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Home > Reservations & check-in > Baggage > Oversized, overweight and excess baggage
Oversized, overweight and excess baggage
Please note: We have revised some of our checked bag policies for travel worldwide. For the latest checked baggage updates, please review all relevant baggage pages before you travel.
Updated: October 19, 2011

Any checked baggage item may be assessed a fee if it is over certain weight or size limits, or if it is in excess of your normal baggage allowance. Please see the appropriate sections below for information and criteria relating to these fees.


Information below applies for passengers on flights operated by United, United Express, Continental, Continental Express, Continental Connection and Star Alliance partner carriers. Policies relating to military personnel apply for travel on flights operated by United, United Express, Continental, Continental Express and Continental Connection.
  • Oversized baggage
  • Overweight baggage
  • Excess baggage

Some checked items are assessed a special handling charge because of size, fragility or other handling requirements. Please view the Special Items page for information about these items.

Exceptionally bulky or fragile items will not be accepted as checked baggage. These items may ride in a passenger seat in the cabin, provided that a ticket has been purchased for the item and specific seating conditions have been met.

Oversized baggage

Frequent flyer program or military status Maximum
size per bag
to avoid oversized baggage fee
Maximum size per bag for acceptance as checked baggage
• Global ServicesSM
• 1K®
• Premier Executive®
• OnePass® Platinum Elite
• OnePass Gold Elite
• Star Alliance® Gold
• Premier®
• OnePass Silver Elite
• Star Alliance Silver
• General member
• Non-member
• Active U.S. military personnel and their dependents, not traveling on official business (Military ID required.)
62 linear inches
(157 linear cm)*
115 linear inches
(292 linear cm)*
• Active U.S. military personnel and/or their dependents, traveling on official business (Military ID and orders must be presented when checking bags.) 115 linear inches
(292 linear cm)*
n/a
*linear measurement = length + width + height

View fee information

Important notes regarding oversized baggage

  • Any checked bag with a single dimension more than 62 inches (157 cm) will not be accepted.
  • Any checked bag that is more than 115 linear inches (292 linear cm) will not be accepted.
  • Oversized baggage charges are applied in addition to any charges that may be assessed for overweight and/or excess baggage.
  • Fees for oversized baggage must be paid at the airport check-in counter and may not be paid online.
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Overweight baggage

Status or fare type Maximum weight per bag
to avoid overweight baggage fee
Maximum weight per bag for acceptance as checked baggage
• Global ServicesSM
• 1K®
• Premier Executive®
• OnePass® Platinum Elite
• OnePass Gold Elite
• Star Alliance® Gold
• United First®
• United Business®
• United Economy® tickets with confirmed upgrades to United First or United Business
• Active U.S. military personnel and their accompanying dependents (Military ID required.)
70 lbs.
(32 kg)
99.9 lbs.**
(45.4 kg)
• Premier®
• OnePass Silver Elite
• Star Alliance Silver
• General member
• Non-member
• United Economy
• Dependents of active U.S. military personnel, not traveling on official business (Military ID required.)
50 lbs.
(23 kg)
**Airport authorities in some cities strictly limit checked baggage to 70 pounds (32 kg) per item. For travel to or from the cities listed below, any piece of checked baggage exceeding the 70-pound limit must be repackaged into smaller units.

View fee information

Important notes regarding overweight baggage

  • Airport authorities in the cities listed below strictly limit checked baggage to 70 pounds (32 kg) per item. For travel to or from the cities listed below, any piece of checked baggage exceeding the 70-pound limit must be repackaged into smaller units.

    • Accra, Ghana (ACC)
    • Athens, Greece (ATH)
    • Brussels, Belgium (BRU)
    • Dubai, U.A.E. (DXB)
    • Edinburgh, UK (EDI)
    • Glasgow, UK (GLA)
    • Kuwait City, Kuwait (KWI)
    • Lagos, Nigeria (LOS)
    • Lima, Peru (LIM)
    • London, UK (LHR)
    • Manchester, UK (MAN)
    • Sydney, Australia (SYD)
  • Any bag weighing more than 99.9 pounds (45.4 kg) will not be accepted as checked baggage.
  • Overweight baggage charges are applied in addition to any charges that may be assessed for oversized and/or excess baggage.
  • Fees for overweight baggage must be paid at the airport check-in counter and may not be paid online.
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Excess baggage

Status or fare type Number of bags permitted without excess baggage fees
• Active U.S. military personnel and/or their dependents, traveling on official business (Military ID and orders must be presented when checking bags.)

Economy:
4

First/Business:
5
(Duffel bags, sea bags, and B-4 bags are accepted)

• United First
• United Business

• United Economy tickets with confirmed upgrades to United First or United Business
• Global ServicesSM
• 1K®
• Premier Executive®
• OnePass® Platinum Elite
• OnePass Gold Elite
• Star Alliance® Gold
• Active U.S. military personnel and their accompanying dependents, not traveling on official business (Military ID required.)

3
• Premier®
• OnePass Silver Elite
• Star Alliance Silver
• General member
• Non-member
2

View fee information

Important notes regarding excess baggage

  • Excess baggage charges are applied in addition to any charges that may be assessed for overweight and/or oversized baggage.
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