Real United & Star Alliance routes
Every flight is a route United or a Star Alliance partner actually operates — accurate city pairs, equipment, and timetables pulled from real-world data and refreshed daily. No invented filler, no fantasy network.
EST. 2026 · MSFS + X-PLANE · VATSIM-READY
United Virtual AirlinesFly real United routes in MSFS & X-Plane.
A free, community-built virtual airline that mirrors real-world United and Star Alliance operations — fly authentic United routes and partner flights across six continents, with daily-updated schedules, automatic ACARS flight tracking, and ranks you earn in the seat.
500+
Active pilots
50,000+
Flights logged
1,200+
Real United routes
6
Continents
Cleared for the next generation
United Virtual Airlines — also known as United Virtual or UAL Virtual — is a community-driven virtual airline for flight simulation enthusiasts. We recreate real-world United Airlines mainline routes and operations across Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, MSFS 2024, X-Plane 11, X-Plane 12, and Prepar3D. Beyond United mainline, you can fly Star Alliance partner routes too — and every timetable, United and Star Alliance alike, is refreshed daily from real-world schedules. Applying is free, there are no minimum hours and no type ratings to grind, and a VATSIM account is used for signup verification only — you never have to fly on VATSIM.
Why United Virtual
Why fly with United Virtual Airlines
Built by simmers, for simmers — the tools, community, and real-world fidelity serious virtual aviation demands.
Advanced custom ACARS tracking
Our purpose-built desktop ACARS client watches the whole flight and files your PIREP automatically. Push back, fly, shut down — the hours are already in your logbook.
An active Discord community
Hundreds of pilots on Discord, with weekly group flights, events, and live ATC sessions. Show up and you'll have company on frequency.
Ranks you earn — First Officer to Captain
Start as a First Officer and upgrade on hours flown, not handouts. Your progression is yours, and the whole roster can see it.
Bring your own rig
Simulators we support
Fly United Virtual on whatever desktop simulator you already own.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
X-Plane 12
X-Plane 11
Prepar3D
Get started
How to join United Virtual Airlines
No complicated setup, no paperwork. You can be flying the line tonight.
01
Sign up and get your pilot ID
Create your pilot account, verify your identity with VATSIM, and choose a home hub. It takes about five minutes.
02
Book a United or Star Alliance route
Browse 1,200+ real United routes plus Star Alliance partner flights — short hops, transcons, and international widebody runs — refreshed daily and bid from your hub.
03
Fly and log automatically with ACARS
Connect the ACARS client before pushback, fly the leg, and your PIREP files itself. Every hour lands in your logbook.
The fleet
Airbus and Boeing, narrowbody to widebody
Seven fleet families and 25+ variants mirror the real United mainline roster — every type dispatchable from day one.
A319 / A320
Boeing 737
A321neo
Boeing 757
Boeing 767
Boeing 777
787 Dreamliner
The network
Nine hubs across six continents
Pick a home hub and bid the whole map — 1,200+ real United routes plus Star Alliance partner flights, all refreshed daily from real-world schedules. From a 30-minute hop to a 16-hour Pacific crossing. The full live schedule lives inside CrewHub once you're a pilot.
EWR
Newark
ORD
Chicago
IAH
Houston
DEN
Denver
SFO
San Francisco
LAX
Los Angeles
IAD
Washington
HNL
Honolulu
GUM
Guam
Star Alliance
The whole alliance, in your schedule
Beyond United mainline, fly real routes from 25 Star Alliance partner carriers — every partner timetable imported and refreshed daily, flown in the operator's own livery.
Aegean AirlinesA3
Air CanadaAC
Air ChinaCA
Air IndiaAI
Air New ZealandNZ
All Nippon AirwaysNH
Asiana AirlinesOZ
Austrian AirlinesOS
AviancaAV
Brussels AirlinesSN
Copa AirlinesCM
Croatia AirlinesOU
EgyptAirMS
Ethiopian AirlinesET
EVA AirBR
ITA AirwaysAZ
LOT Polish AirlinesLO
LufthansaLH
Shenzhen AirlinesZH
Singapore AirlinesSQ
South African AirwaysSA
Swiss Intl. Air LinesLX
TAP Air PortugalTP
Thai AirwaysTG
Turkish AirlinesTK
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is United Virtual Airlines affiliated with United Airlines?
No. United Virtual Airlines is an independent, community-driven virtual airline for flight simulation enthusiasts and is not affiliated with United Airlines, Inc. We recreate real-world United mainline routes and operations purely as a hobby.
Is United Virtual Airlines free to join?
Yes. Applying is free — create your pilot account, choose a home hub, and get your pilot ID. There are no minimum hours and no type ratings to grind; every fleet family is dispatchable from day one.
Which flight simulators are supported?
Every major desktop simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, MSFS 2024, X-Plane 11, X-Plane 12, and Prepar3D. Fly United Virtual on whatever rig you already own.
Do I need a VATSIM account, and do I have to fly on VATSIM?
You need a free VATSIM account to apply — we use VATSIM OAuth for identity verification only and capture your VATSIM CID. You do not have to fly on VATSIM to be a United Virtual pilot.
How do I join, and how long does the application take?
Complete the online application (Overview, Personal Info, Experience, Hub Selection, Review). You must be 16 or older. Applications are reviewed within 48 hours, and accepted pilots receive CrewHub login credentials.
How does flight tracking and PIREP filing work?
We built a custom desktop ACARS client. Connect it before pushback and your PIREP is filed automatically when you complete the flight — no manual logging and no missed hours.
What aircraft can I fly?
Seven fleet families spanning Airbus and Boeing, narrowbody to widebody: A319/A320, Boeing 737, A321neo, 757, 767, 777, and the 787 Dreamliner — 25+ variants in total, each with recommended third-party addons for MSFS and X-Plane.
Where can I fly, and how many hubs and routes are there?
Pick a home hub from nine worldwide hubs and bid 1,200+ real United routes — plus Star Alliance partner flights — across six continents, from 30-minute hops to 16-hour Pacific crossings. Every route is refreshed daily from real-world schedules, and the full live schedule is searchable inside CrewHub once you are a pilot.
Can I fly Star Alliance partner routes, and how often is the schedule updated?
Yes. Alongside United mainline, United Virtual offers Star Alliance partner flights — and every route, United and Star Alliance alike, is updated daily from real-world schedules, so the network always mirrors what is actually flying.
How does rank progression work?
You start as a First Officer and earn your stripes through hours flown. Every flight you log moves you closer to Captain.
What is the minimum age to join United Virtual Airlines?
You must be 16 years of age or older to apply.