United Airlines Cancellation Policy

Are you looking to cancel the flight without any hassles? With United Airlines cancellation policy, you can change your plans with maximum flexibility and do not require to pay a hefty fee as it was used to be earlier.

In this post, we will understand all the rules associated with the cancellation policy, how you cancel the flight, the airline’s penalty, and much more.

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United Flight Cancellation Policy

As per the United Airlines cancellation policy, passengers can request the flight cancellation up to 3 hours before the scheduled departure for international flights and 2 hours for flights within the United States. Similar to this, there are other policies that passengers should know before making the cancellation request –

• The cancellation request is subject to the airline’s penalty. The fee may vary with the trip type, cabin class, and the fare rule associated with the booking.
• Under the United Airlines flight cancellation policy, basic Economy bookings are non-refundable and non-changeable outside 24 hours of purchase. 
• In case you are marked no-show for a flight, depending upon the fare rule associated with your booking, the entire booking value may be forfeited. No refund would be offered unless otherwise specified. 
• When United cancelled flight event, no cancellation fee would be assessed. In case passengers refuse to take the alternate flight, a refund would be processed on the unused portion of the ticket. 
• In case of the death of a traveller, travelling companion, or immediate family member, the airline will waive the cancellation fee. The refund would apply to the unused/unflown flight segment.

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United Covid Cancellation Policy

As per United Airlines COVID cancellation policy, the travel requirement related to COVID-19 may change quickly. Take a note of the few below to discover the travel requirement and restrictions for your specific itinerary.

• When the local government or public health has ordered you to self-isolate or quarantine, you will be denied boarding.
• In an instance in which you are denied boarding on the flight within the United States, the airline will rebook you for a flight at least 14 days later. No additional fees will apply.
• Guests who have been denied boarding on international flights will not be rebooked.
• A valid medical certificate stating that you are not infected with the COVID-19 virus must travel earlier. 
• Also, a vaccination certificate would be required for international travel according to United COVID cancellation policy
• You will not be able to board a flight when you have COVID-19 symptoms or are ill.
• Passengers with a medical condition or symptoms similar to COVID-19 will need a health declaration, a doctor’s note, or a medical certificate for hassle-free travel. 
• Travellers two years of age and older must wear a non-medical mask or face covering to cover their nose, mouth, and chin while travelling to and from the United States. Failure to comply will result in denial of boarding, removal from the aircraft, and penalties under federal law in the United States.

United 24 Hour Cancellation Policy (Risk-free)

In the future, you do not have to worry about the cancellation with United Airlines once you make the booking. United Airlines is flexible enough to provide a full refund against the purchased fare. The cancellation has to be done 24 hours from the date of buying a flight, then only United 24 hour cancellation applies and receives a full refund with no fees. United Airlines will process the refund on your ticket when cancelled within 24 hours of purchase. However, some banks or credit card issuers may initiate a temporary hold of your funds on your debit or credit card. We encourage you to contact your card issuer for their specific policies. Please go through the terms and conditions for more details.

Terms and Conditions for United Airlines 24 Hour Cancellation

• United Airlines cancellation policy applies to the ticket booking at the airline website, United reservation counter, or United customer support number.
• The 24-hour timeframe applies at the time you booked your reservation.
• All refund requests would be directed back to the original form of payments.
• The United Airlines flight cancellation policy is not applicable on United’s hold a fare. 
• United Airlines 24 hour cancellation is also applicable on all Basic economy fares unless you cancel within the timeframe. Your travel date would fall beyond 7 seven days from the date of purchase.
• Beyond 24 hours, should you be holding a refundable fare, then a 200 USD United cancellation fee will be applicable.
• The 24-hour time frame begins the moment the ticket number is generated. 
• Except for the flight booking made with a United Gift Certificate, which will be credited back in electronic travel certificates, refund requests will be processed in the original payment method. 
• Any PNR with more than nine passengers is not covered under the 24-hour cancellation. It would be subject to a group contract. 
• Under the United cancellation policy, tickets bought with e-certificates are not eligible.
• Reservations held but not yet purchased are not eligible under the United 24 hour cancellation policy.
• Passengers can also request United Airlines flight change within 24 hours of purchase. Fare differences may apply.

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How to Cancel United Flight Ticket?

To cancel United Airlines booking, you can request online at the airline’s website, through customer service phone number, and through the airline’s check-in counter at the airport.

Cancel United Flight Online

You can cancel/change your flight via the My Trip section. You can pay the required fee and process the refund on your flight. Follow these steps to process the cancellation –

• Log in to United.com and go to My Trips.
• It will ask you to enter the six-digit booking reference (composed of letters and numbers) and the passengers’ last name.
• Select the flight segment that you would like to cancel.
• You would be asked to pay a non-refundable cancellation fee.
• At the checkout page, pay the required amount to complete the request.
• The confirmation email will be sent to your registered email address.

Cancel Flight via Phone Number

In case you are holding a fare that does not support an online cancellation or are not sure about navigating an online cancellation, you can reach the executive. Please ensure to have your ticket number or booking confirmation handy. You need to pay the United Airlines cancellation fee and additional service charges over the phone.

Cancel Flight at the Airport

You can also head to the departure airport and request a flight cancellation up to 3 hours before the scheduled departure. If you have already checked in for your flight, you need to cancel the check-in first to request a refund on your booking.

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United Policy on Cancelled Flights

The airline’s top priority is smoothly taking you to the destination, thus operating the flights on time. However, at times the flight is disrupted. In such a situation, United will do its best to accommodate the passengers in the best way possible.

For Delayed Flights

The airline will notify you via SMS or email of the new departure time in case of a delayed flight. You can also get up-to-date flight information by downloading the United app, checking the website for flight status updates, or getting real-time updates at the airport.

When you have a significant delay in your flight for more than 3 hours, the airline will offer you an alternate flight as well as provide you with a service voucher for refreshments or a meal.

Missed Connecting Flights 

Sometimes, you may miss a connecting flight. Knowing that you have a single flight booking for all of your flights, including the connections, the transfer times would be calculated to ensure that you have enough time to comply with the transit process from one flight to the next without delay. However, when your existing flight is delayed, you may miss your subsequent flight. In those cases, the airline will make all necessary arrangements to ensure that you arrive at your final destination as smoothly and quickly as possible in case your flights are on United Airlines. In case, you missed your connecting flight – 

• The airline will reroute you to your destination. Rerouting may take some time due to the limited availability of alternative flights.
• You can access your updated travel itinerary under the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website or the United’s mobile app. 
• The airline will do its best to keep you informed about any changes to your connecting flight(s) during the flight. 
• Please note that when your booking includes the flight from other airlines that require a separate ticket, you should contact the issuing agency to make any changes.

Cancelled Flights

Flights are sometimes cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. Presuming that your flight is cancelled, the airlines will contact you directly via text or registered email.

In the event of a cancellation, you usually have three choices – 

• As per United Airlines cancellation policy, you can change your travel date to 7 days in either direction. No change fee and any additional cost would be applicable.
• The airlines will reroute you as soon as possible to your final destination. Rerouting may take some time due to the limited availability of alternative flights. 
• If not opt for an alternate flight, you can claim a refund on the unused portion of the booking.

Overbooked Flights

The airlines occasionally accept more bookings for the flights than the aircraft can accommodate. This is due to the likelihood that all customers who have made a reservation will not board the flight. This is what happens when it appears that the flight is full – 

• The airlines will look for volunteers to transfer to a different flight.
• The airlines will check your availability and assist you with a new booking and compensation-related questions as necessary.
• Should you volunteer to change your travel plans, the airlines will accommodate you with the best possible alternative flight to your destination, look after you, and compensate for any potential delays and inconvenience.

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United Airlines Cancellation Compensation

As per United Airlines cancellation policy, passengers are entitled to get compensation if the flight has been delayed, cancelled, or denied boarding. The likelihood of compensation will be determined by several factors, including the length of the delay, where you’re flying to and from, and the cause of the delay.

The airline’s compensation for the delayed flights –

New Flight Arrival Time	Compensation(% of ticket price)	Maximum Payout (in USD)
Within 1 hour of original arrival	None
Between 1 and 3 hours after original arrival	200%	$675
More than 3 hours after original arrival	400%	$1,350

The airline’s compensation when the passenger has been denied boarding –

Flight Distance	Maximum Compensation (in USD)
Less than 1,500 km	150
Between 1500 km and 3500 km	200
Greater than 3500 Km	300

The airline’s compensation if the flight is cancelled –

Flight Distance	Maximum Compensation (in USD)
Less than 1,500 km	300
Between 1500 km and 3500 km	400
Greater than 3500 Km	600

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United Airlines Refund Policy

The United refund request would be applicable on the unused/unflown portion of the ticket. Just like this, there are several refund guidelines you should consider before claiming the refund for your flight booking – 

• You are eligible for a full refund in case requesting a flight cancelling within 24 hours of purchase. Only in a situation wherein the scheduled departure date is seven days or more at the time of cancellation. 
• No change or cancellation request is applicable on the Basic Economy tickets. However, they are eligible for a full refund when cancelled within 24 hours of booking. 
• As per the United cancellation policy, you can cancel your flight and claim a refund online via the My Trip section.
• For all non-refundable fares, the cancellation made before the scheduled departure would be charged a per-person cancellation fee. The remaining balance will be issued as a travel credit, which will be used for travel on the dates. The said credit voucher remains valid for one year from the booking date. 
• For all refundable fares, the cancellation is permitted for the full value of the fare minus the per-person cancellation fee. If the flight is not cancelled or changed before the scheduled departure, the value associated with the flight segment would be converted into the travel credit. 
• A number of factors determine the refund amount. For example, based on the fare rule associated with the bookings, the unused portion of the flight segment will be calculated on the basis of a prorated amount. The cancellation fee and other taxes would be applicable. 
• Requests for credit card refunds will be processed within seven business days. All other refund requests will be processed within 20 business days.
• According to the United Airlines refund policy, you will get the refund in the original payment method in 7-10 business days.

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United Airlines Cancellation Fee

The airline does not charge any change or cancellation fee sometimes. This is when the cancellation happens due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions. Other than that, the airline charges a cancellation fee as no exception to be provided unless otherwise specified. Below is the overview of the United cancellation fee – 

Ticket Type	United Cancellation Fee (in USD_
Basic Economy	Not permitted
Non-Refundable	200 for domestic flights. 400 for international flights.
Refundable	200 for domestic flights. 400 for international flights.

To conclude, when you want to cancel your flights, you should be well prepared to take action with United Airlines’ policies and procedures. The United flight cancellation policy covers all aspects that give you the best benefit when choosing the cancellation procedure. Remember, a successful cancellation will lead you to have the best time while travelling with United Airlines.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – United Cancellation Policy