I booked an award ticket AAA (European city)-BBB (European city)-CCC (US city)-DDD (US city) with United. There was a schedule change and I chatted with the agent to change my ticket to AAA (European city)-BBB (European city)-DDD (US city) for free. Now that the layover in the US is gone, I shouldn't have to pay the $5.6 US 911 security fee. I asked the agent and they said I needed to submit a refund request online, but it seems like I can only complete one after the trip. Is it possible to get the $5.6 fee back now? And what's the chance of getting the refund back after the trip instead?
Post trip is the standard process, as there may be further changes, UA prefers to handle a single trip just once.
Can you get it earlier, maybe but it will take some effort, as the standard response will be to wait. As this would have to be escalated to accomplish, might be best to wait. You have gotten a better routing.