop paying the “airport penalty”

United’s domestic checked bags are classic behavior pricing. If you pay at the airport, you pay more. That extra $5 isn’t “processing.” It’s a penalty for waiting.

First checked bag (domestic): 35 USD (source)
Second checked bag (domestic): 45 USD (source)

Pro-Tip: prepay bags online as soon as you’re committed to the trip. If you’re going to check, there’s no upside to paying airport prices.

Loophole: the easiest way to eliminate bag fees isn’t “packing better,” it’s traveling with a true under-seat personal item (and not getting forced into a check at the gate). A small digital luggage scale prevents the other classic donation: overweight surprises.

2) Basic Economy: the “cheap fare” that isn’t

United Basic Economy is where most fee stacks begin. The trap is simple: restrictions push you into paid add-ons (bags + seats) that erase the savings.

Pro-Tip: If there’s any meaningful chance you’ll change plans, avoid Basic. United’s non-Basic economy often has no change fee (fare difference still applies), while Basic gets locked after the 24-hour window.

United change policy source

Loophole: the only “consistent” workaround is qualifying benefits (status or a United co-brand card) that restores core value (bags/boarding). If you fly United more than once or twice per year with bags, that’s often the cheapest long-run solution.

3) Seats: don’t pay for “fake upgrades”

United sells “seat peace of mind.” That’s why you’ll see Basic seat selection starting around 15 USD and “Preferred” seats priced as if they’re upgrades (often they’re just closer to the front).

United optional service charges source

Pro-Tip: If you’re going to buy a seat, check again at T-24 when online check-in opens. Unsold inventory sometimes softens, and booking-time seat pricing is frequently the worst moment.

Economy Plus reality: United publishes Economy Plus as a wide range (e.g. Economy Plus seating (per flight, per person); published range $29–$299). On short flights it’s commonly a rip-off; on long-haul it can be worth it if it’s below a rational threshold.

Loophole: If you’re chasing extra legroom repeatedly, status benefits can convert “paid Economy Plus” into “available at check-in.” That’s where the real long-run savings are.

4) Changes: the hidden value of non-Basic tickets

United’s headline is “no change fee,” but the real cost is the fare difference. Still, non-Basic tickets keep you in the game; Basic often doesn’t.

Non-Basic: No change fee; fare difference applies
Basic Economy: Changes and cancellations not permitted after 24 hours

Pro-Tip: If your schedule is even slightly uncertain, treat the non-Basic fare premium as insurance. It’s often cheaper than getting locked and rebuying.

5) Pets: United is basically cabin-only now

United’s pet policy is blunt: for most travelers, pets must be a cat or dog flying in the cabin (space-limited). Cargo pet flying is restricted to certain active-duty military or State Department employees. The in-cabin pet ticket is $150 each way — a $300 roundtrip reality.

United traveling with pets source

Aircraft gotcha: some aircraft types only allow one pet per person due to limited under-seat space (United lists these types):

A319
A320
A321neo
737-800
737-8 (MAX 8)
737-900
737-9 (MAX 9)

Pro-Tip: treat pet space like scarce inventory. Seats can be available while pet allotments are gone. Book earlier and aim for lower-demand departures (midweek, early morning).

Loophole: if you’re bringing two pets, United says you must buy two adjacent seats. On routes where United’s aircraft type has a one-pet limit, your “two pets + one traveler” plan can be dead on arrival—verify aircraft type before committing.

Fee-stack math (why “cheap fares” aren’t)

A common United stack looks like this:

$199 Basic fare
+ $35 checked bag each way = $70
+ $24 seat selection each way = $48
Total: $317 (you just paid ~59% more)

Pro-Tip: always compare Basic vs regular Economy using fee-stack math. If the “savings” are smaller than just one bag or one seat fee, Basic is usually not a deal.