United Airlines logo

United Airlines

2.0
228 complaints

Address

77 W. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL, 60601

United Airlines faces significant operational and customer service challenges, with flight delays/cancellations, rude staff interactions, excessive baggage fees, and pricing discrepancies being the dominant complaint categories. Customers consistently report poor accessibility support, long wait times, and a lack of proactive communication during disruptions.

Common Issues

28% (64)
delayedcancelledpostponed
22% (50)
rude employeeunprofessionalunhelpful
18% (41)
carry-on chargechecked baggage feelost luggage
14% (32)
price increaseunauthorized chargehidden fees
12% (27)
long hold timesno assistanceunable to reach

Complaints

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Prof. Robert Cope

Mar 16, 2019

​A year ago I called United Reservations to cancel the remainder of an itinerary that would have taken me round trip from Seattle to San Diego, Costa Rico, New Orleans, Denver to home.

I had reached San Diego.

The $2,000 or so remainder, good for another booking, if made within a year.

When called to re-book, I was informed, as I didn't show up for the flight out of San Diego -- the flight I cancelled -- l lost the $2,000.

As the request to cancel was not recorded, my request now to use the unused sum has been, so far, denied.

I have been a United member for over 30 years and feel cheated.

Professor Robert Cope, University of Washington, retired.

United Airlines logo

VICKIE HARVEY

Mar 7, 2019

MY HUSBAND FLEW OUT OF ROCHESTER ON 3/2/19, WHEN HE ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT IN PLENTY OF TIME, HE WAITED IN LINE FOR 45 MIN.

AS THE KIASS WHERE NOT WORKING RIGHT AND THERE WAS ONLY TWO WORKERS, ONE FEMALE AND ONE MALE.

THE MALE ACTED LIKE HE DID NOT KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING AND THE FEMALE WAS VERY RUDE.

PASSANGERS WHERE VERY UPSET BECAUSE IT WAS GETTING LATER AND LATER.

WHEN IT WAS MY HUSBANDS TURN TO REGISTER HE HAD A CARRY ON AND A PERSON ITEM (VERY EASY CHECK IN) UNTIL HE WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE HE BOUGHT AN BASIC ECONOMY TICKET HE COULD NOT HAVE A CARRY ON AND HAD TO PAY 30.

00, I WISH WE WOULD OF KNOWN THAT IN ADVANCE, BECAUSE HE PAID 5.

00 LESS THAN THE PASSANGER NEXT TO HIM HE GETS CHARGED,THAT IS DISCRIMANATION.

HE JUST FLEW ON A DIFFERENT AIRLINE TWO WEEKS BEFORE THAT AND DID…

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Jeanette T Bulk

Mar 6, 2019

on Feb.

20 2019 I was scheduled to fly flight UA 3496 to Key West from Newark.

We were supposed to board at 12:20, fight cancelled at 12:00, I had just spoke to a pilot in the terminal and asked if he thought there would be a problem because of the snow.

HE CHECKED HIS PHONE AND TOLD ME OUR CREW AND PLANE WAS THERE, THERE SHOULDNT BE A PROBLEM.

Next thing our flight was cancelled we should all go to customer service. we get there and 1 person taking care of everyone, 1 person.

After approx.

45 minutes we get to the counter and we stand there another 45 minutes in total because our rep couldn't figure out what she's doing and low and behold our flight is re-instated.

Now scheduled to take off at 5pm, load us at 4:30 and we don't take off till 6:45 but wait it gets better.

WE land in…

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Vickie Harvey

Mar 2, 2019

My husband used your airline recently and we looked on the web sight to see what it said about a carry on.

Arrived at airport and waited in line for 45 minutes most of the computers for self service did not work properly, they only had two workers, one did not act like he know what he was doing and the female was rude.

Finally got waited on and he had one personal and one carry on, per web site his carry one was the right size, but because he had basic economy he had to pay 30.

00 unbelievable.

So because we paid 5.

00 less than the person next to him he gets penalized for it and the people in line almost missed their planes.

He was suppose to arrive in Chicago at 9:03 am but he is just now arriving unbelievable again.

You wonder why you only have 1 star out of 5.

Two weeks ago we…

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Vickie Harvey

Mar 2, 2019

My husband used your airline recently and we looked on the web sight to see what it said about a carry on.

Arrived at airport and waited in line for 45 minutes most of the computers for self service did not work properly, they only had two workers, one did not act like he know what he was doing and the female was rude.

Finally got waited on and he had one personal and one carry on, per web site his carry one was the right size, but because he had basic economy he had to pay 30.

00 unbelievable.

So because we paid 5.

00 less than the person next to him he gets penalized for it and the people in line almost missed their planes.

He was suppose to arrive in Chicago at 9:03 am but he is just now arriving unbelievable again.

You wonder why you only have 1 star out of 5.

Two weeks ago we…

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Maria Onuigbo

Feb 20, 2019

Maria Onuigbo 3226 Cherrybark Oak Dr.

Houston, Tx 77082 February 19, 20019

On April 17, 2018 I purchased two travel tickets for my son, Mr.

Stanley Nwatarali and myself to travel to Enugu, Nigeria, From Houston Texas (IAH), U.

S.

A.

The travel was scheduled as stated in the attached itinerary.

I am certain those tickets were genuine because United Airline accepted them and issued us boarding passes.

But at the boarding gate we were told the plane was full already.

None of the airline officials we talked to helped.

United did not care to find us any viable alternative.

I was made to understand by one officials that that plane was in fact not full when it left Houston for Chicago.

When we asked to have our luggage back, United Airline claimed they were already gone to Chicago.…

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Shawnda Binkley

Feb 4, 2019

I stood in line in the basement of Denver airport for over 30 minutes.

My back is killing me.

I just had an all night flight and this is more exhausting then that.

What inconsideration!

Any explanations?

I'm about to broadcast this on Facebook!

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Roxanne Breaux

Jan 31, 2019

We purchased tickets day of flight for a United Flight to Aspen, Colorado...direct flight from Houston to Aspen on Dec.

27, 2018.

There were four of us traveling with 5 checked bags, one being an ice chest with 50 lbs of prepared food and 4 bags of ski clothes for our trip.

We arrived in Aspen with 2 of our 5 bags...one of the missing ones, being the ice chest and 2 clothes/equipment bags.

We immediately filed a lost baggage form...there were 8 flights from Houston into Aspen and still no bags.

This resulted in expenses and time to and from the airport 3 times and without ski gear until Saturday evening, with the ice chest arriving on the evening of the 3rd day.

We had a file number of ASE34979M and spoke with various reps. over those days, including requesting the ice chest be…

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Denise rivas

Jan 25, 2019

Dear United Airlines,

January 16th 2019 I flew from Fort Lauderdale airport to Ontaio California, with a stop in San fransico Ca.

After arriving to San Fransisco I was connecting to Ontario CA.

Due to the weather coditions my flight was cancelled.

The costomer service was rude, and not helpful at all I felt like the United employees could care care less about my situation try to connect to get home to Ontario Ca.

I was treat in a very unprofessional unfriendly manor.

I was distraught , exhausted and freezing cold, sad and humiliated.

It seemed like the employees working with United airlines did not know what they were doing and werent able to help me.

I did not know what to do and was reliying on United to help me find a flight home to Ontario.

I spent several hours on hold with…

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Lynnia M Pope

Jan 16, 2019

I flew to Burlington Vt via United Airlines out of Raleigh/Durham N.

C. at the end of June 2018.

I asked for and received a wheelchair which included a person to navigate me.

An excellent job done !

I had planned to return via automobile to Raleigh around the 1st part of November.

Unfortunately I was admitted to the hospital in Burlington for a TIA (mini-stroke).

Two days after my release my sister purchased a ticket to fly me back to Raleigh.

I asked for a wheelchair again and was still weak from my hospital stay.

I arrived at the Airport in Burlington Vt. for a 5:45 a.m. departure.

A wheel chair and care giver were provided to me.

I was wheeled to the departure counter to wait.

The woman at the counter informed me that I would have to walk out on to the tarmac and board from…

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Sharlene Jones-Bush

Jan 9, 2019

Sharlene Jones-Bush and Jerry W.

Bush traveled from 27DEC2018 to 02JAN 2019 confirmation number OX7F5K total round trip $1139.

08.

First, we had a bad experience with American Airline so one of my friends recommended United Airline.

On 02JAN2019 leaving Lafayette at 07:37 p.m. (Flight number 3987) we checked in at the desk to Lafayette Airport at 04:00 p.m.

The first attendant stated that we did not have a flight because he could not find it when I had the itinerary in my hand.

Than a female attendant came and said that the flight was cancelled due to the weather.

However, no one contacted us regarding this information.

We did not received any text messages, e-mails nor phone call.

Than the attendant noticed that United had us leaving out of Baton Rouge the next day 03JAN2019 at…

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Sarah Hasan

Jan 9, 2019

Begin forwarded message:

From: Sarah Hasan Date: January 9, 2019 at 5:45:27 AM CST To: jose.insignares@united.com Cc: Sarah Hasan , Sarah Hasan Subject: UA Flight 818 on January 8th 2019

To Whomever in United Airlines this May Concern:

Sequence of events at Approximately 9:30 pm, January 8th, 2019, Flight: United Airlines 818 from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Houston, Texas, USA.

During on-boarding, My 68 year old friend was opening closed overhead compartments to find space to stow away her luggage.

The flight attendant standing near the bathroom called out to her (in a loud voice) and said something in Spanish.

I “assumed” it was to tell her that if a compartment is closed that is because they are full of luggage.

My friend continued to walk down the aisle of the plane, and opened…

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FARRAH MOHAMMED

Jan 5, 2019

If I could give 0 stars I would.

My Aunt flight was cancelled and we were not contacted letting us know of the cancellation.

What is the point of giving a phone number if no one contacts us about the status of the flight?

Her flight was from SFO to IAH flight #1197 and the flight that was cancelled was from IAH to SHV flight #4346 on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

I drove from San Jose to SFO to find out her flight was cancelled and I cant expect her to wait all day to get on the next flight that was leaving around 6pm.

I had to reschedule the flight for the next day and again drive back up to SFO.

Waste of time and gas.

On top of all of this, United Airlines has the worst customer service.

The employees were extremely rude and pretty much useless.

They gave me the run around and it…

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Adrienne and David JACKSON

Jan 5, 2019

United canceled our flight on 12/30/18Flight number 568 without notification.

We were terribly upset because our bags were went to Atlanta and We were told that we could only send 2 bags .

To make matters worse the TSA representative kept my over 125.

00 of toiletries.

When we were informed that we needed to wait until 10 pm from 1:30 pm .

We went back to retrieve our toiletries to check the 3rd bag .

We planned to apply for a United credit card similar to the Delta card to avoid the hefty fees we paid ( 100.

00 ) going and( 50.

00) returning Loss of time with family stress, anxiety . etc.

We are also mailing in a complaint with documents .

We would appreciate compensation 2 round trip tickets and reimbursement regarding the bags if a t all possible .

My husband is a disabled…

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MIKE WILLIAMS

Dec 30, 2018

I tried boarding a flight Wednesday morning to Puerto Vallarta with my daughter.

Your agent felt my passport was not acceptable because my dog had put a tooth mark through it.

I was forced to re-book my flight for the next morning and spent all day at the passport office trying to get an emergency passport issued.

Upon arrival at the passport office the passport office immediately felt my passport was still good but since your agent declined it they felt best to try and have a new one issued.

Unfortunately when you do this they take your old passport.

After waiting all day we were told one of the offices back east was closed for the holiday and we would no be able to get a new one issued until after the holidays.

Fortunately my company and the resort I was booked at were…

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Jirka Kolar

Dec 16, 2018

Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing this letter as I have learned that United is possibly adding a nonstop flight from Newark to Prague.

I travel regularly every two months to Prague and have been using Delta, but with a stop either Paris or Amsterdam.

I have an experience that I would like to share with you as I now have deep concerns with forming a relationship with United.

On December 1, 2018, my family and I were on United Flight 1476 from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico to Newark, NJ.

After checking in, we realized our seats were not together.

My partner, Lucie Bekeska, and my three year old son, Franz, had seats 15A &15B where I was eight rows behind in seat 23B.

After entering the plane, I asked the steward, whom I later identified as Donald, if he would be able to accommodate us with…

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Jirka Kolar

Dec 16, 2018

Dear Sir or Madam: I am writing this letter as I have learned that United is possibly adding a nonstop flight from Newark to Prague.

I travel regularly every two months to Prague and have been using Delta, but with a stop either Paris or Amsterdam.

I have an experience that I would like to share with you as I now have deep concerns with forming a relationship with United.

On December 1, 2018, my family and I were on United Flight 1476 from San Jose del Cabo, Mexico to Newark, NJ.

After checking in, we realized our seats were not together.

My partner, Lucie Bekeska, and my three year old son, Franz, had seats 15A &15B where I was eight rows behind in seat 23B.

After entering the plane, I asked the steward, whom I later identified as Donald, if he would be able to accommodate us with…

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kkCecelia (Mitzi) Marcotte

Dec 13, 2018

On 11/4/2018 I was on a return flight from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Houghton, MI. after an educational conference.

It was a very hard trip on me.

I aim 73 years old and in poor health I realized that I had left my lab on the seat next to me at the Albuquerque airport.

I went directly to the United desk and reported what I had done.

The United worker at the desk immediately called the Albuquerque United worker.

It was reported to me that they had my laptop and said they would send it to me.

I received an email from Tiffany Rickel from the Albuquerque terminal stating that she would send it to me.

I waited and waited for her to do so.

I couple of weeks went by and no package.

I emailed her and she said she was out of work for illness.

I emailed her back and said that was…

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Kori Hale

Dec 11, 2018

We flew to Denver CO on Friday, and was supposed to return Sunday, December 9.

Well, we see the weather is getting serious, called Saturday night to see if we could get on a different flight and were told nothing was available.

So we go to Denver, check in, fly to Dulles.

Arrive and receive a text that flight to Greenville SC is cancelled, with a link to check the next available.

I have three small kids that were snowed in and getting really upset because Mommy and Daddy are out there and can't get home and they just want to get home- it was stressful when I saw Tuesday would have been the NEXT available flight.

We go and talked to the customer service rep and when he confirmed the airlines doesn't pay for the hotel if a flight is cancelled due to weather, we get rerouted to Knoxville…

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Ola Milton

Dec 3, 2018

While traveling on a cruise ship, my Vietnam Veteran husband suffered a major PTSD episode which required immediate medical help.

I booked a flight from MIA to IAH in the middle of the night making a mistake by booking it for June 2 instead of December 2 (Confirmation #PYHSVB).

I didn't receive an email to confirm the flight.

Upon my arrival at the airport, this was reported to me by the agent and I was asked to contact guest services which I did and canceled this flight.

I rebooked on the 1:45 flight 1699 (Confirmation #AHFFBR) for triple the price of $988 from the original $355.

The value I received for my money was absolutely awful and worsened my husband's episodes by delays in the flight, poor seating arrangement, which resulted in us missing the Veteran Administration clinic…

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Clarice A. Jones

Nov 23, 2018

Flight ua328 11/9/18 confirmation #CLMPD4 Denver to Honolulul seat 43E I was in a group of about 28 and we froze during the whole flight.

We were told they could not adjust the temp.

I was very uncomfortable during the whole fight.

My address is 2222 fern ln.

Hamilton Ohio 45013 Phone # 513-844-2704 I fell I should be compensated for this problem.

Thank you

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Emil Liptak Jr

Nov 19, 2018

My wife is the primary on our account (Patricia Liptak MILAGE PLUS # sb 821277, mine is sb821335., when I went to our milage plus account to see if I was credited for 5000 miles on 9/19/17 it showed my number was invalid.

It is not.

Please contact us and let us know why this is so.

Please contact my wife Pat Liptak.

Emil Liptak

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Denise Jones

Nov 14, 2018

I never even got to fly your airline.

2 days in a row my flight was cancelled last minute.

Besides driving 90 miles to the airport, I also lost 2 days of work that came out of my pocket because of mechanical issues (1st cancellation) and apparently fly crew issues (2nd cancellation) with your airline.

Your airline didn't even make an offer for a voucher, which I thought was appropriate.

My flights were scheduled at MSO on 11/11/2018 (United Airlines 4712 Flight, departing @ 05:07 pm) and then the second rescheduled flight on 11/12/2018 for 05:07 pm.

I ended up flying Delta.

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IRIS YOUNG

Nov 8, 2018

I WAS TAKING A TRIP FROM WEST PALM BEACH FL TO ELMIRA NY.

MY CONNECTING FLIGHT FROM NEWARK WAS CANCELLED.

I WAS NEVER SENT A TEXT OR EMAIL.

THE NEXT FLIGHT THEY COULD GET ME ON WAS LEAVING 24 HOURS AFTER THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT.

I HAD TO GET SOMEONE TO DRIVE ME BECAUSE I HAD A FAMILY MATTER THE NEXT DAY AT NOON.

I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

WAS I SUPPOSED TO STAY AT THE AIRPORT ALL DAY AND NIGHT?

I AM 77 YEARS OLD AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

MY RETURN TRIP WAS NOT ANY BETTER.

I ARRIVED AT THE ELMIRA AIRPORT AND WAS TOLD THE FLIGHT WAS DELAYED AND I WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CONNECTING FLIGHT IN NEWARK.

I WAS RESCHEDULED FOR THE NEXT DAY AT 6AM.

THE AIRPORT IS AN HOUR DRIVE FROM MY DAUGHTER.

WE GOT TO THE ELMIRA AIRPORT AT 4 FOR A 5:50 FLIGHT AND HAD TO DRIVE…

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Joanne Norbury

Nov 6, 2018

to whom this may concern, I flew to Seattle, Washington from Newark Airport on Aug 20 or 21st 2018 the flight there was ok. though we had a long delay and were told after everyone had boarded that we needed to download an app to see a movie or play a game ... with not enough time to down load before take off and our phones not fully charged, you can imagine how we felt knowing our cross country flight was going to be boring ..

Oh did i mention that seats 1 through 22 have charging outlets - yea we were in row 23 ... no one said sorry or cah we charge your phone upfront .. we just got a funny smile . kind of a" that's life attitude "...

On our return to Newark airport on Aug 27 2018 ( UA 1695) the delay wasn't that long, and my husband went to make sure our seats were in row 22 or before…

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