Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Flew part of an award RT trip, but need to cancel the return, can I get a refund of the unused miles?
No
You may still be able to use the miles by "changing" the return portion
-- Any changes must be consistent with award rules for the original purchase
-- Must be flown within 1 year of the original purchase
No
You can also book a One-Way Award if you wish to travel one way. If you redeem a roundtrip award and only travel one-way, the unused portion of the award will be forfeited.
-- Any changes must be consistent with award rules for the original purchase
-- Must be flown within 1 year of the original purchase
Canceling/refunding return portion on award RT ticket
#136
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
I have a RT United award for:
CGK - DFW
MSY - BUR (excursionist perk)
LAX - NRT - CGK originally booked NH175 and NH835
I got a flight cancellation for the LAX-NRT leg as NH175 will no longer be flying. United automatically re-booked me on NH 125 arriving HND but it arrives after NH835 is scheduled to depart! A United rep called me telling me that I'm eligible for a free change due to my cancelled flight.
As I'm not 100% sure of this August 2020 trip right now, my plan is to wait until the last minute as this change qualifies me for a free cancellation.
Will I be able to cancel the MSY-BUR and LAX-CGK portions but keeping the CGK-DFW portion intact in the last minute?
If I cancel the return portion of the itinerary before flying CGK-DFW, will United cancel the whole itinerary, refund me the 80K miles then re-book me for CGK-DFW or will they just simply cancel the return and refund 40K miles?
CGK - DFW
MSY - BUR (excursionist perk)
LAX - NRT - CGK originally booked NH175 and NH835
I got a flight cancellation for the LAX-NRT leg as NH175 will no longer be flying. United automatically re-booked me on NH 125 arriving HND but it arrives after NH835 is scheduled to depart! A United rep called me telling me that I'm eligible for a free change due to my cancelled flight.
As I'm not 100% sure of this August 2020 trip right now, my plan is to wait until the last minute as this change qualifies me for a free cancellation.
Will I be able to cancel the MSY-BUR and LAX-CGK portions but keeping the CGK-DFW portion intact in the last minute?
If I cancel the return portion of the itinerary before flying CGK-DFW, will United cancel the whole itinerary, refund me the 80K miles then re-book me for CGK-DFW or will they just simply cancel the return and refund 40K miles?
#137
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,350
Will I be able to cancel the MSY-BUR and LAX-CGK portions but keeping the CGK-DFW portion intact in the last minute?
If I cancel the return portion of the itinerary before flying CGK-DFW, will United cancel the whole itinerary, refund me the 80K miles then re-book me for CGK-DFW or will they just simply cancel the return and refund 40K miles?
If I cancel the return portion of the itinerary before flying CGK-DFW, will United cancel the whole itinerary, refund me the 80K miles then re-book me for CGK-DFW or will they just simply cancel the return and refund 40K miles?
However, note that you’re taking a risk with this approach. UA can’t force NH to open award space on any of their flights, so if they run out of award space from Tokyo to Jakarta, you may have a hard time resurrecting the ticket if it turns out that you do want to fly it.
#138
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 1,066
Because this is an involuntary change, the rules against refunding a return award ticket shouldn’t apply, and you should be able to get them to cancel the excursionist perk and return flight and return half the mileage.
However, note that you’re taking a risk with this approach. UA can’t force NH to open award space on any of their flights, so if they run out of award space from Tokyo to Jakarta, you may have a hard time resurrecting the ticket if it turns out that you do want to fly it.
However, note that you’re taking a risk with this approach. UA can’t force NH to open award space on any of their flights, so if they run out of award space from Tokyo to Jakarta, you may have a hard time resurrecting the ticket if it turns out that you do want to fly it.
#139
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 488
United Award Roundtrip
What would happen if I take outbound flight but decided not to take inbound flight? Do I forfeit miles or do I get miles back if I pay fee?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 28, 2019 at 5:35 pm Reason: moved to consolidated thread
#140
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 20,987
#142
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,761
You can repurposed the return for a later date but it needs to be within the fare rules of the original ticket -- it may not be possible to change the award regions
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 28, 2019 at 5:38 pm Reason: option
#143
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: UA AU (ex 10+ year 1k) 1.5MM, AS Newbie, HH ex Dia
Posts: 337
I'll report back on whether this is true, if I get the opportunity (fingers crossed that the flyer is up for another transcon).
Most important lesson: buy awards as one ways
#144
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,350
According to the 1K agent I spoke with today, there is a further restriction that the ticket must be in the same direction, not just same regions. The return ticket in question was West Coast US to East Coast US, and the agent said it had to be used in that direction.
I've actually had a ticket A-B (South Asia), C-D (Excursionist Perk, North America), E-A (South Asia), where, after flying A-B and C-D, I had to change E-A to A-B. The very same two cities I started with, going from origin to destination. I was a little nervous that the agent would refuse to help me since my ticket was obviously not in the spirit of the Excursionist Perk, but she didn't bring it up and I was able to make the change.
#145
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,263
If I book a RT award ticked, fly the outbound leg, can I cancel the return? I tried on the website both before and after the outbound and got an error. I called after the outbound and they said I cant get a redeposit because I use part of it already (but hey can still cancel it and allow me a year to use it)
In the end, because there was a previous schedule change on the return flight, he made an "exception" for me
In the end, because there was a previous schedule change on the return flight, he made an "exception" for me
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 4, 2020 at 11:46 am Reason: moved to exisiting thread
#146
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,350
An involuntary cancellation does allow you to get a redeposit that a voluntary cancellation would not.
#147
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,761
If you redeem a roundtrip award and only travel one-way, the unused portion of the award will be forfeited.
#148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 14,990
I'd give this basic rule of thumb for making purchases In a no-change-fee, no-residual-value world (so, BE excluded):
1. If either the round-trip ticket or two one-ways are substantially cheaper, buy that. (The latter is very rare for domestic travel but happens sometimes on short-haul international travel)
2. If two one-ways and a round-trip ticket are about the same price:
A. If you are more likely to cancel the entire trip than move either leg, and you fly UA several times per year, buy two one-ways (breaks the FFC into smaller chunks).
B. If you are more likely to move the outbound than the return, buy two one-ways (with a round-trip, the return leg would be re-priced when you changed the outbound)
C. Otherwise, buy a round-trip.
Hope this helps.
1. If either the round-trip ticket or two one-ways are substantially cheaper, buy that. (The latter is very rare for domestic travel but happens sometimes on short-haul international travel)
2. If two one-ways and a round-trip ticket are about the same price:
A. If you are more likely to cancel the entire trip than move either leg, and you fly UA several times per year, buy two one-ways (breaks the FFC into smaller chunks).
B. If you are more likely to move the outbound than the return, buy two one-ways (with a round-trip, the return leg would be re-priced when you changed the outbound)
C. Otherwise, buy a round-trip.
Hope this helps.
This timeless advice about paid tickets would seem to apply differently to MileagePlus award redemptions.
Last edited by SPN Lifer; Sep 4, 2020 at 12:23 pm
#149
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 518
In some cases, you can recover some miles by changing the return to a short segment. For example, changing an RT transatlantic return to an intra-Europe segment and then abandoning that segment. It depends on the fare rule, the availability, and the value of recovered miles vs. the change fees.
#150
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,350
- If you're taking advantage of the Excursionist Perk, book a round-trip
- If you are not subject to redeposit fees (GS/1K) or expect to have your plans solidified more than 30 days prior to travel, book one-ways
- If you are traveling in a no-change-fee zone (USA), book one-ways
- If refunding only one leg is a possibility, book one-ways.
- If, within 30 days of departure, you are more likely to want a full redeposit / change both legs than you are to change either leg individually, book a round-trip
- Otherwise, book one-ways.