If you made a booking with United Airlines, it could be advantageous to consider canceling your ticket, as you might qualify for benefits under United's flight cancellation policy. Fortunately, in certain situations like, delay in flights or flight cancellation, you may have the option to modify your itinerary at no additional cost or even cancel it entirely.
United Airlines Cancellation for Free
United Airlines flight change policy states the steps for switching to a different flight and provides an overview of the refunds passengers may receive.
For cancellations made within 24 hours of booking, regardless of the fare, passengers won't incur a cancellation fee—provided the booking was made at least 1 week before departure.
In event of a sudden cancellation by United Airlines, passengers have following options:
Cancel the flight without penalty and request a refund.
Switch to alternative flight provided by the airline.
Prefer postponing travel and receive a travel credit.
You may also qualify for compensation benefits in case of flight cancellations.
If your United Airlines flight is departing from the European Union, Norway, Iceland, or Switzerland and gets :
Delayed by 5 hours or more, you have the option to cancel your flight without penalty and request a refund, along with compensation.
Delayed by 3 hours or more, you may be eligible for compensation if the cause of the delay falls within United Airlines' control.
All ticket types, including those purchased by cash, check, credit card, award tickets, promotional fares, bulk fares, and net fares, are eligible for cancellations and refunds in certain situations such as death, specific illnesses, and jury duty.
According to United Airlines cancellation policy, Basic Economy tickets usually cannot be canceled. However, they are eligible for a full refund within the 24-hour time frame if booked at least one week prior to the scheduled departure date.
Cancellation policies with United Airlines may depend on your billing address, with different rules applying to France, Colombia, Argentina, and Taiwan.
Moreover, travelers may have the opportunity to claim a refund for travel credits issued for disrupted flights. To request a refund, passengers must complete the designated refund form.
For partly used tickets, refunds will only be issued if they meet the eligibility criteria. Refunds will be calculated on a prorated basis, taking into account the applicable rules for the ticket and the segments that have been flown.
Credit card refunds are generally processed within 7 business days, while other refunds may take up to 20 business days to be processed.
All refunds will be preceded by the original form of payment.
If you require a refund for a ticket booked through a travel agency or third party, you must reach out to the agency directly to initiate the refund process.
United 24 Hours Cancellation Policy
United Airlines' 24-hour cancellation policy allows full refunds for tickets canceled within 24 hours of booking, provided the booking was made at least 7 days before the travel date. This policy applies to all types of reservations, including Basic Economy tickets.
To make and manage bookings, you can visit the United Airlines website or use their mobile application. When you cancel your ticket within the 24-hour window according to the United cancellation policy, your refund will be issued to your original payment method.
Note: If you made your booking using a United Gift Certificate, your refund will be processed as an electronic travel certificate.
However, tickets booked with e-certificates are not eligible for refunds.
If you booked your flight with FareLock, remember that the reservation fee will not be refunded.
United Cancellation Policy Due to Death, Illness, or Jury Duty
United Airlines' ticket cancellation policy offers full refunds for specific circumstances such as the death of the passenger or a close relative, certain types of illnesses, and jury duty. This policy applies to all ticket types, including those purchased with cash, credit card, or check, as well as award tickets, promotional fares, bulk fares, and net fares.
United Airlines Cancellation Fee for Basic Economy Tickets
United Airlines cancellation policy states that Basic Economy tickets are non-refundable unless they are canceled within the 24-hour time frame of booking, only if the booking was made at least one week before the scheduled departure.
United Airlines Cancellation Fee for Non-Refundable Tickets
As per United Airlines cancellation policy, if you cancel a non-refundable ticket more than 24 hours after booking, you'll need to pay a cancellation fee of USD 200 for domestic flights and up to USD 400 for international flights, depending on your travel class.
After removing the cancellation fee, the unused value of your ticket can be applied toward future travel under the following conditions:
The original ticket was canceled prior to the departure of the first flight.
Your trip starts within one year from the original ticket's issue date.
Note: According to United Airlines' cancellation policy, you can only receive a refund for a non-refundable ticket in the following situations:
In the event of the passenger's or a co-passenger's death. Upon receiving military or jury duty orders by the passenger.
United Airlines Cancellation Fee for Refundable Tickets
As per United Airlines cancellation policy, if you've booked a refundable ticket, you will be eligible to cancel it at any time before your flight's departure. The refund will proceed to your original form of payment. Typically, refunds made through credit cards are processed within 7 business days, with the transaction appearing on your statement within 1–2 billing cycles. For other forms of payment, the refund process may take up to 20 business days.
United Travel Options Refund
Under the United Airlines cancellation policy, if your ticket's fare rules allow, your United Travel Options bundles will be automatically refunded when you cancel your ticket. However, if you've already used your ticket partially, you'll only obtain a refund for the unused value of your Economy Plus and Premier Access features. These refund rules depend on the fare rules of your ticket, and you can claim either a partial or full refund accordingly.
Cancel Your United Airlines Flight
To cancel your United Airlines flight online, follow these steps:
Visit United Airlines website.
Click on the "My Trips" tab
Fill your confirmation number and last name
Click on the "Search" button
Choose the flight or trip you want to cancel
Choose the "Cancel flight" option
Confirm your decision to cancel the booking
After confirmation, your booking will be canceled
You'll obtain an eCredit for the refunded amount after removing the cancellation fee
If you're not able to access your reservation online, you'll need to reach out to the third party, such as the OTA (Online Travel Agency) or travel agent, through which you purchased your ticket to cancel your flight.
United Airlines Cancellation Refund
United Airlines' refund policy states that under certain circumstances, you may be eligible to receive a refund for your ticket purchase.
If you purchase a ticket at least 1 week before departure and cancel within 24 hours of purchase, no cancellation fee will apply and you will get a full refund.
Basic Economy tickets cannot be refunded outside of the 24-hour window. This means you must have purchased your ticket at least 7 days before departure and canceled it within 24 hours of purchase.
Eligible tickets can be canceled by phone. Alternatively, you can request a refund online via My trips.
Cancellation fees are determined by the fare rules of your ticket.
Non-refundable fares might not be eligible for voluntary refunds, but you can transfer the value of your ticket into a Future Flight Credit for a fee.
Tickets are valid for 12 months from the date of issue, with an extension granted for tickets purchased on or before December 31, 2021, now valid until December 31, 2022. This allows travel to commence no later than December 31, 2022, and must be completed within 12 months from the date of outbound travel.
To verify the status of your refund request, visit the refunds page and choose the "Check status" tab.
Every refund request undergoes an audit and final approval process by the airline.
Refund policies for specific international regions are outlined below:
Argentina Unless you've bought a refundable ticket, all tickets are non-refundable.
Colombia Under the Right of Withdrawal, you can cancel your ticket (excluding promotional fares) up to 24 hours before departure. However, United Airlines may refund 90% of your fare while retaining 10%.
Right of Retraction: If you purchase your ticket directly from United Airlines (website or call center), you can cancel your booking within 48 hours of purchase and request a refund, provided it's at least 15 days before your flight's departure. United Airlines may retain up to 10% of your fare or USD 50, plus service charges and non-refundable taxes.
France If your ticket is no longer valid and you haven't flown, you must complete a refund request form for reimbursement of fees and taxes. You'll receive your refund within 30 days without an administrative fee if you provide your email address to United.
Taiwan Taiwan's 7-day refund provision, as per Taiwan's Consumer Protection Act (Article 19), does not apply.
How to Get a Refund for a Canceled Flight?
To request a refund after canceling your flight with United Airlines, complete their refund form. United Airlines will review your request to determine if you're eligible for a refund. The amount refunded will vary based on your fare type and the reason for cancellation. Refunds may be issued as a credit to your original payment method or as a flight credit, depending on the circumstances.
How to Avoid Cancellation Fee on United Airlines?
To secure a refund for your United Airlines flight, consider these options:
Opt for a fully refundable fare when purchasing your ticket.
Cancel within the 24-hour grace period if you booked your ticket at least 7 days before departure. This allows penalty-free cancellation with a refund to your original payment method, excluding group tickets and those bought with an e-certificate.
If your flight is delayed by 6 hours or more, you may claim a refund in the form of travel credit. Unused credit after 1 year can be refunded to your original payment method.
In case of outright flight cancellation due to low demand, weather, or other issues, you may qualify for a full ticket refund.
Attain Elite status such as Premier Gold or higher to enjoy free cancellation of award tickets before departure.
If you cancel due to an unavoidable emergency like the death of a co-passenger or sudden military or jury duty, you may be eligible for a refund.
Frequently Asked Questions on United Airlines Cancellation Policy
What is United Airlines 24-hour booking policy?
United Airlines allows customers to cancel or change their flight for free within 24 hours of booking, as long as the ticket was purchased at least one week prior to the original departure date.
What are the cancellation fees for United Airlines?
Cancellation fees vary based on the type of ticket purchased. Basic Economy tickets are typically non-refundable and non-changeable. For other ticket types, fees can range from $0 to $400 depending on the fare class and route. United's flexible and refundable tickets may not incur any cancellation fees.
Can I get a refund for my canceled flight?
Refund eligibility depends on the type of ticket purchased. Fully refundable tickets can be canceled for a full refund. Non-refundable tickets may qualify for a travel credit, minus any applicable cancellation fees, which can be used for future travel.
How do I cancel my flight with United Airlines?
You can cancel your flight online through United Airlines' website by logging into your account, going to "My Trips," selecting the flight you wish to cancel, and following the cancellation prompts. Alternatively, you can contact United's customer service for assistance.
What happens if United Airlines cancels my flight?
If United Airlines cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full refund or you can choose to be rebooked on an alternative flight. Additionally, United may provide compensation such as meal vouchers, hotel accommodations, or travel credits depending on the circumstances.
Can I change my flight instead of canceling it?
Yes, you can change your flight instead of canceling it. Depending on the fare type, changes might be subject to fees or fare differences. Basic Economy tickets usually cannot be changed.
What if I purchased travel insurance?
If you purchased travel insurance, you may be able to get reimbursed for cancellation fees or non-refundable expenses, depending on the terms and coverage of your policy. Contact your travel insurance provider for specific details.
How do I use my travel credit from a canceled flight?
Travel credits from canceled flights can be used for future travel on United Airlines. You can apply the credit towards a new booking on United’s website during the payment process by selecting the option to use travel credits.
Can I cancel a MileagePlus award ticket?
Yes, MileagePlus award tickets can be canceled. The mileage redeposit fee may apply depending on your MileagePlus status and the time of cancellation. However, United has waived some redeposit fees during certain periods, so it’s best to check current policies.
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