SHERIDAN, WYOMING – December 27, 2025 – United Airlines has rolled out new mobile app features designed to make flying feel less chaotic—especially during the busy winter holiday travel stretch.
A Travel App Update That Targets the Stress Points
If you’ve flown lately, you already know the friction points: crowded boarding areas, uncertainty about lounge access, and that lingering worry about where your checked bag actually is. United says its award-winning mobile app now includes a Virtual Gate view for boarding progress, a United Club recommendation tool that considers capacity, and a package-delivery-style bag tracker with real-time location updates throughout the journey.
United also says the app now delivers more personalized travel guidance—like tips for traveling with strollers or wheelchairs, reminders about travel document requirements, and options related to biometric boarding. On arrival, travelers can see live local weather conditions, estimated local arrival time, and instructions for connecting to rideshare services from the airport.
Virtual Gate: A Better Way to Time Your Boarding
The new Virtual Gate feature is meant to reduce the “hovering near the podium” energy that spikes when boarding begins. United says it shows which boarding groups are currently boarding and includes a progress bar displaying how many people have boarded, so customers don’t have to camp out at the gate to stay informed.
In real life, that matters because boarding stress tends to come from uncertainty. A clear, real-time snapshot can help people decide when to stand up, when to stay seated, and when it’s safe to make a quick restroom run without feeling like they’ll miss their moment.
United Club “Closest and Best” Recommendations
United’s app updates also include a United Club feature that recommends nearby club locations based on proximity to a traveler’s gate and available capacity. Capacity insights are initially offered at ORD, with United saying the capability will roll out to additional airports in 2026.
For travelers, this is less about luxury and more about strategy. When airports are packed, the difference between walking to a lounge that’s full and one that has space can be the difference between a calmer layover and a frustrating detour.
A Bag Tracker That Acts Like Package Delivery
United says its upgraded bag tracking includes a package-delivery-style tracker that shows real-time locations throughout the journey. That “where is it now?” feeling is one of the most common travel anxieties, especially when connections are tight or weather disrupts the schedule.
The airline also highlights previous app upgrades aimed at transparency and self-service, including baggage tracking enhancements that integrate Apple’s Share Item Location for AirTag, allowing customers who travel with an AirTag or Find My network accessory to share the accessory location with United’s customer service team if luggage is mishandled. Taken together, the direction is clear: fewer mystery moments, more visibility.
Personalized Prompts That Feel Like a Trip Companion
United says it has improved its mobile experience with AI-supported navigation tools that predict what features would most benefit customers during their trip and personalize content to each traveler. The practical examples matter: reminders for required travel documents, guidance for travelers using strollers or wheelchairs, and biometric boarding options that can streamline airport steps. On the other end of the flight, arrival tools add live weather and rideshare connection instructions right from the airport.
"The more information our customers have, the more confident they feel about their trip - and that's particularly important during the holidays," said David Kinzelman, United's Chief Customer Officer. "The United app gives travelers personalized, real-time updates during their entire travel journey, helping our customers feel like they have a personal assistant guiding them every step of the way."
3 Ways These Features Make Holiday Travel Feel Easier
- You can track boarding progress without standing in a crowded gate area.
- You can pick a nearby United Club with capacity insights at ORD, with more airports expected in 2026.
- You can follow your checked bag’s real-time journey in a more intuitive, delivery-style view.
- You get tailored prompts for common travel realities like strollers, wheelchairs, and document reminders.
- You land with immediate context—local weather, arrival timing, and rideshare connection instructions.
Why United Is Doing This Now
United says more than 84% of its customers use the app the day they fly, and that beta-testing showed customers appreciated more transparent communication, time saved, and real-time updates. The timing is intentional: the airline expects to welcome more than 10 million people during the winter holiday travel season, defined in the announcement as travel between December 18, 2025 and January 6, 2026.
In a season when airports can feel like moving crowds and tight timelines, app improvements aren’t just “nice to have.” They’re an attempt to give travelers a little more control—and a little less uncertainty—at the exact moments when stress usually peaks.
Learn more at united.com