Canceling a United Airlines Flight: Cash Tickets vs. Award Tickets

Malik Shan
3 min readAug 15, 2024

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When it comes to canceling a [[[+1-888-829-1467]]] United Airlines flight, the process and policies vary depending on whether you purchased your ticket with cash or redeemed miles [[[+1-888-829-1467]]] (an award ticket). In this guide, we’ll cover the step-by-step instructions for canceling both types of tickets,[[[+1-888-829-1467]]] as well as the associated fees and policies.

Canceling a United Airlines Cash Ticket 888♫829←1467

Within 24 Hours of Booking 888♫829←1467

If you booked your ticket at least a week before departure and directly with United, you may be eligible for a full refund within 24 hours of booking, regardless of the ticket type (including basic economy). This is due to 888♫829←1467 United’s 24-hour flexible booking policy. Your refund will be credited as cash back to your original payment method, unless you booked with a United Gift Certificate. In that case, the refund will be in the form of an electronic travel certificate. 888♫829←1467 Tickets booked using e-certificates are not eligible for this 24-hour refund policy 888♫829←1467

More Than 24 Hours After Booking [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467)

After the first 24 hours, your cancellation options depend on the specific ticket type you purchased:

  • Basic economy: [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) No cancellations are allowed beyond 24 hours from booking
  • Nonrefundable tickets: Most [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) United tickets are nonrefundable, meaning you won’t get cash back. However, you may be able to apply the value of your ticket towards the price of a new ticket in the form of travel credits
  • Refundable tickets: [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) If you purchased a refundable ticket, you can cancel and get a refund in cash back to your original form of payment before the flight departs. Depending on the fare type (there are over 20 different kinds), you may need to pay a cancellation fee

To cancel your cash ticket, you have two options:

  1. Call [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) to request a cancellation
  • [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) Log in to your United Airlines account, select “My trips,” verify your trip details, then select “Manage.” Look for the “Cancel options” to the far right. Click “Cancel trip” to complete the process

Canceling online is typically the quickest option, especially if call wait times are long.

Canceling a United Airlines Award Ticket [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467)

If you redeemed MileagePlus miles for your flight and want to cancel, you’ll be given the option to redeposit the miles or use them for another trip in the future. As of January 1, 2023, there is no redeposit fee unless you are a no-show. In this case, you will be charged a flat fee of $125 to redeposit your award miles, regardless of your status level. To cancel your award ticket, you can either:

  1. Call United Airlines customer service [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) to request a cancellation.
  2. Log in to your United account, select “My trips,” verify your trip details, then select “Manage.” Look for the “Cancel options” and click “Cancel trip” to complete the process

Comparing Cash Tickets vs. Award Tickets [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467)

Here’s a quick comparison of the key differences when canceling a United Airlines flight:

[FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) Feature Cash Ticket Award Ticket Cancellation within 24 hours Eligible for full refund if booked at least 1 week in advance and directly with UnitedNot eligibleCancellation after 24 hoursVaries by ticket type (basic economy, nonrefundable, refundable)Eligible for miles redeposit, no fee unless no-show ($125 fee)Refund methodCash back to original payment method or electronic travel certificateMiles redeposited to account

Fees and Policies

  • United’s 24-hour flexible booking policy [FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467): Allows a full refund within 24 hours of booking for tickets purchased at least 1 week in advance and booked directly with United
  • Basic economy tickets: No cancellations allowed beyond 24 hours from booking
  • Nonrefundable tickets: Value can be applied towards a new ticket as travel credits, but no cash refund
  • Refundable tickets: Eligible for cash refund to original payment method before flight departure, but may incur cancellation fees depending on fare type
  • Award tickets: No redeposit fee unless no-show ($125 fee), miles redeposited to account

[FAQS*24/7]*DL*(📞(1 888➫[829]➫1467) Remember, these policies and fees are subject to change, so it’s always best to check United’s website or contact customer service for the most up-to-date information when canceling your flight.

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