United lets you cancel most tickets up to 24 hours before departure, but the refund you get depends on the ticket type and when you booked

If you booked a refundable ticket, you can cancel anytime before your flight departs and receive your money back to your original payment method. If you booked a non-refundable Basic Economy, Main Cabin, or Premium Plus ticket, you can still cancel up to 24 hours before departure — but instead of a refund, you'll receive a travel credit good for one year from your original booking date. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not allowed; you must contact United directly if you need to change or cancel a flight that leaves within 24 hours.

The 24-hour window is measured from the time you booked, not from the time your flight departs. So if you booked on a Monday at 2 p.m. and your flight leaves on Wednesday at 10 a.m., you have until Tuesday at 2 p.m. to cancel and receive a refund (if your ticket is refundable) or a travel credit (if it is not). After that point, you cannot cancel online or through the app — you must call United at 1-800-864-8331.

Key Takeaways

  • Refundable tickets can be cancelled anytime before departure and return your money to your original payment method.
  • Non-refundable tickets can be cancelled up to 24 hours after booking, but you receive a travel credit instead of a refund.
  • The 24-hour cancellation window is measured from your booking time, not your flight departure time.
  • Cancellations within 24 hours of departure require a phone call to United; you cannot cancel online.
  • Travel credits from non-refundable tickets expire one year from the original booking date.

The difference between refundable and non-refundable tickets

Refundable tickets are typically purchased at a higher price and include the right to a full cash refund if you cancel before departure. These are usually United First Class, Business Class, or premium economy fares. You can cancel a refundable ticket at any time — even 10 minutes before your flight — and the money goes back to your credit card or bank account.

Non-refundable tickets are the standard fares most people buy: Basic Economy, Main Cabin, and Premium Plus. When you cancel a non-refundable ticket within 24 hours of booking, you do not lose the money — you receive a travel credit instead. That credit can be used for any future United flight for one year from the date you originally booked. If you cancel after the 24-hour window closes, you forfeit the ticket entirely and receive nothing.

To check whether your ticket is refundable, log into your United account, find your reservation, and look for the word "Refundable" or "Non-refundable" next to the fare type. You can also call United at 1-800-864-8331 and provide your confirmation number.

How to cancel online or through the app

If your cancellation falls within the 24-hour window from booking, you can cancel yourself without calling. Go to United.com, click "Manage My Booking," and enter your confirmation number and last name. Select the flight you want to cancel, choose "Cancel Flight," and confirm. The system will show you whether you will receive a refund or a travel credit before you complete the cancellation.

The same process works in the United app: tap the menu, select "Manage Booking," enter your details, and follow the prompts to cancel. You will receive a confirmation email within minutes. If your ticket is refundable, the refund typically appears in your account within 7 to 10 business days. If your ticket is non-refundable, the travel credit is available when ready in your account and can be used to book a new flight right away.

If you do not see a "Cancel Flight" option in your account, it means you are past the 24-hour window or your flight departs within 24 hours. In that case, you must call United.

Cancelling within 24 hours of departure

United does not allow online cancellations for flights departing within 24 hours. You must call 1-800-864-8331 and speak to a representative. Have your confirmation number and the name on the ticket ready. The representative will ask why you are cancelling and will process the cancellation over the phone.

If your ticket is refundable, you will receive a refund. If your ticket is non-refundable, you will receive a travel credit. The representative cannot override the ticket type — the refund or credit policy is determined by the fare you purchased, not by the reason you are cancelling. Wait times can be long during peak travel hours, so call early in the morning or late in the evening if possible.

What happens to your travel credit

When you cancel a non-refundable ticket, the dollar amount of your original ticket becomes a travel credit in your United account. You can use it to book any United flight for yourself or give it to someone else by providing their name and email address. The credit is tied to the name on the original booking, so if you want to transfer it to another person, you must contact United to add their name.

Travel credits expire one year from the date you originally booked the ticket, not from the date you cancelled it. If you booked on January 15 and cancelled on February 1, your credit expires on January 15 of the following year. You can check the expiration date of your credit by logging into your account and viewing your "Travel Credits" section. If your credit expires before you use it, it is forfeited with no refund or extension.

Cancelling a flight you did not book yourself

If someone else booked the ticket for you, you cannot cancel it from your own United account. The person who made the booking must log in with their confirmation number and last name to cancel. If you do not have access to that person's account, you can call United at 1-800-864-8331 with the confirmation number, and a representative can process the cancellation for you — but they may ask for the name and email of the person who booked it to verify ownership.

If the ticket was purchased through a travel agent or a third-party booking site like Expedia or Kayak, you may need to cancel through that site or agent instead of directly with United. Check your confirmation email to see where the ticket was purchased. If it says "Booked through [travel agent name]," contact them first.

What to do if you miss your flight

If you miss your flight without cancelling in advance, your ticket is forfeited and you receive nothing — no refund and no travel credit, regardless of whether the ticket was refundable or non-refundable. The only exception is if United cancelled or significantly delayed the flight; in that case, you may be rebooked on another flight at no charge.

If you realize you will miss your flight, call United when ready at 1-800-864-8331. A representative cannot refund a missed flight, but they may be able to rebook you on a later flight the same day or the next day, depending on availability and your ticket type. You will likely be charged a change fee unless your ticket includes free changes. It is always better to cancel in advance if you know you will not be flying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a United flight on the day it departs?

Only by phone. If your flight leaves today, you cannot cancel online or through the app. Call 1-800-864-8331 and speak to a representative. They can process the cancellation, but the refund or credit policy depends on your ticket type — refundable tickets receive refunds, non-refundable tickets receive travel credits.

Do I lose my money if I cancel a non-refundable ticket?

No. You receive a travel credit equal to the full ticket price, valid for one year from your booking date. You can use it to book any United flight for yourself or transfer it to someone else. The credit does not expire if you do not use it — it straightforward becomes unavailable after one year.

What if I cancel and then want to rebook on a different flight?

If your ticket is refundable, the refund goes back to your payment method and you can use it however you want. If your ticket is non-refundable, the travel credit appears in your account when ready and you can use it to book a new United flight right away without paying anything extra, as long as the new flight costs the same or less.

Can United extend my travel credit if it is about to expire?

United does not automatically extend travel credits. Once the one-year expiration date passes, the credit is forfeited. However, you can contact United at 1-800-864-8331 a few days before expiration and ask if they will make an exception — some representatives have discretion to extend credits by a few weeks, but this is not may provide.

What if I booked through a third-party site like Expedia?

Check your confirmation email to see where the ticket was purchased. If it was booked through Expedia, Kayak, or another travel site, you should cancel through that site first, because they may have different policies or fees. If you cancel directly with United, the travel agent or booking site may not recognize the cancellation and could charge you a fee to rebook.