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Frequently asked questions about our seating options

For all fare classes except Basic Economy, you’ll be able to pick your seat or change your seat assignment. If you have a Basic Economy ticket, you’re able to purchase a seat assignment during booking and up until check-in opens. Learn more about Basic Economy restrictions.

You can choose a seat or change your seat assignment for most United- and United Express®-operated flights on united.com , on the United app or through your travel agent. If no seat assignments are available, you can check back closer to departure to see whether seats have become available. Learn more about seating options .

Seat assignments, no matter the fare class you purchase, aren’t guaranteed and could change without notice because of schedule changes, equipment swaps or other unforeseen circumstances.

We’ll always try to assign you the same or similar seat type and location and keep you with your traveling companions when you’re booked in the same reservation, unless you’ve purchased a Basic Economy ticket without purchasing advance seat assignments. We know that your seat assignment is important, so we’ll do our best to keep your original seat preference.

We may briefly hold some seats for operational reasons, and don’t allow seat selection or changes for Basic Economy tickets. If you’re unable to choose a seat, we’ll assign you one at check-in or at the departure gate.

All customers with Basic Economy tickets, including United MileagePlus® Premier® members, are eligible to purchase Economy Plus seating at check-in only.

United Check-in

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How can I check in for my United Airlines (UA) flight?

You may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight with the following options:

• Online check-in (Web check-in)
• Mobile check-in
• Voice check-in
• Auto check-in
• Curbside check-in at the airport
• Self-service kiosk check-in at the airport
• Ticket counter check-in at the airport

Does United Airlines (UA) have online web check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight online starting 24 hours and ending 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) to receive a mobile boarding pass on your mobile device or a printable boarding pass. You may use this option if:

• you have an electronic ticket and the first flight is on United Airlines (UA)
• you may access your reservation with your confirmation code, e-ticket number, or frequent flyer account
• you are not a special needs passenger (for example an unaccompanied minor or traveling with a pet)

Can I check bags with the United Airlines (UA) online web check-in?: Yes, you may check bags but you must drop them at the airport baggage drop before the check-in deadline for your flight.

Can I pay bag fees with the United Airlines (UA) online web check-in?: Yes

Can I select or change my seat with the United Airlines (UA) online web check-in?: Yes

Does United Airlines (UA) offer mobile check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight with your mobile device starting 24 hours and ending 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) to receive a mo-bile boarding pass on your mobile device. You may use this option if:

• you are not a special needs passenger (for example, an unaccompanied minor)
• you are departing from an airport which accepts mobile boarding passes (if not, then you may check-in and print a boarding pass at the self-service kiosk or ticket counter)

Does United Airlines (UA) offer curbside check-in? (US Carriers only)

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight curbside at most U S airport locations from 30 minutes to 4 hours before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination). You will need your photo ID and also your flight reservation code, flight number destination, or electronic ticket number to check-in. Please check United Airlines (UA) website for an exact list of participating airports and minimum check-in times.

Does United Airlines (UA) offer self-service kiosk check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight at the airport self-service kiosk from 30 minutes to 3 hours before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) and receive a printed boarding pass.

Can I check bags with the United Airlines (UA) self-service kiosk check-in?: Yes

Can I pay bag fees with the United Airlines (UA) self-service kiosk check-in?: Yes

Can I select or change my seat with the United Airlines (UA) self-service kiosk check-in?: Yes

Does United Airlines (UA) offer ticket counter check-in?

Yes, you may check-in for your United Airlines (UA) flight at the airport ticket counter from 30 minutes to 3 hours before the scheduled departure time (depending on your departure city and destination) and receive a printed boarding pass.

Can I check bags at the United Airlines (UA) ticket counter check-in?: Yes

Can I pay bag fees at the United Airlines (UA) ticket counter check-in?: Yes

Can I select or change my seat at the United Airlines (UA) ticket counter check-in?: Yes

What is United Airlines (UA) Voice Check-in?

Voice Check-in allows quick and easy check in for your United flight over the phone if you do not have access to the Internet or a mobile device. Customers traveling within the U.S. or Canada with less than 10 people in their party are eligible for voice check-in.

With Voice Check-in, you may tell the number of bags you want to check, hear your baggage service charges and arrange either for your boarding documents to be delivered by email or to pick them up at an airport kiosk.

To use this option you will need to call 1-800-864-8331 and say "check in" during the automated menu.

What is Auto Check-in?

When you check in for the first segment of your flight, if your itinerary is eligible, then you will be given the option to select Auto Check-in for the remaining segment or a return flight. When your remaining segment or return flight departure is within the 24-hour window, Auto Check-in will take the necessary steps to check you in for the flight. When you select this feature, you'll choose how you prefer to receive your boarding pass, such as by email or mobile device (where applicable), or print at an airport kiosk.

Does United Airlines (UA) charge a fee for a seat assignment?

United Airlines (UA) does not charge a fee for selecting a standard seat assignment.

When do I need to check-in for my United Airlines (UA) flight?

The minimum time to check-in for a United Airlines (UA) flight is:

• 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights
• 60 minutes before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US

When do I need to arrive at the airport for my United Airlines (UA) flight?

Suggested arrival time:

• 1 hour before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights
• 2 hours before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US*

Minimum required check-in time with carry-on baggage baggage:

• 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights*
• 60 minutes before scheduled departure time for international flights to/from the US*

Minimum required check-in time with checked baggage:

• 45 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights*

*Several heavy travel U S domestic cities have minimum check-in time of 45 minutes and some non-U S cities have minimum check-in times of 75 to 90 minutes. Check united.com for exact details.

When do I need to be at the boarding gate?

Boarding closes at the following times for United Airlines (UA) flights:

• 15 minutes before scheduled departure time for US domestic flights
• 30 minutes before scheduled departure time for most international flights to/from the US. Some non-US airports close boarding 60 minutes before scheduled departure time. Check united.com for exact details.

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

United Economy Vs Basic Economy: What You Need To Know

E ver since EVA Air offered its upgraded Evergreen class of premium economy seats in 1991, other airlines have jumped on the wagon, hoping that passengers will pay extra for a slightly better experience. The experience can vary greatly depending on the airline, with some offering an increased baggage allowance, better in-flight meals, and improved entertainment. One thing they all have in common is increased legroom and a more expensive purchase price.

Chicago-headquartered United Airlines has taken the concept a bit further, offering three classes of economy tickets, which are:

• Basic economy
• Economy plus

With this in mind, we will compare United Airlines' basic economy and see how it compares to the carrier's regular economy offering. United Airlines economy class is comparable to other American carriers like Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Still, its basic economy only offers some of the perks of a regular economy class ticket.

Basic Economy Class

What you get with a United Airlines basic economy ticket :

• Checked luggage and carry-ons: If you are flying within the lower 48 states, you can bring one personal item like a shoulder or laptop bag aboard, so long as it can be stowed on the floor of the seat in front of you. No full-size carry-on bags are permitted. If you have another bag, you must pay $35 and have it checked in. Checked luggage on international flights costs $60, but you can bring a carry-on.
• Seat assignment: United Airlines will assign you a seat. However, some flights allow you to select your seat for a fee starting from $10.
• Boarding: As a basic economy passenger, you will be in the last group to board the aircraft.
• Cancelations and refunds: United Airlines basic economy tickets cannot be changed, but you can get a refund if you cancel your flight at least 24 hours after booking for a full refund. If you cancel your flight later than 24 hours before departure, you will pay $99 for a domestic flight and $199 for an international flight. You will also not be reimbursed in cash but will receive a voucher that you can use for a future flight.
• Miles and upgrades: With a basic economy fare, you will not receive a complimentary upgrade to economy plus. You will earn half the air miles you would typically be entitled to with a regular economy ticket.

Basic Economy Tickets Revenue Increased 20% At United Airlines In Q4 2023

Economy class.

What you get with a United Airlines economy class ticket:

• Checked luggage and carry-ons: United Airlines economy seating has the same fees as basic economy, but it does allow you one piece of carry-on luggage.
• Seat assignment: With regular economy, you can select where you want to sit, which is a big plus when traveling with friends or family.
• Boarding: Just like with basic economy, standard economy is one of the last groups to board, but you do get called for boarding ahead of people with basic economy tickets.
• Cancelations and refunds: United Airlines, like other mainstream American carriers, has gotten rid of ticket change fees > If you cancel your booking within 24 hours of making it, you will be entitled to a full refund. You can still cancel later, but your refund will be in the form of a voucher for a future flight.
• Miles and upgrades: If you are a member of the United Airlines MileagePlus program, you may be offered a free upgrade to economy plus

Is it worth paying the extra money rather than flying basic economy?

Looking at flying with United Airlines round trip from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), a basic economy ticket at this time of year is available for $116. The same flight when flying regular economy is $186, which is $70 more expensive than the basic fare.

Seeing how it is only a two-hour ten-minute flight and the fact both seats are the same width and legroom, it makes sense to fly basic economy. Having said that, if you dread getting assigned a middle seat, need a carry-on, and want to sit with family and friends, it makes sense to pay the extra $70.

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How to Navigate Costly Airline Seat Selection Fees

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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.

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United Airlines adds extra step to get refund for seat fees

Airlines around the world are bleeding cash in light of the near-zero demand for air travel .

So the cash-strapped carriers are attempting to save as much money as possible. One way they've gone about this is by circumventing the refund rules outlined by the Department of Transportation .

Though you're eligible for a refund when an airline cancels your flight , carriers have tried to wiggle their way out of giving your money back. Many will proactively give you a voucher when they cancel your flight to discourage you from requesting a refund.

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Of the U.S. carriers, United is the worst offender here. It has made multiple updates to its schedule-change policy at the outset of the coronavirus pandemic before landing on its current version: If your flight is canceled, you can only get a refund if the re-accommodated flight departs or arrives more than six hours before or after your original flight.

And now, the Chicago-based carrier is back with a change to the process for claiming a refund for seat fees. Previously, if United couldn't accommodate a Premium Plus , Economy Plus or Preferred seating purchase, you'd be automatically refunded for that ancillary purchase. This made it easy for passengers to be reassured that they'd be getting all the money back that they deserve.

Well, United has made a change to that policy. Though you're still entitled to a refund for the seat fee, you now need to manually request your money back.

As noted in the carrier's updated Contract of Carriage , "the Passenger is eligible for a refund of this fee upon request" (emphasis mine). A United spokesperson confirmed to TPG that these changes are effective immediately.

To request your seat fee refund, you'll need to fill out United's refund form . You'll end up getting your money back within seven business days of when UA approves the claim (which anecdotally has been taking weeks).

Related: United updates its schedule policy, again, amid coronavirus pandemic

Though this is certainly annoying, at least the carrier isn't changing the refund policy like it did with schedule changes . As a reminder, you'll need to request your seat fee refund within 90 days of the date the seats were purchased or flight date, whichever is later.

All photos by the author.

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Advance Seat Assignments (International Flights)

Applicable flights.

Flights operated by ANA Group (International flight, Domestic flight within Japan)

Flights operated by other airlines*

Some flights are excluded. There may be cases in which customers are able to request a seat preference (aisle, window) even if they cannot request a specific seat.

Not applicable

Flights which are not operated by ANA and have the following conditions:

The operating airline's policy does not allow advance seat reservation.

Advance seat reservation requires an additional fee.*

Flight reservations which include infants who occupy their own seats.

Some flights which have been reserved via travel agents.

Other cases in which advance seat reservation is not available due to reservation conditions. (Please also confirm the Notes.)

If the reservation is made for a flight which is not operated by ANA , please direct inquiries regarding advance seat reservation availability and additional fees to the relevant operating airline.

If the reservation for a codeshare flight is made under an ANA flight number , advance seat reservation is not possible. However, advance seat reservation is available for some Lufthansa-operated flights reserved under an ANA flight number.

Information Regarding the Seatmap Screen Display

Please note that the seat map shown in the main area of the Seat information and the corresponding actual arrangement may be different.

For Passengers Flying on ANA Operated Flights

Please check details regarding seating and the layout of the aircraft via "Layout."

You can check the specifications of your seat via "Seat Type."

The actual seat arrangement may differ to this map. Please refer to "Layout."

Seatmap Screen Display Operation Guide

Please select your preferred seat using the seat map shown in the main area of the Seat information.

To confirm your selection, press the "Register and finish" button.

When selecting seats for two passengers or more, select the relevant passenger from the passenger names displayed.

When selecting seats for multiple sectors, press the "Register and continue" button to proceed to the seat selection for the next sector.

Paid Advance Seat Reservation

Pay a reservation fee and make an advance reservation for aisle or window seats, a seat conveniently located toward the front of the aircraft for smooth boarding and disembarkation, or one of our popular seats with extra legroom.

Applies to Economy Class passengers in certain booking classes.

Seat assignments are available until 48 hours prior to departure on ANA Website. Online Check-in is available 24 hours prior until 75 minutes prior to the time of your international flight departure on ANA Website.

The seats that can be assigned in advance are limited.

The number of seats which can be reserved in advance is restricted in order to ensure seating is available for passengers with special needs. If you are unable to reserve seats in advance, please make your seat reservations at the airport on the day of departure.

Seats available for advance seat reservation may differ by ANA Premium member status or booking class. Please check ASW for the latest seat map as available seats may differ by availability.

Please note that your assigned seat may change due to change in aircraft or other reasons.

Passengers traveling with an infant may not be seated in the same section as another passenger traveling with an infant due to limitations of oxygen masks. If there is more than one passenger traveling with an infant, please assign seats in a different row or a section across from the aisle.

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• seat assignment q...

seat assignment question: United operated by Lufthansa

I'm researching multi-city flights from seattle-venice, rome-seattle for Spring 2020. Premium economy is not available for the dates I'm looking at on Lufthansa. However, on the United site I can find flights operated by Lufthansa and am given the opportunity to select premium economy. However, the United site won't allow me to select seats. It tells me "Advance seat assignments are not available on united.com for this flight. After completing your purchase, you can visit the operating airline’s website for additional information." That makes me feel less-than-confident that we would actually land in premium economy and might, instead, end up in regular economy. Please share your experience with this type of booking! Thanks!

I think your seat-class fear is unfounded, but I don’t have that specific experience. I do know from actual experience that within two days of purchase (and maybe even in your final Ticket Receipt, without effort) you will be able to get Lufthansa’s Confirmation Code and work with your booking.

When the Lufthansa site warned me that I was about to be transferred to the United site to accomplish seating for a United-sold, Lufthansa-operated flight (2019), I closed that browser window and went with the United site and the United confirmation code. It worked fine.

Thanks, Tim. My mind is saying, "If Lufthansa says there are no premium economy seats for those flights how can United sell me premium economy seats?"

This is pretty much standard. When you book a flight on Airline A for a seat on a flight that's actually operated by their partner Airline B, it's usually not possible to select seats on the Airline B flight from Airline A's website. That is, United can typically see and allows seat selection only on their own (and maybe a few other partner carriers') flights; flying on other airlines' planes you need to access the operating airline's booking engine to choose seats. That's because despite all marketing spin, different airlines' systems are not very well integrated.

In your case, United will be happy to book you a ticket that includes a seat on a Lufthansa plane. United will give you their own (United) confirmation number, but that's probably useless when dealing with Lufthansa's website or other Lufthansa systems. You need to get the Lufthansa confirmation number for your flight. You can typically get that by logging in to your United account and drilling down into the details of your booking. Or you can just call United and ask them for it (you will need to give United your United booking number).

You need that number to make changes to your flight, check in online, pick seats, maybe choose a meal, buy an extra bag, etc. That booking number is quite important, always have it handy. This is especially true when booking award seats with frequent flyer points.

Typically to do any of these things, you go to the operating airline's website, log in there with your booking number and your last name (surname), under things that are usually labeled "manage my flight." Most airlines work this way. Good luck.

Thanks, David. So, what happens if United sells me a premium economy seat and Lufthansa doesn't have any of those seats left? Should I assume, if the Lufthansa site says they're sold out, that we're going to be bumped into a different class?

If United sells you a ticket for a specific class of seat on a partner airline, I would certainly expect that kind of seat to be available, and I wouldn't worry much about booking. Book the ticket, call United and get the Lufthansa booking number, then within the first 24 hours (might be important) go to the Lufthansa website and see if you can log in there and pick your seat. Note that it might take a few hours for your ticket booked on united.com to gell and become accessible on Lufthansa's system, so don't freak out if you can't access it just a few minutes after your booking. Once you are able to log in at Lufthansa's website and access your flight there, see if you can choose your seat. Some fare classes (ticket prices) may or may not include the ability to choose a specific seat - beware anything that sounds like "basic economy" as those sub-economy fares usually come with lots of annoying limitations, like no picking your seat (that's why they're cheap).

If you do not see any seats in the class of service that you paid for, call United. I would expect that they would refund your money if you call within 24 hours.

Note the timing carefully - the itinerary booked on United may take a few hours to appear and become accessible on the Lufthansa website, but you may have only 24 hours to cancel with United if you do not see the seats you were expecting. So, you may have to wait a bit (maybe 12 hours?) before checking on the Lufthansa website, but don't wait more than 24 hours or you may not be able to cancel easily with United.

In my experience, when booking a partner flight via United's website, it does take a few hours before the partner airline's booking number becomes available, and may take a few more hours before you can use that on their website.

Caveat: I've always been able to get the partner booking number, and then access my flight info on the partner website (after short delays for both). That has worked for me on multiple United partners, including (I think) on Lufthansa. But things change (and I've never booked a "basic economy" flight), so no 100% guarantees. I'm pretty sure you should be OK though. Good luck.

if the Lufthansa site says they're sold out, that we're going to be bumped into a different class?

That's a question for United. Read the booking details v-e-r-y carefully. Make sure there are no asterisks or other teeny "gotcha" indicators hinting at some sort of exception. Be careful about this: United likes to sell "mixed" itineraries - ie you pay for a "business class ticket" from Portland to Frankfurt, but if you look carefully, you may find that this itinerary has two legs: first leg from Portland to Seattle is in Business class (as you expect), but the long leg of the flight from Seattle to Frankfurt may be in coach (a nasty surprise). So-called "mixed" itineraries should always be indicated.

I would be surprised (but not gobsmacked) if United sold you a "Premium Economy" ticket to Italy that included one or more legs that were not in Premium Economy (which different airlines call different names).

If there are no Premium Economy (or its equivalent) seats on one leg, I would not expect to be bumped up to a better class.

You could also check seatguru.com (you'll need the airline, specific flight number and date) to see what the seat layout for the plane is. Caution though, seatguru is not always accurate - and there's always a chance of an aircraft type swap at a later time.

Bottom line: check to see what United's refund policy is before you book. IME they usually give you 24 hours to cancel at no cost, but read the details carefully to know what your options are.

Unfortunately, I don't remember which other airline was involved (it could have been KLM rather than Lufthansa), but within the very last few years I bought a regular coach-class ticket (not basic economy) to Europe through the United website with the flight actually being operated by a European carrier. That UA was not operating the flight was clear on both Google Flights and the United website.

When I went to the KLM-or-Lufthansa website after my purchase to select a seat, I found it was impossible to do so, although I did have the operating carrier's record locator number. I got the same answer when I telephoned the European airline. Apparently there's a missing electronic link somewhere that makes it impossible to select a seat in advance if you've purchased your ticket from United. It turned out OK for me, because I was able to get an aisle seat when I checked in 24 hours in advance, but it was a very nerve-wracking experience. It would have been much worse for people with more specific seating needs than mine.

So I would suggest further research on this. My bet is that this problem has been discussed on FlyerTalk. Or perhaps calling Lufthansa might yield useful information. Being a pessimist about such matters, though, I would tend to believe oral information from Lufthansa only if it was bad news. I'd want to find any good news (i.e., assurance that a seat can be selected shortly after ticket purchase) in print somewhere.

"There is absolutely no excuse in this day and age for forcing people who buy tickets three or four months in advance to wait until 23 hours before the flight to be able to choose what seats they have."

That's not true for LH's Premium Economy. I was able to select my seat for a recent flight when booking 8 months ago.

Sadly, people seem to respond without even really reading the question. I thought the best answer you received was from the person who said to check the details carefully for each leg of the flight before you purchase the ticket. Also, be aware that sometimes airlines use different terms for different levels of service. Economy Comfort doesn't always equate to Premium Economy, etc. Perhaps Lufthansa calls its service something else than United calls it, or it could be another level of service entirely.

I may be a bit paranoid, but I believe that the airlines are doing their best to confuse travelers about what class of services they are actually purchasing. “Economy” has morphed into several different tiers, with different names. Example: I have started tracking prices for a trip we will take next August, SFO >VNO, HEL > SFO. The best prices I’ve been seeing, with just one connection, are running around $1250. We usually purchase the upgrade to economy+ (United’s lingo) for the outbound, transatlantic segment, not the same as “Premium Economy.” Skyscanner is showing prices under $1000 on KLM, so I went to that site. All looked good when I chose appropriate flights, except a proviso that no bags could be checked, not even at an extra charge. This leads me to think that KLM’s “economy” may be the equivalent of united’s “basic economy,” which also includes the downside of no seat selection. I could not see any other economy tier. Delta has also introduced a class between economy and business but I think it, like United’s is not the same as the simple, and not so expensive, option of paying for seats with a little more leg room. It doesn’t seem unreasonable to me for consumers to expect clear statements, at the start if the reservation process, of what each class of service, however labeled, entails and consistency, at least among code-sharers in the labeling of their offerings.

All looked good when I chose appropriate flights, except a proviso that no bags could be checked, not even at an extra charge. This leads me to think that KLM’s “economy” may be the equivalent of united’s “basic economy,” which also includes the downside of no seat selection

Many European carriers nowadays offer only "basic economy" etc. via resellers. It should be up to the resellers to mark that fact clearly and not to hide it as much as possible.

Just did this sort of thing for our flight to Paris spring 2020 and it worked fine.

@sla019 Actually, I was on the KLM website. You’ve offered good information, though. It makes choosing a flight more complicated. All the more reason to wish for consistency, at least among code sharers.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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Swiss Air seat assignment booked via United Question - Air Travel Forum

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I booked the more expensive Standard Coach Economy seats which include free checked luggage along with being able to pick free seat assignments vs the cheaper the Basic Economy which doesn't include either.

When I log into Swiss Airlines website with our conformation number to choose our seats, it's lists a separate fee for picking them ahead of time along with the regular policy of the seats being assigned 24 hours prior to the flight .

Am I missing something here? If United says my more expensive coach seats include these perks shouldn't the partner airline offer them then? My return trip (out of Italy) is on Lufthansa so I assume I'll have the same issue with them.

Thanks for any comments.

18 replies to this topic

Have you tried logging into the UA website to get seat assignments?

Well, after a schedule change we are now all on United metal, got good seats and got our money back from Swiss.

If UA puts their flight number or any number on a codeshare then the miles should cost no more. One problem with Intl flights is that UA really does not fly to that many places, really only to major cities and relies on partner airlines to connect to the city you are going to, that's UA's problem not the customer.

When I have flown a United ticket connecting to Swiss, I have gone to the Swiss site using their confirmation number and paid for my selected seat, I already had premiere seating ability on UA so I didn't have to pay extra for that. Not all seats in the section cost money but the good ones are worth it in my experience, especially the second row in economy that offers extra legroom (A330).

Thanks for the comments, I guess it's just more the point of all this. One second United says we get to pick seats for free but then turns around and says we have to follow Swiss Air's seating policy. Dollar wise, I would be money ahead if I had picked Basic Economy and simply paid for our luggage.

At this point it looks like any seat I could pick will cost money so I'll just wait it out and see what we get 24 hours prior.

"One second United says we get to pick seats for free but then turns around and says we have to follow Swiss Air's seating policy."

If you don't want to pay to select seats then it makes total sense to wait until the seats are allocated. You just can't complain if you aren't sitting together or the seats aren't exactly where you'd like them to be :-)

yes and they say go to swiss air

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Simple Flying

Mileageplus for families: a guide to earning and redeeming united airlines miles together.

United Airlines is the first major US carrier to allow groups to pool their miles.

• United Airlines allows miles pooling for up to five members, making group travel easier.
• After joining a pool, members must wait 72 hours before using pooled miles or contributing.
• Pooled miles can only be used for United or United Express award tickets.

Airline loyalty programs have become more popular and attractive in the last few years, with airlines offering customers more and more ways to earn and spend miles. Several carriers worldwide allow family pooling, giving a group of family or friends a chance to share miles. United Airlines recently launched MileagePlus miles pooling, becoming the first major US carrier to allow members of its loyalty program to use such a feature. Let's take a look at how this can be achieved.

Traveling with family and friends

As individuals, families, and friends start making summer travel plans, United Airlines has introduced a new way for MileagePlus members to contribute and combine their miles into a joint account. Although United is the first among the US 'big three' to have this type of program, miles and family pooling has been offered by several other airlines, such as Emirates . With United's miles pooling, groups of up to five people can share and redeem miles using a single linked account.

These can be family members or close friends looking to combine their miles for award travel. According to a 2023 US Family Travel Survey conducted by the Family Travel Association, about 81% of parents reported intent to travel with their children in the next year, while approximately 59% reported concerns about travel affordability. United's new scheme aims to make family and group travel more accessible.

How to combine miles as a group

While there is no minimum age to hold a MileagePlus account , only members over the age of 18 can become pool leaders. Pool leaders can create a pool for free using their MileagePlus accounts on United's website and invite up to four travel companions of any age to join the pool as long as they are signed up for the airline's loyalty program.

For example, suppose a family or group of friends is planning to fly out for vacation, and each member has an individual MileagePlus account with a certain number of miles. In that case, they can put all or a select amount of their miles into a central pool that can be used to purchase award tickets and offset the cost of ticket prices . The pool leader manages the pool and can authorize members to redeem miles.

How To Use The United Airlines Young Adult Discount

There is no limit to the amount of miles an individual can contribute to the pool as long as it corresponds with their balance. Once the pool is created, the leader can immediately start contributing miles, but all members must wait 72 hours after joining to use pooled miles or contribute to the pool. After contributing, all members must wait at least 24 hours before using the miles to book flights.

Joining and leaving a mile pool

Joining a pool.

MileagePlus members can only participate in one mile pool at a time. To create a pool, the leader must accept all terms and conditions. United notes that becoming a pool member will not impact an individual's Premier Status. When booking an award flight using pooled miles, any Premier qualifying points (PQP) earned will be awarded to the traveler only, and any Premier status benefits will be based on the individual's status.

Furthermore, award availability is based on the status of the member booking the award flight . Only miles can be contributed to the pool, meaning members cannot pool any of the following:

• Premier qualifying points (PQF)
• Premier qualifying flights (PQF)
• TravelBank cash.

Pool invitations expire after 14 days . If no one accepts joining the pool within 45 days of creation , the pool will automatically dissolve, with any remaining miles returning to the pool leader. If a member sends an invitation to the wrong email address, they can withdraw it or wait 14 days for it to expire, after which they can send a new invitation.

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Members leaving a pool.

Any member, including the leader, can leave the pool. However, when a member (leader excluded) leaves the pool, their miles will be forfeited, and they will stay with the pool for equal distribution among the remaining members. New members will not be able to join the pool for the next 90 days. Similarly, outgoing members cannot join another pool for at least 90 days.

No one, including the leader, can remove a pool once they have joined. Members can only leave a pool if they choose to do so or if the pool is dissolved.

If the pool leader leaves or passes away, the pool will dissolve, and the remaining miles will be distributed equally among the remaining members. The miles returned to the deceased leader's MileagePlus account will be handled in accordance with program rules. However, if a regular member passes away, their miles will remain in the pool.

How to use miles from the pool

Pooled miles can only be used to purchase United or United Express award tickets. The pool leader and any other permitted member can redeem miles from the pool. Once you contribute miles to the pool, you can only withdraw them within 24 hours, after which the transfer is irreversible. Furthermore, pooled miles cannot be used for any of the following:

• To purchase seat upgrades
• Purchasing seat assignments
• Buying food and drinks onboard
• Purchasing in-flight WiFi
• Transferring to individual or other accounts

To book a flight using miles from the pool, a member must have permission to do so either on behalf of other pool members or for themselves (this can be configured by the pool leader). If a member has been granted permission, they can book an award ticket by signing in to their MileagePlus account on United AIrlines' website or the United app and searching for an award ticket as they usually would. After reaching the payment page, you can select your miles pool account.

What are your thoughts on United's new loyalty feature? Will you be using family pooling anytime soon? Please let us know in the comments!

Choosing your seat in advance

We recommend that you choose your seat as early as possible to get the one you want, and to avoid sitting separately from family or friends.

How to choose your seat

You can do this when booking your flight or afterwards through Manage My Booking.

If you have a booking, follow these simple steps:

• Log in to Manage My Booking
• Under 'Your booking details', click on your flight number
• Under 'Seating', click on 'View or change seats for this flight' and follow the instructions on screen

Do I have to pay to choose a seat?

Whether your seat selection is free or you’ll have to pay extra depends on a range of factors, including the fare you choose and your cabin of travel.

You can choose your seat for free from 24 hours before departure when check-in opens, unless you’ve booked a Basic ticket (economy, hand-baggage only) where your seat is allocated to you.

With a Basic ticket (economy, hand baggage only), you can either:

• Pay to choose your seat from when you book until check-in opens, or
• We’ll allocate you a seat for free when check-in opens. You can then pay to change to a different seat, although your choice may be limited.

If you’re an Executive Club Member, you’ll collect Avios if you pay to choose your seat on a British Airways flight. You’ll collect at least six Avios per pound (GBP) spent. Find out more about collecting Avios on flights .

You may be entitled to choose your seat for free if you fall into one of the following groups.

Travelling in First

It’s free from the time of booking to choose a seat in our First cabin.

Executive Club Members

As an Executive Club one world® frequent flyer Member you're able to choose seats at different stages, depending on your tier.

You must be travelling on the booking, or in the case of Gold Members, one of the bookings, for these benefits to apply. They apply to British Airways-operated flights only and are not available on group rate bookings.

On some occasions, exit row seats on short-haul flights may not be available in advance due to operational reasons.

Gold/oneworld Emerald

Enjoy free seat selection when booking for everyone in your party. This includes friends and family on other bookings who are travelling with you in the same travel class and on the same flight.

Silver/oneworld Sapphire

Enjoy free seat selection – excluding exit row seats on long-haul flights – from the time of booking for everyone in your party. Exit row seats on long-haul flights can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.

Bronze/oneworld Ruby

Enjoy free seat selection – excluding exit row seats – from seven days before departure for everyone in your party. Exit row seats can be selected for free from 24 hours before departure.

Enjoy free seat selection from 24 hours before departure, excluding exit row seats and not including travel on basic fares. Seats can be purchased from the time of booking.

Flexible tickets

Tickets with increased flexibility allow you to make certain changes to the date and time of your flight. They also include free seat selection.

• Fully Flexible fares (Y/W/J class) allow you to choose seats for free from the time of booking.
• Short haul Plus fares allow you to choose seats for free from 48 hours before departure.

You choose your flexibility when you buy your flights.

Choosing seats together on separate tickets

You can see which seats are still available together to choose for free from 24 hours before your flight, when online check-in opens.

However, if you are travelling with others on different bookings, you can pay in advance to choose specific seats to ensure you sit together for your flight. Just log in to Manage My Booking .

Flying with children

To get the best choice of seats and make sure your family sits together, it’s best to choose your seats in advance. You might have to pay to do this.

If you don’t choose your seats in advance

We’ll do our best to seat your family together by assigning seats a few days before your flight departs. However, seat selection may be limited at that time and your seats may be split across different rows or the aisle. We'll make sure each child under 12 years sits next to an adult from your booking but children over 12 years are booked as an adult in our system and may sit separately.

Travelling with an infant under two

Seats are free when you fly with an infant under two who won't be travelling in a seat of their own. You can choose a seat for you and everyone in your party free of charge as soon as you've made your booking, except for bookings of over nine people. One person in your group and the infant will be able to choose a carrycot/seat position, subject to availability. The remainder of your party will be able to select other seats for free.

Travelling with a disability

There's no charge for choosing your seat if you have a specific seating requirement because of your disability.

How to book your seat

In most cases, you can select your seat using Manage My Booking, but sometimes you may need to contact us, like for some non-visible disabilities. Here's what you need to do.

• Book your flight
• We recommend that you let us know about the assistance you require at least 48 hours before your flight leaves. Once you have notified us that you require additional assistance, go to Manage My Booking and click on 'Seating' within the flight details section
• Select your seat, and if you need any help, please contact us

Travelling in large groups

Groups of more than nine people.

When you travel as a group, we’ll allocate your seats free of charge. While we'll try to seat your party together, we can't always guarantee it, particularly if your group is split across separate bookings.

To ensure your group is seated together, or if you would like specific seats, you can pay to choose your seats in advance. This applies to groups booked in the UK and Ireland only.

Paying for a seat

How much will it cost.

The cost of selecting a seat varies depending on the type of seat and the cabin you're travelling in. Prices are available when booking your flight or in Manage My Booking. You can pay in advance using a credit or debit card or by using Avios on British Airways-operated flights.

It may not be possible to choose bulkhead seats, as they're usually reserved for customers with a disability or those travelling with an infant.

Payments at the airport

Like many airlines, we only accept debit or credit card payments at many of the airports we operate from, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and North America.

Pay with Avios

You can use your Avios to pay for seats in advance via Manage My Booking , with full or part payment options available. This is available for British Airways-operated flights and gives you more ways to spend your Avios.

As an Executive Club Bronze, Silver or Gold Member you can choose seats for free in many instances. For more information see our terms and conditions below.

Changes and refunds

If you’ve paid to choose a seat and we're unable to offer you that seat or a suitable alternative when you board your flight, you can claim a refund. See our terms and conditions for paid seating below.

Terms and conditions

Availability

• All paid seating is subject to availability and is only confirmed once paid for.
• Paid seating is available on British Airways mainline operated flights and on British Airways-operated flights marketed by other carriers.
• Paid seating may be offered by British Airways franchisee airlines. The seating Terms and Conditions of British Airways franchisee airlines may differ from those of British Airways mainline-operated flights, therefore we recommend that you refer to the franchisee airline’s relevant Terms and Conditions.
• Paid seating may be unavailable on some flights operated by codeshare partners.
• Paid seating for group customers (bookings containing more than 9 passengers) is only available where the reservation has been made directly with British Airways Group Sales. Group customers who have made their reservation through a travel agent or a tour operator cannot currently book paid seating. Payment with Avios is currently unavailable for group customers.
• All un-ticketed passengers, including those travelling on a cruise or package holiday who have not yet received confirmation of their ticket numbers, are unable to choose paid seating until they have received confirmation of their ticket numbers.

Changes to seats

• On British Airways marketed and operated flights, you may change your seat (subject to availability) at any time. If you change your seat to a lower-priced seat, we will not refund the difference in price. If you change your seat to a higher-priced seat, you must pay the difference in price.
• You cannot make changes to paid seating on British Airways-operated flights marketed by other carriers.
• Paid seating is not guaranteed, as seating may need to be changed for operational, safety or security reasons, even after boarding the aircraft.
• If we change your seat, we will attempt to find you a suitable alternative. If you are unsatisfied with your new seat, you can apply for a refund of the paid seating.
• Paid seating is not transferable to any other passenger.
• British Airways changes your seat to an alternative seat and you are unsatisfied with the alternative seat
• British Airways cancels your flight
• You become ineligible to sit in an exit row and you inform us at least 48 hours in advance of scheduled departure of your flight, or
• You have paid for a cabin upgrade and do not wish to pay the difference to select your seat in the upgraded cabin.

The above does not affect any right to a refund you may have during a “cooling-off” period, if and to the extent applicable under local law. Details of this under Israel’s Consumer Protection Law 1981 are set out in our legal information .

• Cancel your flight
• Are involuntarily upgraded
• Are considered unsuitable to sit in the seat type you have selected
• Accept a voucher towards a future booking that includes paid seating (see further the relevant voucher Terms and Conditions), or
• Have booked a British Airways operated flight marketed by another carrier and choose to move to a different flight.
• On British Airways marketed and operated flights, if, in accordance with your ticket type, you choose to move to a different flight, you will be entitled to choose an equivalent seat on your new flight. If an equivalent seat is not available, any sums previously paid for seating will be forfeited and will not be refunded. Alternatively, you may choose a more expensive seat and pay the difference in price.
• On flights marketed by other carriers, if you choose to move to a different flight, you will not be entitled to choose an equivalent seat on the new flight and you will not be entitled to a refund.
• You have 30 days after the last flight in your itinerary to apply for a refund of paid seating, where due. Please submit your refund application online using our seating refund form . We cannot process refund applications at the airport or on board.
• Unless otherwise stated, we will only make a refund to the credit card used to pay for the paid seating, or in the case of Avios payment, to the Executive Club Member’s Avios account.  

Exit row seats

• Exit row seats are situated either next to or immediately behind the exit door.
• If you choose an exit seat, in the unlikely event of an emergency evacuation you will be expected to assist us in opening the emergency door. For this reason, you must: be over the age of 12 years old, not be pregnant, not have accessibility needs or be substantially blind or deaf, be fit enough to operate an emergency exit door, be able to understand printed or verbal instructions given in English, and be willing, as well as able, to assist in the case of an emergency evacuation. When requesting an exit row seat, you will be asked to verify your eligibility.
• British Airways has the sole discretion to determine whether you meet the requirements to sit in an exit row seat. If you do not meet the requirements, you will be assigned an alternative seat. The additional amount paid for an exit row seat will be forfeited and will not be refunded.
• If, after the date of requesting an exit row seat, you become unable to fulfil the requirements to sit in an exit row seat, please contact us at least 48 hours before your flight in order to claim a refund.

Using Avios as payment for seat selection

• Executive Club Members can use their Avios to pay in full or in part for paid seating on British Airways operated flights in Manage My Booking on ba.com or by calling a British Airways Contact Centre.
• Paid seating purchased with this payment option will be subject to these Paid Seating Terms and Conditions.
• All seats selected must be eligible for full or part Avios payment in order for Avios to be applied to the booking.
• The Avios payment rates are defined in a fixed set of currencies. If more than one Avios payment option is available, it is not possible to change the price option chosen once a booking has been made.
• The Avios payable will depend on the cabin class, route selected and the number of people on the booking. This will be displayed on the booking page.
• British Airways reserves the right to alter the applicable Avios payment rates at any time in its sole and absolute discretion, but this will not apply to bookings already made.
• When an Executive Club Member pays for seating using Avios, the Avios will be debited from the Member’s Executive Club account for each passenger on the booking.
• When Avios has been used as full or part payment for seating, those Avios will be refundable only in accordance with the rules detailed in these Paid Seating Terms and Conditions.
• When a seat selection is made using Avios as full or part payment for a member who is either on the Household Account or the Family and Friends List, the Avios will be taken from each Member’s Avios points balance in proportion to the size of each Household Account Member’s Avios points balance. Members of a Household Account can make full or part Avios payment for paid seating for people outside of the Household Account.
• Avios payment may not be used in conjunction with any other promotional offers, unless expressly stated otherwise.
• Members do not earn Avios and Tier Points on paid seating.
• It is not possible to use Avios for paid seating on bookings made through Concur or on group bookings.

Booking an extra seat for additional space

You can buy an extra ticket to keep the seat next to you free, for reasons like requiring additional personal space or to secure a fragile or precious item, such as a musical instrument or painting.

An item must fit in the seat, otherwise it will need to be checked into the hold. Find out more about baggage .

How to book an extra seat

• Please contact us  or your travel agent to make a booking for an extra seat as this type of booking cannot be made online.
• If you arrive at the airport and haven't booked an extra seat in advance, please speak to a member of British Airways staff. If there are seats available in the cabin you are travelling in, you may be able to buy an extra seat.
• At many airports, including London Heathrow, London Gatwick and some in North America, you can only pay using a card. Please check with a member of our staff at the airport to find out if options are available for converting cash to a payment card.

Additional personal space and safety

If you would like the seat next to you to be kept free for additional personal space, you can buy it as an extra seat for comfort.

You'll need to buy yourself an extra seat for comfort if:

• You're travelling in economy and need more space to easily fasten your seatbelt for take-off, landing or during periods of turbulence, or
• You're unable to fully lower both armrests of your seat. It's a safety requirement to have a fully lowered armrest between each passenger during take-off, landing and turbulence.

We can give you an extension seatbelt if you need it.

Please note:

• An extra seat doesn't give additional seat width – see our seat dimensions guide below for the minimum seat widths on our aircraft.
• On most of our long-haul aircraft, the armrests in the economy cabin don't fold away into the seat back completely. They stop at an angle of 45 degrees when lifted and can't be raised further.
• There must be a fully lowered armrest between each passenger during take-off, landing and turbulence. 
• Armrests are fixed in our First, business (Club World) and premium economy (World Traveller Plus) cabins and can't be raised or lowered.
• You can't buy an extra seat for comfort at the bulkhead or on an exit row.
• You won't be able to buy an extra seat on a British Airways-operated flight if your journey includes a flight operated by another airline.

Choosing seats with our partner airlines

If you book with us for a flight operated by American Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, JAL or Qantas, you can choose your seats in Manage My Booking .

If you’re flying with one of our one world alliance partners and are an Executive Club Gold/oneworld Emerald Member, a Silver/Sapphire Member, or a Bronze/Ruby Member, you can contact your local British Airways customer centre to choose a seat for that flight.

In all other cases when you're flying with one of our partner airlines, please contact them directly to choose your seat.

Please note that you cannot use Avios to pay for seats on flights that are operated by our partner airlines.

If you paid to choose a seat on a flight operated by any of our partner airlines and would like to get a refund, please contact them directly.

United Club Infinite Card: You get what you pay for, and then some

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Our take: The United Club℠ Infinite Card is ideal for those seeking to fast-track their way past United’s velvet rope with lounge access and a path to elite airline status via spending.

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Intro bonus.

Rewards Rates

• 4x 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases
• 2x 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining
• 1x 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
• United Club lounge membership
• Valuable welcome bonus
• Path to earn elite airline status by card spend
• High annual fee
• Mostly useful if you want lounge access
• Additional perks: Primary rental car coverage, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement
• Foreign transaction fee: None

United Club℠ Infinite Card Overview

Card type: Airline

The United Club Infinite is ideal for those seeking a luxury United experience and willing to shell out the $525 annual fee. In exchange for that sum you’ll get access to the ultra-exclusive United Club lounges for you and up to two guests, as well as international access to participating Star Alliance lounges—plus, the card allows you to enjoy free first and second checked bags for you and a companion.

You also get Premier Access where available to whisk you through check-in, security screening, boarding and handling your luggage, and a personal assistant to tell you how great you look during the entire experience. OK, so that last part may be hyperbole to emphasize the luxury provided by the United Club Infinite, but if this card could magically grant you a fawning sidekick, it probably would. 

Importantly for lounge-seekers, the annual cost of holding the United Club Infinite card is less than what it costs to have a United Club membership, which will run you $600 to $650 unless you hold top-tier Premier 1K status with the airline. One thing to note: Even with this card’s included Club membership, you won’t get access to any of the six United Polaris lounges. The only way to gain entry into one of those is to have a United Polaris business class ticket, or a business or first class ticket on a Star Alliance flight. 

Those seeking even more perks will be happy to know you can spend your way to elite status with the United Club Infinite card, as it offers the ability to earn up to 10,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) per calendar year—which will help you climb the airline’s status ladder. You earn 25 PQPs for every $500 you spend on the card. Status with United includes mileage boosts, access to early boarding and flight upgrade eligibility.

This card is more than just a pathway to a high-falutin United-centric lifestyle. The United Club Infinite card earns respectable rewards on United spending and also offers elevated rewards on nearly every type of travel expense you can think of—including flights on other airlines. Plus, it comes with a rich slate of travel insurances and shopping-related protections, and other elite benefits including top-tier Avis rental car status and IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status (each of which come with their own perks too).

In other words, if $525 per year seems like a pittance in exchange for the bounty of elite benefits this card offers, the United Club Infinite card will fit you like a bespoke white glove.

Who is the United Club℠ Infinite Card good for? 

The United Club Infinite is ideal for someone seeking an elevated experience when they fly on United or Star Alliance flights or someone looking to spend (a lot) to gain elite status with the airline.

Who shouldn’t get the United Club Infinite Card? 

If United Club airport lounge access isn’t important to you, this card won’t be worth the cost of ownership. 

United Club℠ Infinite Card : How to earn rewards

The United Club Infinite card earns miles in United’s MileagePlus program at the following rates:

• 4 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, including tickets, Economy Plus, in-flight food, beverages and Wi-Fi, and other United charges.
• 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel purchases, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, rideshare services and tolls.
• 2 miles per $1 spent on all dining including eligible delivery services.
• 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases.

The card also comes with a welcome bonus of 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

How to redeem United Club℠ Infinite Card rewards 

The United Club Infinite earns United MileagePlus miles, which can be redeemed in several ways.

Use miles to book United and partner airline award flights

The most valuable use of your miles is typically redeeming them for flights. United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance airline group, which means you can use your MileagePlus miles to book flights on any of the 26 alliance members to over 1,200 destinations worldwide. Award flights on both United and partner airlines are dynamic, meaning the price and number of miles required for bookings will rise and fall based on factors such as seasonality and demand.

United also offers Saver Award and Everyday Award fares on some flights. Saver Awards are economy flights offered at the lowest mileage requirement available on an award flight. Everyday Award fares are often more available but, in comparison to Saver Awards, require more miles. Although Saver Awards are available on some flights to all MileagePlus members, owning a co-branded United credit card—which includes the United Club Infinite—or having Premier elite status will show “hidden” Saver award availability on some routes that other MileagePlus members cannot access. 

Another perk of the United Club Infinite card is that cardholders get an additional 10% off the Saver Award economy fare rate. So if there’s a Saver Award fare listed for 10,000 miles, United Club Infinite cardholders will have to redeem just 9,000 miles. For frequent United travelers, this card can help you really make the most of your miles if you’re willing to keep an eye out for Saver Award deals. Let’s examine how wielding this card as you redeem your MileagePlus miles could potentially help you get to where you want to go for fewer miles. For example, here’s a one-way flight from Newark to Los Angeles on Sept. 10, 2024:

As you can see, the flight typically costs 18,100 miles, but a select number of Saver Award seats are available in economy on the 2 p.m. flight for 15,000 miles. However, United Club Infinite cardholders would only have to redeem 13,500 miles with the 10% Saver Award discount perk.

The cash price for those same regular economy flights is $185 each plus taxes and fees. This would make the miles used to buy that Saver economy seat worth nearly 1.4 cents each. 

If you had your eye on a more premium experience, consider that the 2 p.m. flight in this example has a business class seat for 80,000 miles plus taxes and fees and a cash price of $1,334. This would make your miles worth roughly 1.7 cents per point if that extra comfort is worth the higher total cost to you.

You can book flights using just your miles or a combination of miles and cash. However, using just miles typically yields the best value. 

Ultimately, the best redemption will be different for everyone, but as a rule of thumb, it’s smart to aim to get more than a penny per point in value from your miles.

Other redemption options

United MileagePlus miles can also be redeemed to book travel including hotels, rental cars and cruises through the United site, used to upgrade or pay for seat assignments, prepay for checked bags, cover the TSA PreCheck application fee or renewal fee, pay for a United Club membership, or put toward in-flight dining, in-flight WiFi or a meal at select restaurants and bars at Newark Airport (EWR) and Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH).

However, most of these options typically are less valuable than redeeming your miles for flights. For example, let’s consider that it takes 11,000 miles to cover the $78 TSA PreCheck application fee, which gives you a value of about 0.7 cents per mile. 

One exception: You can also use your miles to pay yourself back for the card’s annual fee or for flights paid for with the card. Miles will generally be worth between 1 cent and 1.5 cents when used to reimburse yourself for flights and 1.75 cents when used to reimburse yourself for the annual fee. This last option is particularly valuable when you consider the welcome bonus is enough to negate the cost of the card’s annual fee in the first year and you’ll still have miles left over.

United Club℠ Infinite Card rates and fees

• Annual fee: $525.
• Foreign transaction fee: None.
• Purchase APR: 21.99%–28.99% variable.

Additional benefits

• Trusted traveler credit: Get up to a $100 reimbursement for the application fee for Global Entry, TSA Precheck or NEXUS every four years.
• Premier Access travel services: Get priority airport services where available including check-in, security screening, boarding, and expedited baggage handling.
• Avis President’s Club: The primary cardmember is eligible for top-tier elite status with the car rental company, which means upgrades, guaranteed car availability, and expedited rental service, among other perks. 
• IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status: IHG’s second-highest elite status tier grants perks including complimentary upgrades when available, a welcome amenity at check-in of breakfast, points or a drink and snack, discounted award nights and a bonus rate of 100% on points. Plus, you’ll get an $75 IHG resort credit on bookings.
• Primary auto rental coverage: Decline the rental company’s coverage at the counter and charge the entire rental to your card and receive primary auto rental coverage up to the actual cash value of the vehicle for theft and collision damage for eligible rental cars in the U.S. and abroad.
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance: If your trip is cut short or canceled by a covered situation you can be reimbursed up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip for prepaid, non-refundable travel expenses such as passenger fares, tours, and hotels.
• Baggage delay and lost luggage coverage: For baggage delays over six hours by passenger carrier, get reimbursed up to $100 a day for three days. For check-in or carry-on luggage that is damaged or lost by the carrier, you’re covered for up to $3,000 per passenger.
• Trip delay reimbursement: If your common carrier is delayed by more than 12 hours for a covered reason, you and your family are covered up to $500 per ticket for unreimbursed expenses, such as meals and lodging.
• Purchase, extended warranty, and return protections: Covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per year and also extends eligible manufacturer’s warranties by an additional year, on eligible warranties of three years or less. You can also be reimbursed for eligible items that the store won’t take back within 90 days of purchase, up to $500 per item, $1,000 per year.

Credit cards similar to the United Club℠ Infinite Card

When it comes to high-end travel cards , it’s all about the benefits and perks and less about the rewards-earning potential. Let’s see how the United Club Infinite card compares to two premium airline and travel card options.

To view rates and fees of the The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page  

Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® vs. United Club℠ Infinite Card

If you’re looking to earn high-end benefits from an airline credit card, arguably the first consideration should be if that airline serves your home airport. If American Airlines is an option for you, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® is a worthy competitor to United’s premium option. 

Just like the United Club Infinite card, card ownership of the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard includes both a steep annual fee—in this case $595—and also lounge access, with this card offering access to American Airlines’ Admirals Club. That latter could cost you $850 without the card. 

The AAdvantage Executive World Elite card offers a similar slew of upscale perks and benefits including expedited check-in and screenings at the airport, several travel protection benefits, your first checked bag free on American Airlines domestic itineraries, Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement and the ability to spend your way via the card towards elite status. Both cards give you a chance to be an airport big shot so the choice between these two cards will come down to if you prefer to fly United and/or Star Alliance partners or American and/or Oneworld partner airlines. 

The Platinum Card® from American Express vs. United Club℠ Infinite Card

If exclusive airport lounge access is the main attraction in owning the United Club Infinite Card, the The Platinum Card® from American Express may hold appeal. Unlike the United Club Infinite card which only grants access to United Club lounges, the $695-annual-fee Amex Platinum gives you entry to the Global Lounge collection—which includes Centurion lounges, Escape lounges, Delta Sky Club, Lufthansa Lounge, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Priority Pass Select lounges. 

Access to over 1,400 lounges with the Amex Platinum means that it’s likely wherever you fly, you’ll be able to find an airport lounge you’re eligible for.

There’s no special treatment at the airport or checked bag perk with the Amex Platinum but it does come with an annual $200 airline incidental fee credit, which you can use on checked bag fees, and application fee reimbursements for both Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and CLEAR memberships which will expedite standing in various security lines at the airport. If you can fly exclusively on United or partner flights, the United Club Infinite Card is tailored to you. But if you aren’t loyal to a particular airline, the Amex Platinum makes more sense for most people seeking a card that provides a luxe airport experience.

Is the United Club℠ Infinite Card right for you?

The United Club Infinite Card is right for you if you love United and want to elevate your experience flying with them, from airport arrival to departure.

Frequently asked questions

Does the united club℠ infinite card have lounge access.

It sure does. Owning the card is one of the only ways to gain access to the United Club lounge network without shelling out up to $650 for an annual membership or paying $59 per person for a day pass.

What credit score do you need for a United Club℠ Infinite Card ?

Although there’s no exact credit score that will guarantee you’ll be approved for this (or any other) card, as a premium rewards card it’s likely you’ll need at least good credit for the United Club Infinite, which FICO defines as starting at 670 and higher. In addition to your credit score, issuers typically consider a number of factors including your income and any outstanding debt.

What is the minimum credit limit for the United Club℠ Infinite Card ?

In the terms and conditions for the United Club Infinite Card it states that, if approved for the card, the minimum credit limit will be $15,000.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE : The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends ™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.

Press Release

Spirit airlines announces deferral of airbus aircraft deliveries.

MIRAMAR, Fla. , April 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Airlines, Inc. ("Spirit" or the "Company") (NYSE: SAVE) today announced that it reached an agreement with Airbus to defer all aircraft on order that are scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025 through the end of 2026 to 2030-2031. These deferrals do not include the direct-lease aircraft scheduled for delivery in that period, one each in the second and third quarter 2025, respectively. The agreement with Airbus will improve Spirit's liquidity position by approximately $340 million over the next two years.  

There are no changes to the aircraft on order with Airbus that are scheduled to be delivered in 2027-2029.  

As a result of grounded aircraft due to Pratt & Whitney GTF engine availability issues, along with the 2025 and 2026 aircraft deferrals, Spirit announced it intends to furlough approximately 260 Pilots effective September 1, 2024.  

As recently announced, Spirit entered into a compensation agreement with Pratt & Whitney regarding its GTF engines, which is estimated to improve Spirit's liquidity between $150 million and $200 million over the term of that agreement. In addition, Spirit will continue to evaluate the use of its current financeable asset base to add additional liquidity over the coming months. 

"This amendment to our agreement with Airbus is an important part of Spirit's comprehensive plan to bolster profitability and strengthen our balance sheet," said Ted Christie, Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Deferring these aircraft gives us the opportunity to reset the business and focus on the core airline while we adjust to changes in the competitive environment. In addition, enhancing our liquidity provides us additional financial stability as we position the Company for a return to profitability. We would like to thank our partners at Airbus for their continued support and commitment to the long-term success of Spirit." 

Christie continued, "I am extremely proud of our dedicated Spirit team for their focus and resilience over the last few years. Unfortunately, we had to make the difficult decision to furlough Pilots given the grounded aircraft in our fleet and our deferral of future deliveries. We are doing everything we can to protect Team Members, while balancing our responsibility to return to positive cash-flow and thrive as a healthy company with long-term growth prospects. I thank the Spirit team for continuing to deliver affordable fares and great experiences to Guests." 

The Airbus amendment also defers by two years the exercise dates for optional aircraft included in Spirit's purchase agreement. There is no change to the total number of aircraft on order or Spirit options for additional aircraft. 

As previously announced, Spirit has retained Perella Weinberg & Partners L.P. and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP as advisors. The Company has been taking, and will continue to take, prudent steps to ensure the strength of its balance sheet and ongoing operations, including assessing options to refinance upcoming debt maturities and bonds. 

About Spirit Airlines   

Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows our Guests to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments, refreshments and Wi-Fi — something we call À La Smarte®. Our Fit Fleet® is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the United States. We serve destinations throughout the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, making it possible for our Guests to venture further and discover more than ever before. We are committed to inspiring positive change in the communities where we live and work through the Spirit Charitable Foundation . Come save with us at spirit.com .   

Investor inquiries:   

DeAnne Gabel (954) 447-7920 [email protected]    

Media inquiries:   

Spirit Media Relations [email protected]    

or  

FGS Global Robin Weinberg / Emily Claffey / Bridget Stephan (212) 687-8080 [email protected]    

SOURCE Spirit Airlines, Inc.