United Airlines has several different policies for canceling a ticket, based on the type of ticket, when the ticket is cancelled and who made the reservation. There are travelers who may receive the full or significant refunds, or may be offered United Future Flight Credit which can be utilized later on. You may also have further rights of refund if United cancelled the flight or made an "egregious" change.
This guide provides all the information you need to know about United Airlines refunds and credits, including the 24-hour cancellation rule, refundable versus nonrefundable tickets, Basic Economy rules, and how to cancel your reservation online or in the United app, as well as MileagePlus award bookings and bookings for award availability.
It provides the eligible passenger the chance to make the cancellation before departure.
In general:
Knowing your fare terms prior to cancelling can enable you to pick the one that you will get the best value from.
| Type of ticket or problem | What you will get |
|---|---|
| Eligible cancellations made within 24 hours | Full refund |
| Refundable ticket | We'll credit your refunds to the payment method used. |
| Nonrefundable ticket | Future Flight Credit (if applicable) |
| Basic Economy after 24 hours | Credit may be eligible; please check eligibility. |
| MileagePlus award ticket | Eligible miles redeposited |
| Cancelled flight by United | Inquiring about rebooking or returning the ticket |
This table is an overview, but please consider your ticket rules and booking details when interpreting.
The United Airlines Refund Policy boasts one of the most useful features: it allows passengers to cancel a ticket that they have booked for within 24 hours.
Generally, you'll be able to get a full reimbursement if all of the following are true:
This policy also provides a benefit that applies to a large variety of Basic Economy bookings, if the required conditions are met
If you bought your ticket with a travel agency or booking site other than United Airlines, it may be necessary to speak with the travel agency instead of United Airlines since the policies of the agency will govern.
In a lot of circumstances, you can probably change your reservation, which can help you retain your ticket cost without cancellation. The new fare may be more expensive, however.
When making any kind of change:
Before agreeing to a choice, see all your options first to prevent paying more than you should.
Cancellation charges do not vary among tickets for United Airlines. Rather, the outcome hinges on the fare type, ticket conditions.
Usually, it goes like this:
| Ticket Type | Cancellation Fee | Refund Eligibility | What You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Economy | Generally not eligible for cancellation after the 24-hour risk-free period | No (in most cases) | Usually no refund or travel credit |
| Non-Refundable Ticket | No cancellation fee on many standard fares, but fare rules apply | No cash refund | Travel credit (if eligible) |
| Refundable Ticket | No cancellation fee | Yes | Full refund to the original payment method |
| Award Ticket (MileagePlus Miles) | Fee varies depending on fare rules and status; many award tickets can be canceled without a fee | Yes, if eligible | Miles redeposited and eligible taxes refunded |
| 24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation | $0 | Yes | Full refund if canceled within 24 hours of booking and the flight departs at least 7 days later |
| United Cancels Your Flight | $0 | Yes | Full refund or travel credit, depending on your choice and eligibility |
| Significant Schedule Change | $0 | Usually Yes | Full refund or free rebooking (subject to eligibility) |
| Same-Day Flight Changes | Not a cancellation fee; same-day change fees may apply depending on fare type and MileagePlus status | Not applicable | Confirmed same-day change or standby option |
If your ticket is refundable, then you need to be able to cancel the ticket prior to traveling to get the refund in the same way you made the payment for booking the ticket.
Check to see if your ticket is refundable by checking:
Please note that a ticket that is not charged a change fee is not a free admission ticket. Two distinct benefits and many travelers mix them up.
A large number of travelers sign up for non-refundable tickets as they are generally less costly. Such fares typically are not eligible for cash refunds but can still be useful in changing travel plans.
You can receive a United Future Flight Credit due to the purchase instead of money back, and can apply it to the purchase of another eligible flight.
Here are some tips for you:
It offers passengers the most economical ticket possible. But there are more limitations on it than on the regular Economy tickets.
Most Basic Economy tickets are eligible for cancellation for full value if the cancellation is within 24 hours of booking, so long as the conditions are fulfilled.
Once the 24 hours have elapsed, options available are dependent on the booking and eligibility.
Before cancelling a Basic Economy ticket, remember:
With United Airlines, you can make the majority of your bookings online without even calling customer service.
Steps to cancel your United Airlines flight:
Yes. The United app for mobile devices is another convenient method of canceling your reservation.
Follow these steps:
It also enables it to track the refund status of a reservation in most instances and show the available travel credits as well.
Reward members have the flexibility to change travel plans too.
You can generally cancel from your bookings via My Trips if you booked the ticket in miles.
Once they have been cancelled and you are a United passenger, the miles are usually returned to your MileagePlus account.
Once cancelled, make sure that:
Once cancelled, United will tell you if your reservation is eligible for:
The refund will be issued in the number of days of your financial institution and method of payment.
| Ticket Type | Typical Refund Outcome |
|---|---|
| Refundable ticket | Refund to the payment method used to purchase the ticket. |
| Nonrefundable ticket | Future Flight Credit may apply. |
| Basic Economy | Not guaranteed apart from eligibility and the conditions of the tickets |
| Award ticket | MileagePlus points credited for deposits |
| Flight cancelled by United | Refund or rebooking options |
This table gives a simple summary of the most common refunds. The final result will be based on your individual booking conditions.
These are two terms which are often misused by travelers.
If your payment is a refund, you will receive your eligible payment back to your original method of payment at the time of your ticket purchase.
A Future Flight Credit will store the previously unused ticket balance in your United account for the purpose of application to other eligible reservations prior to its expiration.
If you know the difference, you can select what is right for you and your trip ahead.
United Airlines has different procedures for dealing with this situation.
If you are in a dilemma you can try:
Compare all the options before taking any other option.
At times, it is not the flights themselves that create problems, but rather the schedule itself that causes a difference.
It consists of:
The airline ticket always has additional services accompanying it.
These may include:
If for whatever reason a service is not provided as an optional service due to a qualifying cancellation or flight disruption, you may be able to register a request for a refund for that particular service.
Yes.
Its result varies depending on the factors such as:
Owning a passport can give you many travelling rewards, that are taken away from many travelers by simple errors.
It includes:
United Airlines offers a cancellation policy for suitable passengers. For award bookings, the fare product and ticket conditions determine your options for a Future Flight Credit or for redepositing your miles.
The outcome will rely on the particular type of fare booked, the booking conditions and eligibility for fare refunds and/or travel credit.
If you cancel a nonrefundable ticket, generally, you don't get a cash refund. Eligible unused ticket value may, however, be redeemed for a Future Flight Credit, for use sometime in the future.
If those flights are cancelled, you might be offered an alternate trip or another eligible flight or you'll be offered a full refund if you don't want to go.
Yes. Eligible Basic Economy bookings can be cancelled any time before the 24-hour cancellation time and are eligible for a full refund. Once that time has expired, choice of options will vary based on ticket benefits and eligibility.
In the event that an optional service for an eligible cancellation/flight disruption is not included in the ticket, the service should qualify for a refund.
Yes. Generally, canceling an event before you are traditionally traveling will enable you to have a greater amount of opportunities for reimbursement or credit.
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