Carry-on bags are not included unless you're flying to South America, across the Atlantic or on an international flight across the Pacific. You can prepay to check a bag or check a carry-on at your gate for the regular bag fee plus an additional $25.

On most United Airlines fares, a standard carry-on bag is included for free; however, for Basic Economy passengers on domestic flights, a full-sized carry-on bag is not allowed and results in a fee. If you book Basic Economy in 2026, you are only permitted one "personal item" that fits under the seat. If you bring a larger carry-on to the gate on a Basic Economy ticket, you will be charged the standard checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling charge. There are exceptions: if you are a MileagePlus Premier member, a primary cardmember of a qualifying MileagePlus credit card, or a Star Alliance Gold member, you can still bring a free carry-on even when flying Basic Economy. For all other fare classes (Economy, Economy Plus, First, and Polaris), one carry-on and one personal item remain free of charge. This tiered system is designed to speed up the boarding process on busy 2026 routes by reducing the number of passengers fighting for limited overhead bin space in the back of the aircraft.