United Airlines Flight Change Policy

A change in the travel might result in the need to alter your flight. This feature is facilitated by the United Airlines flight change policy. It depicts the conditions associated with the modification in both flight reservations and itineraries. Further, it highlights the procedure to conduct this process. 

Which United Airlines Flight Change Rules Should You Follow?

As you go through United Airlines’ Flight Change Policy, it’s important to have accurate information on your booking, including any necessary changes to your flight details. United Airlines Name Change Policy offers a straightforward process for modifying flight information.

Now, to be able to easily alter your reservations on this carrier, you will have to follow certain United Airlines flight change rules:

• Only official reservations made with the airline will be eligible for modifications. 
• An alteration can be done both before and after the United Airlines check-in process. 
• The applicability of the fees depends on the time of the request. 
• Not all flights will be eligible for same-day changes. 
• Name alterations will not be categorized as flight modifications. 
• Passengers can move to a new flight with the same itinerary, if eligible. 
• Any alteration made to the selected class of service will be considered a flight change. 
• The eligibility of group bookings for adjustments depends on the itinerary. 

Note: The above-mentioned guidelines have been made effective since January 1, 2021. 

Limitations of the Flight Change Policy:

It is important to look at the limitations of this policy prior to applying its use:

• Tour tickets and packages booked with the airline cannot be adjusted. 
• Certain ticket fares might not allow alterations based on the class of service. 
• Tickets purchased in bulk are subject to restrictions. 
• You cannot alter reservations made through wholesale agencies. 
• The possibility of modifying specialty tickets is informed while booking.

Does United Flight Change Include a 24-Hour Policy?

The United change flight within 24 hours policy permits its passengers to alter their reservations for free under the following conditions:

• A ticket should have been booked through any of the given sources: 
  • Carrier’s Website
  • Ticket Offices
  • Airport Counters
  • Customer Center 
• The time frame of 24 hours begins at the exact moment when the reservation is made. 
• A refund after a flight change will be in the original form of payment. 
• This feature will not be available to bookings made using e-certificates. 
• Bookings that are not yet confirmed cannot access this option. 
• If you have purchased your ticket via miles, you cannot use this feature. 
• The booking should have been made at least a week before the flight’s departure. 

Twenty-four-hour Flight Changes for Groups:

Conditions for group bookings might slightly differ which will be let known by the carrier at the time of the request. 

Can We Change United Airlines Flight for Free? 

Apart from the tickets falling under the 24-hour category, other reservations on this airline can also be changed for free. 

• Such tickets come under the “Flexibility” category of United. 
• A change fee will not be charged when flying within the following places: 
  • Hawaii
  • Caribbean
  • Continental U.S.
  • Mexico
  • Alaska
• The United Airlines change the flight for free option is also available on these fares: 
  • United Premium Plus
  • United Business
  • United First
  • Economy Plus
  • Economy
• When traveling from the U.S. to any other international country, no fee is charged. 
• Flights with Premium Transcontinental Service can be altered for free as well. 
• The policy also applies to Award Tickets. 
• Requests made at least 30 days before departure won’t be subject to any charges. 

Note: Separate charges for changes do not apply to these bookings. But a difference in fare is payable. 

Does United Airlines Flight Change Policy Allow Same-Day Changes? 

Making modifications on the same day of booking is possible. The eligibility rules for United Airlines same day flight changes differ based on your: 

• Class of service 
• And the method through which you have made your reservation 

General Conditions Applicable

The general conditions that apply to same-day reservation changes are mentioned here: 

• Only United and United Express tickets beginning with 016 are eligible for this. 
• This option will be made available 24 hours before the flight’s take-off. 
• When you change to a cheaper flight, the credit can be saved for future use. 
• The arrival and departure destinations need to remain the same for such alterations. 
• When traveling with baggage, modifications need to be made at least 50 minutes early. 

Fare-Wise Conditions

On Premier Bookings, the following benefits can be availed: 

• Same-day flight changes are permitted. 
• Such modifications can be done for free. 
• Standy-by options are given when original fares aren’t available on new flights. 
• No cost will be incurred for traveling on the standby flights. 

The conditions applicable to Basic Economy fares are as follows: 

• Standby flights can be accessed within the same day of departure. 

On tickets booked with MileagePlus, the rules are: 

• Modifications on the same day are allowed. 
• Free accessibility to standby flights will be granted. 
• The fare difference will be payable even when the original one is available. 

Limitations of Same-day Changes:

3 constraints associated with this policy are:

• If your booking includes special requirements, you may not be eligible for this. 
• Same-day route adjustments are not permitted. 
• This policy is not available for Basic Economy tickets. 

United Airlines Same-day Flight Change Fee

Usually, modifications are not required. But the fare difference has to be submitted.

What is the United Change Flight StandBy List? 

When you make a request for a modification but it is not yet confirmed due to the unavailability of your desired seats on the new flight, you will be put on a standby list. 

Rules for Joining Standby Lists

The United Airlines flight change policy has given the following regulations for standby lists: 

• To get added to this list, you can:
  • Contact the airline agents. 
  • Or, use its official site. 
• You will have to add yourself to the “Waitlist”. 
• The given order of priority is followed when confirming your status on the waitlist:
  • Premier Status
  • Fare Class
  • Membership in United MileagePlus Club
  •  United Preferred Membership Status
  • Time of Request
  • United Chase Cardmembers 
• Standby lists will be confirmed 30 minutes before take-off on domestic flights. 
• The time limit is 60 minutes for international flights. 
• Notifications about ticket confirmations will be issued when you have signed up for them. 
• Basic Economy passengers will be added to the list after all other passengers. 

Which Procedure Applies for Changing Flights on United Airlines? 

This United Airlines change flight policy permits its customers to alter their bookings through two main options: 

• Via the carrier’s website 
• By contacting the airline’s executives 

Method 1: Through the Site 

A simple way to alter your booking is to visit the airline’s site by following the given steps: 

• Navigate to the site of “United Airlines”. 
• On the site’s homepage, go to the “My Trips” section in the main box. 
• Here, provide the following details: 
  • “Confirmation Number”
  • “Last Name” 
• Click on the “Search” option. 
• Your booking can now be accessed. 
• Select the reservation that you wish to alter. 
• Follow the instructions on-screen. 
• Use the change flight on United option. 
• Once the alterations are made, pay the required fare difference, if applicable. 
• Make sure to confirm all the details in the mail received afterward. 

Note: You will only receive a confirmation mail if you have previously registered with the airline using.

Method 2: Calling the Airline 

When having an international booking, this option can be preferred to conduct the United Airlines change of flight procedure.

• You will have to contact the airline authorities using the appropriate contact numbers. 
• Then put forward your flight change request. 
• You will be asked to provide your flight details along with personal information. 
• Inform the agents about the type of modification you wish to make. 
• Depending on your eligibility, a person will help you manage your booking on United Airlines. 
• Use the online payment mode to pay the required fee, if necessary. 
• Confirm the details of the new flight in the confirmation mail. 

To connect with the agents, you can use any of the following numbers based on your region: 

To find more numbers specific to your region, visit the site and use the “Help Center”. 

Additional Uses of this Method

This offline option inclusive of calls can also be used to change return flight date on United Airlines and seat modification or selection as well. 

United Flight Change Fee

In most instances, when you modify flights, no charges apply. Some factors and conditions can influence this. In case United Airlines change flight fees are applicable, you can learn about them during the procedure itself.

Connecting with United on Social Media 

Simple questions about the United Airlines change flight feature can easily be solved through a minor interaction with agents. You can use any of these social media platforms: 

Otherwise, you can chat with the airline by visiting the “Help Center” on its website.

Lastly, the United Airlines flight change policy facilitates absolute ease when it comes to ticket modifications. It ensures that all of its customers are able to access this feature. Further, it clearly describes the process of changing the flight. 

Frequently Asked Questions