How to get free economy plus on United?

MileagePlus® Premier® members can book available Economy Plus seats for free. If you're not a member, join MileagePlus today and start earning your way to flight benefits. Free access to Economy Plus at check-in for yourself and one companion.



People Also Ask

Economy Plus seats provide up to six inches of extra legroom, allowing customers to stretch out with more room to work, relax and sit near the front of the cabin; making exiting the plane easier at their destination. Economy Plus seating is available on most United and United Express flights.

MORE DETAILS

The most reliable way of getting upgraded for free is to have elite status on the airline you're flying. Most airlines reward their most frequent flyers with complimentary upgrades on domestic routes.

MORE DETAILS

Alcoholic beverages are free in Premium Plus. In regular economy, alcoholic drinks are only free on transatlantic flights, flights between the U.S. and some South American countries, and certain transpacific flights. United's Premium Plus food choices are also different from those provided to economy passengers.

MORE DETAILS

Preferred seats, including Economy Plus: When checking in, Premier Silver members may get complimentary Economy Plus and preferred seating access for you and one companion on award flights (for Premier Gold tier and higher, these freebies are available earlier, at the time of booking).

MORE DETAILS

You're automatically eligible for a Complimentary Premier Upgrade as long as you are a Premier member (the higher your status, the earlier you become eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrades and are flying on an eligible ticket on any eligible United-operated flight.

MORE DETAILS

On flights that have premium economy seats, flyers who have booked a Premium Plus seat have first priority for upgrades over everyone else. Only once those upgrade requests have cleared will United begin to process upgrades from those in economy.

MORE DETAILS

Who gets Priority Boarding. Priority Boarding is available on select United- and United Express®-flights worldwide. If there is Priority Boarding on your flight, you can add it to your United Economy® or Economy Plus® ticket. Passengers flying in Basic Economy cannot purchase Priority Boarding.

MORE DETAILS

Though these passengers fly in the same cabin, the main difference between Premium Plus and Economy Plus on United is more legroom and upgraded amenities (including free food and alcohol) on United and United Express flights.

MORE DETAILS

Keep in mind that upgrading to Economy Plus will only net you more legroom, guaranteed in-seat power access and a seat closer to the front of the plane; it will not get you an additional baggage allowance.

MORE DETAILS

Upgrade Your Air Travel: 10 Tips to Score a First-Class Seat
  1. Join airline loyalty programs.
  2. Volunteer to be bumped.
  3. Use offers from your credit cards.
  4. Book flights during off-peak times.
  5. Check for available upgrades online.
  6. Consider late flight offers.
  7. Arrive early for check-in.
  8. Bid for an upgrade.


MORE DETAILS

Unless an airline has a complimentary space available upgrade program in place, expect that you'll only receive a free upgrade if it's for operational reasons (like if economy is oversold). Ultimately airlines don't just upgrade loyal flyers unless it's a published benefit, in order to avoid revenue dilution.

MORE DETAILS

The expiration date for elite status is Jan. 31 each year. To ensure that you maintain your status from year to year, you will need to complete the PQF and PQP requirements for your status level.

MORE DETAILS

The Million Miler program, a part of the MileagePlus program, rewards members for extraordinary, long-term loyalty to United. Million Milers enjoy generous annual benefits and lifetime Premier® status.

MORE DETAILS

Alcoholic beverages are complimentary in premium cabins on all flights and in United Premium Plus (flights to Hawaii and on premium transcontinental flights).

MORE DETAILS

What is preferred seating? A preferred seat is a regular United Economy seat that's closer to the front of the plane. This will put you in the first few rows behind Economy Plus. Extra legroom is not included.

MORE DETAILS

Gold elite members and above can pick an Economy Plus seat for free when booking their ticket. Silver members, meanwhile, can choose from available Economy Plus seats upon check-in.

MORE DETAILS

On almost every flight, the passengers who get upgrades are either the ones who pay for them (whether in dollars or miles) in advance or frequent fliers with elite status who receive complimentary upgrades as part of their perks. There are very few exceptions, so don't expect to score a free upgrade by just asking.

MORE DETAILS