Is United now charging for carry-on?

Those traveling on domestic basic economy tickets are only allowed to bring a personal item — no free carry-on. If you bring a carry-on bag with you to the gate, you'll have to pay the checked bag fee and a $25 gate handling charge.



Whether United Airlines charges for a carry-on in 2026 depends entirely on your fare class. If you purchase a Basic Economy ticket, you are not allowed a full-sized carry-on bag for the overhead bin; you are restricted to one small personal item that fits under the seat. If you bring a carry-on to the gate with a Basic Economy ticket, you will be charged a $65 gate-check fee (the standard checked bag fee plus a $25 gate handling surcharge). However, for all other fare classes—including United Economy, Economy Plus, and First Class—one full-sized carry-on and one personal item remain free of charge. Additionally, certain passengers are exempt from the Basic Economy restriction: MileagePlus Premier members, primary cardholders of qualifying Chase United credit cards, and Star Alliance Gold members can still bring a free carry-on even on Basic Economy fares. In 2026, United continues to use this policy to encourage travelers to upgrade to standard Economy or check their bags early to speed up the boarding process.

People Also Ask

United Airlines (UA) allows 1 carry-on bag and 1 personal item (purse, briefcase, laptop bag) per passenger fee free.

MORE DETAILS

Carry-on bag 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.

MORE DETAILS

Charging for carry-on bags helps lower ticket prices by reducing the aircraft's load and saving fuel. Many airlines, including Spirit and Frontier, charge high fees for carry-on bags at the gate, increasing the cost of flying on these carriers.

MORE DETAILS

A quick easy way is to go into your reservation on the United website or app and try to select a seat. If you are Basic Economy, it won't let you select a seat or have a seat assignment in advance unless you purchased one.

MORE DETAILS

The short answer: Yes, a backpack is generally considered a personal item if it fits under the seat in front of you. Most airlines offer a few examples of things that fit into the “personal item” category, such as a purse, laptop bag, or a briefcase, but they don't usually include “backpack” on those lists.

MORE DETAILS

Carry-on luggage, for example, has the benefit of being much cheaper. You often don't have to pay any extra fees for carry-on bags. This means that you can save money by using only carry-on baggage.

MORE DETAILS

United Airlines Carry-On Baggage One full-sized carry-on bag 9 inches x 14 inches x 22 inches (22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm) plus one personal item 9 inches x 10 inches x 17 inches (22 cm x 25 cm x 43 cm). If you are travelling on a Basic Economy ticket, your personal item will be the only item you can bring on board.

MORE DETAILS

Your bag will have to fit into the sizer for it to be approved as a carry-on. Having a flexible fabric bag is advantageous in this situation because you'll be able to squeeze it in even if it's slightly oversized. Usually, many airlines won't check every carry-on but will instead go for ones that look oversized.

MORE DETAILS

Not coincidentally, American was the first major carrier to start charging for a checked bag, back in 2008, when airlines were trying to come up with new revenue sources to counter high jet fuel prices and other effects of the Great Recession. And once a fee is assessed, it is almost never rescinded.

MORE DETAILS

Most airlines let you bring a carry-on bag and a personal item. In most cases, your handbag, briefcase, or small backpack must fit beneath the seat in front of you and within the airline's size restrictions. In contrast, a carry-on bag is typically larger and is stored in the overhead compartment.

MORE DETAILS

Why is there a weight limit for carry-on baggage when a heavy bag takes up the same amount of space as a lighter bag in the cabin? The safe operation of flights requires that the weight of the aircraft is known so that a weight-based load and balance calculation can be made for the flight.

MORE DETAILS