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

United Airlines logo

Laura Feltus

Dec 18, 2016

My husband is in the middle of trying to get home for his brother's funeral.

His flight from Denver to Grand Junction, Colorado was delayed for two hours and then cancelled all because the flight attendant was late.

He is now stuck in Denver, Colorado with no extra money thinking he was going to be home by now.

He has not eating any meals all day and is very exhausted from his trip and the loss of his brother.

Your company should compensate him with a paid hotel room along with a paid meal of his choice and paid breakfast, if he chooses.

All because of your employee, I would rate his experience with No stars!!!

His flight number was: United Airlines 4608.

United Airlines logo

Tony Montoya

Oct 18, 2016

Water leak in restroom flooded the floor of the airplane.

No notice from crew other that to ask passengers to put items on their laps.

No explanation, no assurance of problems resolved our issues based on leak.

I am involved in training at local schools should an emergency occur this was a poor demonstration.

United Airlines logo

Lynette Pauul

Sep 24, 2016

Currently the non departure of UA 745 La Guardia to Denver. onSep 24 206 due to "technical difficulties" is proving very irritating, very little information was given out and quite by accident found out a meal voucher was available.

I am on holiday from New Zealand and have wasted hours sitting around the terminals freezing.

Only flew United because it belongs to the Star Alliance.

Would currently only rate my experience today as one out of five barely.

I understand the safety needs but communication seems to be a major issue today for your company.

United Airlines logo

Beverly

Sep 16, 2016

I had a very upsetting experience on a flight with united airlines on Tuesday Sept 13, 2016.

My sister, niece and myself were checking our baggage and a gentleman (I did not get his name) but I would have if I had known how rude and inconsiderate he was going to treat us.

It was at the FLL airport and he stood behind the United Airlines counter and made us empty all three of our carry-ons on the filthy floor b/c he said our carry-ons were too fat and they needed to be able to fit into the measuring container that gauges the size that is allowed.

I didn't see any problem with my carry on or my sisters.. my niece's may have been a little too fat so we agreed to his demands.

We had to sit on the filthy floor and rearrange all 3 of our carry-ons while he just watched us struggle for at…

United Airlines logo

Sur

Sep 10, 2016

Made sure before we left Seattle, WA that we had wheelchair assistance in Chicago, IL and we were not on list.

Have 15 minutes to make flight.

Ridiculous after following all rules and 4 extra people were put on shuttle.

United Airlines logo

Argelis Hipp

Sep 10, 2016

I am a very dissatisfied customer who flew in UA Flight # 1033 from Panama City Panama PTY on Tuesday Sept 6 to Houston Texas.

I purchased some liquor at Attenza Duty Free Store in Panama and the store tried to deliver the merchandise prior to the plane departure and the captain and flight attendant Supervisor rejected the item.

I was seated in row 36C which made it hard to see up front when the items where delivered.

I was very upset since the Flight attendance Supervisor took my name and called the Captain who informed her that they will cancel the purchase.

Upon my arrival to Houston I contacted Panama Duty Free Store and they informed me that they had the merchandise and they could not deliver it prior to the plane departure and they never heard from the captain of the plane.

I…

United Airlines logo

Elaine Marie Connor

Aug 29, 2016

Had my delta flight rescheduled to United Airlines from SYR to SMF on August 16, 2016.

Was due to leave SYR @ 5:25pm arrive @ SMF @ 10:08pm. arrived at airport about 3pm.

United Airlines flight #3533 & 515 from Chicago to SMF.

Then United cancelled my flight and scheduled me for American Airlines and didn't arrive in SMF until 1:30am.

My ride home from airport had to be informed many times of the changed arrival time and greatly inconvenienced my generous friend.

I am a 77yo woman and this was very difficult on me.

All the hassles of being in an airport and inconveniences of being in airports for so long and arriving at SMF at 1:30 am and being almost the only person there at that hour of the morning.

Finally got home @ about 2:30am.

It was a long and difficult day.

Had some…

United Airlines logo

peggy

Aug 23, 2016

I rate this airline -0 , I have talked to several different customer service agents in complaint department.

They admitted that their service was unsatisfactory.

Then told me the employee would be spoken to.

This was terrible for them to do.

I have proceeded to make a complaint to the DOT and hope to help anyone else flying with a medical assist dog.

I also will be informing the disabilities complaint department as well.

United Airlines logo

Dr. Andreas Kamlot

Aug 20, 2016

There are very few flights in my life which I will remember for a long time: flight UA 59 will be one of them.

Due to my profession and my family ties in Germany and California, aviation is part of our lives.

With four people we departed SFO on July 18, 2016 with the Lufthansa airbus A380, flight LH455.

The reservations were completed through the Lufthansa website.

The quality of the airplane and the trip was as predicted, very good.

With Star Alliance partner United Airlines we returned on July 27, flight UA59.

Quality of aircraft: It felt like boarding a 25 year old vessel: seats worn out, magazine pocket ripped and hitting my knees during the entire flight, mono screen for all passengers, extra miniature bathrooms.

Entertainment: Mono screen like vintage aircrafts.

Could not…

United Airlines logo

Michael Closter

Aug 19, 2016

We had a flight UA3419 Syracuse to Newark August 14, 2016 Sunday 6:09pm.

Confirmation # MFTN8X for 2 persons.

The flight was delayed first, then cancelled all together.

In conversing with a United customer service agent there were no flights available for over 24 hours from Syracuse.

With my travel partner and myself needing to get back to work in Charleston Monday morning, we could not wait till tomorrow even, therefore, we had no choice but to rent a car to at least get to Newark Airport for better chance of a flight.

We were able to book a flight out of Newark to Charleston at 1:45 on Monday. to get back to Charleston SC.

The cost of the rental car was $109.

41, gas $11.

01, hotel 90.

39, additional parking day at airport $8.

00 and lost wages between the two of our jobs.

My…

United Airlines logo

Diane Mitchell

Aug 15, 2016

I bought tickets for my daughter and her husband who has never flown and the flight from Dayton to Chicago to Seattle went just fine but there return flight from Seattle to Newark to Dayton well to say the least was the worst act of I don't give a damn that I have ever seen.

My family got to Newark and was told there flight to Dayton was cancelled by the FAA and airport was closed.

You have a choice of going to Cleveland, Detroit or someone else but which ever you pick that's it as far as you can go.

My daughter called me in the state of Washington crying and hubby in a panic because they couldn't go to Dayton, Ohio.

They ended up going to Cleveland oh and had a relative from anna oh drive there and back five hours.

She gave me confirmatoin number JD25YJ.

They were told since united…

United Airlines logo

Teresa Langley

Aug 13, 2016

On July 27 th I traveled from Florida to California.

No problem with my flight.

But I traveled with 2 pieces of canvas style roller luggage ~ one piece is totally unusable now.

The piece has small area holes that were not there before.

I had to purchase two new pieces for my return trip to Florida.

If there is a number for United Airlines corporate complaints, I would really appreciate it!

United Airlines logo

Roxanne S. Mittlesteadt

Aug 12, 2016

We were scheduled on August 10, 2016 on flight 565 DCA to ORD.

I called to see if the flight was on time before we departed for the airport.

I was told by an agent the flight was cancelled due to weather and we were now booked on flight 3441.

I was never notified of this and explained this to the agent.

She insisted the flight was cancelled and did not know why we were not notified.

I checked on the Internet and there was no info that the flight was cancelled.

I called again.

Another agent told me the same thing, the flight cancelled due to weather and he gave me the same bs on the phone.

Weather was fine and no other flights were cancelled from DCA or Dulles.

We then went out to the airport for the 3441 flight a few hours later and saw the flight 565 had not been cancelled and…

United Airlines logo

Donna Scott

Jul 22, 2016

I was to take United Airlines, flight number 4367 at 6:09 a.m., from Richmond VA Airport, USA to my daughter's destination wedding in Montego Bay, Jamaica on Thursday June 23, 2016, schedule for 5:00 p.m.

I was to arrive in Montego Bay at 12:40 p.m.

June 22, 2016. the passengers had boarded the plane.

The plane had backed up and prepared to take off when the pilot informed the passengers there was a mechanical problem and the passengers had to disembark.

My understanding was there was a compressor problem with the plane; the flight was canceled and passengers had to rescheduled their flights.

There were three of us traveling with the same flight itinerary, in a timely manner a United Airline agent was available to assist us in finding another flight.

The gentleman traveling with us…

United Airlines logo

Dr Venkatraman Gopal

Jul 22, 2016

My ticket was in United airlines traveling from Houston to Chennai.

My confirmation reference was GXWTML .

The itinerary for the travel was as follows.

Take off was delayed in Chicago to Frankfurt flight UA 907 and consequently missing the connecting flight UA 9130 (Lufthansa LH 758).

Went to the UA service center at Frankfurt airport who issued me a ticket on an alternate route to Chennai via Dubai.

The itinerary was to travel to Dubai by LH 630 on 9th July 2016 and then travel to Chennai by EK544 on again 9th July 2016.

That is the connecting flight EK544 was booked a day earlier; that is on 9th July 2016 instead of 10th July 2016.

So I was stranded in Dubai with no flight to Chennai available for the next 4 days.

I ran from pillar to post and ultimately I found two Lufthansa…

United Airlines logo

Gary Kirr

Jul 18, 2016

Had 48,400 miles removed from my frequent flyer account because I did not have activity for 18 months.

Asked to have them reinstated and they refused.

Gave no options such as a penalty fee for reinstatement.

Got screwed and without recourse.

American Airlines allows miles expired after 2002 to be reinstated for a fee of $200 for up to 50,000 miles.

American also sends out notifications of miles about to expire.

Did not receive any notification that miles may expire and now am looking at getting screwed out of about a $1,000.

There sole intent is to have as many frequent flyer miles expire worthless so as to reduce their liability.

No one at United to whom I made this accusation argued my assertion.

Horrible, horrible program.

No wonder their customer satisfaction is so low.…

United Airlines logo

Steven Macarus

Jul 7, 2016

I wanted to let someone know how frustrated and disappointed I am with my recent experience with United.

I was scheduled to fly out of Denver at 5:40 P.

M. on 7/6.

I was flying to LaGuardia and was scheduled to land at 11:30 P.

M.

When I arrived at my gate in Denver, I discovered that my flight was delayed by 20 minutes.

No big deal...

Except it didn't end there.

The delays kept coming.

Unfortunately, no one was working the desk at the gate so there was nobody to communicate with in an attempt to get answers.

Finally, at about 5:30 or so, we were informed that the delay was caused by a problem with the plane not connecting properly to the ramp.

We waited while that was fixed, passengers exited the plane and the cleaning crew did their job.

We boarded the plane at about 6:15 and…

United Airlines logo

L Covington

Jun 28, 2016

This is re: SkyWest #29931 and a service experience on June 15, 2015 on a Spokane overnight I encountered with her.

She was extremely discourteous, rude and demanding to this associate.

We have contracts with several airlines and I have only had a handful that have been as detrimental to my service to other guests as she was.

She didn't like what we had on our menu and as I was waiting on other tables, followed me around the dining room and kept insisting on a previous visit she had had a certain Item.

I suggested a few items on our menu and she then asked if there was somewhere nearby that might have her special salad.

I gave her lengthy directions, while ignoring my other guests to do so, and explained where she could possibly find her salad.

She walked outside, then turned around…

United Airlines logo

Lani Sifling

Jun 23, 2016

They did not pick up the baggage change from American Airlines and left my son's (and his roommate) bag sitting in Madrid.

We only knew that because I had to track it through American.

They were left in Tel Aviv for 6 days with no luggage and no help.

A call center in India is the only way to contact them.

United Airlines was not helpful or understanding at all.

United Airlines logo

Evelyn Harrell

Jun 13, 2016

I am currently having a bad problem at the Houston International airport.

I am traveling with 18 others trying to get home to Baton Rouge , La.

We left from Denver Co. at 3:05 pm and we were to change planes Houston however we were given several departure times and finally to we would have to wait 24 hours or more before we could leave out.

In this group several persons have Diabetes, Arthritis, Sleep Apnea along with a host of other physical impairments.

I have insulin that must be refrigerated and I was told to go to customer service and ask for Ice.

I am also one of 5 persons in a wheelchair.

I spoke to Corey in Michigan who made a suggestion.

This is a very poor way to say you recognize the Americans with Disability Act .

I feel that your airline has no regard for the disabled…

United Airlines logo

Ms Cornell Nitschke

May 31, 2016

I was on Flight UA0099, Seat 33C, Melbourne, Australia to LAX which left on 15th May, 2016.

From the beginning we experienced problems with the Entertainment system on the flight from the moment we left.

40 minutes into the flight the Pilot informed us he would need turn the system off and restart in 20 mins.

After this occurred we were able to use the entertainment system but it was never functioning properly during the entire flight and at one stage I had to ask the air hostess for assistance and she advised me she would need to reboot my screen.

Again it worked but it was not a 100%.

When we were about 4 hours from landing the Pilot again informed us that the entertainment system was not functioning again he would now have to turn it off for good.

Fortunately, I had a book to read…

United Airlines logo

Joyce

May 30, 2016

My flight information is leaving from Puerto Rico, United Flight #841 at 2:22pm, to Chicago.

We will start on Saturday, May 28, 2016, arrival at the San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, approximately 1015 am we left the Adventures of the Sea Caribbean Cruise Ship headed to the above listed airport, arrived at 1045am.

On arriving at the Airport we were notified that an earlier flight had been cancelled and they had to get those passengers on a flight first.

We did not get finish with our check-in until 1:47pm.

So we were told to hurry and get to gate B8, mind you there is seven(7) people in our group, I am 70 yrs old and we had my cousin, who is 75 yrs of age, in a wheel chair rushing to get to gate B8 after going through TSA pre check.

So we made it flight was beautiful…

United Airlines logo

Stephen J De

May 2, 2016

Had lots of problems renewing Red Carpet membership.

Tied numerous times on line, no luck.

Called Premier Number and was passed to Millage Plus Desk and then to someone else not Red Carpet.

So I go shunted around twice.

So after 3 tries finally got some help.

Love United but it should not be so hard to renew, had many problems with trying to renew on line.

United Airlines logo

Sylvia

Apr 27, 2016

Received email advising three day Companion Fare Sale to Europe, to be booked by April 27.

Was not ready to book yesterday and clicked on the email link today and it is telling me ended April 27.

It is early morning EDT on April 27.

Did not get any satisfaction calling main number.

United Airlines logo

Rositta Suhr

Apr 14, 2016

I have a complaint that I would like to bring to the attention of United Airlines management concerning services received on Tuesday the 12 April 2016.

My departing flight was United Airlines flight 9197 to Frankfurt Germany with a departure time of 3:30 PM from Detroit Metro Airport in Detroit, Michigan.

Prior to leaving to the Detroit Metro Airport on the morning of 12 April 2016 my husband and I were finishing up last minute packing so we could weigh the suitcase to make sure it was within the 50 lb. authorized allowance.

The bag was over in weight and I only wanted to take one suitcase so my husband called United Airlines at phone number 1-800-228-2744 to speak with somebody in reference to charges on overweight baggage.

We called because we were unsure if we would get charged for…

PreviousPage 5 of 10Next