{
  "service": "Agent Outposts",
  "logging": "Intent registrations are logged in aggregate (brand, intent, result counts, hashed caller id) for demand statistics. No raw IP addresses are stored; free-text fields are stored only as provided.",
  "disclaimer": "Agent Outposts is not affiliated with United Airlines. This Outpost is a demand registry operated by Agent Outposts; door-state data is compiled from public sources (evidence linked per claim) and is not provided, reviewed, or endorsed by United Airlines.",
  "outpost": "united",
  "brand": "United Airlines",
  "category": "Airlines",
  "status": "collecting_demand",
  "headline": "United runs a mature but fully partner-gated NDC program — shopping, continuous pricing, booking and servicing via GDS/United-approved aggregators (Duffel is named) or an application-only Custom API — with robots.txt explicitly blocking AI crawlers from search/booking paths.",
  "wall_summary": "United runs a mature NDC program — shopping, continuous pricing, booking and servicing — but every part of it is partner-gated behind a GDS or United-approved aggregator relationship, or an application-only Custom API; there is no self-serve developer signup. Its robots.txt explicitly blocks AI crawlers from flight-search and booking paths.",
  "door_state_version": "census-2026-11-01",
  "door_state": {
    "inventory": {
      "checked_at": "2026-11-01",
      "evidence_url": "https://www.united.business/NDC-capabilities.html",
      "note": "Availability is returned as part of NDC shopping through the same gated channels; capabilities vary by aggregator per United's own channel grid.",
      "state": "partner_gated",
      "via": "United NDC via GDS/approved aggregators or Custom API"
    },
    "menu_browse": {
      "checked_at": "2026-11-01",
      "evidence_url": "https://united.business/NDC-corporate",
      "note": "United's official business site: agencies access NDC content via GDS/approved aggregators, or a Custom API (Direct Connect) by completing a form — no self-serve developer signup. NDC shopping covers United, codeshare and interline flights, continuous pricing, Basic Economy and 30+ dynamic bundles (per United's NDC capabilities page).",
      "state": "partner_gated",
      "via": "United NDC via United for Business (GDS or United-approved aggregators, or Custom API/Direct Connect by application)"
    },
    "ordering": {
      "checked_at": "2026-11-01",
      "evidence_url": "https://united.business/NDC-corporate",
      "note": "NDC booking includes holds without instant payment, exchanges, and ticketing on United stock (016) per United's official getting-started pages; entry requires an agency/aggregator relationship or a Custom API application. An agent could legitimately reach United via Duffel, which United itself lists as an approved aggregator.",
      "state": "partner_gated",
      "via": "United NDC (approved aggregators incl. Duffel; Custom API for large OTAs/tech-forward agencies)"
    },
    "prices": {
      "checked_at": "2026-11-01",
      "evidence_url": "https://www.united.business/NDC-capabilities.html",
      "note": "United states NDC unlocks its best/personalized pricing and continuous pricing; access is through its approved-aggregator list (which names Duffel Technology Ltd) or a gated Custom API application. No public pricing API.",
      "state": "partner_gated",
      "via": "United NDC (approved aggregators incl. Duffel, or Custom API)"
    },
    "tracking": {
      "checked_at": "2026-11-01",
      "evidence_url": "https://www.united.business/NDC-capabilities.html",
      "note": "Booking tracking/servicing is programmatic only inside the gated NDC channel (change/refund/cancel, schedule-change notifications, irregular-operations waivers). A United Flight Status API is listed in third-party/IATA API catalogs, but no self-serve signup was verified on an official United page, so public flight-status tracking remains human web/app plus partner servicing.",
      "state": "partner_gated",
      "via": "United NDC servicing (schedule-change notifications, itinerary servicing); flight status on united.com/app for humans"
    }
  },
  "official_channels": [
    {
      "name": "United NDC via GDS / approved aggregators",
      "kind": "partner_program",
      "covers": [
        "menu_browse",
        "prices",
        "inventory",
        "ordering",
        "tracking"
      ],
      "gate": "Requires an agency or aggregator relationship with United. NDC covers shopping, continuous pricing, booking and servicing; the approved-aggregator list United publishes names Duffel.",
      "evidence_url": "https://united.business/NDC-corporate"
    },
    {
      "name": "United Custom API (Direct Connect)",
      "kind": "partner_program",
      "covers": [
        "menu_browse",
        "prices",
        "inventory",
        "ordering"
      ],
      "gate": "Application-only: direct-connect access by completing United's form, aimed at large OTAs and tech-forward agencies. No self-serve developer signup.",
      "evidence_url": "https://united.business/NDC-corporate"
    },
    {
      "name": "united.com / United app",
      "kind": "human_channel",
      "covers": [
        "menu_browse",
        "prices",
        "ordering",
        "tracking"
      ],
      "gate": "Human channels; united.com/robots.txt disallows flight-search and booking paths for all crawlers and explicitly names AI crawlers.",
      "evidence_url": "https://www.united.com/robots.txt"
    }
  ],
  "agent_native": {
    "api_catalog": "unverified",
    "llms_txt": "unverified",
    "mcp_server": false
  },
  "bot_posture": {
    "summary": "Restrictive: united.com/robots.txt disallows flight-search and booking paths (/en/us/search, /ual/en/us/flight-search, /en/us/booking, searchflight) for all crawlers and explicitly names AI crawlers (GPTBot, ClaudeBot, CCBot, PerplexityBot, Applebot-Extended, Bytespider, etc.) on search; llms.txt/api-catalog fetches timed out and are unverified",
    "evidence_url": "https://www.united.com/robots.txt"
  },
  "alternatives": {
    "menu_browse": {
      "count": 3,
      "access": "register_intent"
    },
    "prices": {
      "count": 3,
      "access": "register_intent"
    },
    "inventory": {
      "count": 3,
      "access": "register_intent"
    },
    "ordering": {
      "count": 3,
      "access": "register_intent"
    },
    "tracking": {
      "count": 2,
      "access": "register_intent"
    }
  },
  "alternatives_policy": "Ranked by fit only. Placement is never sold.",
  "register_intent": {
    "method": "POST",
    "url": "https://api.agentoutposts.com/outposts/united/intent",
    "body": {
      "intent": "one of: menu_browse | prices | inventory | ordering | tracking",
      "detail": "optional context for the brand (max 500 chars), e.g. the task you were trying to complete. Never include personal data — no names, addresses, or order details.",
      "agent_label": "optional self-declared agent name (max 80 chars). Never put personal data in this field.",
      "est_frequency": "optional, e.g. '40/day'",
      "notify": "'poll' (default) or 'webhook'",
      "notify_url": "required when notify = 'webhook'"
    },
    "returns": "A receipt: ticket, queue position, live demand snapshot, alternatives for your intent, and (poll mode) a notify URL that reports door-state changes.",
    "limits": "100 intent registrations per caller per day"
  }
}