BlogIs United Airlines Down?

Is United Airlines Down Right Now?

How to check United Airlines website and app status, troubleshoot check-in and MileagePlus issues, and what to do if United is down before your flight.

Last updated: June 8, 20264 min read
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Check United Airlines Status

United doesn't publish an official status page — use these sources:

United Airlines Digital Services

United's digital platform includes multiple services that can have independent issues:

Website (united.com)Web

Flight search, booking, and account management

United AppApp

iOS and Android app for booking and boarding passes

Online Check-InTravel

Opens 24 hours before departure

MileagePlusLoyalty

Frequent flyer account, miles, and upgrades

Flight StatusTravel

Real-time departure and arrival tracking

Booking SystemCore

Reservations and ticketing

Seat SelectionTravel

Seat map and upgrade management

Inflight EntertainmentInflight

United streaming app and Wi-Fi

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Common United Issues & Fixes

Website down or slowServer or CDN outage

Fix: Check Downdetector; use the United app; call 1-800-864-8331

Check-in not workingSystem issue or outside check-in window

Fix: Try United app; airport kiosk; call United

MileagePlus login failingAccount issue or password reset needed

Fix: Use "Forgot Password"; try different browser; call MileagePlus support

Seat selection not savingSession timeout or server error

Fix: Refresh and try again; clear cookies; call to change seat by phone

App not loadingApp version bug or server timeout

Fix: Update app; force restart; delete and reinstall

Boarding pass not generatingCheck-in incomplete or server error

Fix: Complete all check-in steps; request at airport kiosk or agent

📞 United Airlines Emergency Contacts

Reservations: 1-800-864-8331
MileagePlus: 1-800-421-4655
International: +1-713-952-1630
Accessibility: 1-800-228-2744 (TTY)
Airport kiosks and agents can assist regardless of website status.

Troubleshooting United Issues

Use the United app during web outages

The United app (iOS/Android) routes through different load balancers than united.com. It often continues to work for check-in and boarding passes when the main website is down.

Airport kiosks are always available

United kiosks at airports connect to reservation systems independently of the public website. Check in at a kiosk even during major website outages.

Star Alliance codeshares check in elsewhere

If your UA-coded flight is operated by Lufthansa, ANA, Air Canada, or another Star Alliance partner, you must check in on the operating carrier's website — not united.com.

Use your email confirmation as your travel document

Your United booking confirmation email contains your e-ticket number. This is a valid document regardless of website availability — screenshot it before traveling.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is United Airlines down right now?

To check if United Airlines is down, try loading united.com. If it fails, check Downdetector (downdetector.com/status/united-airlines) for real-time user reports. United does not publish a public status page. You can also follow @United on X/Twitter for service announcements during incidents.

Why is United Airlines online check-in not working?

United online check-in failures can be caused by: (1) Server outage — check Downdetector, (2) You're outside the 24-hour check-in window, (3) Your booking requires additional passenger information (passport, ESTA), (4) A Star Alliance codeshare flight — check in on the operating carrier's website, (5) Your MileagePlus login has an issue. Try the United app as an alternative, or call 1-800-864-8331.

What do I do if United's website is down when I need to fly?

If United's website is down before your flight: (1) Use the United app — it uses different infrastructure than the website, (2) Check in at the airport kiosk — kiosks connect directly to reservation systems, (3) Call United at 1-800-864-8331 to check in by phone, (4) Get to the airport early for agent assistance, (5) Your e-ticket confirmation email is a valid travel document — keep it handy.

Why are my United MileagePlus miles not showing up?

Missing MileagePlus miles can be due to: (1) Miles take 3-10 business days to post after a completed flight, (2) You entered the wrong MileagePlus number when booking, (3) You flew on a Star Alliance partner — partner miles can take up to 12 weeks, (4) Eligible activity not recorded — use the Mileage Credit Request form. Log into united.com → MileagePlus → Account Activity to check pending and posted miles.

What happened during United's 2015 ground stop?

In June 2015, United Airlines experienced a major system outage that caused a nationwide ground stop lasting about an hour, delaying hundreds of flights. The cause was a corrupted network router file that disrupted their reservation and operations system. This was a significant IT failure that highlighted airline dependency on centralized IT systems. United has since upgraded its infrastructure, but IT outages remain a risk for all major carriers.

🌐 Can't Access United Airlines?

If United Airlines is working for others but not for you, it might be an ISP or regional issue. A VPN can help bypass network-level blocks and routing problems.

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Troubleshoot with a VPN

Connect from a different region to test if the issue is local to your network. Also protects your connection on public Wi-Fi.

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Secure Your United Airlines Account

Service outages are a common time for phishing attacks. Use a password manager to keep unique, strong passwords for every account.

Try NordPass — Free Password Manager
Quick ISP test: Try accessing United Airlines on mobile data (Wi-Fi off). If it works, the issue is with your ISP or local network.

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