United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL): Lienzo del Modelo de Negocio [Actualizado en Ene-2025]

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) se erige como una potencia de aviación global, navegando estratégicamente por el complejo mundo del transporte aéreo a través de un intrincado modelo de negocio que equilibra la eficiencia operativa, la experiencia del cliente y la innovación tecnológica. Al aprovechar una red robusta de asociaciones, plataformas digitales de vanguardia y una propuesta de valor integral, United Airlines se ha posicionado como un transportista líder que conecta a millones de pasajeros en diversas rutas y segmentos de viajes. Este modelo de negocio dinámico revela la maquinaria sofisticada detrás de una de las aerolíneas más reconocidas del mundo, ofreciendo información sobre cómo UAL transforma los viajes aéreos de un mero servicio de transporte a una experiencia sin interrupciones y gratificantes.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocios: asociaciones clave

Red Star Alliance

Composición de la Alianza Star: 26 aerolíneas globales a partir de 2024

Aerolíneas asociadas	Regiones cubiertas
Lufthansa	Europa
Air Canada	América del norte
Ana	Asia

Fabricantes de aeronaves

Proveedores de aeronaves principales:

• Boeing: 792 aviones en la flota a partir del cuarto trimestre 2023
• Airbus: 89 aviones en la flota a partir del cuarto trimestre 2023

Asociación con tarjeta de crédito

Asociación de tarjeta de crédito de MileagePlus con Chase

Detalles de la asociación	Valor
Ingresos anuales de la tarjeta de crédito	$ 1.8 mil millones en 2023
Usuarios de tarjetas de crédito activas	12.4 millones en 2023

Proveedores de servicios de catering y tierra

• Gate Gourmet: proveedor de catering principal
• Swissport: Servicios de manejo de tierra
• Valor de contrato de servicio total de tierra: $ 475 millones en 2023

Tecnología e socios de infraestructura de TI

Pareja	Servicio proporcionado	Valor anual del contrato
Microsoft	Infraestructura en la nube	$ 120 millones
IBM	Soluciones de ciberseguridad	$ 85 millones
Amadeo	Sistemas de reservas	$ 95 millones

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocio: actividades clave

Servicios de transporte de pasajeros

United Airlines opera una flota de 1,592 aviones a partir de 2023, atendiendo 342 destinos en 60 países. La aerolínea transportó 204.2 millones de pasajeros en 2022, con una salida diaria promedio de 4,500 vuelos.

Composición de la flota	Número de aviones
Avión de cuerpo estrecho	1,037
Avión de cuerpo ancho	555

Mantenimiento de aeronaves y gestión de flotas

United Airlines invierte $ 2.4 mil millones anuales en mantenimiento de aeronaves y renovación de la flota. La compañía opera 7 instalaciones de mantenimiento principales en los Estados Unidos.

• Edad promedio de la aeronave: 13.7 años
• Técnicos de mantenimiento: 5.200 empleados
• Presupuesto de mantenimiento anual: $ 2.4 mil millones

Planificación y optimización de redes de ruta

United Airlines administra una red de ruta integral con operaciones estratégicas de concentradores en ciudades clave.

Centros principales	Salidas diarias
Chicago O'Hare	745
Houston	627
Newark	595
San Francisco	424

Servicio al cliente y operaciones de vuelo

United Airlines emplea a 92,795 empleados en total a partir de 2022, con equipos dedicados para el servicio al cliente y las operaciones de vuelo.

• Pilotos: 12,550
• Asistentes de vuelo: 24,350
• Representantes de servicio al cliente: 8,900

Plataforma digital y gestión de sistemas de reserva

Las plataformas digitales de United Airlines procesaron el 78% del total de reservas a través de canales en línea y móviles en 2022, con ingresos digitales anuales de $ 3.7 mil millones.

Métricas de plataforma digital	Datos anuales
Descargas de aplicaciones móviles	21.5 millones
Porcentaje de reserva en línea	78%
Ingreso digital	$ 3.7 mil millones

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocio: recursos clave

Gran flota de aviones comerciales

Al 31 de diciembre de 2023, United Airlines opera una flota de 1,463 aviones. Desglose de la composición de la flota:

Tipo de aeronave	Número de aviones
Familia Boeing 737	521
Familia Airbus A320	229
Boeing 787 Dreamliner	64
Boeing 777	54
Aviones regionales Embraer	595

Red de ruta global extensa

United Airlines sirve:

• Más de 330 destinos en todo el mundo
• Opera en 5 continentes
• Cubre 60 países

Infraestructura tecnológica avanzada

Inversiones y capacidades tecnológicas:

• IT Investible de infraestructura: $ 872 millones en 2023
• Plataformas de computación en la nube
• Sistemas avanzados de reserva y reserva
• Tecnología de seguimiento de vuelo en tiempo real

Fuerza laboral hábil y pilotos entrenados

Categoría de empleado	Número de empleados
Fuerza de trabajo total	92,795
Pilotos	13,374
Azafata	21,186
Operaciones de tierra	37,500

Instalaciones del aeropuerto e infraestructura terrestre

Detalles de la infraestructura de tierra:

• Instalaciones de mantenimiento en 7 ciudades principales de Hub
• Inversión total de la instalación terrestre: $ 1.2 mil millones en 2023
• Centros de mantenimiento en Chicago, Houston, San Francisco

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocio: propuestas de valor

Red de viajes global integral

United Airlines opera una red de 4,634 vuelos diarios a 239 destinos en 49 países a partir de 2023. La aerolínea atiende a 6 continentes con una flota de 1.463 aviones.

Métrico de red	Cantidad
Vuelos diarios	4,634
Destinos	239
Países atendidos	49
Tamaño de la flota	1,463

Transporte aéreo confiable y eficiente

United Airlines mantiene un rendimiento a tiempo de 80.1% y un factor de finalización del 98.7% en 2023.

Programa de recompensas de volantes frecuentes

El programa MileagePlus tiene 110 millones de miembros con asociaciones en más de 40 aerolíneas y más de 200 socios de alquiler de hoteles y automóviles.

Métrico de programa	Cantidad
Miembros del programa	110 millones
Asociaciones de aerolíneas	40
Relaciones de pareja de viaje	200+

Opciones de clase de viaje múltiple

• United First
• Negocio unido
• United Premium Plus
• Economía unida

Experiencia digital y experiencia de viaje

La aplicación móvil de United tiene 26 millones de descargas con una calificación de 4.7/5. La tasa de registro digital es del 89% del total de pasajeros.

Métrica de compromiso digital	Cantidad
Descargas de aplicaciones móviles	26 millones
Calificación de aplicaciones móviles	4.7/5
Tasa de check-in digital	89%

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocios: relaciones con los clientes

Programa de fidelización de MilreagePlus

A partir de 2023, el programa MileagePlus de United Airlines tiene 120 millones de miembros activos. El programa generó $ 5.3 mil millones en ingresos por lealtad en 2022. Los miembros pueden ganar millas a través de:

• Compras de vuelos
• Gastos de tarjeta de crédito
• Transacciones de pareja

Métrico de programa	Valor 2023
Totales miembros activos	120 millones
Ingresos de lealtad	$ 5.3 mil millones
Millas redimidas anualmente	1.2 billones de millas

Canales de atención al cliente digital

United Airlines opera múltiples plataformas de soporte digital con las siguientes métricas:

• Descargas de aplicaciones móviles: 22.4 millones
• Tasa de resolución de chatbot 24/7: 68%
• Tiempo promedio de respuesta de servicio al cliente digital: 12 minutos

Experiencia de viaje personalizada

La estrategia de personalización de United incluye:

• Motor de recomendación impulsado por IA
• Sugerencias de viaje personalizadas basadas en el 87% de los perfiles de datos del cliente
• Comunicación personalizada a través de 12 puntos de contacto digitales diferentes

Asociaciones de viajes corporativos

Categoría de asociación	Número de socios	Impacto anual de ingresos
Cuentas comerciales corporativas	3,200	$ 1.7 mil millones
Contratos empresariales globales	650	$ 890 millones

Plataformas digitales de autoservicio

Las capacidades de autoservicio de United incluyen:

• Check-in en línea: utilizado por el 92% de los pasajeros
• Adopción del pase de embarque móvil: 78%
• Seguimiento de equipaje digital: disponible para el 100% de los vuelos

Métrica de plataforma digital	Porcentaje
Uso de check-in en línea	92%
Adopción del pase de embarque móvil	78%
Tasa de resolución de autoservicio	85%

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocios: canales

Sitio web oficial y aplicación móvil

Las plataformas digitales de United Airlines procesaron el 61.2% de la venta total de entradas en 2023. El tráfico del sitio web alcanzó los 152 millones de visitantes únicos anualmente. Las descargas de aplicaciones móviles excedieron los 24.5 millones a partir del cuarto trimestre de 2023.

Canal digital	Métricas de rendimiento anuales
Sitio web de United.com	152 millones de visitantes únicos
Aplicación móvil de United	24.5 millones de descargas
Venta de entradas en línea	61.2% de las ventas totales

Plataformas de reserva de viajes

United Airlines se asocia con 12 agencias globales de viajes en línea. Expedia Group genera el 18.7% de las reservas digitales de terceros de United.

• Expedia
• Booking.com
• Orbitz
• Travelocidad
• Priceline

Contadores de servicio del aeropuerto

United opera 1.387 contadores de registro en 335 aeropuertos a nivel mundial. Interacciones diarias promedio de pasajeros en los contadores de servicio: 87,500.

Métrica de servicio del aeropuerto	Cantidad
Contadores de check-in	1,387
Ubicaciones del aeropuerto global	335
Interacciones diarias de pasajeros	87,500

Centros de llamadas

United mantiene 7 centros de llamadas globales que manejan 42.3 millones de interacciones de servicio al cliente anualmente. Tiempo promedio de manejo de llamadas: 8.2 minutos.

Agencias de viajes y socios de viajes corporativos

United tiene asociaciones con 5.200 empresas de gestión de viajes corporativos. El segmento de viajes corporativos representa el 38.6% de los ingresos totales en 2023.

Métricas de asociación de viajes corporativos	Datos
Socios de gestión de viajes corporativos	5,200
Contribución de ingresos por viajes corporativos	38.6%

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocios: segmentos de clientes

Viajeros de negocios

United Airlines atiende a aproximadamente 1.6 millones de viajeros de negocios anualmente en su red. La compañía genera $ 8.2 mil millones en ingresos del segmento de viajes de negocios.

Segmento de viajes de negocios	Métricas anuales
Viajeros de negocios totales	1.6 millones
Ingresos de viajes de negocios	$ 8.2 mil millones
Costo promedio de viaje de negocios	$1,245

Viajeros de ocio

United Airlines atiende a aproximadamente 2.3 millones de viajeros de ocio por año, generando $ 5.7 mil millones en ingresos de viajes de ocio.

Segmento de viaje de ocio	Métricas anuales
Viajeros de ocio totales	2.3 millones
Ingresos de viaje de ocio	$ 5.7 mil millones
Costo de viaje de ocio promedio	$678

Cuentas de viajes corporativas

United Airlines mantiene relaciones con 3.750 cuentas de viajes corporativos, que representan el 42% de su segmento total de viajes de negocios.

• Cuentas corporativas totales: 3,750
• Porcentaje de viajes de negocios: 42%
• Valor promedio de la cuenta corporativa: $ 2.1 millones

Pasajeros internacionales y nacionales

United Airlines opera en 342 destinos con 4.7 millones de pasajeros en total anualmente.

Tipo de pasajero	Pasajeros anuales	Ganancia
Pasajeros nacionales	3.2 millones	$ 6.9 mil millones
Pasajeros internacionales	1.5 millones	$ 4.6 mil millones

Volantes frecuentes

United MileagePlus Program incluye 100 millones de miembros, con 12 millones de participantes activos que generan importantes ingresos por lealtad.

• MIEMBROS TOTAL MILEAGUS: 100 millones
• Flyers frecuentes activos: 12 millones
• Ingresos del programa de fidelización: $ 1.3 mil millones

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocio: Estructura de costos

Gastos de combustible de aeronaves

En 2023, United Airlines gastó $ 7.44 mil millones en combustible de aviones. El costo de combustible por galón promedió $ 2.96. Los gastos de combustible representaron aproximadamente el 22% de los gastos operativos totales de la aerolínea.

Año	Gastos totales de combustible	Costo de combustible por galón	Porcentaje de gastos operativos
2023	$ 7.44 mil millones	$2.96	22%

Salarios y beneficios de los empleados

Los costos de compensación de empleados de United Airlines en 2023 totalizaron $ 11.26 mil millones. La compañía empleó a aproximadamente 92,795 empleados a tiempo completo.

• Compensación total de empleados: $ 11.26 mil millones
• Número de empleados: 92,795
• Salario promedio por empleado: $ 121,360

Mantenimiento y arrendamiento de aeronaves

En 2023, United Airlines gastó $ 2.98 mil millones en gastos de mantenimiento y arrendamiento de aviones. La flota consistió en 1,592 aviones, con un 54% de propiedad y 46% arrendada.

Categoría de gastos	Costo total	Composición de la flota
Mantenimiento y arrendamiento	$ 2.98 mil millones	1.592 aviones totales
Avión de propiedad	54% de la flota	861 avión
Avión arrendado	46% de la flota	731 avión

Operaciones en el aeropuerto y tarifas de aterrizaje

United Airlines incurrió en $ 3.42 mil millones en operaciones del aeropuerto y tarifas de aterrizaje durante 2023. La aerolínea opera en 355 aeropuertos en 60 países.

• Operaciones totales del aeropuerto y tarifas de aterrizaje: $ 3.42 mil millones
• Número de aeropuertos servidos: 355
• Países operados en: 60

Inversiones de tecnología e infraestructura

United Airlines invirtió $ 1.15 mil millones en mejoras en tecnología e infraestructura en 2023. Esto incluye plataformas digitales, sistemas de reserva y tecnologías operativas.

Categoría de inversión	Inversión total
Tecnología e infraestructura	$ 1.15 mil millones

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Modelo de negocios: flujos de ingresos

Venta de entradas para pasajeros

United Airlines informó que los ingresos de los pasajeros de $ 48.4 mil millones en 2022. Millas de pasajeros de ingresos (RPM) totalizaron 215.7 mil millones en el mismo año. El precio promedio del boleto fue de aproximadamente $ 182.50.

Categoría de ingresos	Cantidad de 2022
Ingresos del pasajero	$ 48.4 mil millones
Millas de pasajeros de ingresos	215.7 mil millones
Precio promedio de boleto	$182.50

Tarifas de equipaje

United Airlines recolectó $ 1.4 mil millones en tarifas de equipaje En 2022. La tarifa de bolsa estándar marcada varía de $ 30 a $ 75 dependiendo de la ruta y el estado del pasajero.

• Primera tarifa de bolsa revisada: $ 30- $ 35
• Segunda tarifa de bolsas revisadas: $ 40- $ 45
• Tarifas de bolsas con sobrepeso/de gran tamaño: $ 100- $ 200 adicionales

Transporte de carga

Los ingresos de carga para United Airlines alcanzaron $ 6.3 mil millones en 2022. La aerolínea opera vuelos de carga dedicados y utiliza espacio de carga del vientre en aviones de pasajeros.

Métrica de ingresos de carga	Valor 2022
Ingresos totales de carga	$ 6.3 mil millones
Rendimiento de carga por ingresos toneladas de milla	$2.87

Asociaciones frecuentes del programa de volantes

El programa United MileagePlus genera Aproximadamente $ 5.2 mil millones anuales a través de asociaciones de tarjetas de crédito y millas de ventas. Los principales socios incluyen Chase Bank y varios programas de fidelización de hoteles/minoristas.

• Ingresos de asociación de tarjeta de crédito: $ 3.7 mil millones
• Miles de ventas a socios: $ 1.5 mil millones

Servicios de clase premium y auxiliar

Los ingresos por cabina premium y servicios auxiliares totalizaron $ 3.8 mil millones en 2022. Esto incluye primera clase, clase ejecutiva, economía premium e ingresos de servicios adicionales.

Categoría de servicio premium	2022 Ingresos
Ingresos de clase ejecutiva	$ 2.1 mil millones
Ingresos de primera clase	$ 850 millones
Ingresos de la economía premium	$ 450 millones
Otros servicios auxiliares	$ 400 millones

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Canvas Business Model: Value Propositions

The Value Propositions for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. center on network breadth, product modernization, operational reliability, and a high-value loyalty proposition for frequent flyers.

Extensive global network connecting to over 1,300 destinations

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. offers a vast reach, as outlined by its commitment to connecting to over 1,300 destinations. Operationally, for Summer 2025, the airline is set to operate 800 daily flights to and from 147 international destinations, including 40 nonstop routes no other major U.S. airline serves. The total network size as of 2024 included 383 destinations. This expansion includes adding 8 new cities for Summer 2025, such as Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Dakar, Senegal.

Enhanced premium experience (Polaris, Signature Interior, Starlink Wi-Fi)

Product differentiation is driven by premium cabin enhancements and fleet-wide technology upgrades. The new United signature interiors feature significant in-seat technology upgrades across cabins. United expects to have Starlink on all United aircraft - more than 1,000 planes - over the next several years. Testing for the free Starlink service began in early 2025, with the first mainline aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, expected to enter service with Starlink from October 15, 2025. The regional fleet installation pace reached 50 or more aircraft per month as of September 2025. The high-speed Starlink service offers download speeds between 40 and 220 Mbps and upload speeds of 8 to 25 Mbps.

The seatback screens in the new signature interiors provide concrete visual value:

Cabin Class	Screen Size (Inches)	Connectivity Feature
United Polaris business class	16-inch HD touch screens	Bluetooth connectivity
United First Class	13-inch screens	Power in every seat
United Economy seat	10-inch screens	Larger overhead bins

The airline has nearly 100,000 seatback screens across its fleet, with plans to grow this number. Premium cabin revenue grew 5.6% in Q2 2025.

High operational dependability (best post-pandemic on-time rates in Q2 2025)

Operational execution in the second quarter of 2025 demonstrated improved reliability. United operated its largest-ever quarterly schedule in Q2 of 2025, measured by available seat miles. The consolidated punctuality rate for Q2 2025 reached its highest level in four years. The on-time departure rate hit a five-year high in Q2 2025. United achieved a 100% completion day on April 22, 2025. The on-time percentage hovers around 80-82%, which is significantly better (i.e., 5% or more) than other major U.S. airlines.

Diverse fare options from Basic Economy to premium cabins

United provides a spectrum of fare options to segment customers based on willingness to pay and desired flexibility. The fare structure includes distinct categories for different service levels.

• Basic Economy fare class: N.
• Deep-discounted Economy fare classes: S, T, L, K, G.
• Full-fare Economy classes eligible for instant upgrades: Y, B.
• United Polaris business class fare classes: J, C, D, Z, P.
• United Premium Plus fare classes: O, A, R.

Basic Economy fares (N) are generally not eligible for upgrades.

Strong loyalty program value with flexible earning and redemption

The MileagePlus program remains a core value driver, recognized as the world's best frequent flyer programme in 2025 with a perfect 10.00 score in one industry evaluation. The program offers flexibility in point lifespan and redemption options.

• MileagePlus points are valid for up to 180 months.
• Loyalty revenue grew 8.7% year-over-year in Q2 2025.
• MileagePlus points are valued around 1.2 points per dollar.
• Co-branded credit card sign-ups surged by 45%.
• International Premium Economy upgrades start at 15,000 miles.
• Domestic upgrades from Basic Economy (N) require 25,000 miles.
• Upgrading from a W fare class to Polaris costs 40 PlusPoints.
• Upgrading from a G or S fare class to Polaris costs 80 PlusPoints.

Elite status qualification for 2025 requires higher thresholds, such as 5,000 PQPs and 15 PQFs for Silver, or a PQP-only goal of 6,000 PQPs.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Relationships

You're looking at how United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) keeps its customers engaged and satisfied, which is key since their strategy leans heavily on brand loyalty. Honestly, the numbers show they're succeeding by pushing high-yield customers and digital tools.

Automated self-service via the highly-rated United mobile app

Digital interaction is massive for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL). Nearly 90% of customers engage with the United mobile app on the day of travel. This focus on automation helps with service recovery; about half of passengers who were rebooked in the second quarter of 2025 used United's automated or self-service options. The app's technology, like ConnectionSaver, has saved over 3.3 million customer connections since its launch. Furthermore, a spring beta test of new app features showed that over 350,000 customers used them, achieving a 98% success rate in making their connection.

Dedicated personal assistance for premium and elite status members

The focus on premium customers is clearly paying off financially. In the third quarter of 2025, premium cabin revenue was up 6% year-over-year. For the first quarter of 2025, premium cabin revenue had risen 9.2% year-over-year. This segment is high-yield; premium-class revenue per available seat mile outperformed the main cabin by five points in Q3 2025. Elite status is tied directly to these benefits, but earning it got tougher in 2025, with Premier status requirements increasing by 20% to 25% in Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).

Here's a look at the PQP headstarts for existing elites at the start of the 2025 program year:

Elite Status Level	PQP Headstart Amount
Premier Silver	300 PQPs
Premier Gold	600 PQPs
Premier Platinum	900 PQPs
Premier 1K	1,400 PQPs

Community building through the MileagePlus loyalty program

The MileagePlus program is a significant revenue driver and community anchor. Loyalty revenue increased more than 9% in the third quarter of 2025, following a 9.4% year-over-year rise in Q1 2025. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) executives have signaled big plans, aiming to double profits from its loyalty program by 2030. The value of each point is estimated around 1.2 points per dollar. To sweeten the deal for cardholders, earn rates on co-branded cards were adjusted; for instance, the United Club℠ Card now offers 1 PQP per $15 spent, with a maximum of 28,000 PQPs annually, up from 15,000 PQPs.

MileagePlus members earn miles based on status, which encourages repeat engagement:

• Premier Silver: Earn 7 miles per dollar.
• Premier Gold: Earn 8 miles per dollar.
• Premier Platinum: Earn 9 miles per dollar.
• Premier 1K: Earn 11 miles per dollar.

Proactive communication for operational changes and service recovery

Operational reliability directly impacts customer trust. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) delivered its best first-quarter operational performance since 2021 in Q1 2025, cutting its seat cancellation rate in half compared to Q1 2024. For service recovery, the airline uses proactive communication; for example, during weather delays, they began texting customers live radar maps in July 2025. This transparency helps manage expectations when disruptions occur, which is crucial since Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), representing roughly 20% of United's total system capacity and domestic revenue, faced significant restrictions in Q2 2025.

Corporate sales teams managing large business travel accounts

The corporate segment remains a focus, though the mix is shifting toward premium leisure. Business revenue was up 7.4% in the first quarter of 2025. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) achieved its all-time highest business revenue ticketing week during the week ending October 5, 2025, with three of the top five best weeks occurring in September 2025. Despite this, the Chief Commercial Officer noted that the percentage of business travel is a much smaller share of United's business than it was in 2019. Business travel demand saw a double-digit acceleration starting in early July 2025.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Canvas Business Model: Channels

You're looking at how United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) gets its product-seats on planes-into the hands of customers as of late 2025. The strategy heavily favors digital control, but the physical touchpoints remain critical for premium and last-minute sales.

Direct sales via United Airlines website and mobile app (primary channel)

The digital storefront is where United Airlines wants the majority of transactions to happen. This channel allows for direct control over pricing, ancillary attachment, and customer data capture, which feeds directly into loyalty efforts. Enhancements to the United app, for instance, drove an 85% digital check-in rate in the first quarter of 2025. This focus on digital self-service is key, especially as a record 73% of airline tickets were booked directly across the industry in early 2025, a trend United Airlines is definitely leading within its segment. You can even purchase a one-time United Club pass for $59 directly via the mobile app.

The airline's investment in its mobile app is significant, as CEO Scott Kirby noted its role in winning and retaining brand-loyal customers.

Airport ticket counters and customer service desks

While digital dominates, the physical presence at over 150 international destinations and numerous domestic hubs is essential for service recovery, complex itinerary changes, and high-touch customer segments. These desks serve as the final point of sale for many last-minute or highly modified bookings. You still see agents at these counters helping customers who need immediate, in-person resolution.

Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and Global Distribution Systems (GDS)

United Airlines continues to manage its presence on third-party platforms, balancing reach with the desire to own the customer relationship. In May 2025, OTA-issued trips actually increased by 8% year-over-year, showing that price-sensitive or self-service bookings still flow through these channels. To maintain control over ancillary sales on these platforms, United Airlines and Travelport formed a strategic partnership where Travelport receives early access to United's NDC-enabled extras.

Corporate booking tools and dedicated business portals

This high-margin segment is a core focus, though its growth has moderated recently. Flown business revenue grew 7% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, down from 15% growth in the fourth quarter of 2024. Contracted business sales for all future travel were only up 'low single-digits' year-over-year as of Q1 2025. United is actively integrating its Online Booking Tool (OBT) extras, like using United Jetstream amenity funds as payment, into GDS platforms like Travelport+ and its own Deem OBT platform to streamline the corporate booking experience.

United Club and Polaris Lounge network

The premium lounge network acts as a tangible value-add channel, particularly for high-yield and loyalty program members. As of late 2025, United Airlines operates a network that includes more than 45 United Club locations and five United Polaris® lounges. The airline expanded this offering in 2025, opening a new United Club Fly in Houston and a significantly expanded United Club in Denver measuring over 33,000 square feet. Furthermore, design work began on the seventh United Polaris lounge, slated for Denver.

Here's a quick look at the quantitative scale of these channels and related performance metrics:

Channel/Metric Category	Data Point (Late 2025)	Context/Period
Total Operating Revenue (Q3 2025)	$15.2 billion	Quarterly Financial Scale
Digital Check-in Rate	85%	Q1 2025
Industry Direct Booking Share	73%	Early 2025
United Club One-Time Pass Price	$59	Current Pricing
OTA-Issued Trip Increase	8%	May 2025 vs. prior year
Flown Business Revenue Growth	7%	Q1 2025 Year-over-Year
United Club Locations	More than 45	Network Size
United Polaris Lounges	5	Network Size

The airline is definitely leaning into its digital and premium physical assets to drive revenue, especially given that loyalty revenue grew 9% in Q3 2025.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Canvas Business Model: Customer Segments

High-yield business travelers seeking premium service and flexibility.

This segment showed strong recovery, with business travel revenue up 7.4% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025. For the second quarter of 2025, business demand notched a double-digit acceleration compared to the second quarter of 2024. Premium cabin revenue growth was 9.2% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, though it grew by 5.6% in the second quarter and 6% in the third quarter of 2025. United Airlines is focusing on retaining these high-value customers through network improvements and service enhancements.

Affluent international leisure travelers utilizing long-haul routes.

International travel remained robust, with Pacific Revenue per Available Seat Mile (RASM) increasing by 8.5% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, and Atlantic RASM up 4.7%. United Airlines is flying its largest international schedule in company history, with over 400 roundtrip international flights per day to 142 different destinations as of the third quarter of 2025. However, unit revenue pressure was noted in the third quarter, with international Passenger Revenue per Available Seat Mile (PRASM) falling 7.1%.

Brand-loyal MileagePlus members across all service classes.

The loyalty ecosystem is a key focus, with loyalty-related revenue growing by 9.4% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, and loyalty revenue rising 9% in the third quarter of 2025. The value of a MileagePlus point is around 1.2 points per dollar. Elite status qualification metrics for 2025 increased Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) by 20% to 25% across levels. United Airlines has a stated goal to double profits from its MileagePlus program by 2030.

Price-sensitive domestic leisure travelers (Basic Economy segment).

The Basic Economy offering continues to be a significant volume driver. Revenue from this segment was up 7.6% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, with a 4% revenue rise reported in the third quarter of 2025. As of late 2024, Basic Economy flyers accounted for approximately 16% of United Airlines' domestic passengers. The airline expects to average 145 seats per departure in North America by 2027, up from 104 in 2019, facilitating more of this lower-fare inventory.

Corporate clients with large-volume travel contracts.

This group is closely aligned with the high-yield business traveler segment, showing strong booking trends in 2025. The airline is capturing this demand through its network strength and operational reliability, which is critical for corporate travel managers. The following table summarizes key revenue performance indicators for relevant customer-facing segments through the first three quarters of 2025.

Segment Indicator	Q1 2025 YoY Growth	Q2 2025 YoY Growth	Q3 2025 YoY Growth
Premium Cabin Revenue	9.2%	5.6%	6%
Business Travel Revenue/Demand	7.4% (Revenue)	Double-digit acceleration	Implied strong performance
Basic Economy Revenue	7.6%	1.7%	4%
Loyalty Revenue	9.4%	Not specified	9%

United Airlines is also focusing on retaining its most valuable flyers through tiered benefits, which directly relates to segment retention. The structure for earning elite status in 2025 required higher Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).

• Premier Silver New PQP Requirement: 5,000 PQPs or 15 PQFs and 5,000 PQPs.
• Premier Gold New PQP Requirement: 10,000 PQPs or 30 PQFs and 10,000 PQPs.
• Premier Platinum New PQP Requirement: 15,000 PQPs or 45 PQFs and 15,000 PQPs.
• Premier 1K New PQP Requirement: 22,000 PQPs or 60 PQFs and 22,000 PQPs.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Canvas Business Model: Cost Structure

You're looking at the major drains on United Airlines Holdings, Inc.'s operating cash flow, which is key to understanding their pricing power and margin sustainability. The cost structure for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is heavily weighted toward fixed and semi-variable costs inherent to operating a global airline network.

The most significant variable cost component remains fuel. For the third quarter of 2025, the average fuel price United Airlines Holdings, Inc. paid was $2.43 per gallon. This figure directly impacts the bottom line, though hedging strategies aim to smooth out volatility. To give you a snapshot of the scale of their financial commitments as of the end of Q3 2025, here are some key figures:

Financial Metric	Amount / Projection (Late 2025)
Total Debt, Finance Lease Obligations, and Other Financial Liabilities (Q3 2025)	$25.4 billion
Projected FY2025 Adjusted Total Capital Expenditure	Below $6.5 billion
Q3 2025 Average Fuel Price	$2.43 per gallon
Q3 2025 Adjusted Pre-tax Margin	8.0%

Fixed costs are substantial, driven by the long-term nature of their assets. Aircraft ownership, whether through purchase or lease, represents a massive fixed commitment. Similarly, securing slots and gates at major hubs like Newark, which accounts for over 20% of the company's capacity, locks in significant airport lease expenses for years.

Labor costs are another huge line item, especially with pilot and flight attendant contracts. You saw evidence of this in the Q3 2025 reporting, where the timing of union contracts caused a shift in expenses. Specifically, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. noted a reduction of 1 point of labor expense moving from the third quarter of 2025 into the fourth quarter of 2025 due to contract timing. This shows how sensitive reported quarterly costs can be to the cadence of these major agreements.

Capital expenditures are being managed for fleet modernization. For the full fiscal year 2025, United Airlines Holdings, Inc. projected its adjusted total capital expenditure to fall below $6.5 billion. This spending is directed toward fleet upgrades and customer experience investments, like installing Starlink Wi-Fi across the fleet.

The debt load is significant, reflecting past financing needs and current obligations. As of the close of the third quarter of 2025, total debt, finance lease obligations, and other financial liabilities stood at $25.4 billion. The company did make a move to simplify this structure by prepaying the remaining $1.5 billion balance of the MileagePlus bonds during the quarter.

Here's a quick look at the cost structure elements that are managed:

• High fixed costs from aircraft ownership and airport leases.
• Variable fuel costs tied to the $2.43 per gallon Q3 2025 average.
• Significant labor expenses influenced by union contract timing.
• Capital expenditures projected below $6.5 billion for FY2025.
• Interest expense tied to $25.4 billion in total liabilities.

Finance: draft 13-week cash view by Friday.

United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) - Canvas Business Model: Revenue Streams

You're looking at the core ways United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) brings in cash as of late 2025. The business model is heavily reliant on flying people, but the real margin story is in the premium and loyalty segments. Honestly, the numbers from the third quarter of 2025 really highlight where the focus is right now.

Passenger ticket sales remain the main driver, of course. Total operating revenue for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. in the third quarter of 2025 hit $15.2 billion. This massive top line is supported by demand across the board, even as they manage unit revenue pressures. For instance, revenue from Basic Economy, which caters to the budget-conscious traveler, still managed to rise 4% year-over-year in Q3 2025. That shows the breadth of their passenger base.

Loyalty program revenue is a strategic powerhouse for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. MileagePlus revenue increased over 9% year-over-year in Q3 2025. To be fair, the co-brand remuneration part of that grew even faster, climbing 15% year-over-year. Management is definitely leaning into this, projecting they will double the loyalty program EBITDA by the end of the decade. This program is a key part of their brand-loyal strategy.

Premium cabin revenue is another critical growth lever. This segment rose 6% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025. What's more telling is that premium-class revenue per available seat mile (TRASM) outperformed the main cabin by five points. This outperformance is exactly what drives margin accretion for United Airlines Holdings, Inc. as they invest heavily in products like United Polaris.

Ancillary revenue streams are essential for filling out the total take. These fees come from things you might not think of as core tickets, but they add up significantly. You're looking at:

• Baggage fees, which are a consistent source of cash flow.
• Seat selection charges, especially for preferred seating.
• Revenue from upgrades to premium products.

Cargo and third-party business services revenue provides diversification away from pure passenger demand. In Q3 2025, cargo revenue specifically saw a lift, increasing 3% year-over-year. This shows the utility of their global network beyond just passenger seats.

Here's a quick snapshot of the key revenue performance indicators from the third quarter of 2025:

Revenue Stream Component	Q3 2025 Metric/Value	Year-over-Year Change
Total Operating Revenue	$15.2 billion	Up 2.6%
Premium Cabin Revenue	N/A	Rose 6%
Loyalty Program Revenue	N/A	Grew over 9%
Cargo Revenue	N/A	Rose 3%
Basic Economy Revenue	N/A	Rose 4%

The commitment to enhancing these revenue streams is clear in the capital allocation. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is on track to spend over $1 billion on customer experience improvements in 2025, with plans for another investment exceeding $1 billion in 2026. They are targeting fleetwide Starlink Wi-Fi installation completion by 2027. That spending is meant to secure the brand-loyal customer base that is currently driving the premium and loyalty revenue success.