United must refund a cancelled flight in cash, and its refund form takes the request
If United cancels or significantly changes your flight and you don't take the rebooking, it owes a cash refund to your original payment3. Its refund form at united.com/en/us/refunds takes the request. Card refunds are due within 7 business days and other payments within 20 days.
Key facts, with sources and dates
- Under 14 CFR 260.2 a refund that is owed is due within 7 business days on a card and 20 calendar days for other payments (eCFR, checked 15 November 2026)3.
- United's refund form says card refunds take up to 7 business days to post and other payments up to 20 days; its commitment says cash and cheque refunds within 20 business days (United Airlines, checked 15 November 2026)1.
- A ticket booked one week or more before departure can be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a 100 percent refund (United Airlines, checked 15 November 2026)1.
- The DOT refunds page, last updated on 7 November 2025, says non-refundable tickets are covered when the airline cancels (US DOT, checked 15 November 2026)4.
- An airline must acknowledge a written complaint within 30 days and answer within 60 days under 14 CFR 259.7 (eCFR, checked 15 November 2026)5.
United refunds, credits and fee refunds side by side
What you get depends on who cancelled and what kind of ticket you hold.
| Situation | What you get | Conditions | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| United cancels or significantly changes the flight, and you don't travel | Full refund of fare and fees to your original payment | Any cause. 3 hours domestic, 6 international, downgrade, airport change or extra stop | 14 CFR 260.6; United Customer Commitment |
| You cancel within 24 hours of buying | 100 percent refund to your original payment | Booked one week or more before departure | United Customer Commitment |
| You cancel a non-refundable fare | Future flight credit | Expires one year after issue in most cases | United travel credits page |
| You ask for a certificate instead | Electronic travel certificate | Only if you request it on the refund form | United refund form |
| A paid service is not provided (seat, Wi-Fi) | Fee refunded | Through the refund form, up to 15 items | United refund form |
| Your checked bag arrives late | Bag fee refunded | Over 12 hours domestic; 15 or 30 hours international | United refund policies |
| You were bumped from an oversold flight | Cash compensation up to US$2,150 plus unused fees, or a refund if you turn down the rebooking | Involuntary only | 14 CFR 250.5 |
Federal rules from the eCFR as at 12 November 2026; United policy read on its own pages, 15 November 2026.
Can I get a refund from United?
Yes, in cash, when United cancels or significantly changes the flight and you don't travel3. The cause makes no difference, so weather and air traffic control cancellations count. Offered a credit instead? You can refuse it; compare the credit types on the United flight credit page.
How long does it take United to refund your money?
United's refund form says card refunds take up to 7 business days to post and other payments up to 20 days; its commitment says cash and cheque refunds within 20 business days (United Airlines, checked 15 November 2026)1.
Federal rules count from the day the refund became due: 7 business days on a card and 20 calendar days for other payments3. The refund checker counts the date for you.
What reasons qualify for a United refund?
United lists cancelled flights, delays or schedule changes of at least 3 hours domestic or 6 international, downgrades, a changed origin or destination airport, extra stops, and oversold flights where you turn down the rebooking1. Paid services United did not provide, such as a seat or Wi-Fi, are refunded too.
Booked through a travel agent
A ticket bought through a travel agency is refunded by the agency, to the form of payment it used2.
How do I request a United refund?
- Cancel the reservation first. United asks you to cancel before requesting a refund.
- Open the refund form. Go to united.com/en/us/refunds, add the trip and pick the items, up to 15 per request.
- Choose the refund. The money goes to your original payment unless you ask for an electronic travel certificate.
- Send expenses separately. Meals, hotels and compensation go through United's Customer Care form.
- Escalate if it is late. Write to United the day after the deadline, then file with DOT.
Steps from United's own refund pages6. Open the refund form.
If the refund doesn't arrive
Write to United the day after the deadline with the booking reference, ticket number and the date the refund was due. It must acknowledge within 30 days and answer within 605. Then file a complaint with the US Department of Transportation. A card chargeback is a last step to discuss with your card issuer.
What United offered on 13 November 2026
On 13 November 2026, after the FAA ground stop, United posted a waiver: Waived change fees and fare differences for the same cities and offered a full refund to customers who chose to stay home.7 No US airline's page offered hotels or meals that day8.
Questions people ask
Is United fully refundable?
Only some fares. Every United fare is refundable in cash when United cancels or significantly changes the flight and you do not travel, and within 24 hours of buying a ticket booked a week or more before departure.
How long does it take United to refund your money?
Up to 7 business days to a card, and up to 20 days for other payments, by United's refund form. Federal rules set the same 7 business days and 20 calendar days.
Is United offering refunds on flights?
For flights it cancels or significantly changes, yes, under federal rules. On 13 November 2026 it also offered a full refund to customers who chose not to travel.
What reasons qualify for a United refund?
Cancellation, a delay or change of 3 hours domestic or 6 international, a downgrade, an airport change or extra stop, an oversold flight, or a paid service not provided.
Can I get a travel certificate instead of a refund?
Yes, if you ask for one on the refund form. Otherwise the refund goes to your original payment.
What if my United refund does not arrive?
Write to United with the booking and the due date; it must acknowledge within 30 days and answer within 60. Then file with the US Department of Transportation.
More on refunds, credits and compensation
Sources
8 sources
Every figure links to its source. "Checked at source" means the airline's own page, the law or the regulator's page was read on 15 November 2026. Airline policies change; the date on each source is the date it was read.
- United Airlines, Customer Commitment and refund form Checked at source
- United Airlines, Refund policies Checked at source
- eCFR, 14 CFR Part 260 (Refunds), as at 12 November 2026 Checked at source
- US DOT, Refunds (last updated 7 November 2025) Checked at source
- eCFR, 14 CFR 259.7(c), as at 12 November 2026 Checked at source
- United Airlines, Refund form Checked at source
- United newsroom, FOX 9 and Newsweek Reported elsewhere · methodology ref 53
- American Airlines Newsroom Checked at source · methodology ref 348