United Airlines blocks AI agents from booking flights, citing cybersecurity risks

In Brief Posted: 9:17 AM PST · November 12, 2026 Zack Whittaker United Airlines blocks AI agents from booking flights, citing cybersecurity risks United Airlines said it will restrict access to AI agents seeking to book flights and manage reservations on their users’ behalf, citing a risk to cybersecurity and undermining federal regulations. The airline is the latest American corporate giant to prevent customers from using AI agents and autonomous assistants to access their systems. The move comes as airlines and banks are struggling to differentiate between real customers and AI systems operating on their behalf, such as when users share their logins with their AI assistants. Sharing passwords with apps and assistants can create security risks if those credentials get leaked or exposed. United warns that “sharing account credentials with personal, third-party, AI assistants can expose sensitive information, and actions taken by these tools may result in unintended purchases, account changes, or use of MileagePlus miles.” The airline also warns of a risk of violating federal aviation rules, such as requiring that a human completes flight check-ins to acknowledge that their bags do not contain banned substances. “As a result, United is taking steps to restrict access — directly within our digital platforms and indirectly via travel agencies and aggregators — to prohibit use by unauthorized, third-party personal AI agents or assistants,” the airline said in a statement . “This work includes updates to our booking, ticketing and distribution policies.” The airline’s move follows a warning from banks, including Bank of America, which last week urged customers not to share their passwords with their AI assistants. Topics AI , AI assistants , Airlines , cybersecurity , Security , United Airlines 2027 San Francisco Get an Early Peek at the Next TechCrunch Disrupt Disrupt, Startup Battlefield, and more will return next year, and you can be at the front of the line. Sign up for our waitlist Register Now Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch Mobility TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. StrictlyVC Provides movers and shakers with the info they need to start their day. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Apps Phota Labs uses AI to turn everyday photos into professional-looking shots Aisha Malik 48 minutes ago Security Cyberattack on Fireworks AI allowed hackers to access Notion customers’ chat transcripts Zack Whittaker 3 hours ago Hardware Nvidia’s Jensen Huang resigns, chipmaker names CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO Ram Iyer Julie Bort 4 hours ago Latest in Security In Brief United Airlines blocks AI agents from booking flights, citing cybersecurity risks Zack Whittaker 30 minutes ago Security Cyberattack on Fireworks AI allowed hackers to access Notion customers’ chat transcripts Zack Whittaker 3 hours ago Hardware Nvidia’s Jensen Huang resigns, chipmaker names CFO Colette Kress as interim CEO Ram Iyer Julie Bort 4 hours ago