All You Need to Know About United Airlines Flight Cancellation Policy

In accordance with United Airlines Cancellation Policy, confirmed or scheduled flights can be reversed. There are certain rules to follow in order to cancel refundable and non-refundable tickets. Refunds are available for certain ticket types, subject to certain eligibility criteria. Mileage Plus and similar members may have slightly different rules and criteria.

What is the United Airlines cancellation policy?

United Airlines follows a different refund policy depending on the fare type purchased, and the destination of the flight when it comes to cancellation policies. If passengers cannot catch up with their already booked flight, United Airlines reserves the right to cancel or change their flight. Here are a few important points regarding United Airlines Cancellation Policy:

Flight cancellations should be made through the same medium as the flight booking.
Cancellation charges will be deducted from the ticket value of each passenger who wants to cancel their tickets.
The passengers have the option of cancelling their flights, changing or postponing them based on availability.
You cannot change basic economy tickets, but you can claim a refund within 24 hours of booking.
Depending on the billing region and the state, cancellation charges may differ.
Refunds for credit cards will be processed within seven business days.
If the method of payment was not a credit card, the refund process takes 20 business days.

COVID-19 United Airlines Flight Cancellation Policy

The Cancellation Policy Of United does not stipulate any penalty if the flight is rescheduled or cancelled, and service to the destination is restricted.
The COVID-19 travel policies of United Airlines may change or modify over time depending on your region and the current COVID-19 situation.

Cancellation Policy for United Airlines - A Complete Guide

There is no problem with United Airlines cancelling your flight tickets. All you need to know is that there are cancellation fees associated with United Airlines cancellations.
For a single passenger, cancellation fees range from $200 to $400.
It is a blessing that the passengers can cancel their flight tickets free of charge within 24 hours of booking.
If you book within a week of the departure, you will be charged less than if you booked afterward.
United Airlines can only cancel tickets purchased directly from them. Any tickets purchased from a third party or agent cannot be canceled by United Airlines.
Only refundable United Airlines tickets can be requested by United Airlines passengers.
In the case of non-refundable tickets, you will be able to collect only travel credits, which cannot be converted to cash.
You can request a refund online if the credits on your refundable flight ticket have been used up.
If the airline cancels your flight, you can also claim a total refund.
Depending on your fare type or cabin class, United Flight Cancellation Policy has different cancellation fees for Economy, First, and Business classes.
The Airline will refund you the same amount on your future reservations if you use vouchers or gift cards on United Flight Cancellations.
If you have purchased a flight ticket, but have not arrived at the airport on the day of departure, the airline will mark you as a no-show, and you cannot get a refund.

Cancellation of United flights by ticket type

Each flight has its own cancellation process, which is outlined below.

Economy Basic Ticket

The basic economy ticket cannot be cancelled unless it is cancelled within 24 hours of its purchase. Basic economy tickets can also be cancelled if the flight departure date is 7 days away from the date the ticket is cancelled.

No refunds on non-refundable tickets

After 24 hours, passengers cancelling non-refundable tickets will have to pay extra cancellation fees, depending on the fare class.
You can book a new trip within one year after paying cancellation charges by using the unused value of the booking.

Ticket that is refundable

When it comes to refundable tickets, the passengers are free to cancel as they please, but it must be done prior to the flight departure.
A credit card will be credited with the refund amount of the United Airlines refundable tickets within 7 business days.

An award ticket

Different types of memberships have different cancellation charges.

Types Of United Airlines Cancellation And Refund Tickets:

United Refundable Ticket:Ticket holders who have refundable tickets with fully flexible fare types will not be charged a cancellation fee if they want to cancel them. When a refund is processed, it usually takes 7 business days, and the credit will appear on your statement within 1-2 billing cycles. This type of ticket costs more but ensures a full refund in case of an uncertain cancellation.
- United Non-refundable Ticket: If you cancel this type of ticket, you will only receive the amount back when you cancel. However, you may get a credit for the cancelled amount if you rebook within one year of when it was issued. After producing supporting documents, you may be eligible for a waiver of the cancellation fee if you experience an unwanted situation like the sudden death of a travel companion or immediate family member.
- United 24-Hours Risk-free Cancellation: If there is an error in your booking, you will not be charged a cancellation fee for cancelling within 24 hours of the booking. Changing your booking within 24 hours is also free of charge.If you follow this policy, you will receive a full refund, which will be processed in the same way you paid.
- United Travel Insurance: You can purchase travel insurance to protect your United Airlines flight booking against uncertain cancellations. However, the insurer must cover the reasons for the cancellations.

In case of flight delay or cancellation, United Airlines offers the following compensation:

A number of reasons force United Airlines to delay or cancel scheduled flights for safety reasons, including operational reasons, ATC (Air Traffic Control), or weather disruptions. Weather plays a significant role in flight delays and cancellations most of the time. If a flight is cancelled due to weather disruption, United Airlines does not compensate you, but reassigns an alternative flight instead.
United Airlines will provide hotel stays and transportation expenses along with new flights if a United Airlines flight is cancelled due to United's fault, i.e., a technical malfunction. If you are delayed by 2 hours or more and the original flight is cancelled, you will be eligible for a refund. The refund will be credited to the credit card you used to purchase the item.

Refund Policy for United Airlines

In many cases, you may get a refund directly to the original form of payment, or you may qualify for a flight credit depending on the ticket type you bought and the reason for cancellation.

United Airlines Refund Steps

Find the refund request form on United Airlines' official website and fill it out. You can also call them to request a refund.
If you qualify for a refund, United Airlines will contact you.
Your refund will be processed within 7-10 days after United Airlines approves your request.
If you have any issues getting a refund, contact the support team through phone calls, Live Chat support, or email.

Cancellation policy for United Airlines is 24 hours

Additionally, United Airlines provides a 24-hour risk-free period, during which a full refund is available, regardless of the fare type. However, there must be a 7-day interval between booking and flight departure.

Some terms and conditions of the 24 hour cancellation policy:

The policy is only available to passengers who buy their tickets from United Airlines.

A third-party ticket will not qualify for this policy.
Reservations are valid for 24 hours from the date of finalization.
As per United's refund policy, United will offer cash refunds during this period.
Group bookings are not covered by this policy.
This policy also does not apply to vacation bundles.
Cash refunds are not available for tickets purchased with e-Credit.

Cancellation process for United Airlines flights

Follow these steps if you want to cancel your United Airlines flight:

Visit the official website of United Airlines
If your account is active, you can log into MileagePlus.
As a guest, you can continue the process.
Click on My Trips.
Please enter your existing flight details that you need to cancel here.
Passengers' last names and confirmation numbers must be provided.
On the confirmation email you received during booking, you will find the confirmation number.
Make sure the passenger's name matches that on the booking.
Then, select Cancel from the list of trips.
The airline will either provide the flight credit/e-credit or refund the original source, depending on the fare type and the cancellation date.
The refund will be calculated after deducting the respective cancellation fee as per United Airlines' cancellation policy, although most fares are free of charge.
Lastly, proceed with cancellation. If you receive e-credits or future credits, you may request a refund. But conditions apply.

Cancellation Process for United Flights via App

Similarly, you can cancel a flight on your smartphone by using an app. To cancel your flight via app, follow these steps:

United Airlines has an app available for download.
Click on My trips after logging in.
Login is also available to MileagePlus members.
After that, you will need to fill out all the relevant flight details, including
Confirmation number with six digits
Passenger's last name
Finally, click Cancel to cancel the flight.
You may also request a refund separately if you receive future credits or e-credits, depending on the fare type of the cancelled flight.

Visit the airport to cancel your United flight

The simplest way to cancel a United Airlines booking is at the airport counter. Using this procedure, you can contact the airline's officials.

This company's ticket counter is located at the airport.
Meet with the officials to discuss your question.
Please inform one of them about the request to revoke the flight.
After that, she/he may ask you for the reservation details.
The official will proceed with the process.
Last but not least, you will be notified that the cancellation has been completed.

The carrier assistance desk may be closed for any number of reasons. Conversely, you might not be able to cancel your United flight if flexibility is not available.

Policy on Cancellation for Different Reasons

1. Death-caused cancellation

Immediate family members: If you encounter the unfortunate loss of an immediate family member, United Airlines may offer flexibility in its cancellation policy. In addition to spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and in-laws, the immediate family can include grandparents, grandchildren, and in-laws. To discuss your options and any possible fee waivers, contact United's customer service with the necessary documentation.

2. Illness-related cancellations

Personal illness: United Airlines may be able to reschedule or cancel your flight if you suffer from a serious illness that prevents you from traveling. Please communicate your situation with their customer service representatives for assistance if you require medical documentation.

Travel companion's illness: If your travel companion falls ill and you need to remain at their side, United can rebook or cancel your flight. Notify United about the situation and provide relevant documentation.

3. Duty as a juror cancel’s

Official Jury Duty Summons:

Make sure to notify United Airlines immediately if you receive an official summons for jury duty that conflict with your scheduled United flight. United Airlines may allow you to reschedule without penalties.
In such situations, United Airlines demonstrates empathy, but you should review their policy for specific exceptions or limitations. Understand your rights and obligations by reading the fine print on certain fare types, promotional offers, and third-party bookings.