Do I get credit from United if I cancel my flight?

Once you confirm your cancellation, you'll be given options for travel credit or, if applicable, a refund. If you receive travel credit, visit our travel credit page for instructions on how to use it when you're ready.



Whether you get credit from United Airlines when you cancel your flight depends on several factors, primarily the type of ticket you purchased.

Here’s a breakdown of the key rules:

1. The 24-Hour Rule (Most Important)

  • If you cancel within 24 hours of booking, and your trip is at least 7 days away, you are entitled to a full refund to your original form of payment by U.S. Department of Transportation regulation. This applies to all ticket types, including non-refundable fares.

2. Type of Ticket

  • Basic Economy (Most Restrictive):

    • Generally, no changes or cancellations are allowed after the 24-hour grace period.
    • No credit is issued. The ticket value is typically forfeited.
    • Exception: United may offer a travel credit for cancellations due to certain significant schedule changes or operational disruptions initiated by them.

  • Standard Economy and Above (Refundable Tickets):

    • Yes, you get a full refund to your original form of payment if you cancel.

  • Standard Economy and Above (Non-Refundable Tickets):

    • You do NOT get a cash refund.
    • You DO receive the value of your ticket as a future flight credit, minus any cancellation fee (see point #3 below).
    • This credit is stored in your United account and must be used by the original ticket holder for travel within 12 months from the date the original ticket was issued (not the date of cancellation).

3. Cancellation Fees (Waived for

People Also Ask

You can get a full flight ticket refund only if you booked a refundable ticket. However, airline ticket refund rules vary from airline to airline. Thus, it is better to refer to the airline's website or contact it directly for possible airfare reimbursement.

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Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

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Basic Economy tickets can't be changed but can be canceled and refunded within 24 hours of booking as long as it's one week or more before your scheduled departure.

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You must cancel or change your flight within 24 hours of the time you made your reservation. If you have a Basic Economy ticket or booked your flight using Money + Miles, you can't make changes but you can cancel for a full refund.

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Can I get a refund for my Economy Plus purchase if I no longer want it on my trip? No. Economy Plus tickets are nonrefundable unless canceled within 24 hours of purchase.

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If you don't cancel a plane ticket and don't show up, the airline will usually still charge you for the cost of the ticket. Depending on their policy, they may also charge additional fees for not showing up or canceling late.

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Airlines are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to refund your money if you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking unless they offer a free 24-hour hold option when shopping for tickets.

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There are a few ways to tell if your United Airlines ticket is refundable:
  1. Check your confirmation email or boarding pass. The confirmation email or boarding pass will typically state whether or not your ticket is refundable.
  2. Log in to your United Airlines account. ...
  3. Contact United Airlines customer service.


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United Airlines fully refundable fares receive the original amount in refund with no deductions of cancellation fee for specific conditions. The cancellation fee applicable on United tickets is tickets canceled outside the 24-hour policy. The difference is Economy tickets are not eligible for refunds.

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24-hour booking policy You must cancel or change your flight within 24 hours of the time you made your reservation. If you have a Basic Economy ticket or booked your flight using Money + Miles, you can't make changes but you can cancel for a full refund.

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  1. Go to My Trips to cancel your reservation and start the refund process.
  2. If your ticket was purchased in the last 24 hours, it may qualify for our 24-hour booking policy.
  3. The refund amount will vary based on the situation.
  4. Credit card refunds will be processed within seven business days of the request.


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Nonrefundable tickets: Most United tickets are nonrefundable, which means you're not going to get cash back. However, you may be eligible to apply the value of your ticket toward the price of a new ticket with its travel credits.

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Although every airline has a different policy, many airlines will allow you to cancel flight tickets within 24 hours and give you a refund, even if you've bought a non-refundable airline ticket. If you've bought an airline ticket and want to cancel it on the same day, you can do so easily via 'Manage my booking'.

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Top Reasons Most People Cancel Trips
  • Injury or Illness. Sickness and injury are the top reasons for cancelling a trip. ...
  • Death. ...
  • Natural Disaster. ...
  • Acts of Terrorism/Evacuation. ...
  • Financial Default of the Travel Company.
  • Death or Hospitalization of Host.
  • Residence Damage. ...
  • Jury Duty or Military Deployment.


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This is all thanks to a simple rule from the US Department of Transportation, which requires that airlines must “hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be canceled within 24 hours without penalty.” Most airlines offer the latter (and many do even when they also ...

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All tickets — even basic economy — can be canceled for a full cash refund if your ticket was purchased within 24 hours and the purchase is at least a week before departure.

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