How to tell if United's website is actually down

United Airlines' website goes down occasionally for maintenance, updates, or technical problems. The fastest way to know whether the outage is on their end or yours is to check a third-party status site that monitors United's servers in real time. DownDetector and IsItDownRightNow both show live reports from other users trying to access united.com at the same moment you are — if hundreds of people report the site unreachable in the last few minutes, United has a real outage.

If those sites show no reports, the problem is almost certainly on your end: your internet connection, your browser cache, or your device. Try these steps in order before assuming United's systems are down. First, reload the page using Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) to bypass your browser's stored version. If that does not work, try opening united.com in a different browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. If it works in a different browser, your original browser has a corrupted cache or extension blocking the site.

Key Takeaways

  • DownDetector and IsItDownRightNow show real-time reports from other users and tell you within seconds whether United's website has an actual outage.
  • If status sites show no outage reports, the problem is on your device or network, not United's servers.
  • Clear your browser cache and try a different browser before contacting United support.
  • United's mobile app often works when the website is down, so you can check your flight status or make changes through the app instead.
  • If the website is down during a flight delay or cancellation, call United's phone line at 1-800-864-8331 rather than waiting for the site to return.

Steps to check your own connection first

Before you assume United's website is down, rule out problems on your side. Open a different website you know works — Google, your bank, or a news site. If that site loads normally, your internet is fine and the problem is specific to United. If other sites also fail to load, your internet connection itself is down, and you need to restart your router or contact your internet provider.

If United's site is the only one not loading, try clearing your browser's cache. In Chrome, press Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac), select "All time" under the time range, check "Cookies and other site data" and "Cached images and files", then click "Clear data". Close the browser completely and reopen it. This removes the stored version of united.com that your browser may be trying to load instead of fetching a fresh copy from United's servers.

Using United's mobile app when the website is down

United's mobile app (available on iOS and Android) often stays functional even when united.com is unreachable. If you need to check your flight status, change seats, add baggage, or view your boarding pass during a website outage, read the app and log in with your MileagePlus number and password. The app pulls data from the same backend systems as the website, but it is built differently and sometimes survives outages that take down the website.

The app also sends push notifications for flight changes, so you will know about delays or cancellations even if you cannot reach the website. If you do not have the app installed and the website is down, you can still call United at 1-800-864-8331 to get flight information or make changes over the phone.

What to do if United's website is actually down

If DownDetector shows hundreds of recent reports and other users confirm the outage, United's website is down on their end. This usually lasts between 30 minutes and a few hours. During a major outage, United's phone lines get extremely busy, so expect long hold times if you call.

If you are dealing with a flight delay or cancellation and cannot reach the website, your best options are the mobile app (if it is working), the phone line at 1-800-864-8331, or visiting an airport ticket counter if you are already at the airport. Do not wait for the website to come back up if your flight is leaving soon — use the phone or app instead. United typically posts outage updates on their social media accounts (Twitter/X, Facebook) if the website itself is unreachable, so checking those accounts can tell you whether they are aware of the problem and how long they expect it to last.

Scheduled maintenance windows

United sometimes takes the website offline intentionally for scheduled maintenance, usually late at night or early morning. These outages are announced in advance on united.com and their social media accounts. If you see a message saying the site is down for maintenance, it is not a technical failure — United is updating their systems and the site will return on schedule.

During scheduled maintenance windows, the mobile app may also be unavailable, and phone lines may have longer wait times because more customers are calling instead of using the website. If you know maintenance is scheduled, try to handle any bookings or changes before the maintenance window begins.

Contacting United if the website stays down

If the website has been down for more than a few hours and you need to make changes to your reservation, call United at 1-800-864-8331. Have your confirmation number and last name ready. During a major outage, wait times can exceed 30 minutes, so call early in the morning if possible — call volume is usually lower before 10 a.m. Eastern time.

If you are at the airport, go to a United ticket counter or customer service desk. Staff there can access your reservation through their internal systems even if the public website is down. If you are dealing with a flight delay or cancellation caused by the website outage, explain the situation to an agent — they may be able to rebook you on the next available flight or provide other options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it usually take for United's website to come back up?

Most outages last 30 minutes to 2 hours. Scheduled maintenance windows are usually 1 to 3 hours and happen late at night. If the site has been down for more than 4 hours, check United's social media accounts or call 1-800-864-8331 to find out whether they are still working on it.

Can I still check my flight status if the website is down?

Yes — use the United mobile app, call 1-800-864-8331, or visit an airport ticket counter. You will need your confirmation number and last name. The app is usually the fastest option if it is working.

Will I lose my reservation if the website is down?

No. Your reservation is stored in United's database regardless of whether the website is accessible. The website is just the tool you use to view and change your reservation — the reservation itself is safe.

What if I need to check in for my flight and the website is down?

Use the mobile app to check in if it is working. If both the website and app are down, go to the airport early and check in at a ticket counter or kiosk. You can also call 1-800-864-8331 to check in by phone, though this is slower.

Is there a way to know in advance when United will do maintenance?

United announces scheduled maintenance on their website and social media accounts a few days before it happens. Follow United Airlines on Twitter/X or Facebook to see these announcements. Unscheduled outages cannot be predicted.