The fare is changeable but not always refundable. The "restrictions do not apply" is misleading on the United website - it indicates cat16 is blank, not that [the ticket] explicitly does not impose restrictions.
Code:
WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN
ADD-COLLECT
This reads as no change fee, but you cannot get your money back by reissuing with a cheaper fare basis.
Also, here is cat16 for
Y16 (same fare with plating restriction), which was presumably intended to apply to
YCN16 as well. This is presumably the fare available online. Note the bolded parts.
Code:
CANCELLATIONS
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHARGE 5 PERCENT FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
AFTER DEPARTURE
CHARGE 10 PERCENT FOR CANCEL/REFUND.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
AFTER DEPARTURE REFUND FOR UNUSED SECTOR
---------------
CANCELLATIONS RULES APPLY BY FARE COMPONENT.
CHILD DISCOUNTS APPLY.
INFANT FREE OF CHARGE.
WHEN COMBINING WITH DIFFERENT CANCELLATION FEES.
APPLY THE HIGHEST ONE.
-------------------------------
WHEN COMBINING A REFUNDABLE TICKET WITH A NON
REFUNDABLE TICKET PROVISIONS WILL APPLY AS FOLLOWS
-THE AMOUNT PAID ON THE REFUNDABLE FARE COMPONENT
WILL BE REFUNDED UPON PAYMENT OF THE PENALTY
AMOUNT IF APPLICABLE.
-THE AMOUNT PAID ON THE NON REFUNDABLE FARE
COMPONENT WILL NOT BE REFUNDED.
--------------------------------
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF FARE COMPONENT-
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OF FAMILY MEMBER.
DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
REFUND MUST BE MADE WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM
TICKETING DATE.
--------------------------------
AFTER DEPARTURE OF FARE COMPONENT-
ONCE TRAVEL HAS COMMENCED REFUND CALCULATED AS
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE FARE PAID AND THE
APPLICABLE VALID FARE FOR THE SECTORS USDED USING
HISTORICAL FARES IN EFFECT AT ORIGINAL TICKET
DATE PLUS CANCELLATION FEE.
IF THERE IS NO APPLICABLE FARE FOR THE SECTORS
USED.USE THE NEXT HIGHER BOOKING CODE ON SUCH
SECTOR TO CALCULATE THE DIFFERENCE.
REFUND OF UNUSED FEES AND TAXES PERMITTED.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY.REFUND MUST BE MADE
WITHIN 12 MONTHS FROM TRAVEL COMMENCING DATE.
--------------------------------------------------
CHANGES
BEFORE DEPARTURE
CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
AFTER DEPARTURE
CHARGE 5 PERCENT FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
NOTE -
AFTER DEPARTURE CHARGE FOR UNUSED SECTOR .
--------------
BEFORE DEPARTURE OF FARE COMPONENT-
THE NEW TICKETS BASE FARE
AMOUNT MUST BE EQUAL TO OR HIGHER THAN THE
PREVIOUS TICKETS BASE FARE AMOUNT.
---------------
CHILD DISCOUNTS APPLY.
INFANT FREE OF CHARGE.
---------------
CHARGE DIFFERENCE IN FARE PLUS CHANGE FEE IF ANY.
---------------
IF THE NEW BASE FARE IS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS
BASE FARE.IGNORE ANY RESIDUAL AMOUNT AND NO
REFUND PERMITTED.CHARGE CHANGE FEE IF ANY.
---------------
APPLY THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE
COMPONENTS WITHIN THE JOURNEY.
---------------
CHANGE FEE IS SUBJECT TO EACH CHANGE TRANSACTION.
---------------
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
---------------
CHANGES MUST BE WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY.
--------------------------------------------------
AFTER DEPARTURE OF FARE COMPONENT-
THE NEW TICKETS BASE FARE AMOUNT MUST BE EQUAL TO
OR HIGHER THAN THE PREVIOUS TICKETS BASE FARE
AMOUNT.
---------------
CHILD DISCOUNTS APPLY.
INFANT FREE OF CHARGE.
---------------
CHARGE DIFFERENCE IN FARE PLUS CHANGE FEE IF ANY.
---------------
IF THE NEW BASE FARE IS LOWER THAN THE PREVIOUS
BASE FARE.IGNORE ANY RESIDUAL AMOUNT AND NO
REFUND PERMITTED.CHARGE CHANGE FEE IF ANY.
---------------
APPLY THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE
COMPONENTS WITHIN THE JOURNEY.
---------------
CHANGE FEE IS SUBJECT TO EACH CHANGE TRANSACTION.
---------------
WAIVED FOR DEATH OF PASSENGER OR FAMILY MEMBER.
DEATH CERTIFICATE REQUIRED.
---------------
CHANGES MUST BE WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY.
--------------------------------------------------