Flight Change Policy of United Airlines
Are you thinking of changing your flight with United Airlines but worried about paying cancelation charges? While every passenger wants to avoid paying the cancelation charge, sometimes there is no option but to cancel a pre-booked flight due to a change of plans. Changing a flight doesn’t have to be a hassle if you know the steps to follow. There are also ways in which you can do it free of cost. Wondering how to cancel your United Airlines flight without paying the flight change fee? Here’s everything you need to know about the flight change policy of United Airlines.
Change Fee Waiver of United Airlines – is it possible to change my flight and avoid paying a fee?
There have been major changes to the Flight Change Policy of United Airlines. COVID-19, the global pandemic is one of the biggest reasons behind it. United Airlines has permanently eliminated the flight change fee for Economy Plus, Standard Economy, United Business, United First, and United Premium Plus tickets if you are flying:
- Between the U.S. and the Caribbean or Mexico
- Within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Alaska, and Hawaii)
- On international flights that originate in the United States
Tips for passengers trying to change their flight
- You can cancel your United Airlines flight ticket (irrespective of the travel class) and get a full refund if you cancel within a day (24 hours) of booking.
- If your trip is within the United States or from the US to any foreign destination, United Airlines won’t charge any flight change fee from you.
- This is applicable for all tickets, both Premium and Economy (other than Basic Economy tickets)
- However, if there is any difference in the fare, you must pay it when the new ticket is more expensive.
- You can change the following tickets without paying a change fee:
- Premium Cabin and Standard Economy international tickets purchased before January 31, 2022
- Basic Economy flight tickets issued by 30th April 2021
- Now it is possible to cancel Basic Economy tickets and get a travel credit in return. You can utilize the travel credit on future bookings. The e-Credit you will receive:
- On domestic flights is USD 49.50 (for one-way flights) and USD 99 (for round trips)
- On international flights is USD 99.50 (for one-way journeys) and USD 199 (if it is a round trip)
Your travel credit’s value will be the price of your ticket minus the fee of cancelation, and you can use it to travel afterward.
- The validity of most travel credits (even electronic travel certificates) is generally 1 year from the date of issue. But United Airlines has extended the expiration date of all electronic certificates/ travel credits from Dec 31, 2022 to Dec 31, 2023.
- You can make changes to your flight as many times as you want. You only have to pay the applicable difference in fares every time.
- If you are unable to decide when you would like to travel again, choosing another flight right away isn’t compulsory. Simply apply for a flight credit and you will have 1 year (from the booking date of the original ticket) to use it.
- If you have an Award ticket on Premium/ Economy fare, United Airlines won’t charge any change fees if you are flying within the United States or flying from the U.S. to a foreign location.
- If the new flight is less expensive than your original one, United Airlines will give you a future flight credit equal to the fare difference.
- The airline doesn’t charge any same-day standby fee if a passenger decides to take another flight on the same day and it is an earlier flight.
- If you have booked your flight ticket via a travel agency, you have to contact them when you want to change your flight. You will get the credit through the agency.
- You have to pay the change fee if you make alterations to group fares bought through the Group Desk of United Airlines.
- If you are a Mileage Plus Premier member, you can confirm your seat on an earlier flight free of cost.
United Airlines 24-Hour Flight Change Policy
The 24-hour flight change policy of United Airlines is the same as the 24-hour cancelation policy. Once an air ticket is booked, a passenger gets up to 24 hours to make changes to the reservation free of cost (if you have bought your United ticket at least 7 days before its scheduled departure). This policy doesn’t apply to Basic Economy tickets.
United Airlines: Flight Change Policy due to COVID
How did United Airlines revise its flight change policy because of COVID?
Have your travel plans been affected due to COVID? In that case, United Airlines will offer a refund or a future flight credit to you (based on the severity of your situation). If you have canceled the booking, you have to fill out and submit the Refund form. After that, wait for a response from United Airlines to find out if you are eligible for a full refund. If your ticket qualifies for a refund, the airline will send the refund money to your actual form of payment. Refunds to credit cards generally take 7 business days to be processed. Other refunds might take as many as 20 days from the day you place your ‘Refund’ request.
United Airlines Change Fee
For a Basic Economy ticket, you will receive a flight credit from United Airlines after you cancel your booking. The cancelation charges for one-way international and domestic flights are USD 99.50 and USD 49.50. You can use the e-Credit when booking future trips with United Airlines.
United Airlines Flight Change Policy for Basic Economy Tickets
If you want to get a full refund for your Basic Economy ticket, the best option is to cancel it before the 24-hour window closes. It means the ticket must be canceled within 24 hours of your booking time. But if you have to cancel the booking anyway, cancelation charges will apply. If the ticket is canceled after 24 hours, the airline will deduct the cancelation fee and offer you a flight credit.
United Airlines Flight Change Policy for Non-Refundable Tickets
As per the revised flight change rules of United Airlines, you can make changes to a non-refundable ticket for free. The airline expects you to pay just the fare difference (if applicable). If you make same-day changes:
- You will be charged USD 75 (for General or Silver-tier members)
- There is no cancelation fee for Platinum, Diamond, and Gold Members
United Airlines Flight Change Policy for Refundable Tickets
There are several perks of booking a refundable ticket. For instance, the flight change fee doesn’t apply to refundable tickets. Only if the new flight you book is costlier, you are liable to pay the price difference. On the contrary, if you are switching to a cheaper option, the airline will return the extra amount. The money will be credited to the Credit/ Debit Card (you used for making the payment) or converted into e-Credit that you can use later.
United Airlines Flight Change Policy & Fees for MileagePlus Award Tickets
If yours is an award ticket, United Airlines doesn’t charge any flight change fee for:
- Trips originating in the United States (if canceled within 30 days of the flight’s departure date
- Redepositing 31 days before the scheduled departure
However, the flight change fee applies to award tickets if they are international tickets (that is, flights that originate outside of the US). Here’s how much United Airlines will charge you:
- USD 125 – General members
- USD 75 – Premier Gold members
- USD 100 – Premier Silver members
- USD 50 – Premier Platinum members
- USD 0 – Premier 1k members
How to Change MileagePlus Award Tickets
You can change your Mileage Plus award ticket on the official website of United Airlines. Go to the section that says ‘Manage Reservations’ and make the necessary changes.
How to Change a Flight on United Airlines
Passengers can change their United Airlines flight’s date, destination, or time online/ offline. Call + 1-855-738-3598 or make alterations online. Online changes are possible if you buy your ticket directly from the airline and not through a travel agent.
To change the date/ location/ time of your flight on United’s website, follow these steps:
- Open United.com on your browser
- Select ‘My Trips’
- Access the trip you’ve booked by entering the last name and the confirmation number
- Choose the itinerary wish to manage
- Go to the option ‘Change flight’ and edit the portion you need to. You can:
- Add a new flight
- Remove the flight booked earlier
- Edit the travel time or date
- Change the destination of your trip
- Hit the ‘Continue’ button
- Proceed with the booking and confirm the revised itinerary
- Pay the fare difference and you will get a confirmation email with specifics of the flight change.
If you don’t want to book a new flight right away, you can cancel the original ticket now and then book another one later. Here’s how:
- Visit United.com
- Choose ‘My Trips’
- Select the option ‘Cancel flight’ and confirm the cancelation
- Select a travel credit option as per your preference and you will be able to use the e-Credit later.
If none of the available flights are perfect for you, apply for a refund.
Tip: Call United Airlines if you require additional help. You can also contact the airline on social media or visit their customer service center.
Schedule Change Policies of United Airlines
If United Airlines makes changes to your flight’s departure/ arrival timing, you will be notified via email (if you have done the booking directly from the website of the airline). If there are changes to the aircraft type, you will receive the information on your registered email ID. You can check your flight itinerary by visiting United.com. If you done the booking through a third party (like a travel agency), they will let you know about the schedule change.