United Airlines bans personal AI agents from booking
United Airlines said on November 11 that it is banning personal AI agents from making reservations for travelers. It says sharing your login with a third-party assistant can expose your information and lead to purchases, account changes or MileagePlus miles being used without you meaning to. It also says letting a bot check you in could break federal rules, such as confirming yourself that your bags hold no banned items. United is restricting unauthorized agents on its own website and app, and through travel agencies and booking sites. An analyst told CBS News that United fares stay bookable through sites like Kayak, Hopper and Google Flights.
The lesson: For United flights, let your agent search and compare, then book and check in yourself on United's site or app.
Copy this prompt
I'm flying from [CITY] to [CITY] on [DATES]. Search all airlines, including United, and show me the 3 best options with total price including bags and the fare rules. Don't log in to any airline account and don't book anything. For a United flight, give me the flight numbers and a direct link so I can book it myself on united.com. Remind me 24 hours before departure to check in in the airline's app.
Our own prompt, written from what the source describes. We haven't run it ourselves. Text in [BRACKETS] is what you replace.
Watch out for
- Don't give an agent your MileagePlus login. United now treats personal AI agents on its platforms as unauthorized.
- Check in yourself. Airlines ask you to confirm in person that your bags hold no banned items.
- Other airlines set their own rules, and they can change. Check an airline's terms before you let an agent book with it.
Where this comes from
Original article by Megan Cerullo on CBS News, Nov 11, 2026. We rewrote it in our own words. Check the original for the full context.
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