I am in the process of booking a business class ticket from EWR to BRU. I would like to have the possibility to get a refund for the ticket on cancellation, at a fee, as my spouse is sometimes unable to travel. United offers me a flight in P class for $2,700 and a fully flexible ticket for $9,200, a very sizeable difference.

I am trying to find out if a P class ticket is refundable against a fee. I looked at the fare rules but find them completely incomprehensible. Does anyone have experience with those fare roles to help me understand what they mean?

This is what they say:

PENALTIES:
NOTE - -- HALF ROUNDTRIP FARE COMBINATION OF NON-REFUNDABLE / REFUNDABLE WITH A CANCELLATION PENALTY / FULLY REFUNDABLE - THE MOST RESTRICTIVE CANCELLATION PENALTY RULE APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE PRICING UNIT FOR WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET - -- NOTE - -- NON-REFUNDABLE APPLIES TO ADT/CHD/INF -- YR / YQ INTERNATIONAL SURCHARGE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED -- TAX/CHARGE - US / ZP / XF WILL NOT BE REFUNDED NON-REFUNDABLE ON NON-REFUNDABLE FARE TICKETS -- CANCELLATIONS ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW/ REFUND. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE. NOTE - -- A. EXCHANGE - WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET / CHANGE TO 1ST TICKETED FLIGHT COUPON -- FULL VALUE OF A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS PURCHASE OF MOST DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FARES/ EXCLUSIONS APPLY / TICKET PRICED AT -CURRENT- QUALIFYING FARE LEVELS UPON PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEE EQUAL TO CHANGE FEE CONTAINED WITHIN THIS RULE -- WHEN PASSENGER CANCELS A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKETED FLIGHT RESERVATIONS PRIOR TO THE TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME / THE TICKET VALIDITY FOR A WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET / TRAVEL MUST BEGIN WITHIN ONE YEAR OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE -- OTHERWISE THE TICKET HAS NO VALUE AFTER TICKETED DEPARTURE TIME -- IF APPLICABLE/ ANY DIFFERENECE IN FARE / SURCHARGE/ TAXES/ FEES/ CHARGES WILL BE APPLICABLE AT TIME OF EXCHANGE -- RESIDUAL VALUE // IF ANY // WILL BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NON-REFUNDABLE EMD VALID FOR TRAVEL ON UNITED AIRLINES -- THE NON-REFUNDABLE CANCELLATION AMOUNT OF THE TICKET BEING EXCHANGED REMAINS NON-REFUNDABLE AND CARRIED FORWARD IN THE ENDORSEMENT BOX OF THE NEW TICKET -- RESERVATIONS MUST BE CANCELLED BEFORE ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT OR TICKET HAS NO VALUE IF NO SHOW -- WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET / CHANGE TO 1ST TICKETED FLIGHT COUPON -- REPRICE USING CURRENT QUALIFYING FARES CHARGE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE EQUAL TO CHANGE FEE -- CHARGE ONLY ONE FEE / THE HIGHEST FEE / OF ONLY CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS -- 1. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM RESISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT 2. UA/LH/AC/LX/OS/SN FARES ARE USED -- WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE - -- RETURN RESIDUAL VALUE VIA EMD -- RESIDUAL VALUE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD FEE CHARGE FULL CHANGE FEE ADD COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE -- -- B. BOOKING CODE CHANGE PERMITTED -- WHEN A FARE IS INTRODUCED INTO THE MARKET OR A CURRENT FARE IS REDUCED OR BOOKING CODE BECOMES AVAILABLE / THE TICKETED PASSENGER MAY QUALIFY FOR ONE OF THE ABOVE OPTIONS. ALL PROVISIONS OF THE NEW AIR FARE MUST BE MET BEFORE DEPARTURE. NO CHANGE TO ORIGIN/DESTINATION/DATES/FLIGHTS --- ONLY BOOKING CODE CHANGE IS PERMITTED.--- -- AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE EQUAL TO THE CHANGE FEE WILL BE ASSESSED -- RESIDUAL VALUE /IF ANY / WILL BE RETURNED IN THE FORM OF A NON-REFUNDABLE EMD VALID FOR TRAVEL ON UNITED AIRLINES -- ONLY BOOKING CODE CHANGE PERMITTED / REPRICE USING QUALIFYING CURRENT FARES -- 1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS/FLIGHTS/DATES 2. UA FARES ARE USED 3. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE - -- RETURN RESIDUAL VALUE VIA EMD -- RESIDUAL VALUE MAY NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD FEE CHARGE FULL CHANGE FEE ADD-COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE -- CHANGES ANY TIME CHARGE USD 450.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION. WAIVED FOR SCHEDULE CHANGE. NOTE - -- -- CHANGE TO 1ST TICKET FLIGHT COUPON OR USE OF WHOLLY UNUSED TICKET - SEE CANCELLATION SECTION -- -- CHANGE TO OTHER THAN 1ST TKD FLIGHT COUPON -- TICKETED RESERVATIONS NOT BEING USED ARE TO BE CANCELLED PRIOR TO ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT OR TICKET HAS NO VALUE IF NO SHOW -- RETURN RESERVATIONS MAYBE SCHEDULED ANYTIME WITHIN TICKET VALIDITY -- TICKET VALIDITY OF A PARTIALLY USED TICKET / TRAVEL WILL BE VALID FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE ON WHICH TRANSPORTATION COMMENCES AT THE POINT OF ORIGIN AS DESIGNATED ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET OR TICKET HAS NO VALUE -- TICKET MUST BE REISSUED AT SAME TIME WHEN VOLUNTARY CHANGE IS CONFIRMED -- APPLY CAT19 PROVISIONS FOR INFANT WITHOUT A SEAT / INFANT WITH A SEAT / CHILD -- CHARGE ONLY ONE CHANGE FEE / THE HIGHEST CHANGE FEE / OF ONLY CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS -- IF THE ONLY FARE COMPONENT BEING CHANGED DOES NOT HAVE A CHANGE FEE // NO FEE WILL BE CHARGED -- CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES -- IF CHANGES ARE MADE TO OTHER THAN THE FIRST TICKETED FLIGHT / THE FARE LEVELS IN EFFECT AT TIME OF ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE WILL APPLY PROVIDED THE NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR ALL THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORIGINALLY TICKETED BOOKING CODE FARE - IGNORING ADVANCE RESERVATION /TICKETING REQUIREMENTS -- REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TICKETED FARE / KEEP THE FARE / SAME BOOKING CODE / SAME FARE BASIS CODE -- CHANGE TO OTHER THAN 1ST TKTD FLIGHT COUPON - PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- -- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON/ NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. UA/AC/LH/LX/OS/SN FARES ARE USED 4. ALL RULE AND SAME BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET IGNORING ADV RES-TKTG 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- KEEP THE FARE CHARGE FULL CHANGE FEE -- -- OR -- IF THE NEW ITINERARY QUALIFIES FOR THE ORIGINAL TICKETED BOOKING CODE FARE - BUT RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE DUE TO SEASONALITY / DAY OF WEEK TRAVEL / CHANGE TO FARE BREAK POINT - -- CHARGE CHANGE FEE OR HIGHEST FEE OF ONLY CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS -- RECALCULATION TO LOWER FARE VALUE IS NOT PERMITTED -- REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED // HISTORICAL FARES // -- WHEN CHANGE TO OTHER THAN 1ST TKTD FLIGHT COUPON PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON / CHANGE TO FARE BREAK POINTS PERMITTED 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. CARRIERS UA/AC/LH/LX/OS/SN FARES ARE USED 4. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 5. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE-- -- CHARGE FULL CHANGE FEE ADD-COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE -- -- OR -- IF CHANGE BY THE PASSENGER NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE ORIGINAL TICKETED BOOKING CODE FARE - DUE TO BOOKING CODE NOT AVAILABLE OR ORIGINAL FARE NO LONGER QUALIFIES DUE TO RULE RESTRCTIONS - FULL VALUE OF THE ORIGINAL TICKET MAY BE APPLIED TOWARDS EQUAL OR HIGHER QUALIFYING FARE USING FARES IN EFFECT ON THE ORIGINAL TICKET ISSUE DATE -- RECALCULATION TO LOWER FARE VALUE IS NOT PERMITTED -- FARE IS RECALCULATED FROM POINT OF ORIGIN / ANY DIFFERENCE IN FARE / TAXES/ FEES/ CHARGES AND CHANGE FEE CONTAINED WITHIN THIS RULE WILL BE APPLICABLE AT TIME OF CHANGE / REISSUE -- REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED // HISTORICAL FARES // -- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON / CHANGE TO FARE BREAK POINT PERMITTED 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. UA/AC/LH/LX/OS/SN FARES ARE USED 4. NEW TKT HAS - EQUAL OR HIGHER QUALIFYING FARE 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT -- WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN FARE DIFFERENCE - -- CHARGE FULL CHANGE FEE ADD-COLLECT FARE DIFFERENCE - IF APPLICABLE --

VOLUNTARY CHANGES:
IN THE EVENT OF CHANGES TO TICKETED FLIGHTS BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES CHARGE USD 450.00 OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING CURRENT FARES - ONLY BOOKING CODE CHANGES PERMITTED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. CHANGE IS ON/BEFORE DAY OF ORIGINAL SCHEDULED FLIGHT 4. UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 5. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE REFUND RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES CHARGE USD 450.00 OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT TODAY PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 2. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 3. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM REISSUE DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE REFUND RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT - REFUND VIA EMD ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES CHARGE USD 450.00 OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND ONLY REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE IF RESULTS IN VALID SOLUTION PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON/FARE BREAKS 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG 6. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES CHARGE USD 450.00 OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. ANY CARRIER NORMAL FARES WITH ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 4. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 5. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES CHARGE USD 450.00 OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND ONLY REPRICE USING CURRENTLY TKTD FARE IF RESULTS IN VALID SOLUTION PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO FARE BREAKS 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 4. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA FARES ARE USED 5. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 6. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET EXCEPT ADV RES-TKTG 7. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS. OR - AFTER DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY - APPLIES WITHIN TKT VALIDITY CERTAIN DOMESTIC REISSUE PROVISIONS MAY BE OVERRIDDEN BY THOSE OF UA INTERNATIONAL FARES CHARGE USD 450.00 OR HIGHEST FEE OF ALL CHANGED FARE COMPONENTS - CATEGORY 19 DISCOUNTS APPLY AND REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 4. AC/LH/LX/OS/SN/UA ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 5. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 6. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 7. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 8. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT OR - REPRICE USING FARES IN EFFECT WHEN TKT WAS ISSUED PROVIDED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE MET- 1. NO CHANGE TO 1ST FLIGHT COUPON 2. WHEN NO INTL COUPONS REMAIN - ALL NEW TRAVEL MUST BE DOMESTIC 3. FULLY FLOWN FARE NOT REPRICED TO FURTHER POINT 4. ANY CARRIER NORMAL FARES WITH ANY FARE TYPE EXCEPT EOU/ERU ARE USED 5. PUBLIC FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PUBLIC TARIFF. PRIVATE FARES ARE USED IF TICKETED FARE IS IN PRIVATE TARIFF 6. NEW TKT HAS EQUAL OR HIGHER VALUE THAN PREVIOUS TKT 7. ALL RULE AND BOOKING CODE PROVISIONS ARE MET 8. ADV RES IS MEASURED FROM ORIGINAL TKT DATE TO DEPARTURE OF PRICING UNIT WHEN CHANGE RESULTS IN LOWER FARE IGNORE RESIDUAL THEN ADD-COLLECT ENDORSEMENT BOX- HIGHER NON-REF AMT AND NEW ENDORSEMENTS.

VOLUNTARY REFUNDS:
REFER TO PENALTIES CATEGORY 16