United Airlines Refund Policy: How to Get a United Airlines Refund in 2023

After canceling your United Airlines flight, it’s time to get a refund. You will find that United Airlines Refund Policy varies depending on the flight you booked.

However, if you’re not eligible for a full refund, you might be able to apply that money to another United flight in the future. It’s important to know that travel credits usually expire one year after the ticket issue.

United has a simple online refund request form if you’re entitled to one. Here’s how to get your United refund, and how to know if you’re eligible.

United Airlines Refund Policy: Guide To Get Your Refunds

For all kinds of cancellations, all customers are allowed 24 hours to change their reservation from the time of booking, except for Basic Economy tickets.

• Go to My Trips to cancel your reservation and start the refund process.
• The refund amount will vary based on the situation.
• Your refund will be credited back to your original form of payment.
• If your ticket was purchased in the last 24 hours, it may qualify for our 24-hour booking policy.
• Credit card refunds will be processed within seven business days of the request. All other refunds will be processed within 20 business days of the request.
• Basic Economy tickets can’t be changed but can be canceled and refunded within 24 hours of booking as long as it’s one week or more before your scheduled departure.

Getting Your Refund – Detailed Explanation

You can get a refund for your ticket, by visiting the United Airlines official website. The refund method guarantees you a hassle and worry-free refund. United will refund your ticket with no questions asked. However, there are certain restrictions and limits to the refund; we will describe them in the latter half of the article.

Can I get my money back on United flights? Yes, in some cases. With United, you can get a refund depending on a few factors, like when you cancel, the type of airfare you bought, and whether United cancels your flight or you do.

In the event that you decide to cancel your United flight within 24 hours

Even the cheapest, basic economy seats can be canceled for a full cash refund if the ticket was purchased within 24 hours and at least one week before departure.

It’s helpful if you find a great airfare deal. This kind of power might lead you to make an impulsive booking, then spend the next couple of days mulling over whether the trip is worth it. It is just a matter of canceling before the 24-hour mark if you do not wish to do so.

In the event that you purchased a United basic economy ticket

Basic economy United airfares cannot be refunded or credited outside the 24-hour cancellation window.

However, you can add United economy benefits to a basic economy ticket to get some money back for a canceled flight.

In the United mobile app, you can access “Reservation details” if your airfare qualifies for an upgrade on the “Trip details” page on United’s website. If you want to upgrade to a standard economy fare, United will charge you a fee, depending on the flight.

By converting your basic economy to a standard economy fare, you can cancel your flight and get future flight credits. Buying an upgrade is a good idea if you’re going to fly United again and the cost is less than the original ticket price. By booking the basic economy fare at the beginning, you’ll still have sunk some money, but you’ll at least be able to recoup some through United travel funds.

In the case of refundable United airfares

A fully refundable version of United’s economy fares is available for an additional fee if you’re worried about canceling your flight and want the cash back rather than a future flight credit.

Full-refundable economy fares vary by flight, and although they typically cost $30 more each way than standard economy fares, they can be more (or less) than that.

If you’re not confident that you’ll travel with United anytime soon, it might be worth paying an extra $30 or so for a fully refundable airfare.

United Airlines Refund Procedure

United Airlines Refund Policy allows you to cancel your booking within 24 hours to get the refund.

To get the refund, you need to go through the following steps:

• Firstly, you need to visit the United official website.
• Go to My account.
• Sign in to your United Airlines account and click the button “My Trips”.
  Next, you need to confirm the cancellation of your booking.
• After clicking on the cancel button, you will receive e-credits, after the deduction of any cancellation fee.
• Users of United e-credit, need to click the drop-down box under “United payment types”.

United Airlines Refunds

Refunds are generally directed to the original mode of payment by the company, make sure that you cancel within 24 hours not to be charged any cancellation fee. If you paid through a credit card, then you’ll have to wait for 1 or 2 billing cycles for the amount to reflect on your statement.

To check the status of your refund, go to the refund page and open the check status tab.

They’ll take around 5-7 working days to process your refunds. Following are the refund gateways for different modes of payment:

In the event that United cancels your flight, you may request a refund

It does not matter which airfare you purchased if United Airlines cancels your flight. In this case, you are entitled to a full refund.

Currently, according to the United States Department of Transportation, travelers are entitled to a full refund if a flight is cancelled by United Airlines regardless of the reason, and if you do not wish to travel on another United flight. For purchases made by credit card, airlines are required to refund money promptly within seven business days, or within 20 days if the purchase was made by cash or check.

Other special circumstances

You may still be eligible for a refund from United, even if you booked a basic economy fare (or if you have another airfare, but would prefer cash back to flight credits).

In certain cases, United will refund tickets and any associated change fees. These cases are determined based on the individual situation. In some cases, this may result from the death of the traveler or a family member, being called to jury duty, or suffering from certain types of illness.

In order to qualify, you must provide documentation, such as a death certificate, a copy of the jury summons, or a letter (on letterhead) from a licensed physician confirming that travel was not recommended within the validity period (one year after the date of ticket issue).

Cancellation And Refund Policy For Various Type Of Bookings

United Airlines Refund Policy is known to have a very customer-centric approach toward providing refunds to its customers. The company requires you to cancel the booking within 24 hours to get the full refund without being charged for the cancellation fee.

Basic Economy Ticket

If you have canceled your ticket within 24 hours, only then you will be allowed to cancel the ticket. If the period is more than 24 hours, then you will not be allowed to cancel the ticket.

Your refund will be provided to the original method used to make the payment.

Non-Refundable Ticket

You’ll be paying straight $200 in case of domestic flights and up to $400 for international flights depending on the fare charged for your class.

After paying a cancellation fee, you will be given the chance to book your ticket with United Airlines within 1 year of your booking from the unused value left after the cancellation of your ticket.

Refundable Ticket

United Airlines will provide you the full value of your transaction if you are canceling your booking on a refundable ticket. You will be given the full amount in a refund within 7 business days. However, If you paid through a credit card, then you’ll have to wait for 1 or 2 billing cycles for the amount to reflect on your statement.

Award Ticket (Mileage Plus Cancellation)

Cancellation through award tickets largely depends on the status of your miles with the company. Below we have explained the whole cancellation schedule for award ticket flyers.

If you do not show to your flight, you will be charged $125, regardless of your status level with the United Airlines.

Flight Change Policy For Various Type Of Bookings
United Airlines allows all its customers to change their bookings except for the customers booking under basic economy class. You will have to change your flight within 24 hours to escape from levy of charges by the company.

Ticket Type Cancellation fee

• Basic Economy You are not allowed to cancel the ticket
• Non-refundable As per United Cancellation Policy You will be charged $200 for domestic flights and up to $400 for international flights depending on the fare charged for your class
• Refundable No cancellation fee
• Award Ticket (MileagePlus Change Of Bookings)
  • Change of bookings through award ticket is similar to cancellation and largely depends on the status of your miles with the company. Below we have explained whole change schedule for award ticket flyers.

Are United flights refundable? Yes, in certain circumstances

United refund requests can work in your favor depending on the type of airfare you booked.

In every class except basic economy, refundable and nonrefundable fares are available (first, Polaris, business, premium economy, Premium Plus, Economy Plus, etc.). You should only book United Airlines nonrefundable flights if you are confident about your trip and won’t need the cash equivalent.

What you need to do to claim a United refund or flight credit

In the event that you are eligible for a refund, you can claim it through the United refunds page. Enter your confirmation or ticket number as well as your name.

If you fill out that form, your credit card refund will be processed within seven business days, and all other refunds will be processed within 20 business days. You will receive your original form of payment back.

Using United travel credits

Visit the United travel credits webpage to view your account credits. To access that information, you’ll need to enter your name and the confirmation number of your original flight. If you need assistance finding United’s reservations number, you can call 1-800-864-8331.

You must log in to your United MileagePlus account in order to book a flight with those credits. Shop for flights as usual, but select “Travel Credits” as your payment method.

These credits are typically non-transferable, so they must be used by the same traveler they were issued to. United, United Express, and partner-operated flights can be purchased with the credits directly through United.

United Airlines Travel Certificates

You can use Electronic travel certificates for travel on United and United Express® flights. However, you aren’t allowed to use a certificate for United-marketed flights or Star Alliance™ flights.

How To Use A Travel Certificate?

• Search for your flight.
• Go to the payments page, enter your certificate number and apply.
• Tap the purchase button to finish booking.

For more details visit this link.

United Flight Credit – You can use your future flight credits within 1 year of issue by the company.

The best way to find out if your United Airlines ticket is refundable or not

Here’s how you can confirm your ticket type:

• Checking the fine print on your original booking confirmation.
• Getting in touch with United Airlines reservations.
• You can see your booking details by logging into your United MileagePlus account.