When an airline changes a flight because of weather, crew scheduling, or another reason, you get compensation. However, you must pay a fee when you need to change your flight. When booking a flight with United Airlines, there are some tricks to avoiding these fees on a paid flight.
We have rounded up everything you need to know about how to avoid United flight change fee. Depending on how many travelers are on your itinerary, these steps can save you thousands of dollars, so they are worth keeping in mind as you travel.
Yes, there is a flight change cost with United Airlines. It starts at about $50 for domestic flights and goes up to $150 for international travel. If the fare for the new flight is more costly than the original price you paid, you will have to pay the additional cost. You will get a voucher for the difference if the new fare is less than the original one.
Fortunately, United Airlines offers a 24-hour grace period after booking, during which you can change United flight without fee. This flexibility allows you to make any necessary adjustments to your travel plans without worry. To learn more about United's fees, visit their website or contact their customer service at 1-800-UNITED-1. Also, you can use this number +1-800-865-1848 at OTA for a more immediate response from a travel agent.
Yes, United Airlines allows passengers to change flights 24 hours before departure without penalty. However, after the 24-hour grace period, United Airlines change fees are $200 to change the time and date of your flight. If your plan includes travel within the US and Canada, you can avoid United change flight fee.
Moreover, in the event of a flight delay that is expected to lead to a cancellation, United Airlines allows you to reschedule your flight without any additional charges.
United does not charge a change fee for all domestic flights between the United States, Puerto Rico, and Mexico and for all international flights departing the United States. However, this does not apply to basic economy tickets; you are still liable for any fare difference. Apart from this, here are other possible strategies to avoid United change flight fee.
Not everyone knows that their non-refundable United Airlines flight ticket has a 24-hour change window. Hence, change United flight without fee within 24 hours of booking (the flight must be reserved at least seven days before departure), regardless of the fare type (except basic economy).
If all you are trying to do is change your flight departure time, check for same-day flight change fees, and wait until the day of your flight to make that change. For example, if you wanted to fly in the evening but caved and got a cheaper flight in the morning, you can still make the change by paying $50 to $75 for same-day changes. Although it may be risky, it is worthwhile.
If there is a chance that your travel date or time might change, you might wish to look into purchasing a refundable ticket. While non-refundable tickets are less expensive than refundable ones, make sure the refundable ticket's price difference is less than the United Change flight fee. Furthermore, looking into "flexible fares" allows you to waive United flight change fee.
Travel waivers are issued when United Airlines anticipates significant delays and cancellations. For example, during natural disasters, United Airlines offers travelers flexibility in advance and then tries to accommodate them at the airport. The specifies of travel waivers vary by the specific reason for the waiver, but you are usually allowed to change United flight without fee.
If your travel schedule changes after you purchase a ticket, it is another method to avoid United change flight fee. For instance, you might be able to modify your flight for free if it was originally scheduled to leave at 2 p.m. but now leaves at 3:30 p.m. These schedule changes are often sent through registered email, but you must review your trips to identify these on your own.
Passengers can change United flights without a fee for illness, natural disaster, or a family death. They must provide supporting documentation such as death or medical certificate to prove their flight change reason.
United waive flight change fee on the same day if you have elite airline status. This extra flexibility comes in handy if you need to change your flight time at the last minute, either earlier or later. You can earn miles through flights, credit card partners, and spending. The airline's top elite members get PlusPoints, which you can use to confirm upgrades to premium cabins.
If all else fails, use travel credits from a premium travel card to cover your change fees. If you choose this option, you will still need to pay the fee, but you may cover them with statement credit or your miles. Keep in mind that award tickets are the best examples of this since they frequently require additional out-of-pocket expenses for the flight change cost.
United has waived flight change fees for most flights in 2024. This means you won't be charged a fee to reschedule your flight, even if it's outside the 24-hour window.
In most cases, United waive flight change fee for non-refundable tickets. However, you might still need to pay the difference in fare if the new flight you choose costs more than the original ticket.
United Airlines does not charge an extra amount if you need to change your flight with a refundable ticket, but if you want to fly on a more expensive flight later, you have to pay the fare difference. If your new flight is less expensive than the previous one, the airline will refund the difference directly to your payment method or give you an e-credit for future flights.
Read the above-mentioned tips and refer to them next time when you need to change United flight without fee. It may save you hundreds of dollars, but if the new flight is more expensive than the previous one, you must pay the difference in fare.
If you still have questions, contact their customer service staff at 1-800-UNITED-1. You can also dial +1-800-865-1848, an online travel agency number available 24/7, for fast assistance regarding the United no change fee.
