Award ticketing options/service fees

To learn more about award travel and for tips about making the most of your miles, watch our videos.

Electronic ticketing

United offers electronic tickets for travel to most U.S. and international destinations. Once your award is redeemed and your reservation is confirmed, a receipt is sent to you via fax or email.

Paper tickets

A paper ticket is issued only for international travel that is ineligible for electronic ticketing. Allow 10 days for the delivery of a paper ticket by U.S. mail. Mailing addresses outside the U.S. may require longer mailing times.

Award service fees

  • The fees for award travel apply to United, United Express®, Star AllianceTM airline partners and other airline partners.
  • Fees apply to each ticket individually. If multiple people are traveling together, there is a fee for each traveler.
  • When flying with one of our Star Alliance partners, changes must be made at least 24 hours before departure.1
  • Fee level is based on the MileagePlus status of the member whose miles were used to book the award.
  • In addition to change fees, some award changes may also require additional mileage.
  • Service fees are nonrefundable.

For tickets issued on or after October 6, 2016

Fee to book award travel
Service fees2 General member Premier® Silver Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K®
Fee for booking a MileagePlus award ticket by phone through the United Customer Contact Center, regardless of departure date $25 $25 $25 No fee No fee
Fee for booking a MileagePlus award ticket through any channel, less than 21 days before departure $75 $50 $25 No fee No fee
Fee to change award travel3
Service fees2 General member Premier® Silver Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K®
Fee for making a change or canceling with redeposit 61 or more days before departure $75 $50 $25 No fee No fee
Fee for making a change or canceling with redeposit 60 or fewer days before departure $125 $100 $75 $50 No fee
Fee to redeposit miles after no show4 $125 $125 $125 $125 $125

Fee for booking a MileagePlus award ticket by phone through the United Customer Contact Center, regardless of departure date

  • General member

    $25

  • Premier® Silver

    $25

  • Premier Gold

    $25

  • Premier Platinum

    No fee

  • Premier 1K®

    No fee

Fee for booking a MileagePlus award ticket through any channel, less than 21 days before departure

  • General member

    $75

  • Premier® Silver

    $50

  • Premier Gold

    $25

  • Premier Platinum

    No fee

  • Premier 1K®

    No fee

Fee for making a change or canceling with redeposit 61 or more days before departure

  • General member

    $75

  • Premier® Silver

    $50

  • Premier Gold

    $25

  • Premier Platinum

    No fee

  • Premier 1K®

    No fee

Fee for making a change or canceling with redeposit 60 or fewer days before departure

  • General member

    $125

  • Premier® Silver

    $100

  • Premier Gold

    $75

  • Premier Platinum

    $50

  • Premier 1K®

    No fee

Fee to redeposit miles after no show4

  • General member

    $125

  • Premier® Silver

    $125

  • Premier Gold

    $125

  • Premier Platinum

    $125

  • Premier 1K®

    $125

Footnotes

  • Changes to tickets for flights within Japan (with no international connections) operated by ANA (All Nippon Airways) must be made at least four days prior to departure. Return to reference
  • When determining which service fees apply, the number of days before departure is calculated based upon the exact time of the scheduled flight departure. Return to reference
  • In cases where the customer cancels with no redeposit, the fee is based on the date the customer changes or requests redeposit, not the date the customer canceled. Return to reference
  • This fee applies to all members and is charged instead of the redeposit fee that applies if canceling before flight departure. Return to reference