How to Contact United Airlines Customer Service - NerdWallet (2024)

If you travel with United Airlines frequently, chances are you’ll need to contact customer service at some point. These days, travelers are reaching out to airlines more than ever to check up on safety measures, request refunds and flight changes, or simply seek information about upcoming travel plans.

So here’s our guide on how to contact United Airlines’ customer service, including the best ways to get in touch with the airline, no matter your issue.

Many inquiries can be found on United’s customer support page, where you can search for info by topic, such as reservations, MileagePlus, lost bags, and animal transportation.

You can also contact United Airlines directly via a variety of customer support numbers depending on your situation. It's reachable on Facebook and Twitter as well.

To call about an existing reservation, use the United customer service number 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331).

For reservation assistance in the U.S. and Canada, call 1-855-820-3610.

For those with accessibility issues, use United’s 24-hour Accessibility Desk, which can be reached at 1-800-228-2744 from the United States and Canada.

United Airlines has two live chat features. One called MileagePlus Assistant offers a chance to discuss MileagePlus-related subjects on demand.

You can also use the Virtual Assistant chat for other topics such as reservations, bags and upgrades.

For questions or concerns regarding your MileagePlus account, start on the MileagePlus contact information page. From there, you can learn about joining, requesting missing miles or even change the name on your award account. But if you need to speak with someone about a more specific question or issue, call the toll-free number 1-800-780-0235 from within the U.S. and Canada.

If you’re calling from elsewhere, find a local customer care number on this page, or you can fill out a contact form if you prefer.

Some United flights are eligible for refunds, while others offer only flight credits. But all fares, as long as they were booked at least a week before scheduled travel, can be canceled within 24 hours of booking for a full refund. Likewise, if a flight was significantly delayed or canceled by United due to weather, air traffic control or mechanical issues, you may be able to request a refund or travel credit via United’s refund form.

Generally speaking, you can request a refund for any canceled booking that allows refunds. But since most fares are nonrefundable, it’s more likely you’ll receive a travel credit for a future booking instead.

If your travel plans have changed and you’d like to cancel a trip and receive a refund, log in to your MileagePlus account, go to “My Trips,” cancel the reservation in question and request a refund. This may result in a full refund or a credit depending on your original booking.

If you’ve already canceled your flight and need to request a refund, fill out the refund form. If your purchase qualifies for a refund, United will credit the amount back to you within seven to 20 business days depending on the method of payment.

If you’re still at the airport and notice your checked bag was lost, damaged or delayed after a United Airlines flight, head to the Baggage Service Office for support. If you’ve left the airport already, you can call United's Baggage Resolution Service Center at 1-800-335-2247. If you’re outside the U.S. or Canada, call 1-281-821-3526.

For flights within the U.S., including Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s recommended that you report your baggage issue within 24 hours. For international flights, you can report it within a week for lost bags, and 21 days for delayed bags.

You can also use United’s bag tracing feature to track your bags via this form.

To offer feedback or file a complaint, start on United’s customer care page. Here, you will type in your contact information, select the type of feedback you’d like to leave, select a flight to add to your customer care case if relevant and offer details about your experience, good or bad. There’s also a place to state the best way to get in contact with you if necessary.

United Airlines offers several ways to get in touch for customer support. So get familiar with United’s policies, locate the right phone number or form, and get the customer service you need.