Last updated: 31 October 2026.
Rule 27 of United's Contract of Carriage separates refunds when the airline cancels or disrupts your travel from refunds when you cancel.
7 business dayscredit-card refunds once a refund is due
20 business dayscash, cheque or other payments after a complete request
24 hoursfull refund of booking service charges if cancelled and booked a week or more ahead
90 daysto request refund of a service fee
When United cancels or changes your flight
- A wholly unused ticket returns the fare and charges you paid. If part was used, you receive the prorated value of the unused segment on one-way fares, or the fare for the unused transportation on round-trip, circle-trip and open-jaw fares.
- No refund is due if United provides alternative transportation and you accept it.
- Moved to a lower cabin than you paid for: half the prorated fare on unrestricted premium tickets, or the lowest fare available or the fare gap on restricted tickets, with taxes and fees. Upgrades bought with miles or cash that you do not receive are refunded to the amount paid.
When you cancel
- On eligible tickets, a wholly unused ticket gets the entire fare and charges back; a part-used one at the difference in fare, minus any administrative charge or cancellation fee in the fare rule. Request it before the ticket expires. The airline only owes voluntary refunds on tickets it issued itself.
- Refunds go only to the named passenger, or to the person designated at purchase; credit-card purchases refund to that card.
Fees and extras
- Booking service charges are not normally returned, except in full when you cancel the whole reservation in the first 24 hours, the flight is a week or more away, and you bought direct from United.
- Baggage charges are non-refundable, except when you do not travel because of a cancellation, schedule change or irregular operations; United also reimburses a fee charged for a lost bag.
- Day-of-departure upgrade fees are refundable if a cancellation or schedule change means you cannot be given First Class later.
- A removed Premium Plus, Economy Plus or Preferred seat, or a downgrade, brings a refund of the seat fee if you are not placed in an equal or better seat.
- A fee refund must be requested within 90 days of paying it or of the flight, whichever comes later.
Timing
- For card purchases the airline issues eligible refunds within 7 business days of deciding one is due; for cash, cheque or other payments, within 20 business days of a complete request.
Questions travellers ask us
Can I cancel for free after booking?
You can get the booking service charge back, and a refund of an eligible ticket, within 24 hours when you booked a week or more ahead directly with United.
How long does a refund take?
7 business days for cards and 20 for cash or cheque.
Are bag fees refundable?
Only when the flight is cancelled or disrupted and you do not travel.
Baggage Allowance is an independent information site and is not part of United Airlines. Check the airline's own pages before you travel.
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