United MileagePlus Award Ticket Change & Cancellation Policy: A Complete Guide

Quick Answer Box

• United allows free changes and cancellations on most MileagePlus award tickets.
• You only pay the difference in miles or taxes if the new flight costs more
• Cancel before departure to get miles redeposited without fees
• Taxes and fees are usually refunded to the original payment method
• Award tickets are typically valid for 1 year from issue date

United Airlines offers free changes and cancellations for MileagePlus award ticket holders. The airline charges no fee for any amendment to the itinerary if canceled before departure.

Unlike regular cancellation, the MileagePlus award ticket refund is credited as miles to your account. However, in case you miss the flight without notifying the airline, you will have to pay $125 to recover your miles, which will be temporarily locked.

This guide explains how, when, and where you can make changes to your United award reservation without losing a single point, in the simplest way possible.

What are MileagePlus Award Ticket Change Rules of UA?

United Airlines does not charge a penny for changes to “Award” tickets. Some of the prominent airline rules in this regard are:

• Travelers can change their flight without any fees before departure.
• Changes are allowed to the date, time, or routing of the journey.
• In case the new flight requires fewer miles, the difference is immediately refunded to the traveler’s account.
• If the new flight requires more miles, then the traveler will have to pay the additional mileage difference.
• Travelers should also pay any difference in government taxes or airport fees for the new route.

Are there Restrictions on United MileagePlus Award Ticket of UA?

While the United MileagePlus Award Ticket comes with many benefits, they are not without limitations. Some of the prominent restrictions on the “Ticket” include:      

• Pre-Departure Only: If you want to make any changes, you will have to implement them before the departure of your original flight.
   
• The No-Show Penalty: You will be locked out of your miles in case you miss your flight without making any changes beforehand. You will then have to pay a $125 redeposit fee to recover them.
   
• Partner Flights: This $0 change policy of the airline applies to partner airlines (like Lufthansa or ANA) only if the ticket is booked directly through United.

Steps to Change United MileagePlus Award Ticket

You can change your “Award ticket” in simple steps. Just follow the step-by-step instructions given below, and you are good to go!

• Step 1: Open the United Airlines website or open the United mobile app. Sign in to your MileagePlus account using your username and password.
• Step 2: Click on the “My Trips” tab at the top of the homepage or on the bottom menu of the app.
• Step 3: Type your six-character confirmation code (PNR) and the traveler's last name manually if the trip does not appear.
• Step 4: Click “Change flight”. Select the part of the trip to change.
• Step 5: Enter your new preferred travel dates, times, or destination cities and search. Look at the mile cost (+ for extra, – for refund).
• Step 6: Select your new flight and preferred cabin class. Check the “Review Your Trip” page carefully.
• Step 7: If the new flight costs more,  you will see the additional miles and cash taxes you need to pay. Get your refund miles back instantly if it costs less. If there is a cash tax difference, enter your credit card information.
• Step 8: Click “Continue to check out.” Click “Confirm change” to finalize the booking.
• Step 9: Check your email for a new e-ticket confirmation from United. Your miles balance will update instantly.

Alternate Ways to Change Your UA MileagePlus Award Ticket

Via Phone

You can change your MileagePlus Award Ticket by calling UA customer care. Follow the steps below, and you're all set!

Step 1: Call United Customer Service.

Step 2: Request to change an existing award reservation

Step 3: The agent will reissue the ticket, and you will receive a new confirmation email.

Note: Booking or changing through a phone agent will come with a non-refundable $25 service fee. However, it does not apply to a Premier elite member.

• At the Airport: For dealing with last-minute emergencies on the day of departure, visit a United Airlines ticket counter or customer service desk. You can then request an agent to update your ticket manually.
   

What is the UA MileagePlus award ticket cancellation policy?

United Airlines allows completely free cancellations on standard MileagePlus award tickets originating anywhere in the world.

• You can cancel your trip at any time before the scheduled departure time.
• There are no redeposit fees or penalty charges to put your miles back into your account.
• This policy applies to all members, regardless of whether they have basic MileagePlus status or top-tier Premier 1K elite status.

What Happens to Your Assets Upon Cancellation of United MileagePlus Award Ticket?

Your refund will be split into two components upon officially canceling an award ticket:

The Miles: Your MileagePlus miles are redeposited into your frequent flyer account. The process is instant and enables you to use those miles to rebook another flight immediately.

The Taxes and Fees: Any cash paid as government taxes, security charges, or international airport fees (such as the standard $5.60 TSA fee for domestic US flights) is fully refunded and is credited to your original form of payment (credit card, debit card, or travel certificate) within 7 business days.

Are there any deadlines and exceptions to United’s MileagePlus Award Ticket?

The 24-Hour Flexible Booking Rule

Booking your award ticket at least one week before departure enables you to cancel it within 24 hours of booking. You can then expect an immediate, hassle-free refund of all cash components without any standard processing delay.

You can read the blog on United Airlines 24-Hour Free Cancellation Rule Explained for detailed information.

The Costly "No-Show" Penalty

The most important rule of this policy is that you must cancel before your flight takes off. If the plane departs and you are not on it, and you failed to cancel or change the ticket beforehand, then your ticket is classified as a "No-Show."

• In a no-show scenario, your miles are temporarily locked or forfeited.
• To salvage and redeposit your miles after missing the flight, United charges a steep, non-negotiable $125 no-show fee.
• To protect your miles, always hit the cancel button in the United app at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure.

What are the Star Alliance and Partner Airline Cancellations for United’s MileagePlus Award Ticket? 

If you have used your United miles to book a flight operated by a partner airline (like Lufthansa, Air Canada, ANA, or Air India), United's fee-free cancellation rules still apply. However, the ticket should be booked directly through United's website or app. In such cases, on cancellation, the miles return to your United account, and not to the partner airline's loyalty program.

How to Cancel United MileagePlus Award Ticket Online/Via Mobile App?

A United MileagePlus Award ticket can easily be canceled online or by mobile app. Follow the steps mentioned below, and you are good to go.

• Step1: Open the United Airlines website.
• Step2: Go to “My Trips” and select the reservation you want to cancel.
• Step3: Click the "Cancel flight" button.
• Step4: The refund summary will display the exact number of miles returned to your account and the cash amount returned to your credit card.
• Step 5: Click "Confirm cancellation" to finalize.

How to Cancel United MileagePlus Award Ticket Over the Phone?

If your issue is not resolved online, or when dealing with a complex multi-city or partner airline award ticket, you can settle it over the phone.

Given below are the steps you should follow. 

Step 1: Connect with the standard United Customer Service or call the MileagePlus Service Center.
Step 2: Tell the representative your MileagePlus number and booking confirmation code.
Step 3: Request the agent to scrap the reservation and confirm that the miles are redeposited immediately.

Note: Though the cancellation does not require any fee, any phone booking fees paid during the original ticket creation are non-refundable.
 

How to Cancel United MileagePlus Award Ticket At the Airport?

If you have already reached the airport on the day of departure, you can initiate last-minute changes before your plane takes off. All that you need to do is:

• Find a United Airlines counter at the terminal, find your reservation, and scrap it digitally.
• You can also speak directly to a United gate or check-in agent who will process your ticket cancellation manually.

Change Vs Cancellation Outcomes

The table below compares the potential outcomes of changing versus canceling an eligible ticket. It also highlights the variation in fees, miles, taxes, booking charges, and no-show penalties that might be applied in such scenarios. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a United award ticket be changed for free?

Yes. United Airlines allows free changes on almost all MileagePlus award tickets. All that you need to do is pay the difference in miles or cash taxes if your new flight is more expensive.

Will I get my miles back if I cancel my award ticket?

Yes. Your miles will be redeposited into your MileagePlus account without any redeposit fees. However, to do that, you need to cancel the reservation before your flight departs.

What happens if I cancel after departure or miss my flight?

In such a case your ticket will be classified as a "No-Show," and you will forfeit the benefit of a free cancellation. Your miles would also be temporarily locked, and you will have to pay a $125 mileage recovery fee to recover and deposit them. Any cash taxes paid will be automatically refunded to your credit card.

Can just one segment of an itinerary be changed?

Yes. United allows you to change a single segment of a round-trip or multi-city award itinerary. During the online change process, all that you need to do is check the box next to the specific flight leg you want to change and leave the rest. However, the system will reprice the modified itinerary based on current award availability.

Is there a limit on how many times a United award ticket can be changed?

There is no limit to the number of times you change your ticket provided you make the changes before departure. However, each change will be calculated on the real-time mileage costs of the new flight.
 

Disclaimer

Cheapflightsfares is an independent travel agency and not associated with United Airlines. It is always advisable to verify the current terms on the United Airlines official website.