United Change Flight Date Policy & Fee: Reschedule Booking

Priya Negi
16 min readJan 13, 2022

United Airlines change flight policy is one of the best policies in United Airlines. By following this policy, you can amend and change your reservations with ease. If you are not aware of this policy then read this article carefully.

Here we have provided every single point of this policy so that you won’t face any issues while changing your reservations with United Airlines

United Change Flight Policy

The new United Airlines change flight policy states that you can make changes to your ticket if the flight is not cancelled. The policies for the cancellation and refunds are different for different tickets and flights. If you are making a change in your flight within 24 hours of booking then you will be able to change it without any charges.

If your ticket is refundable then you can cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking with no charge but if it is non-refundable then you will have to pay a cancellation fee. If your flight is cancelled by the airline, then you can ask for a full refund or rebook on another flight. You will have to pay a rebooking fee if the price of the new ticket is higher than that of the original one.

In case your flight gets delayed by more than an hour, then you can cancel your reservation without paying any cancellation fee but only if it’s done within 24 hours of booking. So, if you want to cancel your ticket after 24 hours of booking, then there are no exceptions and you will have to pay a cancellation fee.

So, this was all about the United Airlines Change Flight Policy. Make sure that you check all the dates and times before making any changes to your flight so that

If you need to make a change after 24 hours, but before departure, expect to pay a $200 fee for domestic flights and up to $400 for international flights per person, in addition to any difference in fare

Here’s what else you need to know:

  • Fees for changing tickets are not charged for economy, Economy Plus, first, business and United Premium Plus fares.
  • This policy governs tickets for travel within the United States (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), or between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean.
  • Another benefit of travel to the United States is that there are no change fees for international flights originating in the US.

United change policies for basic economy fares

The new United Airlines fare category of “basic economy” comes with some strict restrictions on everything from carry-on baggage to seat selection. While many of these are designed to discourage travelers from booking the cheapest fares, there are still some ways to make changes in these tickets — though it will cost you.

Basic economy fares can’t be changed or upgraded, and they don’t allow the traveler to select a seat before check-in. But if you need to change your travel dates or destination, United will allow a one-time change.

If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you rebook on a different flight, you won’t be charged the usual $200 fee for changing a basic economy fare (though you would still need to pay any difference in fare).

In the event of an involuntary cancellation (i.e., by the airline), United will refund your unused ticket and award a travel credit for use within one year of issue.

United also offers “flexible” options for those who want more flexibility in their itineraries. These include:

Changeable fares (more expensive)

Upgradable fares (more expensive)

United airlines standby policy

The United Airlines standby policy allows a traveler to board an earlier flight than his scheduled one at no additional cost only if there is availability on the flight. This option is not available for travelers who had booked their ticket using the MileagePlus miles. However, those who are Premier members, Star Alliance Gold members or have purchased a full-fare economy ticket can use this facility.

The conditions under which the passenger can be put on standby are:

  • If the passenger is flying on an award ticket and his status on that day is lower than that of Premier Silver member, then he will not be allowed to fly as a standby passenger. The same rule applies to all premium cabin passengers.
  • In case the passenger’s flight has been delayed or canceled due to mechanical issues or weather-related problems, he cannot be put on standby until the original flight has departed.
  • The airline does not allow a standby passenger to upgrade his class of travel by using other class coupons or certificates even if there are empty seats in the higher class
  • If you are traveling with someone else and one of you has been put on standby, then the other person will not be allowed to get on an earlier flight unless he purchases an upgrade.

How to get on the United Airlines Standby List

For many travelers, the standby list can be a great way to fly when you need to reach your destination quickly. You purchase a ticket and are placed on a waiting list; if there is space on the flight and no one else is on the list, you will be confirmed as a passenger.

If you are interested in getting on the United Airlines standby list, here’s what you need to know.

Step 1: Purchase a ticket

This seems obvious, but unless you have already purchased a ticket for a flight, you will not be able to get onto the standby list for that flight. If you want to get on standby for other flights, then your ticket must be “flexible” or allow changes with no penalty.

Step 2: Check-in online

To get on the United Airlines standby list, you must check-in online at least 24 hours before your flight. If you don’t already have an account with United Airlines, it is simple enough to create one so that you can check in online and get onto the standby list for later flights.

Step 3: Contact an agent

Once you have checked in, contact an agent either by phone or at the airport to request placement on the standby list. The agent will let you know whether or not there are

Can I Change a United Flight on The Same Day of Travel

You can change a United flight on the same day of travel without being charged a fee. It’s called same-day confirmed travel and it is available to anyone with a confirmed reservation.

There are some restrictions, however:

  • You must be traveling within the U.S., to/from Canada or between U.S./Canada and Mexico.
  • You must be willing to pay any fare difference between the original flight and the new flight.
  • You cannot change your flights to a partner airline (like ANA).
  • The flight you want to switch to must have the same class of service as your original flight (so if you booked basic economy, you’ll need to switch to another basic economy flight).
  • If you’re on an award ticket, you’ll have to pay a $75 fee in addition to any difference in miles between the two award seats (though this fee is waived for United MileagePlus Premier members).

If you’re going to miss your flight, plan on paying a fee.

If you have to change or cancel your flight within 24 hours of departure, United Airlines charges $75 for domestic flights and up to $350 for international travel.

If you’re a MileagePlus Premier member (and have at least 50,000 miles in your account), you can change or cancel your reservation for free within 24 hours of booking.

You can save cash if you’re able to cancel your flight over the phone by calling United Reservations. The fee drops from $75 to $50 one way when changing plans at least 60 days before departure.

Any changes made more than 60 days before your scheduled flight departue are free.

How to Change United Flight

United Airlines is well-known for its customer-friendly services and flexible policies. United Flight changes can be made in a number of ways, including the following:

  • Official Website
  • Mobile Application
  • Phone Call
  • At the Airport/Kiosk
  • Use social media services:

Detailed information about these flight change methods has been mentioned below. So, take a close look:

United Change Flight: Online

  1. On united.com, select “My trips” and enter your information
  2. Select “Change flight” and then “Edit” to make the following changes:
  3. Date of travel or destination
  4. Add a flight
  5. Remove a flight
  6. Select “Continue” and choose a new flight option
  7. Continue through booking to confirm new flight

Changing tickets booked with miles

If you have a MileagePlus award ticket, you can change your flight online or by calling customer service at no charge for a domestic flight or an international flight originating in the US.

Note: United change fee will display as waived, but any difference in fare may apply.

Change Your Flight via Mobile Application

  • Download the official mobile app of United Airlines from your respective play store
  • Click on the option “My Trip” to initiate the process
  • Find the option Change Flight, click on it
  • Make the changes by clicking on the edit option
  • Pay the difference amount (if any) through your desired payment mode
  • The airline will send you the notification via an email or SMS regarding the changes made by you

Change Your Flight Via a Phone Call

If you find that online methods are not working for you, contacting United Airlines by phone is the best way to change your flight. Calling the local customer contact center will allow you to speak with a representative who can help check the various options and guide you through the process of making the change. They may ask for certain details, so be sure to have them ready. After providing the necessary information, they will take care of the rest.

Change Your Flight via At the Airport/Kiosk

At many airports, you can change United flight without having to go through the hassle of dealing with a phone call or an online chat. United Airlines representatives are available at the airport to help you. You will need to provide some key information, and once you have finished, the process will be underway.

Use social media services:

Social Media: If you want to share your important queries with a live person, you can utilize Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook and get the appropriate solution at the same platform instantly, and thus, you can get through to United Airlines customer service comfortably.

Use email service:

  • United News & Deals: UnitedAirlines@news.united.com
  • MileagePlus Statement: MyMileagePlus@news.united.com
  • MileagePlus Partner​: MileagePlus_Partner@news.united.com​
  • MileagePlus Program​: MileagePlus@news.united.com​
  • Flight status notifications: UnitedAirlines@united.com

Changing united airlines tickets booked with miles

Call United and ask them to change your award. You will be charged the difference in miles.

There are no fees for changing your award ticket, but if you change the dates of travel, the number of miles required for your new trip may be higher than the original trip. In this situation, you will be charged the difference in miles plus a $75 ticketing service charge per ticket.

United Airlines Change Flight Fee:

United Airlines is changing its fee for changing or cancelling a flight. The fee will be $150 for booking within 72 hours of the original flight, and $200 for all other changes. United is also raising the cancellation charge from $150 to $200 per ticket.

The new fees are tied to how long you wait before your trip — the longer you wait, the higher the fee. If you want to change your ticket 24 hours before your flight, it will cost $150, or about what you’d pay for a standard fare one-way ticket on United. If you wanted to change it within 72 hours of departure, it would cost $200.

If you needed to fly just four hours later than originally scheduled, however, it would cost $300 instead of the usual $200.

United Airlines Flight Basic Economy Tickets Change Fee

The United Airlines basic economy tickets change fee is $200. If you purchased a United Airlines basic economy ticket, you can cancel your flight and receive a refund as long as you do so within 24 hours of booking. After the 24 hour period, the ticket is non-refundable.

If you are looking to change your United Airlines basic economy flight, you will need to pay the $200 change fee if you are within 60 days of your travel date. The only exception is if there was a schedule change or irregular operation made by United Airlines.

If this occurs and it affects your original flight time, you can make a one-time change to your reservation without paying the $200 fee.

If you are looking to make changes to your trip that involve using a different fare class, you will have to pay the difference in fare plus the $200 change fee for any flights affected by the changes.

United Airlines Flight Non-Refundable Tickets Change Fee

If you’ve booked a non-refundable ticket on United Airlines, you may be able to change or cancel your reservation without paying a fee.

Here’s what you need to know:

United’s change fees are generally $200, but if the difference in fare is higher, you’ll have to pay that difference as well.

However, there are ways to avoid those fees.

If you’ve booked a preferred seat for your flight, you’ll have to pay an additional fee for any new seat assignments.

You can use United’s online refund request tool if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, and if your ticket is eligible for a refund.

United Airlines Flight Refundable Tickets Tickets Change Fee

Let’s say you want to make changes to your United Airlines flight, but don’t have the flexibility to change your dates.

Not to worry: With a refundable ticket, you can change just about anything without paying any fees — including the dates.

The only thing that’s not refundable is any additional fees, such as the cost of changing your seat assignment or upgrading to a more premium flight.

United Airlines Flight Award Tickets Tickets Change Fee

You can change your United flight award tickets the same way you would change a regular paid ticket.

Award flights can be changed online at united.com, or by calling United. There is a $75 fee if the change is made less than 21 days before travel. The fee is waived if you have United Premier Silver status or higher. If you’re not a frequent flyer, it’s possible to get credit card status by applying for the United Explorer credit card (affiliate link).

You can only change to another award flight with available seats in the same class of service (i.e. economy) as the original flight. You’ll also need to pay any difference in miles and taxes.

United Airlines Rescheduling Flight Policy

If you are looking to reschedule your United Airlines flight due to any reason, then it is recommended that you go through the United Airlines Rescheduling Policy thoroughly. Here we will provide you with the detailed information regarding the same. So, let’s get started!

United Airlines Rescheduling Policy

  1. If you have purchased a refundable ticket, then the airline offers 24 hours grace period to make changes or cancel your booking. The airline also allows you to make changes to your reservation within 24 hours of your original purchase. In such a case, you need not pay any change fees or difference in fare. You can make changes to your reservation online or via the mobile app.
  2. If you are traveling on an award ticket and wish to reschedule or cancel it, then you can do so without paying any change fees. But, if there is a difference in fare, then you must pay that.
  3. For all other tickets, you can make changes to your booking by paying a certain fee as well as fare difference if applicable.
  4. If you are rescheduling your United Airlines reservations within 7 days of travel and there is no difference in fare between the two flights, then there will be no charges for change fees.

How Much Does it Cost to Reschedule a United Airlines Flight?

United Airlines Reschedule Flight Change Policy. You can change your flight on the United Airlines official site or through the mobile application. Under this policy, you can reschedule your flight for free.

You can also change your flight through the reservation center and pay a fee of $25.

If you want to reschedule your flight within 24 hours of departure, you can do so through the mobile application or at the airport kiosk.

If you are using a basic economy fare, then you cannot change your flight. If you have a non-refundable ticket and want to reschedule your flight, then you will have to pay extra fees as per United Airlines reservation change policy.

The cost of rescheduling your flight depends on your travel route and class of booking which you have made to travel with United Airlines.

How to reschedule your United Airlines Booking?

People who get around some sudden changes in their plan to travel look to reschedule their flight on some other date. This can happen to anyone so it is necessary to know all the policies and guidelines of the flying means in-depth before starting the process of United Airlines rescheduling flight tickets.

If you have purchased the flight ticket from United Airline and want to reschedule it, you can follow the given below steps to start the process of rescheduling it.

Follow the steps to Reschedule Flight with United Airlines

  • Open the united official site.
  • Select the “Manage Booking” option.
  • Select the booking number.
  • Enter the last name of the passenger.
  • Return back all the flight booking details.
  • Select modify.
  • Reschedule the flights.
  • In the end, you will get a confirmation mail of rescheduling the flight.
  • Check mail.

United Change Flight: Type of Changes

Change Or Select Seat On United Flight: United Airlines offers its passengers a variety of ways to purchase and upgrade their seats. As per the airline’s flight change policy, passengers can pay a difference in fare to upgrade or change their seat from economy to premium.

United Airlines Name Change: As per United Airlines passenger name change policy, reservation is non-transferable to another passenger. However, passengers can correct their misspelled names up to three characters without paying any United Airlines change fee. To change the name of a passenger, he should call United Airlines to change the flight phone number.

United Airlines Change Destination: As per United Airlines’ ticket change policy, passengers can change their origin or destination without paying any change fee. If the passenger chooses a higher fare, a difference would be applicable. United Airlines changes flights to the destination can be done up to one hour prior to the scheduled departure.

United Change Flight Date: If you need to change your flight dates, destinations, or times, your ticket must be reissued. In some cases, United will charge a fee for exchanging a ticket. … The typical reissue fee charged by the united is $150 for a domestic ticket, $200 or more for an international ticket.

If you want to change your United ticket at no cost, it must fall within the rules of the same-day confirmation policy and the new flight must depart within 24 hours of your original scheduled departure

For wholly rescheduled travel departing after September 10, 2021, or for a change in departure or destination city, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Rescheduled travel must be completed within one year from the date when the ticket was issued.

Keep in mind that there are two kinds of tickets: refundable and nonrefundable. The $0 end of the aforementioned range applies to refundable tickets. You can change them free of charge.

If you purchased a nonrefundable ticket, then the change fee depends on the fare class and flight range. For domestic flights, you are most likely to pay up to $200 dollars plus the ticket price difference. When it comes to international flights, the change fee is usually up to $400. According to their website, it can go even higher than that. For award tickets, the fee mostly depends on your member status with United.

How much does it cost to change the United Flight Date?

Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $500 on an international flight. If you have elite status with a particular carrier, however, you can likely change your flight for free or for a reduced cost.

  • Domestic change: $0
  • International change: Up to $400
  • Same-day change: $0

United Change Flight Same-day Policy

  • The itinerary must be operated by United or United Express®, and the ticket number must begin with 016.
  • The same-day flight change option will be available within 24 hours before your originally scheduled flight. The requested flight must be departing within 24 hours from the time the request is made and can include any fare class, though you may be required to pay the difference in fare. Changes must be made prior to your original scheduled flight.
  • When the original ticketed fare class is available on the requested flight within 24 hours of departure, the same-day flight change fee (instead of the change fee stated in the fare rules) will apply.
  • When the original ticketed fare class is not available on the requested flight within 24 hours of departure, the same-day flight change fee (instead of the change fee stated in the fare rules) will apply, as well as any additional payments or refunds for the difference in fare.
  • You may stand by if seats are not available in the purchased fare class. In these cases, the same-day change fee will apply, but will not be charged unless you are assigned a seat on your alternate flight. Changes in routing are not allowed when standing by. Standby may be requested on the day of departure at an airport kiosk or with a United representative at the airport. Once you are added to the flight standby list, you can check your real-time standby status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
  • Upgraded tickets will be automatically added to the upgrade standby list at your applicable upgrade priority. Once you are added to the upgrade standby list, you can check your real-time upgrade status at united.com/flightstatus or on your mobile device at mobile.united.com/info.
  • Changes are only available for the exact origin and destination airport. Connection points may be changed provided the new routing is permitted by the fare purchased.

Same-day changes and fees from United Airlines

You need to change your itinerary and the departure date is approaching as well, so don’t worry. United Airlines also has a solution to this problem. United is allowing these changes at a reduced rate based on your elite status in the flyer category to United flights.

$ 75 will be billed as a change fee for non-Premier MileagePlus and MileagePlus Premier Silver members. For MileagePlus Premier Gold, MileagePlus Premier Platinum, and MileagePlus Premier 1K members, the change fee is waived.

Additionally, the following points should also be considered when requesting a United same-day flight change, your itinerary should be operated by United or United Express® and your ticket number should start with 016.

  • The flight you are requesting must depart within 24 hours of the time your change request is made and may include any fare class; you must also pay the fare difference.
  • United Same day flight change fee instead of the rule change fee will apply when you get your original ticket fare on the flight change request within 24 hours of departure.
  • A standby option is also available. In this case, the same day change fee will apply, but will only be charged if you are allocated a seat on your alternative flight with a restriction on the rerouting.
  • Flight changes are available for the same origin and destination airport. Connecting stops may be changed if the fare you purchased allows for the new route.
  • United Airline flight change refund policy Under the flexible 24-hour reservation policy, a purchased ticket may benefit from a waiver of change or cancellation fees.
  • Basic Economy fares are not eligible for changes but are eligible for reimbursement.

Originally published at https://aviationrepublic.com on January 13, 2022.

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