United Airlines Flight Change & Cancellation Policy: Complete Guide

Quick Answer

• United Airlines has eliminated the change fee on its flights. You can now change the time or date, or switch to another flight or cabin, with a $0 change fee.
• Within 24 hours of booking a United flight, you can cancel without any penalties.
• If United Airlines cancels your flight, a full refund of the ticket will be credited.
• International flights originating outside the U.S. do not qualify for a $0 change fee.
• Basic Economy Class is the most restricted one for changes and cancellations.

Airline disruption, change of plans, or unprecedented issues; whatever the case is, when flying with United Airlines, knowing the flight change and cancellation policy will let you protect your peace of mind and hard-earned money. Go through this United Airlines flight change and cancellation guide, and next time you book a ticket, you can be sure what to do.

When traveling, plans can change at any time; there are moments when you might want to change your flight timing, reschedule it for a future date that is more viable, or even cancel it. When such tough times arrive, it is obvious we would want straightforward ways to make changes, cancel, or reschedule flights. To that end, United Airlines has made its mark by eliminating change fees for standard tickets and offering a flexible cancellation policy for its passengers.

Read this blog, which is a guide to check when you want to change, cancel, or reschedule United Airlines flights. You will learn in detail what United Airlines follows and offers its passengers when canceling or changing their flight.

What is United Airlines’ Flight Change & Cancellation Policy?

United Airlines was the first to eliminate the change fee, allowing its passengers to modify their flight date, time, or itinerary before departure. However, the change is directly linked to the fare type and seat availability. The only requirement for changing a flight is that passengers pay the fare difference if the new flight costs more than the originally booked ticket. Now, let's dive deeper into United Airlines' change policy.

What changes can I make on United Airlines flights for free?
So if you are wondering what all changes you can make to your United Airlines flight ticket, check the list below:

• Travel Dates
• Departure Time
• Switch to another flight on the same route
• Modify connecting flight
• Upgrade or downgrade cabin class
• Request a same-day flight change
   

Eligibility & Requirements to Change or Cancel a United Airlines Flight

When flying with United Airlines, you can change a ticket if your reservation meets specific requirements based on ticket class, the 24-hour rule exception, booking source, and same-day change rules.

United Airlines has eliminated the change fee for the following ticket classes:

• Economy class ticket
• Premium Economy Class ticket
• Business Class tickets
• First Class tickets

The $0 Change Fee Policy applies to certain geographical limits:

• The $0 change fee policy applies to all domestic flights that fly within the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• All cross-border short-haul flights between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
• Most long-haul flights departing from the U.S. to Europe, Asia, Australia, South America, and Africa.

The 24-Hour Rule Exception of United Airlines:  

The $0 change policy offers a 24-hour exception: any ticket class, including Basic Economy, can be changed or canceled for free within 24 hours of booking, provided the flight was booked at least 7 days before departure. So if you are booking a flight with United Airlines, you can:

• Cancel a reservation within 24 hours of booking.
• The canceled ticket price will be fully refunded to the original payment method.
• Any change for a Basic Economy ticket can be made only if the ticket is booked at least seven days before departure.

The Airlines Operator Requirement for free change on United Flight Tickets:

The $0 flight change fee applies only to tickets booked for flights operated by United Airlines or its regional carrier, United Express. The free change policy will not apply if:

• The ticket is booked with a codeshare flight directly through a partner website, such as Lufthansa or Air Canada, and a leg of the trip is operated by United Airlines.
• The ticket number does not start with 016 (tickets starting with 016 indicate the ticket was issued by United Airlines); it starts with the partner’s ticket stock code.
• Bulk tickets, consolidator fares, and corporate vacation packages are booked through partner alliances.

Booking source requirement for free changes on a United Airlines ticket states:

The free change policy for United Airlines waives its change fee, but if you book tickets through third-party sites, the flight change process must be managed directly by the passengers through the platform where the tickets were purchased.

• If the tickets are purchased by the official United Airlines website, the United App, or United phone support, you can make changes instantly online for $0 in change fee.
• If tickets for United Airlines flights are booked through third-party websites, the United Airlines $0 change fee policy will still apply technically. However, the changes can only occur through the designated third-party agency. The agency might charge its own separate administrative processing fee to handle the request.
• If United flights are booked through employer-mandated booking tools, the flight change cannot be done through United’s public portal. It should be modified through the company’s dedicated travel agent.
• You can still bypass travel agents or third-party agencies and use United Airlines' free change policy within 24 hours of the scheduled departure. This is because control of all tickets (purchased via third-party or corporate booking tools) transfers entirely to United Airlines in the 24 hours before departure. 

Same-day change and cancellation requirement for a free change fee on United Airlines:

If you want to switch flights, make some changes to your ticket, or cancel on the actual day of travel, the request must be made within 24 hours of the new flight's departure. As for standby, United Airlines offers complimentary standby to all passengers, except Basic Economy. You cannot make a confirmed change to another flight on the same day if you hold a Basic Economy ticket.
 
However, passengers can move to another flight on the same calendar day only if:

• The seats are available on the chosen flight or route
• The new flight should have the same origin and destination
• The specific ticket class must allow same-day modifications, and the same fare sub-category must be available on the new flight, especially to avoid paying extra.

United Airlines Basic Economy Flight Change & Cancellation Policy

When booking a United Airlines Basic Economy ticket, passengers can make free changes within 24 hours of the booking. If the necessary changes are not made within the first 24 hours, the ticket is permanently locked. Once the tickets are locked, passengers cannot change anything. However, for the 24-hour free change fee to apply, the flight tickets must be purchased at least 7 days (168 hours) before the scheduled departure time. For example, if the flight ticket is booked 3 days before travel, the 24-hour grace period will not be applicable.  

Once the 24-hour booking window has passed, passengers cannot:

• Change the flight date.
• Change flight time
• Change the destination
• Make a Same-Day Confirmed flight change
• Request for the Same-Day Standby list

While United Airlines does not allow Basic Economy passengers to change the flight, it does allow you to cancel certain Basic Economy tickets for a partial credit. The details are as follows:

• Domestic flights: When canceling a domestic Basic Economy ticket, United Airlines will deduct a $99 fee. The remaining balance will be credited as the Future Flight Credit.
• International Flights: If you want to cancel an international Basic Economy flight ticket, United will deduct a $199 fee, while the remaining will be issued as a Future Flight Credit.

United Airlines allows Basic Economy Passengers to make one additional change: they can upgrade their Basic fare to a Standard Economy ticket via the United app or website. 

A paid upgrade from Basic to Standard Ticket cost and result are given below:

• A nominal fee of $49 to $99 per direction, plus the current fare difference of the Standard Ticket.
• Once the Basic Economy ticket is converted to Standard Economy, the strict Basic Economy restrictions will vanish, and passengers will be allowed to use United’s standard $0 change fee policy.

United Airlines International Flight Change Policy 
United’s no-change-fee policy also extends to international flights. Still, the rules depend on the ticket type, the origin of the flight, and whether any partner airline is involved in booking the ticket.

International Ticket Class Eligible for No Change Fee includes:

• United Economy
• Economy Plus
• United Premium Economy
• United Business Class
• United First Class
• United Polaris Business
• Most MileagePlus award tickets

While a no-change-fee policy is applied to the international flights, the fare difference will still apply, which will incur additional charges if:

• The flight change or any upgrade fare is higher than the previous ticket fare.
• If there are any additional taxes or government-imposed fees.

No-change fee policy for International flights involving Partner Airlines itineraries

If your itinerary involves flights operated by partner airlines, the specific fare rules and service conditions attached to the ticket will apply. Passengers should review their ticket fare rules before making changes. These tickets will have:

• Their specific fare rules.
• Some partner itineraries may have different serving or rebooking conditions.
• Certain changes that require you to contact United Reservations.

International Flights that may not qualify for the no-change-fee policy

The no-change-fee policy applies especially to international itineraries originating from the United States, including Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The no-change-fee policy will not apply if:

• The trip originates from outside the United States, such as from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, or South America.
• The ticket is a restricted or Basic Economy fare.
• The itinerary is subject to specific fare rules.
• The itinerary includes partner-airline-operated flights that have additional servicing restrictions.

Deadline to Make Changes to United Airlines International Flight Tickets

When you are flying internationally, all required changes to your tickets should be made before the scheduled departure of the first unused flight. If there is no change made or the tickets are not canceled before departure and become a no-show, the remaining value of the ticket may be affected according to the fare rules.
 
United MileagePlus Award Ticket Change & Cancellation Rules

If you have booked an award ticket, United Airlines allows you to change your MileagePlus award tickets without paying a change penalty. As for the cancellation of award tickets, United has removed all redeposit fees associated with canceling award tickets.

Check this more detailed guide on whether your award ticket is eligible for cancellation or change.

What to Do When United Cancels Your Flight (Rebooking & Compensation)

Severe Weather, natural disasters, unexpected maintenance issues, crew staffing, regulatory limits, tactical proactive and route cancellations can cause United Airlines to cancel your flight tickets. In this case, the airline will generally:

• Automatically rebook a ticket on the next available flight
• Allow you to choose another eligible flight through their app, website, or Reservations.

United Airlines Name Change / Correction Policy

There can be times when you misspelled your name on a flight ticket, and you noticed it when the ticket was issued to you. When you have purchased tickets with United Airlines, you can make minor corrections, especially when the ticketed name does not match the passenger's government-issued ID. The corrections that can be made include:

• Typographical errors
• Misspelled names
• Missing or incorrect middle names
• Reversed first and last names
• Minor data-entry mistakes

The name change and correction policy also includes:

• United Airlines tickets cannot be transferred to another person.
• Any legal name change due to marriage, divorce, or court order is permitted.
• No name correction fee is applied.
• Partner Airlines tickets needing name corrections, additional processing, or restrictions may apply.
• The name must match the government-issued ID.
   

United Airlines Group Booking Change & Cancellation Policy

When booking United Airlines group tickets, the change and cancellation policy states that the applicable fees, fare difference, deposits, refund eligibility, and deadlines are:

• Subject to specific group contract and fare rules.
• Any changes to a group reservation are permitted only in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
• Any deposits, payment schedules, penalties, and refunds completely depend on the contracted terms.
• Travelers should contact United Group Travel or review their group agreement for the exact rules applicable to their reservations.

How to Cancel a United Flight on the App

If you want to cancel a United Airlines ticket, you can log in to your account, open the Trips tab, select your flight, and cancel it anytime. However, the cancellation depends on these rules:

• To receive a full refund, you must cancel the ticket within 24 hours of purchase and at least 1 week before departure.
• The standard tickets are canceled after 24 hours. The app issues a credit voucher. This credit will be directly tied to the MileagePlus profile for future use.
• If you are canceling a Basic Economy ticket after the 24-hour window, you will not receive a refund or credit unless a change/cancellation waiver is active for severe weather.

United Airlines Weather Delay & Travel Waiver Policy

When the weather is appropriate for a flight, or there are major disruptions that can impact your travel, a waiver is issued to you, and you can actually change your travel plans without any change penalties.

The Travel Waiver is an advisory that United Airlines offers to its passengers if the events given below take place:

• Hurricanes
• Snowstorms
• Thunderstorms
• Typhoons
• Severe weather events
• Air Traffic Control disruptions

Now, what does the waiver allow you to do when weather disruptions occur:

• You can change your flight without paying a change fee.
• Passengers can rebook their trip on another eligible flight.
• Under weather waivers, you will not have to pay any fare difference.
• Any changes can be made online via the United Airlines My Trips tab or the United app, or by contacting the United Airlines customer service team.

If you are rebooking a United Airlines flight due to Weather disruptions, the rebooking requirements include:

• Any new flight rebooked due to weather waivers must be booked on United or United Express
• The travel dates must be within the dates specified in the waiver.
• The origin and destination cities booked with the disrupted flight should be the same on the rebooked flight.
• The cabin class must match the one used when booking a new flight.

United Airlines Multi-City & Complex Itinerary Change Rules

If you are traveling to multiple cities and you want to change your itinerary with United Airlines, you are eligible to change reservations through their official website or by contacting reservations. However, when you change your itinerary, United Airlines might:

• Have to recalculate the fare for the entire itinerary, causing the fare to increase or decrease from the original one.
• Reissue your ticket.
• Apply the current fare rules and pricing for your new itinerary.
• Issue Future Flight Credits if the new itinerary costs less.

United Economy vs. Premium vs. Basic: Change Policy Compared

United Airlines has six primary cabin classes on its mainline fleet: United Basic Economy, United Economy, United Economy Plus, United Premium Plus, United First/United Business, and United Polaris Business Class.

United Basic Economy - United Basic Economy class is the most restrictive and budget-friendly ticket type, designed for budget-conscious travelers and to compete with low-cost carriers. In this cabin class, seats are assigned automatically at the check-in, passengers cannot make any flight changes, and it strictly allows only one small personal time for baggage.

United's Economy - This cabin class is the standard option, serving as the baseline for most travelers. It offers standard legroom and seating, allows passengers to select seats in advance, permits a standard carry-on bag plus a personal item, and allows ticket changes or cancellations without a hefty penalty.

Economy Plus - This is the upgraded section within the standard economy cabin. Baggage policy depends on the route and allows passengers to bring 1 free checked bag. Seat selection is free of charge for Economy Plus passengers and is eligible for free change and cancellation. 

United Premium Plus - This is the true premium economy class, featuring larger dedicated purple seats with more legroom, deeper recline, and adjustable footrests. Passengers are offered upgraded dining or chinaware, a smaller version of Saks Fifth Avenue's bedding, and complimentary checked bags. The ticket includes 2 free checked bags and 2 free carry-ons. Passengers can select seats in advance for free, and even make free changes or cancel flights.

United First & United Business - These are the premium cabins for domestic, regional, and short-haul international flights. Passengers can bring 2 free checked bags with priority handling and 2 free carry-ons. These cabin classes allow passengers to cancel or change with no additional fee and are eligible for Future Flight Credits if canceled.

United Polaris Business - This cabin class is the flagship international long-haul premium cabin available exclusively on widebody aircraft. United Polaris features fully lie-flat pods arranged in a 1-2-1 configuration and includes luxury Saks Fifth Avenue bedding and custom amenities. The tickets include 2 free checked bags with priority handling and 2 free carry-ons and are eligible for free changes and cancellations and for full Future Flight Credits if canceled.

United Airlines' change policy generally applies to Standard Economy and higher fare classes but not to Basic Economy, which is the most restrictive fare. Check the table below that shows how the change policy applies to different cabin classes:

Missed Your United Flight? Here's What Happens Next

United Airlines' policy on missed flights states that if you fail to take your flight and do not make changes in advance, the ticket will be considered a no-show. If your ticket is a no-show, the following will happen:

• The value of the ticket will be forfeited.
• All the connecting flights will be canceled.
• The refund of the ticket will depend on the fare rule and the type of ticket.
• You will have to contact United Airlines to discuss rebooking options, which are subject to availability and ticket rules.
• If rebooking, you will have to pay the fare difference.
• Your ticket refund eligibility will entirely depend on the ticket type and fare conditions.
• You can request a refund for the unused portion of the trip if the ticket qualifies.
• You will have more rebooking options and be able to preserve the value of your ticket if you contact United immediately.

This is a detailed guide for United Airlines' flight change & cancellation policy by Cheapflightsfares, an independent travel agency, and is not affiliated with United Airlines. Policies are subject to change. It is always advisable to verify current policies published by United Airlines on their official website.