United Airlines just banned AI agents from booking its flights. So a booking now needs a real human, and there is one reliable way to spot one: a machine would never accept any of these seats.
Rule 6.J.6No AI · No refunds
Select all squares with
a seat you'd acceptIf there are none, click verify
The test, the seats and the verdicts are invented. These are not.
On November 11, 2026, United Airlines said it is banning AI agents from making flight reservations on behalf of travelers, citing security risks and possible violations of federal rules. CBS News, Nov 11, 2026
The revised contract of carriage adds Rule 6.J.6, which prohibits using AI agents to make, change or service a ticket or to buy any service or product. It applies even when the customer supervises and approves what the agent does, and Rule 5.H lets United cancel reservations an agent touched. View from the Wing, Nov 11, 2026
CEO Scott Kirby, at an event in Chicago: “To be honest, I don’t want to create another middleman.” View from the Wing, Nov 11, 2026
The existing middlemen stay: an analyst told CBS that United fares remain bookable through Kayak, Hopper and Google Flights. AI agents may still look up fares; a person has to do the buying. CBS News, Nov 11, 2026