PR Newswire
‘Virtual Gate’ gives customers real-time updates about which groups are boarding and a progress bar that shows how many people have boarded
United ClubSM ‘closest and best’ feature recommends nearby United Club locations based on proximity to travelers’ gates and available capacity, with capacity insights initially offered at ORD and rolling out to additional airports in 2026
Package-delivery-style bag tracker shows real-time locations throughout the journey
Personalized updates include guidance on traveling with strollers or wheelchairs, travel document requirements and biometric boarding options as well as arrival information like live weather data and local rideshare options
CHICAGO, Dec. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — United today launched new features to its award-winning mobile app to save customers even more time and further improve the overall travel experience on the world’s largest airline*:
- ‘Virtual Gate’ gives customers real-time updates about which groups are boarding and a progress bar that shows how many people have boarded, eliminating the need to wait around the gate area.
- United Club ‘closest and best’ feature recommends nearby United Club locations based on proximity to travelers’ gates and available capacity, with capacity insights initially offered at ORD and rolling out to additional airports in 2026.
- An upgraded mobile bag tracking feature includes a package-delivery-style tracker that shows real-time locations throughout the journey.
- Personalized updates include guidance on traveling with strollers or wheelchairs, reminders for required travel documents and biometric boarding options.
- Arrival information features provide travelers with live local weather conditions, estimated local arrival time and instructions on connecting to rideshare services directly from the airport.
United has improved upon the industry’s best mobile app with AI-supported navigation tools that will predict what features would most benefit customers during their trip and personalize content to each traveler. The upgrades come as the airline expects to welcome more than 10 million people during the winter holiday travel season**, the most ever for United during that time.
“The more information our customers have, the more confident they feel about their trip – and that’s particularly important during the holidays,” said David Kinzelman, United’s Chief Customer Officer. “The United app gives travelers personalized, real-time updates during their entire travel journey, helping our customers feel like they have a personal assistant guiding them every step of the way.”
More than 84% of United customers use the app the day they fly, and since beta-testing the latest app enhancements, the airline found customers appreciated the transparent communication, time saved and real-time updates.
For years, United has led the industry on adding game-changing innovations and policies across the airline to help customers self-serve and increase transparency, including:
- Personalized connection experience: United launched new, personalized app features that make catching connecting flights easier, including personalized, turn-by-turn directions to connecting gates with estimated walk times, real-time flight status updates, tips for longer layovers, and a heads up if United is able to hold the plane for those with an extra-tight connection.
- Bag tracking enhancements: United integrated Apple’s Share Item Location for AirTag, so customers everywhere who travel with an AirTag or Find My network accessory can seamlessly share the accessory location with United’s customer service team to help locate their luggage in the event that it is mishandled.
- Automatic rebooking assistance: Rather than standing in line to speak with an agent or manually searching for alternatives, United’s self-service tools automatically provide travelers with personalized rebooking options, baggage tracking details, and, when eligible, meal and hotel vouchers if their flight is delayed or canceled.
- Real-time weather delay updates: United texts real-time radar maps to help customers understand how inclement weather in one part of the country can impact a flight elsewhere. United is the first and only U.S. airline currently providing its customers these kinds of specific messages, and the airline is sending them with assistance from gen AI tools.
United’s new app features are rolling out to customers and will be widely available ahead of the holiday travel period.
For more information, visit united.com, and download the United app here. Visual assets can be found here.
*As measured by available seat miles
**Travel between December 18, 2025 – January 6, 2026
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers, and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol “UAL”.
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SOURCE United Airlines
