United Airlines 401(k) Plan

United Airlines offers an employer match through their 401(k) plan. Based on the filing data, United Airlines contributed $1.4B in employer contributions against $987.2M in participant deferrals — a 147% employer-to-employee ratio, suggesting a generous match formula. The exact match formula may vary by plan and employment status. Contact United Airlines HR or your plan administrator for the specific match formula applicable to your situation.

You can access your United Airlines 401(k) account through the plan provider's participant portal. The plan serves 184,509 active participants. If you're a current or former employee, use the login link above or contact the plan administrator at the phone number listed on this page. First-time users will need to register using their Social Security number and date of birth.

For 2026, United Airlines 401(k) participants can contribute up to $24,500 in employee deferrals. Participants aged 50+ can contribute an additional $8,000 in catch-up contributions (total $32,500). Those aged 60-63 can make super catch-up contributions of $11,250 (total $35,750). Currently, United Airlines participants contribute an average of $5,350 per year in employee deferrals. Employer contributions are separate from these limits.

Many United Airlines 401(k) plans offer loan provisions. As of the latest filing, United Airlines participants had $629.7M in outstanding loans (averaging $3,413 across participants with active loans). The IRS limits 401(k) loans to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of your vested balance. With an average account balance of $234K in the United Airlines plan, the maximum potential loan amount for a fully vested participant would vary accordingly. Check with your plan administrator for specific loan terms.

When you leave United Airlines, you have several options for your 401(k): keep it in the plan (if the balance is over $7,000), roll it over to a new employer's plan, roll it to an IRA, or take a cash distribution (subject to taxes and potential penalties). In the most recent filing year, the plan processed $3.0B in distributions to departing or retired participants. Employer match contributions may be subject to a vesting schedule.

According to the most recent Form 5500 filing, the United Airlines 401(k) plan has 184,509 active participants managing $43.1B in plan assets. The average account balance is $234K per participant, and the plan was originally established on N/A.

Many major employers, including United Airlines, offer both traditional pre-tax and Roth after-tax 401(k) contribution options. Given that United Airlines participants average $5,350 in annual deferrals, choosing between Roth and traditional depends on whether you expect your tax bracket to be higher or lower in retirement. Contact the United Airlines plan administrator for availability.

The United Airlines 401(k) plan typically offers a range of investment options including target-date funds, index funds, actively managed funds, and potentially company stock. The plan generated $9.1B in total investment income during the last filing year. Log into your account to see current investment options and performance.

United Airlines (UAL) may offer company stock as an investment option within the 401(k) plan. Be mindful of concentration risk — financial advisors typically recommend limiting company stock to no more than 10-15% of your portfolio, especially given that your employment income already depends on United Airlines's performance.