5 things you need to know about the new United Airlines passenger seat policy that has the internet divided.
- United Airlines is rolling out a new "Basic Economy Plus" fare that bans all carry-on luggage except for a small personal item, mirroring the ultra-low-cost carrier model.
- The policy will automatically assign seats at check-in for this fare class, meaning passengers traveling together under the same booking will not be guaranteed to sit next to each other.
- A viral TikTok video shows a family of four being separated across two different rows after they refused to pay an extra $75 per person for "priority seating."
- United claims the change is designed to speed up boarding and reduce gate-checked baggage, but critics say it unfairly targets budget-conscious travelers and families.
- Early data from a test rollout in Denver shows boarding times decreased by 8%, but customer satisfaction scores for Basic Economy dropped by 12%.