United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - Upgrades with Miles, Cash etc. - Are there Redeposit Fees

There are 2 scenarios I am wondering about:
1. Have to cancel trip after upgrades have already cleared. Is there a fee to get my miles back?
2. Still take the trip but change my mind about the upgrade - do I have to pay to redeposit my miles?

I've looked all over the United website and cannot find a clear answer to this. I looked all over this forum and did find one thread where it was stated that Pre-Merger United had instituted a fee for elites to redeposit their miles from an upgrade award. The link to info about this is dead making me think perhaps the new United did not carry on this fee for receiving back miles used for an upgrade.

So what is the current policy?

There are 2 scenarios I am wondering about:
1. Have to cancel trip after upgrades have already cleared. Is there a fee to get my miles back?
2. Still take the trip but change my mind about the upgrade - do I have to pay to redeposit my miles?

I've looked all over the United website and cannot find a clear answer to this. I looked all over this forum and did find one thread where it was stated that Pre-Merger United had instituted a fee for elites to redeposit their miles from an upgrade award. The link to info about this is dead making me think perhaps the new United did not carry on this fee for receiving back miles used for an upgrade.

So what is the current policy?

As a Plat or higher..there is no fee for you to redeposit your miles, but for others the regular redeposit fee applies.

As a Plat or higher..there is no fee for you to redeposit your miles, but for others the regular redeposit fee applies.

Are you saying the same chart applies as used for award ticket redeposits? I believe that chart has reduced fees for Golds and Silvers.

And would the fee be applied twice, for both the outbound and return flights?
If so $300 to get back 40k miles (if the cost is 20k each way, e.g.) is pretty steep, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the value of the miles used.

Are you saying the same chart applies as used for award ticket redeposits? I believe that chart has reduced fees for Golds and Silvers.

And would the fee be applied twice, for both the outbound and return flights?
If so $300 to get back 40k miles (if the cost is 20k each way, e.g.) is pretty steep, about 1/3 to 1/2 of the value of the miles used.

The rep told me the fee would be assessed only once, but you could also pay the more discount "award change fee" (free for plats+, $25 for gold, etc) to push those upgrade awards to a future flight.

For my scenario, i've paid [30000miles+$600copay] x 2 for NYC-MEL roundtrip upgrade, so i don't know whether i would qualify to just apply a smaller upgrade to a domestic flight and get the rest back with no additional fee.

The rep told me the fee would be assessed only once, but you could also pay the more discount "award change fee" (free for plats+, $25 for gold, etc) to push those upgrade awards to a future flight.

For my scenario, i've paid [30000miles+$600copay] x 2 for NYC-MEL roundtrip upgrade, so i don't know whether i would qualify to just apply a smaller upgrade to a domestic flight and get the rest back with no additional fee.

I assume you mean once per itinerary / roundtrip booking.

The problem is what if for the future flight a higher or lower copay or mileage charge applies can you still apply your miles and/or fee to the other flight? Or if the original flight was 30k and the future flight is 20k, do you still have to pay $150 to get the 10k miles back? And do you have to do that at the time you need to cancel the original flight or upgrade for the original flight?

I'm still confused.

I assume you mean once per itinerary / roundtrip booking.

The problem is what if for the future flight a higher or lower copay or mileage charge applies can you still apply your miles and/or fee to the other flight? Or if the original flight was 30k and the future flight is 20k, do you still have to pay $150 to get the 10k miles back? And do you have to do that at the time you need to cancel the original flight or upgrade for the original flight?

I'm still confused.

Yes -- you have to get the miles redeposited (so you are charged a redeposit fee) and then reapply to that future flight. Not sure about your second question.

Yes -- you have to get the miles redeposited (so you are charged a redeposit fee) and then reapply to that future flight. Not sure about your second question.

Here is some of the language that is on the website, doesn't answer my original question, but does indicate "applicable" fees apply to changes / redeposits of miles for upgrades:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/awards/upgrade/mua.aspx
MileagePlus Upgrade Awards have no cash value except for applicable taxes, fees and surcharges. Any associated upgrade co-pays will be refunded upon award redeposit and applicable fees may apply. Request for refund of taxes should be sent to refund accounting.
If you cancel your MileagePlus Upgrade Award miles and co-pay may be refunded for the applicable redeposit fee.
Voluntary changes to your flight may require a new upgrade request.
In most cases, the MileagePlus Upgrade Award will be considered used if any segment of an itinerary is upgraded. However, for travel which includes segments in United BusinessFirst or United Global First, miles and co-pay will be re-deposited if all the United BusinessFirst or United Global First segments could not be upgraded. When applicable, these refunds will occur automatically 7 to 10 days after the trip.
Co-pay will be assessed at the time of upgrade request.
The government may collect additional taxes for travel in the front cabin.
Co-pay may not be applied to future travel and are subject to change without notice.

This does seem to nix (officially at least) applying a cash co-pay to a different trip if you cancel your first trip.

The above page links to an award fee page, the apparent implication being that you can use this chart for mileage upgrades on paid tickets as well as to award tickets:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/awards/travel/ticketing.aspx

Another data point:

UA Agent who has many years of experience (seemed to know the upgrade policy well) told me there is no redeposit fee for returning the miles used to upgrade a ticket, regardless of the reason for cancelling the upgrade.