If your flight's scheduled departure is within 72 hours or less, you won't get any refund. The airline will forfeit all the miles as a cancellation charge. However, if you are canceling your ticket otherwise, you may get a refund to your miles account.

If you cancel a flight booked with United MileagePlus miles in 2026, the outcome depends on the ticket type and the timing. For most Award Tickets, United allows you to cancel and receive a full redeposit of your miles into your account at no charge, provided you cancel before the flight's departure. Any taxes and fees paid (such as the $5.60 security fee) are typically refunded to your original form of payment. If your flight is canceled by the airline due to weather or mechanical issues, you are entitled to a full refund of your miles and any cash paid. However, it is important to note that "MileagePlus" miles themselves never expire, so once they are back in your account, they are safe for future use. If you simply "no-show" for a flight without canceling, you may forfeit the miles entirely, so always ensure you hit the "Cancel" button in the United app or on the website before the scheduled boarding time.