Last edit by: WineCountryUA
related thread -- Deadline to cancel/redeposit award ticket...?
You can be marked as a non-show at T-15 minutes (domestic) and T-30 minutes (international) and earlier a handful of airports (T-60). This will certainly happen when the flight is "closed" which can be soon afterward. Note this assumes you have checked in. Check-in deadline is 30-45 minutes domestic and 60 minutes international, again there are a few even earlier exceptions.
Having checked in does not impact the ability to cancel but it may provide a few more minutes
You can be marked as a non-show at T-15 minutes (domestic) and T-30 minutes (international) and earlier a handful of airports (T-60). This will certainly happen when the flight is "closed" which can be soon afterward. Note this assumes you have checked in. Check-in deadline is 30-45 minutes domestic and 60 minutes international, again there are a few even earlier exceptions.
Having checked in does not impact the ability to cancel but it may provide a few more minutes
Minimum latest time to cancel (cash) UA ticket for credit / refund?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA Gold, SPG Gold, MR Gold, AA Plat Pro, HH Gold
Posts: 154
Minimum latest time to cancel (cash) UA ticket for credit / refund?
I may need to cancel a flight tomorrow morning at the last minute and I may need to cancel it after I check in. Is there any difference that matters if I cancel before versus after check in? I realize that UA will need to un-check me if I cancel after check in.
#2
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
None whatsoever. I do it frequently. Just be ceratain to do it before the flight is scheduled to depart.
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 643
My own experience
In my experience, if I cancel a ticket prior to checking in, I'm able to do so online (website). However, if I've already checked in and have a BP, then I've never been able to cancel it online, and have always (N=6-8) needed to call it in. It's not a big deal, but I wanted to alert you to the subtlety that I've personally experienced. I have no doubt that others' experiences with UA.com in this scenario, may not be the same as mine.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,018
There's a un-check-in feature now:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...available.html
#5
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
The only thing that matters are the fare rules. For restricted tickets, those generally require cancellation prior to scheduled departure in order to generate a credit of any kind. Otherwise, no difference.
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K2MM, HH Diamond (LT), Mar Plat, Avis First
Posts: 122
Able to cancel a flight online after check-in. I was standby on one flight (direct) leaving 30 minutes before another flight (checked-in) leaving 30 minutes later, but would get me in 6 hrs later because it had a layover. Last person to board on the standby flight, and cancel the later flight via online, just as the door was closing.
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Central New Jersey
Programs: UA Gold, SPG Gold, MR Gold, AA Plat Pro, HH Gold
Posts: 154
Thanks all for the tips.
One more question.
The ticket was purchased for my by a relative who is not a MP member. If I cancel how do they get to use the credit in the future? I'm familiar with the need to bring "new money" for the change fees.
Can they use the credit for flights for someone else (not me)?
One more question.
The ticket was purchased for my by a relative who is not a MP member. If I cancel how do they get to use the credit in the future? I'm familiar with the need to bring "new money" for the change fees.
Can they use the credit for flights for someone else (not me)?
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Thanks all for the tips.
One more question.
The ticket was purchased for my by a relative who is not a MP member. If I cancel how do they get to use the credit in the future? I'm familiar with the need to bring "new money" for the change fees.
Can they use the credit for flights for someone else (not me)?
One more question.
The ticket was purchased for my by a relative who is not a MP member. If I cancel how do they get to use the credit in the future? I'm familiar with the need to bring "new money" for the change fees.
Can they use the credit for flights for someone else (not me)?
#9
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: LAX
Programs: UA*G
Posts: 17
Minimum latest time to cancel (cash) UA ticket for credit?
Oddly I cannot find the answer to this: I have a UA ticket tomorrow evening (economy K) I most likely need to cancel and I'd like to get the amount as a credit (minus the 200$) the agent said "a few hours" before departure when I called to ask. Anyone know a specific number of hours before?
thank you!
thank you!
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Any time prior to the coupon being voided when you are offloaded from the flight. I don't have a great opinion on how long you want as a safety margin to make sure the cancellation processes before departure, but it's a minimum of 15 minutes (domestic) or 30 minutes (international) if you have checked in.
#11
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,846
Oddly I cannot find the answer to this: I have a UA ticket tomorrow evening (economy K) I most likely need to cancel and I'd like to get the amount as a credit (minus the 200$) the agent said "a few hours" before departure when I called to ask. Anyone know a specific number of hours before?
thank you!
thank you!
Allow some time for a "problem" -- you have an issue log on to united.com or a delay getting a phone agent or ....
#12
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: DCA
Programs: UA 1K; *G and *A Top 1000; HHonors Diamond; *$ Gold; Global Entry
Posts: 2,272
Oddly I cannot find the answer to this: I have a UA ticket tomorrow evening (economy K) I most likely need to cancel and I'd like to get the amount as a credit (minus the 200$) the agent said "a few hours" before departure when I called to ask. Anyone know a specific number of hours before?
thank you!
thank you!
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Strictly speaking, you are OK if you cancel prior to the GA closing the flight, which is 10-15 minutes prior to departure. But I wouldn't push that close -- not under 30 minutes, at least 60 minutes would be better.
Allow some time for a "problem" -- you have an issue log on to united.com or a delay getting a phone agent or ....
Allow some time for a "problem" -- you have an issue log on to united.com or a delay getting a phone agent or ....
That said, I agree not to cut it until the last minute..things (like life) happens and can interrupt a perfectally good intention to cancel right before the bell (so to speak)
i actually did this once pretty late, a few years ago. Was supposed to go to YYZ, but found out a day or two before I wasn’t going to go anymore. I was flying a connection to ORD, wife was on that same connection to ORD but was going out to California. Also noticed the ORD flight was booked ‘full’. So I ended up using the BP to go to the gate so i could see the wife off, but was also hoping I could VDB. They never ended up needing a volunteer, and so while the flight was still boarding, I called res and canceled. As an aside and the irony of travel sometime, shortly after I canceled, my YYZ flight started significantly delaying, and in another hour or so, was outright canceled. So had I actually boarded the flight and gone out to ORD, I could have just claimed trip in vein. But such is life.
#14
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: AA,UAL Gold,AS,DL,MRD PP
Posts: 138
Latest cancellation time
i have a reservation tomorrow out of HNL. It is the return portion of a RT ticket. The ticket is non refundable. What is the latestt I can cancel and retain the funds (change fee of course will apply)
still hoping for outside chance of flight cancelled or delayed causing missed connection so that I can get a refund, but I know it is very unlikely.
still hoping for outside chance of flight cancelled or delayed causing missed connection so that I can get a refund, but I know it is very unlikely.
Last edited by wvactions; Feb 16, 2019 at 2:47 pm
#15
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,846
You can be marked as a no-show if not available to board at T-15 minutes (domestic)
However, I would not let it go that late, a hour or two is probably safe.