by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 2:50 PM ET, Wed November 11, 2026
While many travel brands are rushing to integrate AI, United Airlines has drawn a line in the sand.
The commercial carrier said on Wednesday that it is banning AI agents from making flight reservations on behalf of travelers. The reason? Concerns about security risks and the potential that such actions could violate federal rules, according to a CBS News report.
Completing a booking on behalf of a traveler requires giving AI access to personal details, including payment information. And United representatives have said they are not comfortable with that.
“Sharing account credentials with personal, third-party, AI assistants can expose sensitive information, and actions taken by these tools may result in unintended purchases, account changes, or use of MileagePlus miles,” United has said, according to CBS.
United also has concerns about using AI agents to check in for flights, which might violate federal regulations requiring travelers to verify in person that their luggage is free of banned substances.
"As a result, United is taking steps to restrict access — directly within our digital platforms and indirectly via travel agencies and aggregators — to prohibit use by unauthorized, third-party personal AI agents or assistants," the airline said, per CBS.
This news comes as many other carriers have already adopted AI for various functions. Southwest uses ChatGPT to make its flight inventory viewable. Delta, meanwhile, uses artificial intelligence across its customer service, flight pricing, baggage handling, and app features. Similarly, American Airlines uses artificial intelligence and machine learning across its operations, customer service, and flight planning.
AI, however, has increasingly raised red flags across various industries. Major U.S. banks recently reported major security concerns related to AI after a surge of unauthorized activity by AI agents that can access customer accounts. In response, many banks have blocked or restricted such agents and are reconsidering their terms of service.
As for United, travelers can still book flights through OTAs like Kayak, Hopper and Google Flights.
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