United Airlines Refund vs. Travel Credit: Which Do You Get?

Quick Answer

• United Airlines refund and travel credit are not the same.
• A refund returns an eligible amount to the source payment.
• A travel credit is the preserved value that is eligible for future use.
• If United Airlines cancels your flight or makes any changes, a full refund is possible.
• Not all fare types are eligible for refund if a passenger cancels a ticket.

If you are confused about whether cancelling a United Airlines flight will refund your money back to your account or as a travel credit. Then read this guide and understand what qualifies a United Airlines flight ticket to get a full refund and what gets you the travel credit that you can use for your future flights.

To understand what qualifies you for a full refund or travel credit, you should first review United Airlines' refund policy. The refund policy directly follows numerous eligibility criteria that determine whether you will receive a cash refund back to your source bank account or credit that can be used for future travel. Let's understand what they are and whether you will get a complete refund or travel credit the next time you cancel a flight, or if United Airlines cancels it due to a disruption.

Read the detailed guide and get to know what you will get when a flight is cancelled: is it a full refund to your bank account or travel credit?

What is the Difference between United Airlines Refund and Travel Credit?

When you cancel an eligible United Airlines flight ticket or if the airline itself cancels your ticket due to certain reasons, you will be offered a refund or travel credit. So a refund is the money that gets credited back to the source of payment, whereas a travel credit is the value of the ticket that is retained in your United Airlines account as future travel credits. For a better understanding, go through the table given below:
 

Is your United Airlines flight ticket eligible for a refund?

A refund for your flight ticket or services is eligible if the ticket or circumstances meet United Airlines' refund policy. There are numerous situations in which a passenger may be eligible for a refund, such as when the passenger didn't take the United flight, didn’t receive a paid service, downgraded their ticket type, or United Airlines cancels your flight. Conditions and policies under which you will be eligible for a refund are given below:

Refundable Ticket or Fare: If you voluntarily cancel a ticket purchased as a refundable fare, the fare rule permits cancellation and refund.

24-Hour Cancellation and Refund Policy of United Airlines: If you cancel a United Airlines ticket in the limited 24-hour window, the ticket is eligible for a refund, even if the fare type is non-refundable.

What if United Airlines Cancels my Flight: Imagine you have booked a flight, and United Airlines itself cancels it, and you don't choose to travel or do not accept alternative transportation, rebooking, travel credit, voucher, or other compensation. The refund of the ticket price is credited back to the source bank account, including all taxes and fees.

United Airlines Makes Significant Change to Your Flight: If United Airlines makes significant changes to your ticket, and you reject the changed itinerary/rebooking and choose not to travel or accept alternative compensation, a refund will be initiated to the source bank account. 

What if my United Airlines flight is delayed: If United Airlines significantly delays the flight, and meets the DOT definition of a significant delay, and you do not travel or accept the changed/rebooked itinerary or alternative compensation, a refund will be initiated back to the source bank account.

Passenger is involuntarily downgraded: If your ticket is of a higher class of service but it is involuntarily moved to a lower cabin/class of service by United Airlines, you will be eligible for a refund that will be credited to the original form of payment.
 
Paid Ancillary Service not offered: If you have paid for a certain service and it was not received, United Airlines states the passengers may be eligible for a refund. The services include ticket, Wi-Fi, food, drinks, and other eligible purchases associated with the reservation. 

Checked Baggage is Significantly Delayed: If you have paid a checked baggage fee and it is significantly delayed, you might be eligible for a refund of the checked baggage fee.

Checked Baggage is Declared Lost: If a checked baggage item is lost and you have paid for it separately, you might be eligible for a refund of the baggage fee.

Flight prevents Ancillary service due to cancellation: If your flight is cancelled and you have paid for an ancillary service, you are eligible for a refund of the fee paid for the service.

Significant schedule change prevents ancillary service from being provided: If United Airlines makes some changes to your itinerary and a separately purchased ancillary service is provided, you can contact the airline for a refund of the ancillary fee.  

Involuntarily denied boarding: If you were denied boarding and you were not able to catch your flight on time, you are entitle for refund of the unused transportation and an involuntary denied boarding compensation, depending on the circumstances and applicable rules.
 

Serious Communicable Disease Travel Restrictions: In this special circumstance, if you cannot travel due to a qualifying serious communicable disease-related situation covered by applicable rules, you may ask for credit or voucher refund. 

Situation where United Airlines Travel Credit is Offered

Travel credit issued by United Airlines for specific situations and is different from a cash refund. If you cancel an eligible non-refundable ticket and are not entitled to a refund to the original form of payment, the unused value may be retained as the Future Flight Credit. United Airlines also offers an Electronic Travel Certificate, which is totally separate from travel credits, and may be provided instead of an eligible monetary refund at the passenger's request. The situations where you might receive a travel credit are given below:

• If you voluntarily cancel an eligible non-refundable ticket
• If you cancel or change your eligible non-refundable ticket where the ticket does not qualify for a cash refund.
• If you miss or do not take the reserved flight but retain eligible residual value.
• If you want any refund for the ticket or services as a travel credit.

How to Apply for a United Airlines Refund?

Step 1: Visit the United Airlines Refunds Page.

Step 2: Select the refund options and begin the refund request.

Step 3: Enter your reservation details for the trip you want to request the refund for.

Step 4: Select the purchase or service for which you are requesting a refund.

Step 5: Fill in the requested information about the refund request and explain the reason for requesting the refund, if prompted.

Step 6: Review the refund request to make sure the reservation and purchase information is correct.

Step 7: Submit the refund request to United for processing.

Step 8: Wait for United Airlines to review and process the request. This is to determine whether the ticket or purchase is eligible for a refund based on the applicable conditions.

Step 9: Receive the eligible refund. United Airlines states that eligible ticket refunds are credited to the original form of payment, unless the passenger requests an Electronic Travel Certificate instead.

Step 10: Check the refund status or contact United if the refund does not appear within the applicable processing timeframe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I get a refund or travel credit if I cancel my United Airlines flight?

It depends on your ticket's refundability, the reason for cancellation, and the applicable ticket conditions. An eligible refundable ticket may qualify for a refund, while an eligible non-refundable ticket may retain value as a Future Flight Credit.
 

Does United Airlines refund non-refundable tickets?

Generally, voluntarily canceling a non-refundable ticket does not result in a cash refund.

When will United Airlines give me a refund instead of a travel credit?

You may receive a refund when your ticket or situation qualifies for a refund under United's applicable refund policy.

If United Airlines cancels my flight, do I get a refund or travel credit?

If your situation qualifies for a refund and you choose not to travel, you may receive a refund rather than being limited to a travel credit.

If United Airlines changes my flight, can I get a refund?

You may be eligible for a refund if the itinerary change qualifies under United's applicable refund rules and you choose not to travel.

Can I choose a travel credit instead of a United Airlines refund?

For an eligible ticket refund, United states that the refund is generally credited to the original form of payment, but a passenger may request an Electronic Travel Certificate instead, where applicable.

Is United Airlines Future Flight Credit the same as a refund?

No. A refund returns eligible money to the original form of payment, while Future Flight Credit represents eligible unused ticket value that can be used toward future travel under the applicable terms.

Is Future Flight Credit the same as a United Airlines Electronic Travel Certificate?

No. Future Flight Credit and Electronic Travel Certificates are different United travel-credit products and may have different rules for use, eligibility, and expiration.

If I don't take my United Airlines flight, will I get a refund or travel credit?

Not automatically. United states that passengers who did not take their flight may be eligible for a refund. If the ticket is not eligible for a refund but retains value under its applicable conditions, a Future Flight Credit may be available instead.

How do I know whether my United Airlines ticket is refundable?

Check the fare conditions associated with your booking or the ticket details in your United reservation. United also identifies fully refundable fares when applicable during the booking process.

Cheapflightsfares is an independent agency and is not affiliated with United Airlines. The given policies are subject to change. It is always advisable to verify current policies published by United Airlines on their official website.