United said on November 11, 2026, that it is taking steps to restrict unauthorized, third-party personal AI agents and assistants. If you've given a third-party AI assistant your United login, United says that kind of sharing can expose sensitive information.
What United Announced
United's release says the airline is taking steps to restrict access in two ways. The first is directly, within its digital platforms. The second is indirectly, through travel agencies and aggregators. The work includes updates to United's booking, ticketing and distribution policies.
United also says it will update its Digital Trust Center. The update is meant to help customers understand what the new restrictions mean for them, how to protect their accounts and where to get help if an agent takes an unintended action.
Why United Says It Is Doing This
The release opens by saying that protecting customers' data and accounts is a priority for United. It says the airline designed its app to let customers manage their own travel securely. Against that, United says sharing account credentials with personal third-party AI assistants can expose sensitive information. It says actions these tools take may cause unintended purchases, account changes, or use of MileagePlus miles.
United also says these automated actions could violate FAA and DOT rules. Its example is flight check-in. Check-in requires a person to acknowledge that their bags hold no banned substances, such as explosives.
The release adds that corporate leaders in the banking and retail industries have taken similar actions regarding AI agents. United encourages other companies to consider measures that protect customer data and strengthen safety.
How the Two Parts Work
The first part covers United's own digital platforms. The release mentions the United app, which it says was designed to let customers manage their own travel. Its examples are booking a trip, choosing seats and rescheduling a flight when the weather is bad.
The release limits the restriction to "unauthorized, third-party personal AI agents or assistants."
The second part reaches agents that come in through other sellers. A travel agency sells United tickets for you. An aggregator pulls fares from many airlines into one search. The release says the updates to United's booking, ticketing and distribution policies are part of this work.
Who This Affects
- AI assistant users: if a third-party AI tool United hasn't authorized acts for you on its platforms, United says it is restricting that access.
- Travel agency and aggregator customers: United says it is also restricting AI agents that reach it indirectly through those sellers.
- MileagePlus members: the release warns that these tools' actions may cause use of your MileagePlus miles that you didn't intend.
What to Do
Don't share your United login with a third-party AI assistant. United says actions by these tools can lead to purchases, account changes or miles spent that you didn't intend, so check your account for any you don't recognize. United says it will update its Digital Trust Center to explain what the restrictions mean for customers and how to protect their accounts.
If you want to see how MileagePlus works before you decide how to manage your account, our guide to United MileagePlus covers earning, status and redemptions. If you book flights yourself, our tips for finding United fares include booking direct.
What United Says Comes Next
United says personal AI assistants are still changing. It says it will keep evaluating how these tools interact with its services, with a focus on protecting its customers.
