How to tell if United Airlines is actually down
United Airlines is down when its website, app, or phone lines are not working — but that does not always mean the airline itself has a problem. Your internet connection, your device, or your location can block access even when United's systems are running fine. Before you assume the airline is down, test whether you can reach other websites. If your internet works everywhere else, United likely has a real outage.
The fastest way to check is to visit downdetector.com and search for United Airlines. The site shows real-time reports from other customers — if hundreds of people report the same problem at the same time, United has an outage. If only a few reports exist, the problem is probably on your end.
You can also check United's official social media accounts on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook. The airline posts outage notices there within minutes, along with estimated repair times. Their official account is @united.
Key Takeaways
- Visit downdetector.com to see whether other customers are reporting the same problem at the same time.
- Check @united on X or United Airlines on Facebook for official outage announcements and repair timelines.
- Test your own internet connection by visiting other websites — if they load, the problem is likely with United, not your connection.
- Call United's customer service at 1-800-864-8331 to confirm an outage and ask about rebooking if your flight is affected.
- If the website is down but the app works, or vice versa, the outage is partial and may affect only certain services.
What to do while United's systems are down
If you have a flight booked and United's website or app is down, you cannot check in online or change your reservation through digital channels. Call their customer service line at 1-800-864-8331 instead. Wait times are longer during outages, so call early in the morning if possible.
Tell the agent your confirmation number and ask whether your specific flight is affected by the outage. Some flights may still operate on schedule even if the booking system is down. The agent can check in for you over the phone and answer questions about delays or cancellations.
If you are at the airport, go to the ticket counter or gate agent directly. They have access to systems that may not be affected by the website outage, and they can print your boarding pass and answer questions about your flight status.
Partial outages versus complete outages
United's systems do not always fail all at once. A partial outage means some services work while others do not — for example, the website might be down but the app still works, or vice versa. Check both before you assume everything is broken.
A complete outage affects the website, app, and phone lines all at the same time. These are rare and usually last less than an hour. During a complete outage, you cannot reach United through any digital channel, so go to the airport or wait for the systems to come back online.
Downdetector shows which services customers are reporting as down. If the map shows reports concentrated in one region, the outage may be local to that area's servers, not nationwide.
Why United's systems go down
Airlines experience outages for several reasons. Software updates sometimes take systems offline for scheduled maintenance, usually announced in advance. Unexpected hardware failures, network problems, or cyberattacks can cause unplanned outages with no warning.
During peak travel times — holidays, summer vacation, or major weather events — United's servers can become overloaded if too many people try to book or check in at once. This is not technically an outage, but the website or app may slow down or time out, making it feel like the system is down.
Weather events that affect United's major hubs (Chicago, Denver, Houston, Newark) can also disrupt their systems indirectly, as staff focus on managing flight cancellations and rebooking.
How long outages usually last
Most United outages last between 15 minutes and two hours. The airline's technical team usually identifies the problem and restarts systems quickly. Longer outages are uncommon and usually involve hardware replacement or a major software issue.
During the outage, United does not always announce a specific end time. Check Downdetector every 15 to 20 minutes to see whether reports are dropping off, which signals the system is coming back online. When the number of new reports stops climbing and starts falling, the outage is likely ending.
What happens to your flight during an outage
If United's booking system is down but flights are still operating, your flight will likely depart on schedule. The airline's internal systems that control takeoff and landing are separate from the customer-facing website and app. A website outage does not ground planes.
However, if the outage affects United's operations systems (the internal tools staff use to manage flights), delays or cancellations may happen. This is rarer than a customer-facing outage. Call the airline or check the airport departures board to confirm your flight status.
If your flight is cancelled due to an outage, United will rebook you on the next available flight at no charge. You can also request a refund or a credit toward a future flight, depending on the airline's policy at the time.
Preventing problems during future outages
Save your United confirmation number somewhere you can access without the internet — write it down, take a screenshot, or email it to yourself. You will need it to check in by phone or at the airport if the website goes down.
Check in as early as possible on the day of your flight. If you check in 24 hours before departure, you have a boarding pass even if the system fails later. Mobile boarding passes are stored on your phone, so you do not need the website to board.
Follow @united on X for real-time updates. The airline posts outage notices and flight status changes there faster than on their website. Turning on notifications for their account means you will see urgent messages when ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if United is down or if it is just my internet?
Open a different website in your browser — Google, Amazon, or your email. If those load normally, your internet works and United likely has an outage. If nothing loads, restart your router and check your internet connection. You can also ask someone else to visit United's website from a different location or device to confirm.
Can I still fly if United's website is down?
Yes. The website outage does not stop flights from taking off. You can check in at the airport or by phone, and your flight will operate normally unless United's operations systems are also affected. Call 1-800-864-8331 to confirm your flight is still scheduled.
What should I do if I cannot reach United by phone during an outage?
Go to the airport and speak to a ticket agent or gate agent in person. They can check in for you, answer questions about your flight, and help with rebooking if needed. Arriving early gives you time to sort out any issues before your flight departs.
Will United refund me if an outage causes me to miss my flight?
Refunds depend on whether the outage was United's fault and your specific situation. If you missed your flight because you could not check in online and could not reach the airline by phone, contact United's customer service with details. They may offer a rebooking or credit, though refunds for missed flights are not may provide.
Does United have a backup system if their main website goes down?
United's phone line and airport systems are separate from the website and app, so you can always reach them through those channels. However, if a major outage affects multiple systems at once, phone wait times become very long. The airline does not publish information about backup systems for customer-facing services.