Travel Tips Trip planning

How to cancel a United flight: step by step guide

Alexis Konovodoff

03.02.26

Read time 2 minutes

If your plans have changed and you need to cancel a United flight, here’s what to do. For a full refund on the original payment, you’ll have to cancel within 24 hours of booking at least a week before takeoff.

After that 24-hour window closes, your refund will be a travel credit, and the amount will depend on the ticket you bought. Let’s dive in.

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✈️ Key Takeaways
You can cancel a United flight on the My Trips page. You’ll get refunded with a travel credit in most cases. For a full refund on your original form of payment, make sure to cancel within 24 hours of booking at least 7 days before departure.

How to cancel a United flight - is it possible?

To cancel your United Airlines flight, go to the United website or open the United app.

From the My Trips page, select your reservation and click “Cancel flight”.¹

Can I get a full refund if I cancel my flight?

Your refund will depend on the ticket you booked and when you cancel relative to your departure and the time you purchased the ticket.

The only way to ensure a full refund on the original payment method is to cancel within 24 hours of booking your ticket, at least 7 days or more before departure.²

Other United flight cancellations will receive a refund in the form of a travel credit.

Basic Economy tickets *may *be eligible for a “partial travel credit” in the event of cancellation.³

What’s the United flight cancellation and refund policy?

The United cancel flight policy depends on the ticket you booked.

Most cancelled flights will be eligible for refunds in the form of travel credits.

Because they’re nonrefundable, Basic Economy tickets might not even be redeemable for travel credits in the event of cancellation.

Once you book your flight, you have 24 hours to cancel your ticket for a full refund on the original form of payment.

Does United have a 24 hour cancellation policy?

Yes. If you cancel within 24 hours of booking, you can get a complete refund for your ticket, including booking fees and other surcharges, on the original form of payment.

Otherwise, you’ll be in for a travel credit that will be full or partial depending on the ticket you booked.

United compensation for delays, cancellations, or schedule changes

If your United flight is delayed or cancelled, you have several options.⁴ These provisions apply if:

your domestic flight is delayed by more than three hours

your international flight is delayed by more than six hours

your flight is cancelled

United will waive change fees so you can rebook your ticket.

You’re also entitled to a full refund on the original form of payment if you choose to request one.

How to change your United flight

Here’s how to change your United flight.

Go to My Trips on the United website or in the app. Then select “Change flight” and follow instructions from there.

Depending on the ticket you booked, change fees may or may not apply. Fare differences probably will.¹

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Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information

Sources

United - Flight changes
United - 24-hour flexible booking policy
United - Basic Economy
United - Refund Policy

Sources checked 02/03/2026

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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