United contract update changes smart luggage and POC battery rules
United revised its Contract of Carriage on September 30, 2026. The most practical changes affect travelers with battery-powered ride-on luggage, passengers who use a portable oxygen concentrator, and people flying with pets in the cabin.
The new wording does not give every motorized bag a green light. United now says it may accept self-balancing or self-propelled luggage only when the battery is removable, rated below 100 watt-hours, taken out of the case, and carried in the cabin. Hoverboards, smart wheels, and similar devices remain prohibited.
Passengers using a portable oxygen concentrator also have a different battery calculation. United's contract now calls for enough battery power for the flight plus at least 150% of the expected maximum flight duration. Its previous contract used a fixed three-hour buffer.
Illustration: OpenSim editorial team. This original image explains the policy topics and does not depict a specific airport, United flight, or real incident.
The short answer: check the battery label before taking a motorized suitcase to the airport. The battery must come out, it must be under 100Wh, and it must travel in the cabin. If you use a portable oxygen concentrator, recalculate the reserve against United's new 150% rule and include any ground connection time when you expect to use the device. Pet travelers should confirm aircraft limits before buying an extra seat for a second carrier.
The current contract and linked policy pages were checked on October 4, 2026. United can revise its terms, and the operating carrier's rules apply on partner-operated segments.
What changed in United's September contract revision
| Topic | Earlier contract wording | Current passenger decision |
|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled luggage | The February 2026 contract prohibited self-balancing and self-propelled luggage, vehicles, or devices | A narrow exception now covers luggage vehicles with a removable battery below 100Wh, provided the battery is removed and carried in the cabin |
| Portable oxygen concentrators | Batteries had to cover the flight plus three additional hours | Batteries must cover the flight plus at least 150% of the expected maximum flight duration, including planned use during a ground connection |
| In-cabin pets | The older contract limited each passenger to one pet container and did not state the current age thresholds in this section | The contract now includes pet age thresholds and may allow two containers when the aircraft and cabin permit and the passenger buys an adjacent extra seat |
The pet wording needs context. United's public pet page already described travel with up to two pets before this contract revision. The September change brings that arrangement into the Contract of Carriage. It should not be presented as a new guarantee that every flight will accept two carriers.
The motorized-suitcase exception is narrow
United's current Contract of Carriage separates a qualifying luggage vehicle from the broader group of banned personal transport devices. Four conditions matter:
- The item must be luggage, not a hoverboard or similar vehicle.
- Its battery must be removable.
- The battery must be rated below 100Wh.
- The passenger must remove the battery and carry it in the aircraft cabin.
The word "may" also matters. The contract does not promise acceptance merely because a product page calls the case airline approved. Size, weight, safe stowage, aircraft limits, and United's assessment still apply. If the design is unusual, contact United with the model and battery specification before travel and keep the manufacturer's instructions available.
Do not confuse this with an ordinary smart bag that has a charging pack. United's contract separately says batteries integrated into baggage must be removed, including when a carry-on is checked at the gate. An item with a non-removable lithium battery is not allowed on United or United Express under the current wording.
The FAA battery guide provides the US regulatory baseline: baggage with a lithium battery belongs in the cabin unless the battery can be removed, and a removed battery must follow the spare-battery rules. The FAA also warns that an airline may use stricter limits.
What to do before flying with a ride-on suitcase
Start with the battery label, not the seller's marketing page. Look for a watt-hour figure. If only voltage and amp-hours are shown, multiply volts by amp-hours to calculate Wh. For milliamp-hours, divide by 1,000 first.
Before leaving for the airport:
- remove the battery and confirm the suitcase still closes and can be handled safely;
- protect the battery terminals from short circuiting;
- put the battery in a personal item or cabin bag where it remains accessible;
- measure the suitcase without assuming its motor or wheels receive extra allowance;
- check every operating carrier on a codeshare or connecting itinerary;
- be ready to leave the item at home if United cannot confirm that the design fits its rule.
United's separate electronic-device guidance says portable chargers should stay on the passenger or in a personal item during the flight, not in an overhead bin, and must not be recharged from aircraft power. A suitcase battery may not be identical to a portable charger, so ask United where the removed unit must be stowed rather than assuming.
Our power-bank flight guide explains the general watt-hour calculation and spare-battery rules. It does not replace United's decision about a motorized case.
The POC battery calculation can rise on longer trips
United's Rule 15 now says a passenger using an approved portable oxygen concentrator must carry enough batteries for the flight plus at least 150% of the expected maximum flight duration. The contract also tells the passenger to allow for unanticipated delays and ground connection time where the concentrator is planned to be used.
For planning, treat this as a battery-runtime requirement, not a count of identical packs. A battery's actual operating time depends on the concentrator, flow setting, battery age, temperature, and manufacturer guidance. Do not estimate it from capacity alone when oxygen is medically necessary.
United also retains other requirements, including at least 48 hours' advance notice, an earlier check-in, and medical documentation. The contract says aircraft in-seat electrical power is not available for passenger use with a POC. On an itinerary involving another airline, the passenger must make separate arrangements with that carrier.
Contact United's accessibility team after booking and again if the schedule changes. A longer replacement flight or connection can change the battery requirement even when the device itself has not changed.
Pet terms are now written into the contract
The revised contract states that puppies and kittens must be at least two months old for domestic flights. On international flights, dogs must be at least six months old and kittens at least four months old.
It also says United may accept up to two in-cabin pet containers per ticketed passenger when the aircraft type and cabin permit. The passenger must purchase an extra adjacent seat for the second carrier. Each container can hold only one small cat or dog, and the animal must remain comfortably inside the approved carrier under the seat.
This is conditional. United's pet travel page lists aircraft on which only one pet per person is allowed because under-seat space is limited. Destination restrictions, health documents, carrier dimensions, pet fees, and total cabin limits still apply. Buying an extra seat does not override them.
If a trip has a United flight number but another airline operates a segment, check the operating carrier's rules. Pet acceptance and battery policies do not automatically transfer across a codeshare.
Mobile data helps with rechecks, not with acceptance
These rules can require last-minute verification. Ground mobile data can keep the United app, booking, accessibility contacts, airport maps, and official policy pages available before departure and after landing. It cannot make a bag acceptable, replace a medical battery plan, or create space for a pet.
For a domestic itinerary, compare the live United States OpenSim plans. A trip crossing the US and Canada may fit USA and Canada or North America. For a wider itinerary, the Global 120 areas plan can be useful only when every planned destination appears in its current coverage list.
OpenSim plans provide ground mobile data according to the selected package. They do not provide inflight connectivity, carrier SMS, or a local phone number unless the package explicitly says so. Keep the airline's own contact method and any medical support arrangement separate.
United contract questions from travelers
Can I take a battery-powered ride-on suitcase on United now?
Possibly, but only within the narrow contract exception. It must be luggage with a removable battery below 100Wh. Remove the battery and carry it in the cabin. United can still refuse an item that does not meet its baggage or safety requirements.
Is a 100Wh battery acceptable for the motorized-suitcase exception?
The contract says the battery must be less than 100Wh. A unit marked exactly 100Wh does not satisfy that wording. Ask United before travel if the label is unclear.
Can I check the motorized suitcase after removing its battery?
The current contract says a qualifying luggage vehicle may be accepted as carry-on or checked baggage when its sub-100Wh removable battery is taken out and carried in the cabin. Normal size, weight, fee, and acceptance rules still apply.
Can the battery stay inside the suitcase if I carry it on?
No, not under the new self-propelled-luggage wording. It specifically requires the battery to be removed and carried in the cabin.
Are hoverboards and smart wheels allowed under the same exception?
No. United continues to prohibit hoverboards, smart wheels, and similar vehicles or devices. The exception is written for qualifying self-balancing or self-propelled luggage vehicles.
How many POC batteries do I need under the new rule?
Enough total runtime for the flight plus at least 150% of the expected maximum flight duration. Use the device maker's runtime at the prescribed setting and confirm the plan with United. Do not rely on a simple battery count.
Does POC use during a ground connection count?
Yes. The contract says to allow for ground connection time where the POC is planned to be used, as well as unanticipated delays.
Can one passenger take two pets in the United cabin?
United may accept two in-cabin pet containers when the aircraft type and cabin permit. This is not available on every aircraft or route, and space must be reserved.
Do I need a second seat for the second pet carrier?
Yes. The revised contract requires an extra adjacent seat for the second in-cabin pet container. Pet fees and destination requirements can still apply separately.
Does a carrier within United's size limit guarantee pet acceptance?
No. United also requires the animal to remain comfortably in the carrier under the seat for the entire flight. Aircraft space, route restrictions, age, documents, and the airline's inspection can affect acceptance.
Recheck the exact trip before departure
Use United's live policy pages and the operating carrier shown on the booking. For motorized luggage, confirm the product type, removable battery, watt-hour label, and baggage dimensions. For a POC, recalculate after any schedule change. For pets, reserve space and verify the aircraft, destination, carrier, age, and document rules before paying for an extra seat.
This page should be updated if United changes Rule 15 or Rule 23, publishes a separate clarification for ride-on luggage, or changes the aircraft and route limits on its pet page.
