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If you fly United Airlines regularly, you may have noticed the “Premier Access” label at check-in counters and boarding gates. United Premier Access is a bundle of airport perks designed to speed up your journey from curb to cabin — and from carousel to car.
For travellers flying with United or United Express, these benefits can potentially save real time on busy travel days, so let’s take a look at what the service includes, who has access, how you can add it to your next trip, and whether it’s worthwhile.
United Premier Access is a travel service package offered by United Airlines. It groups four airport-related perks into a single benefit: dedicated check-in lanes, priority security screening, priority boarding, and priority baggage handling.
You can receive these perks either complimentary (through United Premier elite status, premium cabin tickets, or certain credit cards) or by purchasing Premier Access separately when you book a flight. Just keep in mind that Premier Access is available exclusively with United and United Express flights.
With Premier Access, you can enjoy four distinct perks, each one targeting a different friction point at the airport.
Premier Access holders can skip the main check-in queue and use a dedicated lane. This is especially useful at busy US hubs like Newark (EWR), Chicago O’Hare (ORD), and Houston (IAH). These lanes should be available at every airport where United operates.
At select airports, Premier Access grants entry to expedited security lanes. However, this perk is not universal — it is only offered at participating locations. If your departure airport does not have a designated lane, this benefit will not apply.
United Airlines includes a list of all airports that currently offer this perk on its Premier Access website under one of the FAQs tabs. There are approximately 50 airports that offer the exclusive security lines, mostly in the US but also in a few other countries around the world.
With Premier Access, you get to board in one of the earliest groups. This means overhead bin space is still available when you reach your seat — a real advantage on full flights. Priority boarding applies at every United departure gate.
The final perk of Premier Access is that your checked bags receive a special tag at check-in, so they are among the first to appear on the carousel after landing.
This perk is only included for complimentary Premier Access holders (elite members, premium cabin passengers, etc.) and is not included if you purchase Premier Access separately.
Several categories of travellers receive complimentary Premier Access on United and United Express flights. You do not need to purchase the service if you fall into any of the groups below.
If you don’t qualify for complimentary United Premier Access but would still like to enjoy the benefits, you can purchase the service when booking or managing a United reservation. The price starts at $24 USD and varies by route and fare class.
When purchased, Premier Access includes dedicated check-in, priority security (at select airports), and priority boarding. However, priority baggage handling is not included in the purchased package — that perk is reserved for those who receive complimentary Premier Access through the previously mentioned avenues.
The value of Premier Access depends on how you travel, what airport perks you may already have (premium credit cards, NEXUS, TSA Pre-Check, etc.), and whether the priority access is helpful for your trip.
Here are some situations where the service adds clear value — and others where it does not.
For Canadian travellers, the most practical way to access United Premier Access is through Star Alliance Gold status earned via Aeroplan. If you already hold Aeroplan 50K or higher, you receive these perks automatically on United flights at no additional cost.
If you are looking for a Canadian credit card that accelerates your path to Aeroplan elite status, check out our guide to the best Aeroplan credit cards. For example, cards like the TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite* Card and American Express® Aeroplan®* Reserve Card earn Aeroplan points on everyday spending and can help you reach the thresholds for elite status faster.
You can also consider our picks for the best travel credit cards and the best credit cards for airport lounge access if premium travel perks are something you’re after.
United Premier Access is a straightforward airport perks package: faster check-in, expedited security at select airports, early boarding, and priority baggage handling.
For eligible travellers, these benefits come at no extra cost, and for everyone else, three of four perks (everything but priority baggage handling) is available for purchase.
If you’re flying United from or through a busy airport that offers Premier Access, and you value time savings at the airport, this feature may be worth considering. However, if you already have NEXUS, TSA PreCheck, or rarely check bags, purchasing the package won’t change your airport experience.
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