Apr 7, 2013, 4:03 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Economy Plus FAQs
related thread : UA Economy Plus (E+) - Questions/Worth It?/Experiences [2016 Consolidated]
Preferred seat refunds (changed flights, upgraded, purchased E+, ...)
Archive: Refunds for E+ / Preferred fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ...){Archive}
Related thread
New Corporate Preferred (upgrade tiebreaker) / new 'preferred' seating section
Refunds for Economy Plus fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ....) [Merged]
Preferred Seat Refunds
Can I get a refund for my Economy Plus purchase if I no longer want it on my trip?
No. Economy Plus purchases are nonrefundable unless the ticket is refunded or canceled prior to travel.If I buy Economy Plus seating, can I select a different Economy Plus seat prior to travel?
Yes. If the price of the new seat is equal to or less than the original purchase price then there will be no refund or additional charges. If the price of the new seat is greater than the price of the originally purchased seat, then the original price will be refunded and the new seat must be purchased in full.Will my Economy Plus purchase be refunded if I cancel my trip?
Yes. In the event of a ticket refund or cancellation, Economy Plus purchases will be automatically refunded.What will happen if I purchased Economy Plus seating but want to change my flights?
In the event of a voluntary change to a trip, Economy Plus purchases will be automatically refunded. If the ticket is partially used at the time of the change, only the value of the unused Economy Plus seating will be refunded.What happens to my Economy Plus purchase if I get upgraded?
In the event of an upgrade, with some exclusions, purchased Economy Plus seating for the upgraded segment(s) will be automatically refunded. Exclusions include Complimentary Premier Upgrades and cases where a customer is reaccommodated into a seat of similar or greater value due to an aircraft change or other operational issue.What happens if my itinerary changes due to a cancellation or schedule change?
In the event of any involuntary changes, such as rebooking due to a cancellation or schedule change, United will, if available, transfer the Economy Plus seating to your new flight(s) free of charge. If we are unable to accommodate you in Economy Plus, the Economy Plus purchase will be automatically refunded after flight departure. If you are re-accommodated on another airline per Uniteds policies, your purchase of Economy Plus seating for that portion of the itinerary will be automatically refunded.I purchased Economy Plus, but I didnt get to sit in an Economy Plus seat. Will I receive a refund?
Yes. If we are unable to accommodate you in Economy Plus, the Economy Plus purchase price will be automatically refunded after flight departure.What is the deadline to request a refund for my Economy Plus purchase?
For Economy Plus refunds that arent issued automatically, you must submit your request within 90 days of the later of the following two dates: i) the date when the fee was originally paid; or ii) the flight date.If we were unable to accommodate you in Economy Plus or a seat of similar or greater value, and you received a new boarding pass, then the refund for the Economy Plus purchase price will be issued automatically. If you were not issued a new boarding pass, please submit a request through our Refunds page by the deadline specified above.How long will it take to receive my Economy Plus refund?
Please allow up to seven business days from the date when the refund is issued for the activity to post to your credit card. If the refund does not post within one billing cycle, please contact your credit card company for information. For all other forms of payment, please allow up to 20 days for a refund to be processed. If you do not see a credit post within these time frames, please submit a refund request at united.com/refunds. All refunds are credited to the original form of payment used.Preferred seat refunds (changed flights, upgraded, purchased E+, ...)
Archive: Refunds for E+ / Preferred fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ...){Archive}
Related thread
New Corporate Preferred (upgrade tiebreaker) / new 'preferred' seating section
Refunds for Economy Plus fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ....) [Merged]
Preferred Seat Refunds
- Preferred seating purchases are nonrefundable unless the ticket is refunded or canceled prior to travel.
- In the event of a ticket refund or cancellation, preferred seating purchases will be automatically refunded.
- If you decide to change your flight, your preferred seating purchase will be automatically refunded. If the ticket is partially used at the time of the change, only the value of unused preferred seating will be refunded.
- In the event of any involuntary changes, such as rebooking due to a cancellation or schedule change, well transfer your preferred seating purchase to your new flight(s), if available, for no additional charge. If were unable to accommodate you in preferred seating, your preferred seating purchase will be automatically refunded after flight departure. If you are reaccommodated on another airline per Uniteds policies, your preferred seating purchase for that portion of your itinerary will be automatically refunded.
- For preferred seating refunds that arent issued automatically, you must submit your request within 90 days from whichever of the following dates occurred last: the date when the fee was originally paid or the flight date. If we were unable to accommodate you in a preferred seat or a seat of similar or greater value, and you received a new boarding pass, then the refund for the preferred seating purchase will be issued automatically. If you were not issued a new boarding pass, please submit a request through our Refunds page by the deadline specified above.
- Please allow up to seven business days from the date when the refund is issued for the activity to post to your credit card. If the refund does not post within one billing cycle, please contact your credit card company for information. For all other forms of payment, please allow up to 20 days for a refund to be processed. If you do not see a credit post within these time frames, please submit a refund request through our Refunds page. All refunds are credited to the original form of payment used.
Refunds for E+ / Preferred fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ...) [Merged]
Jan 13, 2021 | 6:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,736
Refunds for E+ / Preferred fees (upgrades, seat changes, cancellations, ...) [Merged]
Sorry to ask for confirmation but I read the verbiage on united website and I didn't think it meshed with the above.
If I buy a one way ticket for $130 and pay for Economy Plus for $70 at time of purchase and I cancel the flight will I get an automatic refund on my credit card for $70? ( I won't buy the economy plus this far out if all I will get is a travel voucher -- Good towards future united travel)
If I buy a one way ticket for $130 and pay for Economy Plus for $70 at time of purchase and I cancel the flight will I get an automatic refund on my credit card for $70? ( I won't buy the economy plus this far out if all I will get is a travel voucher -- Good towards future united travel)
Jan 13, 2021 | 7:08 pm
#2
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Sorry to ask for confirmation but I read the verbiage on united website and I didn't think it meshed with the above.
If I buy a one way ticket for $130 and pay for Economy Plus for $70 at time of purchase and I cancel the flight will I get an automatic refund on my credit card for $70? ....
If I buy a one way ticket for $130 and pay for Economy Plus for $70 at time of purchase and I cancel the flight will I get an automatic refund on my credit card for $70? ....
What the website is referring to is you can not cancel the E+ on its own and get a refund, you will need to cancel the flight or change to a different flight to get a refund.
Mar 3, 2021 | 9:11 am
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA/IAD
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Cancelling Economy Plus seat bundle
Quick question:
I had award mileage flights for the family to travel to Rome and after ticketing the award flight, paid the "bundle" price for Eco Plus seating in a separate transaction several days later.
I've just now cancelled those flights online (the miles were returned instantly) and receipt for the cancellation says the taxes/fees will be returned to the credit card on file. Do I need to call in for the Eco Plus bundle refund or will that automatically process as well?
TIA!
I had award mileage flights for the family to travel to Rome and after ticketing the award flight, paid the "bundle" price for Eco Plus seating in a separate transaction several days later.
I've just now cancelled those flights online (the miles were returned instantly) and receipt for the cancellation says the taxes/fees will be returned to the credit card on file. Do I need to call in for the Eco Plus bundle refund or will that automatically process as well?
TIA!
Mar 3, 2021 | 9:23 am
#4
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It has been reported that such fees are refunded on the date of travel.
Mar 3, 2021 | 9:59 am
#5
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Mar 5, 2021 | 7:50 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA - DCA/IAD
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I had award mileage flights for the family to travel to Rome and after ticketing the award flight, paid the "bundle" price for Eco Plus seating in a separate transaction several days later.
I've just now cancelled those flights online (the miles were returned instantly) and receipt for the cancellation says the taxes/fees will be returned to the credit card on file. Do I need to call in for the Eco Plus bundle refund or will that automatically process as well?
TIA!
I've just now cancelled those flights online (the miles were returned instantly) and receipt for the cancellation says the taxes/fees will be returned to the credit card on file. Do I need to call in for the Eco Plus bundle refund or will that automatically process as well?
TIA!
Four award tickets with EcoPlus seating bundles cancelled via the UA app on March 2. The Miles returned to my account immediately. The award ticket taxes/fees AND the seating bundles were refunded to the original credit cards as of today (3/5). When I originally booked, I used one CC for the flights taxes/fees and then another card later in the day (after the flights were already booked/confirmed) to buy the seat bundles. I made no calls to initiate the refund of the bundles. Credit where due... NICE JOB UA!
Mar 8, 2021 | 11:31 am
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2015
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You can call in and probably get an agent to just put you back in E+, or at the least initiate a refund and then pay for seats on the new equipment. You may soon get a refund automatically (see above), but don't count on it.
Jun 4, 2021 | 3:50 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,949
Can a Preferred Seating Purchase be Cancelled for a Credit?
A family member is booked on a flight in September - and the only seats available for selection for free are middle seats (the middle seats are free, the surrounding aisle and window seats cost extra.) [insert rant about the absurdity of free non-middle seats being unavailable three months before departure.]
I looked at the United website - and it says that the "preferred seating" charges are not refundable. However, it says nothing about cancelling the transaction and receiving a credit rather than a refund - and the airlines are generally pretty clear these days in distinguishing between credits and refunds.
So, the questions:
I looked at the United website - and it says that the "preferred seating" charges are not refundable. However, it says nothing about cancelling the transaction and receiving a credit rather than a refund - and the airlines are generally pretty clear these days in distinguishing between credits and refunds.
So, the questions:
- Can purchased preferred seats be cancelled and receive a credit?
- If not, is the inability to receive a credit (as opposed to a refund) documented on united.com?
Jun 4, 2021 | 3:58 pm
#10
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To receive a refund, the traveller will need to cancel / change the flight. If they stay on the same flight (just changed their mind) there is no refund. This is the same for E+ access fees and upgrades to a premium cabin. Refunded only if the particular flight is cancelled (or you change to a different flight).
Generally speaking front 1/3 is E+, the middle 1/3 is preferred (and free at check in) and the back 1/3 has no fee. Many flights are filling up. Note Basic Economy flyers don't get early seat assignments.
Generally speaking front 1/3 is E+, the middle 1/3 is preferred (and free at check in) and the back 1/3 has no fee. Many flights are filling up. Note Basic Economy flyers don't get early seat assignments.
Jun 4, 2021 | 4:10 pm
#11
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I can't point to any specific bit of documentation on this, but preferred seating charges fall under a completely different payment scheme than tickets, where OP points out that airlines are often letting people have credit for things that aren't refundable.
This is intentional, BTW, not an oversight by the airline -- they know that if they allow people to request credit for a preferred seating fee, people will pay the fee to reserve the seat and then cancel just prior to check-in.
Jun 4, 2021 | 4:44 pm
#12
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Jun 4, 2021 | 4:47 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,949
To receive a refund, the traveller will need to cancel / change the flight. If they stay on the same flight (just changed their mind) there is no refund. This is the same for E+ access fees and upgrades to a premium cabin. Refunded only if the particular flight is cancelled (or you change to a different flight).
.
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Jun 4, 2021 | 4:52 pm
#14
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A Premier member might be able to do this with same-day changes, but Premier members already have access to preferred seating for no charge.
Jun 4, 2021 | 5:29 pm
#15
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To take a step back, what is the basis for this question? Why the desire to undo the purchase of the preferred seating? What is the goal?