Sep 14, 2016, 10:42 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
During the COVID period, change fees are waived for many tickets
Sept 2020 - Change Fees Are Gone For Good
UA's definitions -- in red added editorial comments
*Most change fees have been eliminated
Refundability
o Some tickets are refundable but with a change / cancellation fee
o In the fare rules, words like "CHANGES PERMITTED" or "CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED" indicate refundability
Note: For a ticket with multiple segments and different fares classes / fare rules, the most restrictive applies to the entire ticket. So a single non-refundable segment makes the entire ticket non-refundable.
related thread -- How to book a refundable ticket on UA
Sept 2020 - Change Fees Are Gone For Good
There won’t be any change fees if:
You’re traveling:
You’re traveling:
- Within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico
- Between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean
- To other international destinations from the U.S.
- Economy
- Economy Plus®
- United First®
- United Business®*
- United Premium PlusSM*
Basic Economy (most restricted) ---- Our most restricted fare:Seat assigned prior to boarding
No group or family seating
No carry-on bag, just a personal item
Earn award miles only, no Premier® qualifying credit
Upgrades and Economy Plus® are not available
No refunds or changes
Economy ---- Our standard Economy fare:Seat selection at booking, if seats are available
Enjoy other options for customizing your travel
Non-refundable -- fee to change*, credit toward future flight
Economy (flexible) ---- Our flexible Economy fare:Refundable fare; cancellation and change* fees may apply
Seat selection at booking, if seats are available
Enjoy other options for customizing your travel
Economy (unrestricted) ---- Our unrestricted Economy fare:Fully refundable fare; no cancellation or change fees
Seat selection at booking, if seats are available
Enjoy other options for customizing your travel
First (lowest) ---- Our lowest fare in First:Personalized inflight service
More spacious seating and extra legroom
Expanded dining experience
Non-refundable -- a fee to change*, credit toward a future flight
First (unrestricted) ---- Our unrestricted First fare:Fully refundable fare; no cancellation or change fees.
Personalized inflight service
More spacious seating and extra legroom
Expanded dining experience
No group or family seating
No carry-on bag, just a personal item
Earn award miles only, no Premier® qualifying credit
Upgrades and Economy Plus® are not available
No refunds or changes
Economy ---- Our standard Economy fare:Seat selection at booking, if seats are available
Enjoy other options for customizing your travel
Non-refundable -- fee to change*, credit toward future flight
Economy (flexible) ---- Our flexible Economy fare:Refundable fare; cancellation and change* fees may apply
Seat selection at booking, if seats are available
Enjoy other options for customizing your travel
Economy (unrestricted) ---- Our unrestricted Economy fare:Fully refundable fare; no cancellation or change fees
Seat selection at booking, if seats are available
Enjoy other options for customizing your travel
First (lowest) ---- Our lowest fare in First:Personalized inflight service
More spacious seating and extra legroom
Expanded dining experience
Non-refundable -- a fee to change*, credit toward a future flight
First (unrestricted) ---- Our unrestricted First fare:Fully refundable fare; no cancellation or change fees.
Personalized inflight service
More spacious seating and extra legroom
Expanded dining experience
Refundability
o Some tickets are refundable but with a change / cancellation fee
o In the fare rules, words like "CHANGES PERMITTED" or "CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED" indicate refundability
Note: For a ticket with multiple segments and different fares classes / fare rules, the most restrictive applies to the entire ticket. So a single non-refundable segment makes the entire ticket non-refundable.
related thread -- How to book a refundable ticket on UA
Flex vs Unrestricted / Fully Refundable fare. What is/is not refundable, translation?
Apr 22, 2014, 1:03 pm
#16
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Nothing ever replaces reading the exact fare rules for the specific ticket which you are considering. These can change within fare groups and often by country of issue.
Unrestricted really does mean unrestricted. Flexible will mean something short of that. Perhaps you can make a change, but not a refund. Sometimes it means that you can obtain a refund, but there is a fee or a deadline by which the cancellation musy be made.
Unrestricted really does mean unrestricted. Flexible will mean something short of that. Perhaps you can make a change, but not a refund. Sometimes it means that you can obtain a refund, but there is a fee or a deadline by which the cancellation musy be made.
Apr 23, 2014, 10:31 am
#17
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That's how I thought it went -- flexible you can change and all that jazz, but you can't cancel for a full refund, whereas unrestricted (to me) means fully refundable, etc. with no catches/fees, hence the often-large price differential.
Apr 23, 2014, 11:02 am
#18
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Location: Bay Area, CA
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Posts: 35,068
They do require advance purchase, so late changes can result in an add collect.
Apr 23, 2014, 11:08 am
#19
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: DCA
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Thanks for the correction! Makes sense now that you mention it that a flex fare is refundable but unrestricted would add the walk-up/last-minute change or cancellation fee waiver.
Apr 23, 2014, 11:11 am
#20
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They both typically have no change fee, but last minute, if you're changing a 21-day advance flexible ticket, you won't be at 21 days out so you will no longer qualify for your original fare. So while there would be no change fee, there likely would be an increase in fare to charge.
Apr 23, 2014, 11:13 am
#21
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They both typically have no change fee, but last minute, if you're changing a 21-day advance flexible ticket, you won't be at 21 days out so you will no longer qualify for your original fare. So while there would be no change fee, there likely would be an increase in fare to charge.
Apr 23, 2014, 11:54 am
#22
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Please, please, please read the specific fare rules for the specific ticket you are considering. All of this is general advice about how things usually work. But, that doesn't help you if it isn't.
Apr 23, 2014, 12:56 pm
#23
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Every fare sold as a "Flexible fare" on united.com is always refundable, so fees aren't really an issue, as you can refund it and buy something else, if the fare bucket you want is available. UA will try to upsell you to an "Unrestricted fare" over your "Flexible fare", but generally it doesn't make sense. You can pay the difference later if you need to switch, rather than paying in advance for no reason.
May 1, 2014, 10:30 pm
#24
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern New Mexico
Programs: UA Premier Gold; SWA Rapid Rewards
Posts: 39
Is Y or B fare class fully refundable?
If I purchase a full fare economy ticket (Y or B fare class) for travel between ABQ and LHR, is that ticket fully refundable? If so, for how long after purchase is it refundable?
Tried searching the UA site to no avail. Thanks for your help.
Tried searching the UA site to no avail. Thanks for your help.
May 1, 2014, 10:40 pm
#25
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The fares I just looked at, the B had a $300 cancellation fee, the Y was fully refundable.
You would have to cancel before departure. No-shows are never a good idea on any fare.
You can always check the fare rules by doing a dummy booking and clicking the link for "View Rules and Restrictions."
May 1, 2014, 10:48 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Northern New Mexico
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Posts: 39
It depends.
The fares I just looked at, the B had a $300 cancellation fee, the Y was fully refundable.
You would have to cancel before departure. No-shows are never a good idea on any fare.
You can always check the fare rules by doing a dummy booking and clicking the link for "View Rules and Restrictions."
The fares I just looked at, the B had a $300 cancellation fee, the Y was fully refundable.
You would have to cancel before departure. No-shows are never a good idea on any fare.
You can always check the fare rules by doing a dummy booking and clicking the link for "View Rules and Restrictions."
May 1, 2014, 11:49 pm
#27
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Most B and M fares are refundable, but some aren't. You can search for refundable fares on united.com, and you can search for specific fare classes, but there's no easy way to do both (e.g., search only for refundable M fares). You may have to check the fare rules. The final purchase page (after choosing seats, etc.) will say "This fare is refundable" before you submit payment.
UA does give refunds on refundable fares even when I no-show (without checking in). But obviously it's better to cancel before departure if you can.
UA does give refunds on refundable fares even when I no-show (without checking in). But obviously it's better to cancel before departure if you can.
May 2, 2014, 12:08 am
#28
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If you have a true refundable fare you can definitely no-show and collect your refund later. I have done this numerous times, with and without checking in, and never had a problem.
It's a great way to self manage IRROPS.
It's a great way to self manage IRROPS.
May 2, 2014, 12:23 am
#29
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I just wouldn't advise it. Who knows when some uptight agent decides to enforce the fare rule which says it's only refundable prior to scheduled departure.
May 2, 2014, 12:31 am
#30
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AFTER DEPARTURE
CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED.
Still, this is ambiguous enough that I wouldn't want to have to argue about it.