US airline (DOT rules) · UA
United Airlines refund & compensation policy
What United Airlines owes you when it cancels, delays or overbooks your flight — and how to actually collect it.
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United Airlines refund policy in plain English
Basic Economy is non-refundable and non-changeable after 24 hours. Standard Economy and above: no change fee, value held as flight credit (expires 1 year). United cancels or changes the schedule by 2+ hours → you may request a cash refund.
Delays and cancellations
Meals from 3 hours of controllable delay, hotels for overnight controllable delays. United has stated it provides compensation (miles or vouchers) for controllable delays over 3 hours on request.
Your rights on United Airlines (US DOT rules)
- Cancelled or significantly changed (3h+ domestic, 6h+ international, airport change, extra stop): automatic cash refund to the original payment within 7 business days (card) — a voucher only if you choose one. This applies to every fare, including Basic Economy.
- 24-hour rule: any ticket booked 7+ days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of booking.
- Delays: no fixed compensation, but you can refund the unused ticket once a delay becomes "significant". See the airline's customer-service plan for meals and hotels.
- Denied boarding: 200% of the one-way fare (up to $1,075) for arrival 1–2h late, 400% (up to $2,150) beyond that — cash on request, same day.
- Bags delayed 12h+ domestic / 15–30h international: checked-bag fee refunded.
How to claim from United Airlines
- Gather the booking reference, boarding passes and any messages from United Airlines about the disruption.
- For a refund, use United Airlines's own form: www.united.com/en/us/refunds, or call +1 800 864-8331. Cite your right to a cash refund and decline vouchers.
- For compensation (EU/UK rules), either file with the airline and escalate to the regulator if refused, or hand it to a no-win-no-fee partner via the checker above — they pull the flight data, counter "extraordinary circumstances" claims, and sue when needed.
- If a refund you are owed hasn't arrived in 7 business days, a credit-card chargeback for "services not rendered" is a fast parallel route.
Policies summarised from United Airlines's published conditions and applicable regulations; airlines change fare rules often — confirm on the link above before relying on a detail.
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