Sometimes some unpredictable situation arises when you need to change your travel plans. You need to reschedule or change your flight date or time due to those unavoidable circumstances. In that case, you must know the United Airlines Flight Change Policy so you can easily make changes to your itinerary.
Read this blog and learn more about how United Change Flight works, its policies, United Change Flight fees, etc.
United Airlines Flight Change Policy – All You Need To Know
- According to United Airlines Flight Change policy, for fares in first class, business, economy, economy plus, and United premium plus, there are no change fees.
- Tickets for flights inside the US (such as Puerto Rico & the U.S. Virgin Islands) as well as between the United States and Mexico or the Caribbean are covered by the policy.
- Passengers can change their flights several times however, they need to pay the fare difference.
- Travelers can change the date or destination. During the flight change process they cannot change the passenger’s name, DOB, and gender.
- On the other hand, if your new ticket costs you less, then you will receive a flight credit, which you can use for future flights.
- A United Change Flight fee will be applied to the modification of the group booking bought on United’s Group Desk.
United Airlines Change Flight Policy – Within 24 hours
The 24-hour flight change and cancellation policies of United Airlines are similar. If you purchased your ticket seven days or more before your departure, you may change your bookings without paying a cost for up to 24 hours after the initial booking. Except for Basic Economy, all tickets are subject to this policy.
Also, if the passenger has booked a ticket using cash+miles, then they cannot change the flight as per United Airlines change flight rules. They have to cancel the ticket and rebook.
Flight Change Policy For Basic Economy Tickets
- Basic economy Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Basic economy tickets are not eligible for a United Airlines Change Flight, but same-day standby is an alternative for passengers.
- Except in a few circumstances, basic economy fares may be entitled to a change fee.
Award Tickets
If the passenger has reserved a United Airlines flight using the miles, then they are eligible to change the flight.
United Airlines does not levy any change flight fees for flights originating in the US. However, if your international flight is not originating in the US, travelers will have to pay a change fee. The change fee will depend on the MileagePlus tier status.
Ways to Change United Flight Ticket
There are basically two ways to change the United Airlines flight and reschedule to an alternate date or destination.
Use the Manage Booking Option
There are certain steps that one needs to follow when modifying their tickets through United Airlines Manage Booking. Follow the steps given below in the same order and complete your flight change procedure in no time.
Steps To Change Flight Tickets In United Airlines..
- Start by visiting the official website of United Airlines. Once the official site opens up, you need to look for the option “My Trips”. Click on this option.
- After that, you need to enter the last name in addition to the booking confirmation number.
- Once your booking opens up, you need to select the itinerary to which you want to make changes.
- Now, you need to click on the option of a flight change, and you can go ahead to edit- the date, time, or destination.
- Choose the changes you want to make. Select the new date or destination.
- In the next step, pick the new flight.
- Click on the continue button. Pay any additional charges.
- Lastly, once you follow all the steps given above, you will receive the confirmation email of the flight change from United Airlines.
Call the United Airlines Agent
Another reliable way to change your flight is by connecting to a United Airlines agent over a phone call. Travelers can dial 800 864 8331 and speak with the executive. The executive will inform about the fare conditions, available flights on the new date or destination, and any associated fees. Upon confirmation, they will process the flight change request on the passenger’s behalf.
United Airlines Flight Change Fee
United Airlines is generous in terms of additional fees. If the passenger owns an Economy, Economy Plus, or a premium cabin ticket, United Airlines will not levy a flight change fee on the following itineraries:
- Domestic flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
- Flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean
- Also, flights between the U.S. and Mexico
- All international flights originating in the U.S.
If the new flight is more expensive, the travelers can switch with no additional charge, but they will still have to pay the difference in fare. The travelers may change without incurring a change charge if the new flight has a cheaper price, and regular fare tickets may have residual value which will returned in the form of future flight credit.
If the flight is originating outside of the US, travelers will have to pay the following change fee depending on the tier status
- United Premier 1K: $0
- Premier Platinum: $50
- Premier Gold: $75
- Premier Silver: $100
- General members: $125
United Airlines Same-Day Standby
If the passenger wishes to change the flight on the same day of travel, then United Airlines offers an exclusive option of Same-Day Standby.
- Passengers can opt for same-day standby no more than 24 hours before their original flight.
- The new flight must be departing on the same day with the same arrival and origin points.
- It is free and all passengers can opt for it. However, if a passenger chooses the Same-Day Confirmed change, passengers will have to pay additional charges. United Airlines Same-Day confirmed ensures a seat on the flight whereas on the standby list, there is no guarantee.
Travelers can opt for same-day standby:
- On united.com or the United app.
- At the kiosk machine
- Also, by speaking with the agent at the airport.
There are fewer chances of acquiring a seat through same-day standby. It is because there is a priority order. United Airlines Flight Change Policy, follow this order:
- Premier status
- Cabin Class
- United Club Infinite CardSM and Presidential Plus Cardmembers
- Premium cabin on a Star Alliance member airline
- United Corporate Preferred users
- United Chase Cardmembers with $25,000 in annual spending
- Date and time of request
FAQs
How much does it cost to change a flight on United Airlines?
United Airlines does not charge any flight change fees. Travelers can reschedule their flight without any additional charges. They are only liable to pay flight change fees.
How late you can change your United Airlines flight?
Travelers can change their United Airlines flight on the same day of departure. So, they can request to change the flight before the departure of their aircraft.
How do I change the United Airlines flight for free?
United Airlines offers free flight change on almost all destinations. However, if you really want to avoid flight change fee, you can request flight change within 24 hours of booking.
What is the United Airlines flight change policy for Basic Economy tickets?
United Airlines Flight Change Policy prohibits Basic Economy ticket holders from changing their flights. Basic Economy tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable. Travelers can only cancel it.
What is United Airlines 24 hour flight change policy?
According to United Airlines Flight change policy, passengers can change their flight for free in the first 24 hours after the booking. The policy is applicable on all fares except for Basic Economy tickets. However, the change request will only be initiated if the flight departure is seven days ahead.
How many times passengers can change their United Airlines flights?
Passengers can change their flight as many times as they want. The ticket is valid up to one year from the date of issue of the original ticket. So, they can change the flight as long as the ticket validity expires.
What happens if I change my flight to a cheaper one?
If you switch to a cheaper flight, United Airlines will refund the residual amount in the form of travel credits. You can use the travel credit to book for future bookings.
Can I change my award flight ticket?
If you have booked the ticket using the United miles, you can change the flight for free if flying on the eligible routes and in acceptable cabin class.
On which routes United does not charge flight change fees?
The flight change is free on the following routes:
- Domestic flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands
- Flights between the U.S. and the Caribbean
- Also, flights between the U.S. and Mexico
- All international flights originating in the U.S.
Can I change my United Airlines flight to a different date?
Yes. You can change your flight to a new date. However, you must ensure to complete the travel within one year from the original date of the ticket.
How can I request same-day standby on United Airlines?
You can request same-day standby on United:
- Fetching the trip details via My Trips
- Requesting via the kiosk machine
- Reaching out to the United agent at the airport
Do United Economy passengers have to pay the flight change fee?
United Economy passengers, first class, business, economy plus, and United Premium Plus passengers don’t have to pay flight change fees.
Can I change the Miles+cash flight?
According to United Airlines Flight Change Policy, bookings made via money+miles cannot be changed. Travelers will have to cancel the ticket and rebook.
Do I have to pay flight change to change my award ticket?
If the flight is originating outside the US, travelers will have to pay a flight change fee. The flight change fee will depend on the MileagePlus tier status.
Do I have to pay a flight change fee for a group reservation?
If you intend to change the group booking, travelers will have to pay the change fee. According to United Airlines Flight Change Rules, group bookings do not get fee waivers.
