Flight changes
Adjust your travel plans all the way up to the day of your trip.
Changing your flight
You can change your flight on united.com or the United app in four steps:
- Go to My Trips
- Select “Change flight”
- Select “Edit” to update your flight
- Choose a new flight
You can also change your flight over the phone, but you might be charged a fee. If you’re at the airport you can use a kiosk or speak to an agent.
Your new flight must:
- Have the same departure and arrival airport
- Leave within 24 hours before or after your original flight
- Be operated by United or United Express®
If your flight is more than a day away, you may be able to change it with no fees. Or fly standby for free.
Same day changes
Premier members may be able to get another flight for free. If your original class isn’t available, you may have to pay a price difference.
All other travelers may be able to get another flight within 24 hours of the original flight. You may have to pay a price difference even if the same cabin is available.
Confirm that your bags are on the new plane by speaking with an agent an hour before your flight.
Canceling your flight
Cancel your flight on united.com or the United app in three steps:
- Go to My Trips
- Select “Cancel flight”
- Select “Confirm cancellation”
Once confirmed, we will give you the options for a travel credit or a refund. Learn how to use travel credit.
No change fees for most flights
That includes award travel.
Flying standby
Join the standby list and possibly get an earlier flight on the same day as your scheduled flight.
To join for free:
United app or united.com
Go to My Trips and select “View flight options.” Once you’re on the list, you can also track your standby status on the app.
Airport kiosk
At the kiosk, go to your itinerary and select “View flight options.”
United agent
When you get to the airport, go to the United check-in counter and ask an agent to put you on the list.
Once you’ve been added to the list, look for the first three letters of your last name and your first initial on the screens near your gate. For example:
“Mary Clark” will be shown as “CLA, M.”
“John Smith” will be shown as “SMI, J.”
“Deshawn Brown” will be shown as “BRO, D.”
If a seat is available, we’ll assign one to you automatically. Seats are assigned 30 minutes before a domestic flight and 60 minutes before an international flight.
Standby priority
The standby list will be updated frequently as customers are always being added. The order of the list is prioritized by Premier status.
- Premier status
- Cabin
- United Club Infinite CardSM and Presidential Plus Cardmembers
- United Corporate Preferred users
- United Chase Cardmembers with $25,000 in annual spending
- Date and time of request
Volunteering your seat
You can choose to give your seat to someone else only when there aren't enough seats. If you volunteer your seat, we will compensate you with a travel certificate.
- Travel certificates expire one year from original date of issue, unless otherwise noted. They are redeemable toward transportation on any flight operated by United Airlines or United Express. Otherwise, travel certificates are not valid on flights operated by other airlines, including United marketed codeshare and Star Alliance flights.
- You'll enter your travel certificate details on the Payment page of united.com when booking a flight. On that page, select “United payment types” and then “Electronic travel certificate.” The certificate amount will then be applied to the total trip price. If you’d prefer to book your reservation over the phone, call 1-800-UNITED-1 (1-800-864-8331). A fee may apply for redemption by phone. You’ll be asked to provide the last name of the certificate recipient. Certificates may not be redeemed through a travel agency.
- The promotion code and PIN must be presented at time of ticket purchase.
- Travel Certificates have no cash value.
- Travel Certificates will not be honored in conjunction with prepaid tickets, fee-waived tickets, MileagePlus awards, tour packages or other service charges, including excess baggage charges, pet charges, etc.
- If the face amount of the Travel Certificate exceeds the cost of the ticket for which it is surrendered, any residual amount will be applied to the same PIN for use toward another ticket until either the original issued amount is depleted or the expiration date has been reached, whichever comes first.
- Travel Certificates are not transferable and may not be sold, traded or bartered. However, the original recipient of this Certificate may arrange travel for another person if done without selling or bartering this Certificate. Any sale or barter of Certificates, or any offer to sell or enter into such a transaction, shall render Certificates null and void such that Certificates shall no longer be redeemable by any person, including the original recipient.
- Positive identification may be required when using travel certificates toward the purchase of a ticket. United is not liable for loss, theft or unintended use of travel certificates by a person other than the original recipient.
- United's Contract of Carriage applies to all travel on United Airlines and United Express.
Traveler pro tip
If you're assigned a seat an hour or more before your new flight, you can change it on the United app.
Traveler pro tip
If you're assigned a seat an hour or more before your new flight, you can change it on the United app.
Download the United app
Download the United app