Originally Posted by
Beerman92
No. For the ticket with the $300 charge to refund United will issue you a refund for the price you paid for the ticket less $300 if you cancel before you start your trip. For the ticket that is non-refundable United will let you cancel your trip and "hold" those funds for you to book a different ticket of equal or greater value. When you book that ticket with the funds United will charge you an additional fee equal to whatever the change fee is in the fare rules.
You can call United and have them book the whole itinerary in the refundable fare class and you won't be subject to more restrictive rules.
I took yet another look, and I think I understand now. $7 does buy "refundable ticket" as stated.
The $1395 fare buys the "mixed fare basis" ticket: WLX0ZUMG and WLX0ZUM3. $1402 fare trues up the fare basis to WLX0ZUMG for both segments. WLX0ZUMG is refundable with a $300 hit, whereas WLX0ZUM3 is non-refundable, but United will charge you a change fee ($250 in new money) and apply the rest in credit toward a future flight.
WLX0ZUM3 is actually preferable to me given that I'm flying every other week, but I can understand why someone might favor the cash refund less $300 alternative instead.
Thanks for the explanations.