How to tell if United Airlines is actually down
United Airlines' website and app go down for different reasons — some affect only booking, others affect flight information or check-in. The fastest way to know what is broken is to check downdetector.com, which shows real-time reports from other passengers. Type "United Airlines" in the search box and you will see a graph of outages in the last few hours, what system is affected (website, app, or both), and how many people reported it.
If Downdetector shows a spike, United's official status page at status.united.com will tell you which specific service is down and when they expect it back. This page updates faster than social media and does not require you to log in. If the status page itself is unreachable, the outage is likely widespread.
You can also call United directly at 1-800-864-8331 to confirm the outage and ask about your specific flight. If you cannot reach them by phone, the lines are probably overloaded because of the outage — this is itself confirmation that something is wrong.
Key Takeaways
- Downdetector shows whether United's outage is real and how many other passengers are affected, updated in real time.
- United's official status page at status.united.com tells you which service is down and when it is expected to return.
- If you cannot reach United by phone and the website is down, the outage is likely widespread and affecting many passengers.
- Website outages usually last 30 minutes to a few hours, but app outages can sometimes take longer to resolve.
- If your flight information is not updating, call the airport directly or check your airline confirmation email for the most current details.
What to do while United's website or app is down
If you need to check your flight status and cannot access United's website or app, call the airport where your flight departs. The airport's information line can tell you whether the flight is on time, delayed, or cancelled. You can also text your airline confirmation number to 46645 (UNITED on a phone keypad) — this service sometimes works even when the main website is down.
Check your email for your original booking confirmation. It contains your confirmation number, flight number, and departure time. If you need to make changes and the website is down, call 1-800-864-8331. Wait times will be long during an outage, but agents can rebook you, change seats, or add baggage over the phone.
If you are already at the airport, go to the United ticket counter or gate agent. They have access to systems that may not depend on the public website and can print boarding passes, confirm your seat, or rebook you if needed.
How long United outages usually last
Most United website and app outages last between 30 minutes and two hours. Outages that affect booking or check-in tend to be fixed faster because they directly cost the airline money. Outages that only affect flight information or account login can sometimes take longer.
If an outage has lasted more than three hours, it usually means United is dealing with a major system problem — not just a temporary glitch. In that case, call the airline directly rather than waiting for the website to come back. Agents can often help you even when the self-service systems are down.
Outages that affect different parts of United's system
United's website, mobile app, and phone lines run on different systems. It is possible for the website to be down while the app works, or for both to be down while phone lines are still open. Downdetector will show you which one is affected — if the report says "website down" but the app is working, try the app instead.
Check-in outages are the most disruptive because they prevent passengers from getting boarding passes. If you cannot check in online and the app is also down, arrive at the airport extra early so a gate agent can check you in manually. If you are checking in at the airport anyway, a website outage will not delay you.
What causes United to go down
United's systems go down for scheduled maintenance (usually announced in advance), unexpected software bugs, server overload during peak travel times, or problems with third-party services that United depends on. Severe weather or a major incident at a hub airport can also overload their systems as thousands of passengers try to rebook at once.
Outages are not always United's fault. Sometimes the problem is with payment processors, the company that hosts their website, or internet infrastructure. Downdetector will show you whether other airlines are also down — if they are, the problem is likely not with United alone.
Protecting yourself during an outage
Save your confirmation number and flight details in your phone or email before you travel. If the website goes down, you will still have proof of your booking. Take a screenshot of your boarding pass if you have already checked in.
If you are traveling soon and United's systems are down, contact the airline by phone as soon as possible rather than waiting for the website to come back. Phone agents can often rebook you or answer questions faster than waiting for the website to recover. If you cannot reach anyone by phone, go to the airport early — agents there can help you even if all online systems are down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is United down right now?
Check downdetector.com and search for "United Airlines" to see real-time outage reports. If you see a spike in the graph, United is likely experiencing an outage. You can also visit status.united.com for official updates on which service is affected.
Can I check my flight status if United's website is down?
Yes. Call the airport where your flight departs, text your confirmation number to 46645, or check your original booking email for flight details. You can also call United at 1-800-864-8331, though wait times will be long during an outage.
What if I cannot check in because the website is down?
Arrive at the airport early and ask a gate agent to check you in manually. If your flight is not for several hours, wait to see if the website comes back online — most outages last less than two hours. If you are cutting it close on time, go to the airport when ready.
Will United refund me if an outage causes me to miss my flight?
Refund policies depend on whether the outage was United's responsibility and the terms of your ticket. Call United at 1-800-864-8331 to explain what happened. If you missed your flight because you could not check in online, United may rebook you on the next available flight at no charge.
How do I know if the outage is affecting everyone or just me?
Downdetector shows how many people reported the problem in the last hour. If the number is in the thousands, it is a widespread outage. If only a few dozen people reported it, the problem may be specific to your account, device, or internet connection — try clearing your browser cache or restarting your phone.