Report updated Apr 14, 2026
United Airlines
For frequent flyers and travelers who value end-to-end trip management, real-time status updates, and seamless airport navigation.
United Airlines is an established travel app that is free with in-app purchases. With a 4.8/5 rating from 8.8M reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate ease of use, though app stability and freezing remains a common concern.
What Is United Airlines?
Current Momentum
v4.2.72 · 1w ago
ActiveUnited Airlines introduced real-time security wait times for 7 hubs in version 4.2.72. This update provides actionable travel planning data for passengers.
Active Nemesis
Fly Delta
By Delta Air Lines
Other Rivals
7-Day Rank Pulse 🇺🇸
Recent User Mood 🇺🇸
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
How Is The App's Momentum Right Now?
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What Are The Key Features?
High-speed inflight internet connectivity, free for MileagePlus members on select flights
Real-time flight updates and boarding progression delivered to lock screen
Real-time security checkpoint wait time monitoring at major hubs
Interactive airport maps and terminal navigation
Who is it for & how much does it cost?
Target Audience
Frequent flyers and travelers who value end-to-end trip management, real-time status updates, and seamless airport navigation.
Pricing
Freemium- Free app usage for all travelers
- MileagePlus membership for premium perks (e.g., Starlink Wi-Fi)
The app serves as a free utility to drive loyalty and operational efficiency, with monetization occurring through the broader airline ecosystem (tickets, upgrades, and MileagePlus engagement).
Who Built It?
What other apps does United Airlines make?
CCS+
Business
My Aviate
Business
United Connections 2026
Business
United DTSC
Business
What do users think recently?
High confidence · 8.8M reviews analyzed
What is the recent mood?
“Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate ease of use and travel convenience, but report app stability and freezing and check-in and booking errors.”
What Users Love
Very easy check-in process
The App is so easy and intuitive
It puts me in full control of my entire journey
love all the notifications on my travels
What Frustrates Users
The app keeps freezing
Constantly freeze when trying to checkin
does not support credit cards with booking addresses outside the US and Canada
doesn’t let me book my kids with Miles
What is the competitive landscape for United Airlines?
How's The Travel Market?
How does it evolve in the Travel market?
United Airlines is climbing the charts.
| Category | Chart | Rank | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | Free | #9 | ▲1 |
| Overall | Free | #92 | ▼4 |
The rivals identified
The Nemesis
Fly Delta
Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Delta is United's most direct digital rival, consistently competing for the premium and business traveler segment with a high-utility app that mirrors United's feature set.
Head to Head
While United leads in cutting-edge technical integrations like Starlink and TSA tracking, Delta maintains the edge in core app reliability and user satisfaction. United's declining sentiment trend suggests a need to prioritize stability to match Delta's polished experience.
What sets United Airlines apart
- +
Integration of high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi on select flights provides a superior connectivity value proposition
- +
Native TSA security wait time tracking for major hubs offers better end-to-end trip planning than Delta's current implementation
What's Fly Delta's Edge
- -
Stronger overall user sentiment and higher app stability ratings compared to United's mixed reviews
- -
More intuitive navigation for managing complex multi-city itineraries and upgrades
Contenders
Integrated chat feature for real-time customer support during travel disruptions
Simplified award booking interface for AAdvantage members
The outtake for United Airlines
SWOT Analysis
Core Strengths
- Starlink high-speed Wi-Fi integration
- Real-time TSA wait time tracking
- Native Live Activities for lock-screen updates
- Massive user base and rating volume
Critical Frictions
- Frequent app freezing during check-in
- Lack of support for international billing addresses
- Confusing baggage fee UX
- Errors in award booking for families
Growth Levers
- Capture international market by fixing payment restrictions
- Improve UX for baggage management to reduce support costs
- Develop a 'Today Mode' equivalent to match Delta's journey-stage UI
Market Threats
- Delta's superior app stability and reliability
- Breeze Airways' modern, frictionless UI
- Declining sentiment trend impacting App Store visibility
What are the next best moves?
Resolve app freezing during check-in workflow
This is the #1 complaint theme and a critical failure point that occurs when users need the app most (at the airport).
Enable international billing address support for credit cards
Current restriction to US/Canada addresses is a direct revenue blocker for international travelers.
Redesign the checked bag fee interface
Users report confusion and double-charging, which increases friction and negative sentiment during the travel prep stage.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Dynamic 'Today' mode for journey-stage UI (available in Fly Delta)
- Integrated real-time customer support chat (available in American Airlines)
- Flight Pass subscription management (available in Alaska Airlines)
Key Takeaways
United leads the market in technical innovation (Starlink, TSA tracking), but is currently undermined by core stability issues. If I were the PM, I would halt new feature development to fix the check-in freezing and international payment gaps, as these critical failures are driving a declining sentiment trend that threatens their #10 category ranking.
Where Is It Heading?
Declining
Mixed mood with high-frequency freezing complaints during check-in — critical reliability risk.
v4.2.72 added TSA wait time tracking for 7 hubs — active investment in high-utility differentiators.
Overall US rank dropped (↓4) to #92 — potential signal of declining user retention or acquisition efficiency.