Imagine losing nearly $100 in minutes just because a website lacks a simple ‘back’ button. This is the frustrating reality a Canadian traveler faced while booking flights on United Airlines’ platform. It’s a stark reminder of how poor design can hit your wallet hard.
According to the Daily Mail, a Canadian traveler’s attempt to book family flights on United Airlines turned into a costly lesson due to a missing ‘back’ button, leading to a price hike of nearly $100, while sparking broader criticism of the airline’s pricing tactics and user experience in 2025.
On July 31, this traveler started booking tickets initially priced at $295. Needing to adjust seat selections, she searched for a way to revisit the previous step. But United’s website offered no such option.
“On United's website, there is no 'back' button,” the traveler lamented on Reddit. Without this feature, she had no choice but to abandon her cart. “So I basically had to cancel the cart item and redo all the steps,” she explained.
Restarting the process meant re-entering every flight detail from scratch. Minutes later, the ticket price jumped by $30. Demand-driven pricing was the suspected culprit, as she noted the spike tied to high search volume for the same flight.
Desperate to secure a better rate, she tried searching on another computer. The fare climbed even higher, reaching $362. It was a bitter pill for a simple seat change. Reddit users chimed in with similar horror stories. “It's a demand issue,” one commenter noted, suggesting multiple searches can trigger price surges.
Another shared a pricier misstep: “If it makes you feel any better, I made a $500 mistake similar to that.” Solidarity among travelers couldn’t erase the sting of lost money.
United Airlines has faced mounting backlash in 2025 for user-unfriendly changes. Many travelers, fed up with such experiences, are switching to competitors.
One controversial policy hikes fares for solo passengers, with data showing at least an 8% increase on weekdays compared to group travelers. It’s a move that punishes independent flyers.
Additionally, United tightened its domestic check-in window from 30 to 45 minutes before takeoff, effective since June 2025. This leaves less wiggle room for last-minute arrivals.
While frustrations grow, United is rolling out luxury Polaris Studio suites on international routes in 2025. Launching on flights from San Francisco to London and Singapore, these suites aim to elevate premium travel.
Perks include Cuvée Rosé, designer hoodie pajamas, and Starlink Wi-Fi, powered by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It’s a clear focus on high-end customers over everyday user experience.
DailyMail.com sought United’s response to the booking fiasco, but the airline’s stance remains unclear. For now, travelers are left to navigate a system that seems stacked against frugality.
If you’re booking with United, double-check every step—consider locking in fares early or exploring rival airlines to avoid such traps.