United Airlines said on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 that it is banning artificial intelligence agents from making flight reservations on behalf of travelers. Per CBS News, the carrier cited security risks and the possibility that such actions could violate federal rules.

According to Law Commentary, United revised its Contract of Carriage to prohibit AI agents from purchasing tickets and other services, even when passengers supervise the transactions, and can now cancel reservations made or modified through the tools without notice.

The airline said it will restrict access both directly on its digital platforms and indirectly via travel agencies and aggregators.

United's stated concerns center on account security and regulation.

The airline warned, as CBS News and CNBC both report, that sharing account credentials with third-party AI assistants can expose sensitive information and could result in unintended purchases, account changes, or unauthorized use of MileagePlus miles.

Both outlets also note United's regulatory argument: automated tools performing actions like flight check-in could violate federal rules requiring travelers to personally verify that their luggage contains no banned substances such as explosives.

Law Commentary adds that the FAA and DOT rules on acknowledging prohibited materials during check-in were part of the decision.

Analysts see a control motive behind the policy.

Aviation analyst Henry Harteveldt of Atmosphere Research Group told CBS News that United wants to retain control over the customer booking process and does not want to add a potentially more powerful intermediary than Google search, metasearch sites and online travel agencies.

He noted that flight searches cost airlines money and that United likely wants to avoid the expense of a surge of AI bot searches.

He added that consumers should not find United fares harder to find on aggregators like Kayak, Hopper and Google Flights, but blocking bots will not make it easier either.

The industry is taking divergent approaches. CNBC reports that Amazon has blocked Meta's AI agent Muse while Walmart partnered with it, and online travel firms like Expedia and Booking are working with ChatGPT-parent OpenAI.

According to Law Commentary, Delta allows certain AI assistants to complete reservations when passenger credentials can be authenticated, American Airlines says some AI tools can facilitate ticket purchases while it monitors automated activity, and Southwest has made its flight inventory viewable through ChatGPT.

United, per Law Commentary, requires agencies to get express written consent before using AI agents on its flights.

Law Commentary reports that United's prohibited ticketing rules provide for additional penalties, including invalidated tickets and restrictions on future travel, and that automated assistants must receive the airline's authorization before handling seat selections, upgrades and other purchases.

Travelers can still use AI tools to research destinations and compare prices — only unauthorized automated transactions are targeted.

Bookings completed by AI agents before November 11 will be honored, and United plans to update its Digital Trust Center with guidance on protecting accounts and addressing unintended actions by automated assistants.

Law Commentary notes that United has yet to announce any authorization agreements for AI-assisted bookings, but its updated rules allow approved arrangements in the future as airlines and technology companies develop new ways for automated assistants to handle travel purchases.

The move puts United alongside banks — Law Commentary separately reports major U.S. banks tightening restrictions after detecting unauthorized AI agents accessing customer accounts — and leaves travelers choosing between United's closed approach and rivals' more open experiments.

For now, purchases and reservation changes must run through approved channels.