An Airline Closed the Door on Agents

United will show fares to assistants but will not let them complete a booking, the first hard limit on agentic commerce.

United Airlines announced on 11 November 2026 that it will restrict unauthorised third-party personal AI agents and assistants from accessing its services, covering both its own digital platforms and indirect access through travel agencies and aggregators. The carrier said the aim is to protect passenger accounts and sensitive information and to manage the compliance risk of automated transactions. AI agents may still display flights and prices, but cannot complete a transaction on its site. Chief executive Scott Kirby framed it plainly, saying the airline did not want another intermediary. It is the first explicit restriction on agentic commerce by a major carrier, and it establishes that a brand’s right to admit or refuse AI agents is becoming a negotiable asset.