United Airlines won’t let AI agents book your flight. Expert says you shouldn't let a bot do that for you, anyway

United Airlines has barred third-party AI agents from booking flights on its website, requiring customers to complete reservations directly with the airline. The move highlights growing friction between carriers and automated booking tools that scrape fare data and complete transactions on consumers' behalf. The decision matters because AI agents are increasingly handling travel, shopping and other transactions, and airlines want to control the customer relationship and protect ancillary revenue. An expert quoted in the article argues that decisions touching health, wealth and privacy still need human input, even as bots take over routine tasks. What to watch next is whether rival airlines follow United's lead and how AI booking startups adapt to restricted access.