Basic Economy tickets are nonrefundable and non-changeable except as allowed by our 24-hour flexible booking policy. They can't be combined with any other fare type. They have no value if canceled or unused. They may be eligible for partial travel credit if canceled prior to departure.
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Basic Economy fare tickets cannot be changed*. However, you have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket to cancel and get a refund if you booked at least 2 days before departure. After 24 hours, refunds are not allowed.
All United tickets — even the lowest-cost, basic economy seats — 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. That's helpful if you spot an airfare deal.
Canceling a nonrefundable fare will result in an eCredit for the full amount paid (minus any cancellation fees, depending on fare type and route). However, if you cancel a refundable ticket, you'll get the amount paid refunded back to your original form of payment.
Here's the current United Airlines cancellation fee policy: 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.
More than 24 hours after booking, cancellation rules vary depending on the ticket type purchased. Basic economy: No cancellations are allowed beyond 24 hours from booking. Nonrefundable tickets: Most United tickets are nonrefundable, which means you're not going to get cash back.
Basic Economy fare tickets cannot be changed*. However, you have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket to cancel and get a refund if you booked at least 2 days before departure. After 24 hours, refunds are not allowed.
Depending on the ticket type, often, 'nonrefundable' simply means: The airline will not give you all of your money back if you cancel (true for most basic economy tickets). The airline will not refund your ticket value as cash (it will be remitted as a voucher instead).
24-Hour Flexible Booking Policy: United Airlines offers a 24-hour flexible booking policy, which allows passengers to cancel their flights within 24 hours of booking and receive a full refund, regardless of the fare type.
Nonrefundable tickets are extremely common; you'll find them for all types of fare classes, including economy, premium economy, business and first class tickets. These will generally be the cheaper ticket options, with basic economy typically being both the cheapest and most restrictive ticket.
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.
If you purchased a basic economy ticket for United, it should be clearly indicated on your ticket or confirmation email. Look for the fare code - basic economy code for United is N. Are United Airlines' Mileage Plus points valuable enough to pay $50-100 extra for a long trip?
Canceling a nonrefundable fare will result in an eCredit for the full amount paid (minus any cancellation fees, depending on fare type and route). However, if you cancel a refundable ticket, you'll get the amount paid refunded back to your original form of payment.
If every passenger was able to cancel for a full refund at any time, airlines would have to raise their prices across the board to account for this increased risk. This is also why nonrefundable fares are often the cheapest tickets offered by an airline.
24-hour booking policyYou 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.