United Airlines Rolls Out New App Features In Time for Holiday Travel

Image: United Airlines planes taxiing on an airport tarmac. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Cerib)
Image: United Airlines planes taxiing on an airport tarmac. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Cerib)
Jessica Puckett
by Jessica Puckett
Last updated: 3:00 PM ET, Tue December 16, 2025

Travelers flying during the upcoming holiday rush will have access to an array of convenient new tech features, thanks to United Airlines’ latest update to its mobile app.

The airline has launched new services in its app that include personalized updates and recommendations along every stage of the journey.

Among the new features are a “virtual gate” feature that alerts customers with real-time updates on which groups are boarding and how many people have boarded, as well as an upgraded bag tracking feature that shows the location of checked luggage along the way.

A new United Club “closest and best feature” provides recommendations on the nearest club locations and their available capacity. This service has initially launched at Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and will roll out to additional airports in 2026.

Additional updates through the app now include personalized guidance on traveling with wheelchairs and strollers, as well as reminders of required travel documents and biometric boarding options. Plus, travelers will now receive information about their arrival, like local weather conditions, estimated arrival in the local time zone, and how to locate rideshare services at the destination airport.

"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."

United says the newly launched features are currently rolling out to customers and should be widely available in time for the peak holiday travel window.


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Jessica Puckett

Jessica Puckett

Jessica Puckett is an Emmy Award-winning journalist who covers transportation and travel news. She has reported for ABC News, The Points Guy, Condé Nast Traveler, and several other publications.

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