United Airlines, like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, has been forced to revise many of its policies. With the coronavirus affecting your travel plans, you may be wondering what is the United Airlines Cancellation Policy?
If this is you asking this question, you’re in luck. I dug into policy details as I recently booked a United flight. Before booking the flight, I needed to find out for myself exactly what I should expect if my travel plans change. With that said, let’s jump into the United Airlines Cancellation Policy.
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Best Travel Insurance Credit Card
It’s important to walk through the best travel insurance credit card before booking any flight. With that said, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum are likely going to be your two best options.
Sapphire Reserve cardmembers receive trip cancellation, trip interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and Coronavirus/COVID-19 specific benefits. AmEx Platinum cardmembers receive cancellation and interruption insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage insurance, and Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) specific benefits.
Tickets Booked on or before March 2, 2020
All change fees for tickets booked on or before March 2, 2020, for travel that occurs between March 3, 2020 – May 31, 2020, have waived changed fees. This policy covers flights between all cities. If you change your flight, the new ticket is valid for flights that occur within 24 months of your ticket issuance date. Check out this page for the United Airlines Cancellation Policy.
Tickets Booked on or before March 2, 2020
A slight wrinkle to the above-stated policy applies to tickets booked on or before March 2, 2020, however, this policy is for travel that occurs between June 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. United is waiving all change fees for these flights, which includes travel to all cities. If you want to change your flight, you must do so on or before July 31, 2020. In addition, your next ticket expires 24 months from your original ticket issuance date. You can find more details about the United Airlines Cancellation policy in this post.
Tickets Booked by July 31, 2020
For travelers who book a ticket after March 2, 2020, and before July 31, 2020, United is waiving change fees. For tickets issued from March 3, 2020, to March 31, 2020, your change fees are waived if your new flight is of equal or lesser value than your original flight. The new ticket is valid for 24 months from the original issuance date.
You also will not pay a change fee for tickets booked between April 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020. However, your new flight must be of equal or lesser value and your new ticket is valid for 12 months from the original issuance date.
When rebooking a higher-priced flight, you will pay no change fee, however, you will pay the fare difference if the new ticket price is higher. If the new ticket price is lower, you will not pay a change fee, but unfortunately, you will not be refunded the difference in cost. See the full United Airlines Cancellation Policy details here and here.
Award Flight Tickets
United is waiving all redeposit fees for flights with travel that occurs on or before July 31, 2020. In addition, United is waiving redeposit fees for travel that occurs on or before December 31, 2020, if you cancel at least 30 days prior to your departure date. See this link for a full list of the United Airlines Cancellation Policy rules for award tickets.
Common United Airlines Cancellation Policy Questions
Can I cancel my United flight and get a refund?
Generally speaking, you do not receive a refund when you cancel a United Airlines flight unless you cancel within 24 hours of when you booked the flight. United Airlines Refund Policy covers all of the details of the current policy.
How much does it cost to cancel a United flight?
Like most airlines during the coronavirus, United has a specific policy for travel booked during 2020. Outside of travel during the coronavirus, a change fee may apply depending on your United elite status. See this page for more info.
What happens if you cancel a flight on United?
United is currently waiving nearly all change fees for flights booked through July 31, 2020. See the Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates page for more information on your specific United flight cancellation policy situation and the United refund policy as it relates to schedule changes and cancellations.
How do I cancel a flight on United?
How to change or cancel a United Airlines flight covers everything you need to know.
Conclusion on the United Airlines Cancellation Policy
Compared to American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, the United Airlines cancellation policy is close to on par with both of these airlines. While there are differences, generally speaking, you receive a change fee are part of United’s current coronavirus policy.
What do you think about the United Airlines Cancellation Policy? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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