You can plan a change or cancellation of your United MileagePlus award by using My Trips on united.com or the United app, or by calling United.
Most award flights carry no change fees, and if you cancel an award flight, you can ask to have the award miles put back into your account with no fee.
Before you act, review the redeposit timeline of 5 to 7 business days, the $125 no-show redeposit fee that applies to all members, the rule that miles return only to the original account, and that award tickets are valid one year from the original issue date with travel beginning within that year. MileagePlus miles never expire.
At a Glance
| Topic | Key Rule |
|---|---|
| Change fees | No change fees for most flights, including award travel |
| Cancel & redeposit | Ask to put miles back with no fee on cancel |
| No-show | $125 redeposit fee if you do not show up and then request redeposit |
| Redeposit time | 5 to 7 business days |
| Account | Miles only return to the account they left |
| Validity | Award tickets valid one year from original issue date; travel must begin within that year |
| Miles expire | MileagePlus miles never expire |
No Change Fees for Most Award Flights
United says there are no change fees for most flights, including award travel.
To request a change, open My Trips on united.com or the United app, or call United. The same tools handle both changes and cancellations for award reservations.
If you call to book or rebook an award, the phone booking service fee is $25 in the U.S. and Canada. Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members do not pay this fee. It is a fee for booking an award by phone, not a change fee.
Award miles have no cash value except for applicable taxes, fees and surcharges. Tax refund requests go to United’s refund accounting.
Step-by-Step: Change or Cancel a United Award Online
You can change or cancel most United MileagePlus award tickets through My Trips on united.com or the United app.
- Log in and open My Trips on united.com or the United app.
- Select the award reservation you want to change or cancel.
- Choose the change or cancel option and follow the prompts.
- If canceling, request that the award miles be put back into your account; there is no fee for this on a standard cancellation.
- Confirm the action; redeposited miles take 5 to 7 business days to return.
- For phone changes or bookings, note the $25 U.S./Canada service fee unless you are Premier Platinum or 1K.
Handle the request online when possible, or call United if needed.
Redepositing Award Miles
When you cancel a United MileagePlus award ticket, you can ask to have the miles put back into your account with no fee in many cases. Use My Trips on united.com or the United app, or call United, to make the request.
The miles only return to the account they left. Redeposits typically take 5 to 7 business days. Once the miles are back in the account, they are ready to use for a future trip.
If you do not show up for the flight and later request a redeposit, United charges a $125 service fee. This fee applies to all members.
Award tickets remain valid for one year from the original issue date, and all travel must begin within that year. MileagePlus miles never expire.
Key Rules for United Award Tickets
Several rules shape how long an award ticket stays valid and what happens if plans change.
- Award tickets are valid one year from the original date of issue, and all travel must begin within that year.
- The passenger name on an issued award ticket cannot be changed; a name change requires redepositing the award for a service fee and booking a new award in the correct name.
- If you redeem a roundtrip award and fly only one way, the unused portion is forfeited.
- Same-day changes on award tickets follow United's Same-Day Change policy; Premier members may be able to switch flights for free, while others may pay a price difference.
- Money + Miles fares are non-refundable after 24 hours; canceling after 24 hours may give a future flight credit, but the miles are not refunded.
- MileagePlus miles never expire.
Review these rules before you change or cancel so the miles stay usable.
Bottom Line
Most United MileagePlus award flights have no change fees, and a standard cancellation lets you request a no-fee redeposit of miles into the original account. Watch the $125 no-show redeposit fee, the 5-to-7-business-day return window, one-year ticket validity, and the separate rules for name changes and Money + Miles.
Handle changes and cancellations through My Trips on united.com or the United app, or by calling United.
FAQ
How do I change a United MileagePlus award ticket?
Use My Trips on united.com or the United app, or call United. There are no change fees for most flights, including award travel.
Can I cancel a United award and get my miles back?
Yes, you can ask to have the award miles put back into your account with no fee. Miles return only to the original account and take 5 to 7 business days.
How do I change or cancel a United award online or in the app?
Open My Trips on united.com or the United app, select the trip, and follow the change or cancel prompts.
What should I know about close-in changes or no-shows on United awards?
Same-day changes follow United's Same-Day Change policy. A no-show followed by a redeposit request incurs a $125 fee that applies to all members.
Do MileagePlus miles expire?
No, MileagePlus miles never expire.