How Does United Airlines Cancellation Policy Work?

Travel plans can shift suddenly, which results in the cancellation of the flight immediately. United Airlines recognized such situations and has introduced a passenger-friendly and flexible flight cancellation policy to address all your worries or concerns. Hence, whether you are about to reserve a flight or need to cancel the existing flight, knowing the ins and outs of the flight cancellation can help you avoid unnecessary cancellation complications and fees. Read the information below to know everything about the policy and United cancellation fee. 

United Flight Cancellation Policy: Rules & Restrictions

United cancellation policy is designed to provide convenience and flexibility to flyers. The policy differs based on your fare type, destination, and time of the flight cancellation. Let’s take a look at the rules and restrictions imposed by the airline: 

• As per the cancellation policy, you can cancel a flight up to three hours before departure for international routes and two hours before departure for domestic routes. 

• The United cancellation fee varies depending on the fare types, cabin class, or terms associated with the reservation.  

• According to the 24-hour cancellation policy, canceling a flight within 24 hours of reservation is free and subject to a refund. However, after that, you may be required to pay the necessary charges. 

• United Basic Economy fare types are usually non-changeable and non-refundable after a 24-hour risk-free period.   

• In case of a no-show, the value of the flight reservation might be forfeited. 

• If the airline cancels the flight, they provide flyers with multiple options like boarding the alternative flight, canceling the flight if the time is inconvenient for you, or applying for a refund on the unflown/unused segment of the ticket. 

• In the event of a medical emergency or death, the airline allows free flight cancellation and provides a refund for unused portions of the flight. 

What Is United Airlines Refund Policy For Different Fares?

According to the flight cancellation policy, the refund for the canceled flight depends on your fare type. 

• Refundable Fare Types: Travelers with a refundable fare type can cancel their flight anytime for free and obtain a full refund for the initial form of payment. The refund process usually takes seven to ten business days. 

• Non-Refundable Ticket: For non-refundable flight tickets, travelers can cancel their flight reservation; however, they will obtain a travel credit instead of cash. Passengers can use this credit for future flight bookings with United. This credit remains valid for one year from the day of issuance. 

• Award Tickets: If you reserve a flight with MileagePlus miles, the airline will re-deposit the miles into your account, usually subject to a re-deposit cost unless you cancel the flight within a 24-hours risk-free window. 

• United Basic Economy Fare Type: You won’t obtain a refund for flight cancellations after 24 hours of reservation. 

What Is United Airlines Fee For Flight Cancellation?

As per the flight cancellation policy, the United cancellation fee usually varies between $25 to $200 based on your fare type, request time, and destination. Moreover, the flight cancellation within 24 hours of reservation is free irrespective of your fare type and is subject to a refund. However, the flight departure must be at least  seven days away. 

Final Words 

The United Airlines cancellation policy provides a structured approach to  manage cancellations and refunds, confirming that travelers have clear rules and restrictions to follow. However, if you still have any queries or need to know about other policies such as United flight change policy, name change, etc., call the United customer service at 1-800-UNITED-1. Furthermore, you can talk with a flight expert at +1-800-865-1848 to get your problem fixed instantly.