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United Airlines NDC: how agencies and developers access UA content

NDC-only Basic Economy, continuous pricing, GDS NDC availability, and the three ways to connect.

By the Tripgic team · Last updated

What is United Airlines NDC?

United Airlines NDC is the airline’s IATA New Distribution Capability channel. Agencies use it to book United flights with continuous-pricing fares, seat selection and dynamically bundled ancillaries, and to reach Basic Economy fares that United no longer sells through GDS EDIFACT on US domestic and short-haul Latin American routes.

United has moved steadily rather than abruptly: it made NDC available in all three GDSs by 2023, moved Basic Economy to NDC only in September 2023, and said removing all EDIFACT content was not on its near-term roadmap. See our plain-English guide to NDC for the standard itself.

United Airlines NDC timeline: key dates

DateWhat changedSource
Nov 2020ARC switches on United’s NDC on its settlement platform, accepting cash and card payments.source
Jul 2021United and Amadeus sign a multi-year content agreement to bring United NDC content to the Amadeus Travel Platform.source
Apr 2023Sabre makes United NDC offers live through its Offer and Order APIs, Sabre Red 360 and GetThere, including continuous-pricing fares and seat selection, in 70+ countries.source
Jul 2023United removes Basic Economy on US domestic and short-haul Latin American routes from GDS EDIFACT from 5 September 2023; it stays bookable via united.com, the app and NDC.source
Jul 2023United says removing all content from EDIFACT is not on its near-term roadmap.source
Aug 2023Travelport renews its United agreement and begins offering United NDC content, first in the US and EMEA.source
Nov 2023United extends its NDC partnership with Accelya, whose FLX platform powers continuous pricing and dynamic bundles.source
Oct 2024Amadeus and United sign an enhanced agreement covering NDC and EDIFACT content.source
Dec 2025United and Travelport announce a long-term partnership with early access to United’s NDC roadmap, rolling out in phases from early 2026.source

United’s NDC partner programme changes over time. Confirm current terms with United.

Three ways to access United Airlines NDC

You can connect to United Airlines directly, through a GDS that carries its NDC content, or through an NDC aggregator. The right choice depends on your engineering capacity and how many airlines you sell.

Direct to United AirlinesGDS NDCAggregator (Tripgic)
Best forLarge agencies and TMCs with their own NDC engineering teamAgencies already working in a GDS desktop or GDS APIOTAs, B2B platforms and startups that want REST/JSON
What you buildUnited’s NDC API plus onboarding with UnitedThe GDS’s NDC workflow, separate from EDIFACTOne REST API; United Airlines NDC blended with GDS and LCC fares
Airline changesYou track United’s NDC roadmapHandled by the GDSHandled in Tripgic’s connector; your JSON stays the same
Other airlinesOne integration per airlineNDC carriers that GDS supportsOther NDC airlines, 3 GDS networks and 67 LCCs

United Airlines NDC vs GDS (EDIFACT) bookings

How NDC differs from the GDS in general: NDC vs traditional GDS.

Frequently asked questions

What is United Airlines NDC?

It is United’s NDC channel. Agencies use it to book continuous-pricing fares, seat selection and dynamically bundled ancillaries, and to reach Basic Economy fares that are no longer sold through GDS EDIFACT on some routes.

Is United Basic Economy available in the GDS?

Not through EDIFACT on US domestic and short-haul Latin American routes. Since 5 September 2023 those Basic Economy fares are bookable only via united.com, the United app and NDC channels.

Does United charge a GDS surcharge?

We found no United surcharge on EDIFACT bookings. United has said removing all content from EDIFACT is not on its near-term roadmap.

Can I book United NDC in Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport?

Yes. Sabre went live in April 2023 and Travelport in August 2023. Amadeus signed a content agreement in 2021 and an enhanced NDC and EDIFACT agreement in October 2024.

How do I access United Airlines NDC through Tripgic?

Tripgic holds the United Airlines NDC connection. You integrate one REST API with sandbox credentials, and United NDC offers come back blended with GDS and low-cost carrier fares in the same normalized JSON, with no per-airline NDC certification on your side.

Sources

Other airline NDC guides

Related

Sell United Airlines NDC fares through one API

United Airlines NDC, GDS and LCC content in one normalized REST API. Sandbox credentials at no charge.

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