United Airlines Refund Policy: Rules, Tips, and Common Mistakes to Avoid

The average person buying an airplane ticket doesn’t give thought ahead to future possibilities if needing cancellation or change of plans. Yet cancellations, delays, changes in timetables and other disturbances occur frequently. Knowing United Airlines Refund Policy is now a necessity that could mean the difference between getting your money back or being stuck with a `credit’ or voucher you cannot use.

In this article, we go through all of the important factors: United Airlines Refund Policy, how to demand them, the deadlines for refund requests, exceptions, and status under the protection regulations of the US (as well the similar overseas rules). We also include real-life examples and suggestions to increase your chances of getting a refund or your credit on favorable terms.

What Is the United Airlines Refund Policy?

At bottom, the United Airlines Refund Policy lays down when and how a passenger may obtain reimbursement (or else an alternate itinerary without charge) for his or her unused ticket, deposit, or fees paid the passenger’s cancelling, the airline cancels or destroys the flight, or other circumstances prevent them from travelling. The policy also tells us what kind of situation we are in: Premium Class (refundable) or Ordinary Economy (nonrefundable), time (within 24 hours, over half a day, after departure), service interruptions or special events, etcetera.

Read Also: American Airlines Refund Policy 2025 Guide: Everything You Need To Know

Some of the main aspects include:

• 24-hour Risk-Free Cancellation (for most fares)
• Eligibility for refund according to ticket category (refundable versus nonrefundable)
• Refunds from United When United Calls or Changes Major Selling Features
• Returnable coupons under special offers provides refunds
• The time required for processing and method of the refund made
• Restrictions, exceptions and “no refunds”
• We will go into each of these matters in detail.
• Twenty-four Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Rule

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Window

The United Airlines refund policy feature that is central to the entire process is your ability to cancel within 24 hours. With this provision:

• If you book a flight with United, not through a third-party or travel agent, at least seven days prior to departure, you can cancel your flight anytime within 24 hours of purchasing, and you will receive a full refund directly to your original form of payment. 
• This applies to all ticket types, including tickets marked as nonrefundable, as long as you purchased your travel direct and within the timing. 
• The money is returned to the original payment method (e.g. credit card).
• Note: tickets booked through third parties or agents frequently do not qualify for this type of “risk-free” cancellation window through United; be sure to check your booking channel. Department of Transportation.
• This rule satisfies the requirement under the U.S. Department of Transportation rules: for tickets purchased at least 7 days prior to departure, airlines must either guarantee your reservation with no payment, or allow a full refund within 24 hours. Department of Transportation

Best practice: If there is any chance your plans may change, book your ticket directly with United, and you can always cancel within twenty-four hours to save time and money.

 Refundable vs Nonrefundable Fares

A major differentiation in United Airlines refund policy is if your fare is refundable or nonrefundable.

Refundable Fares

If you purchase a “refundable” ticket type, generally you are able to cancel your flight and get your money (fare, taxes, fees) back to the original form of payment, as long as the cancellation takes place prior to departure (i.e. prior to the flight happening). 

The United Airlines Refund Policy refundable fare types come with no cancellation penalty, although a fare difference may apply if applicable. Refunds may take up to 7 business days to process if they are returned to a credit card, or up to 20 business days for non-card payments (cash/check).

Nonrefundable Fares

Nonrefundable fares have more restrictions. If you cancel after the 24-hour window has elapsed and prior to departure, typically you will not receive an actual cash refund, however you will receive a potential travel credit (future flight credit) for the cancelled portion of your ticket (with possible fees/penalties). Basic Economy fares are some of the most rigid. After the 24-hour window, cancellation/change/refund (no travel credit) is typically not an option on Basic Economy tickets.

Read Also: Walmart Return Policy: Refunds, No Receipt Returns & Marketplace Rules

Airline-initiated Cancellations, Significant Changes & Disruptions

The United Airlines Refund Policy will protect you, in terms of a refund, when the airline cancels and/or changes your flight itinerary or if you experience a significant delay.

Cancellations by United Airlines Refund Policy

If United cancels your flight, for any reason (mechanical, operational, weather, etc.), you will be eligible for a refund for the unused portion of your ticket if you choose not to be rebooked or for a full credit if you agree to rebook your travel on a future flight. A United Airlines, the relevant policies and procedures should apply when the airline cancels your flight. 

However, in this situation, there will not be any fees or penalty (other than usual service fees if any), deducted from your refund in the instance of a cancellation by the airline. 

Significant Schedule Changes / Delays

• If United significantly changes its schedule (e.g. significant time changes, time change in departure and arrival, and/or re-routing), and you choose not to travel on the new schedule, you may request to be reimbursed for the fare difference. 
• If you are involuntarily downgraded (i.e. You are in a premium class cabin instead of being in the lower class), you have the right to receive a refund of the difference in cost from what you paid to what you received in the lower class. 
• The U.S. Department of Transportation requires United to refund you due to significant delays or cancellations if you as the passenger will not agree to alternate transportation. 
• These new types of passengers and travel protections have been put into place as a recent consumer protection mantra for air travel and consumer transactions established by the U.S. Department of Transportation. 

 United’s Special Unused Ticket Refund Offer (Through 2025)

United has launched, for a limited time, an “unused ticket refund offer” for various tickets, under certain conditions, as part of a temporary policy. This offer is valid through December 31, 2025 (at the time of writing).

• The “unused ticket refund offer” applies to specific tickets originally issued by United (016 ticket stock) that originate in the U.S. and that meet additional eligibility criteria (i.e. not group tickets, not Basic Economy, etc.).
• A cancellation penalty will be deducted from the amount to be refunded, which may range from $125 for domestic economy tickets to up to $500 for business/first class. 
• Refunds will be processed to the original form of payment.
• Overall, the offer provides additional flexibility for some nonrefundable fares that otherwise did not allow refunds.

 How To Request A Refund In United Airlines Refund Policy

In order to use the United Airlines refund procedure, you will have to either request or submit for a refund. The procedure is case specific; with that, the steps depend on the circumstances, as you will see detailed sections below.

1. United Airlines Refund Policy Online Refund Form
2. United has a refund request page on its website where users can request a refund for unused flights, cancellations, or other disruptions.
3. You are going to enter your ticket number and reservation information, and a refund reason.
4. This is simply just stating the reason for your request for a refund – for example, cancellation, or airline change, etc.
5. United Mobile App / Website (Manage Booking)
6. In a lot of cases, if your ticket is refundable, or eligible for credit, you can initiate cancellation within ‘My Trips’ in the website or app and start the refund or credit process.
7. For refundable tickets, you can complete the cancellation and refund process in the user interface.
8. For nonrefundable tickets, you may be able to apply for credit, or it may ask you to call in to discuss.
9. Contact United Customer Service
10. If you see that none of the above work (or if you have complex itineraries), you will need to reach out to United for customer service over the phone or at a ticket counter at the airport.
11. Just have your confirmation number and ticket number handy, and it will help to also have personal identification and any supporting documentation (if applicable) as well. 
12. Via Travel Agent / OTA 

Read Also: Amazon Refund Policy: How Refunds, Returns & Replacements Work

 Processing Time, Refund Method & Credits

Once United Airlines Refund Policy approves a refund, how long it takes and how you receive it depends

• Credit card refunds: up to 7 business days to return the funds to the original card.
• Other forms of payment: up to 20 business days. 
• Travel credits or eCredits: these may show up in your United account or be issued to you as an electronic travel certificate (ETC).
• Unused ticket credit: if a refund is not permitted, the unused value becomes a credit you can apply towards future travel, which is valid for a period of time (usually one year from the date of issuance).
• In certain situations, a few fees (baggage, seat selection, etc.) may get refunded either separately, or as a part of the ticket refund.
• As stated earlier in the terms, please check the status of your refund, credit or transaction after a few days.

Limitations, Exclusions & No-Refund Situations

Although United Airlines Refund Policy has a friendly refund policy, there are some exceptions and circumstances where a refund may be restricted or barred altogether. 

Basic Economy

• Basic Economy fares usually cannot be cancelled or refunded after the 24-hour cancellation policy. No credits, no refunds. flyfairtravels.com+2NerdWallet+2

No-Show / Missed Flight

• If you “no-show” a flight, meaning you do not board your flight, your ticket (and all connecting segments) are no longer valid, and you will receive no refund or credit for any of the segments that you did not use. flyfairtravels.com+2United Airlines+2
• Because of the typical “no-show” clause in an airline contract, it is possible that all non-used connecting segments may automatically become invalid.

After Flight Departure / Partially Used Ticket

• Once a flight has departed and you have taken even a single leg of a flight, you cannot receive a refund for the part of the ticket you already used. Refunds only apply to unused segments of travel.
• Mixed itineraries could make the calculations for refunds more complicated.
• If you use part of a ticket and have unused segments (for example, missing a connection), you may receive a refund or credit for the non-used part of the ticket  if certain requirements are met, especially if the issue was caused by airline interruptions.

Third Party Bookings

• If the ticket was booked through an OTA or agent, the majority of the time, a refund request must be made through the original agent. United may

Rights under U.S. & Regulatory Context For United Airlines Refund Policy

In addition to United’s own policy, there are some contractual and statutory frameworks that require refunds to be issued in certain situations. 

Department of Transportation (DOT) Rules 

The Department of Transportation has stated that, if an airline cancels a flight, or if an airline has made a “significant schedule change”, the passenger is entitled to a refund, even if the fare is non-refundable, if the passenger decides not to travel. Department of Transportation 

New DOT Rule:

• DOT regulations also require airlines to have a 24-hour cancellation policy for airlines (if tickets are purchased at least 7 days prior to the flight).  Department of Transportation  
• As far as enforcement, the DOT encourages airlines to issue refunds quickly. 

 Automatic Refunds for Delays/Cancellations

• As previously mentioned, there are new DOT rules that have just been adopted (to be fully implemented by the end of this year) that require the airlines to issue automatic cash refunds for canceled flights or for flights that are significantly delayed (3+ hours for domestic flights, and 6+ hours) if the traveler chooses not to travel.  
• The new DOT rules also state that if the airline cancels, is significantly delayed, or fails to deliver a service purchased by the passenger (e.g., baggage fees or seat assignment fees), the airline must also refund the ancillary fees. 
• This new ruling makes United’s refund policy very good for passengers because you may not need to push or argue for the right to a refund when travel is disrupted. 

    Consumer Protection Law

• Some states/countries have abided by other consumer protection laws that apply to travelers that can provide additional protections to travelers. 
• International conventions (e.g. Montreal Convention

Tips & Best Practices to Maximize Refund Chances

Whether you find it good or not, one traveler who has tried actually doing refund is worth a thousand who merely knows how. Here are a few guidelines which will make applications for refunds more effective under the United Airlines refund policy:

1. Book refundable fares when uncertain Many more flights are going to be overbooked because the 24-hour rule, which used to exclude flights on U.S. domestic carriers, now includes them all.
2. If possible, book your fare with United itself this way, you can be sure to get in during the 24 hours when cancellation is possible, it also makes your refund uncluttered.
3. If your plans change, cancel as soon as possible to keep your full refund eligibility.
4. Make sure to check the rules for individual fares.
5. Cancel before the scheduled flight time to avoid penalties for not showing up.
6. Contend if there is any disagreement with receipts, order confirmations or claim numbers.
7. If you are not accommodated when United makes a significant change, you must insist on your refund rights.
8. If the retraction is delayed, follow up with United or your payment provider.
9. Choose this option to recover its value: if your United ticket is eligible under the airline’s 2025 unused ticket refund offer.

 Common Scenarios & How United Airlines Refund Policy Applies

Let’s see how the United Airlines refund policy applies in several realistic situations.

Scenario	What Happens under United Airlines Refund Policy
You booked a refundable fare, then cancel before departure	You get a full refund to your original method (no penalty)
You bought a nonrefundable fare, cancel after 24h window but before departure	No cash refund, but you may get a travel credit (unused value minus penalty)
You bought Basic Economy, cancel after 24h window	Usually no refund or credit (nonrefundable, nonchangeable)
United cancels your flight	You can request refund (unused amount) or accept alternate flight
United changes your flight schedule significantly	You can ask for a refund if the new schedule doesn’t suit you
You don’t show up for your flight	All unused segments likely forfeited, no refund or credit
Part of the flight used, rest unused	You may get refund/credit for unused portion if fare rules allow
You booked via travel agent	You must go through that agent; United may coordinate refund with agent
Your ticket qualifies for United’s 2025 refund offer	You may get a partial refund (minus penalty) to original method

Pros, Criticisms & Customer Feedback For United Airlines Refund Policy

While United’s refund policy is considerable, all policy is never perfectly satisfactory. Here are some advantages and common faults.

Pros & Strengths

• The 24-hour, no risk cancellation policy is friendly to buyers
• Refundable fare options offer flexibility
• The time it takes to process refunds is reasonable (7 business days for cards)
• The policy deals with cancellations and interruptions initiated by the airline
• The 2025 offer of a refund on unused tickets gives people even more leeway than before in terms of flexibility; it does not need to be refunded immediately after use.
• United communicates its handling of refunds via their website, highly pragmatic.

Criticisms & Challenges

• Many fares are nonrefundable, so most passengers have no give and take
• The restrictions related to Basic Economy are of an extreme nature
• Credits such as travel credits or eCredits may be worth less than cash in practice
• Refunds may be delayed or go into processing and then not go anywhere
• No-show penalties are tough, and many travelers just lose value by not showing up.
• . When booked via third parties, obtaining a refund becomes more complex
• In some disruption cases, United may offer vouchers instead of refunds (although new DOT rules restrict this)
• Many of the customers complain that agents will not give refunds even when policy permits it
• On the web, you will frequently come across complaints from travelers: “The refund only goes through if you cancel within 24 hours of booking, something no one tells you before purchase” Reddit
• “Basic Economy: no changes or refunds.

So in practice, many people actually treat the 24-hour window as their third and final opportunity to bail out before there are no more rides known in existence.

Sample United Airlines Refund Policy Refund Request Process (Step-by-Step Walkthrough)

For instance, if you booked a regular fare through United and then want to cancel that same booking by the tenth day later (after their 24 hour limit)…

1. You log in to your united account – Go to My Trips – Choose your reservation.
2. Select “Cancel flight” if available.
3. The system will display whether your fare is refundable or nonrefundable as well as if you qualify for a credit or refund.
4. If refundable, it normally presents a “Request refund” option; if nonrefundable -perhaps through your traveling- offers “Apply credit for future use.”
5. If online there is a refund request form, fill it in with reason (if United canceled or schedule changed, indicate that).
6. You can also use the United refund form page and fill out your ticket and booking details.
7. If online does not work, call United customer service and provide reservation and ticket numbers. Ask for a refund utilizing fare rules, or airline cancellation policies.
8. Follow-up the refund: credit card refunds should show up within 7 working days; other methods within 20 days or more.
9. If a delay occurs, widely escalate or register a complaint with United or the relevant aviation authority.

Future Developments, Trends & Policy Changes

• Trends & Policy ChangesIn particular, the United Airlines refund policy will tend to change under the influence of some of the following factors.
• The United Airlines refund policy is still changing, given the trend that big regulatory changes are always coming and that people also expect something to have happened by the end of this year. Some key comments scroll through the following places.
• United could extend or refine its offer of a 2025 unused ticket refund or possibly even introduce new and similar promotions.

 Summary & Key Takeaways From United Airlines Refund Policy

It ‘s an optimistic aspect of compensation policy that United Airlines Refund Policy ‘s 24 hour cancellation rule goes into effect, meaning that passengers can easily get reimbursed up to a full year after ticket purchase with no-charge refunds on qualified tickets.

• Only refundable fares provide assured cash refunds(floor open fees), nonrefundable tickets generally yield travel times or no refund.
• United Airlines Refund Policy is refunding all 2022 reservations funded through unused credits on May 1st, 2023 with a full refund or a choice of revising your ticket.
• Ease of doing business as long as you buy from a US carrier: United’s money back guarantee may be available to you even for nonrefundable tickets.
• Refunds by credit card: Up to 7 business days; other methods – Up to 20 business days.
• After 24 hours, Basic Economy fares are very restrictive, usually no refund or credit is allowed.
• No refund is generally available for no-shows, missed flights or post-departure cancellations.
• New DOT rules would benefit passengers in the face of delays and cancellations.
• Check fare rules, take quick actions, keep records and escalate if necessary.

Understanding the United Airlines refund policy in America will give you balance points when booking flights and will help if your flight does not go as planned.

Frequently Asked Questions For United Airlines Refund Policy