Award ticketing options/service fees

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 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

We have removed all redeposit fees associated with canceling award travel so you can have more choice and control over managing your plans.
  • 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.
  • Fee level is based on the MileagePlus status of the member whose miles were used to book the award.
  • Some award changes may also require additional mileage.
  • Service fees are nonrefundable.
For travel starting on or after January 1, 2023

Fee to book award travel
Service fees1 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 to change award travel
Service fees1 General member Premier® Silver Premier Gold Premier Platinum Premier 1K®
Making changes or canceling with redeposit No fee No fee No fee No fee No fee
Redeposit miles after no show2 $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

Making changes or canceling with redeposit

  • General member

    No fee

  • Premier® Silver

    No fee

  • Premier Gold

    No fee

  • Premier Platinum

    No fee

  • Premier 1K®

    No fee

Redeposit miles after no show2

  • General member

    $125

  • Premier® Silver

    $125

  • Premier Gold

    $125

  • Premier Platinum

    $125

  • Premier 1K®

    $125

1 When determining which service fees apply, the number of days before departure is calculated based upon the exact time of the scheduled flight departure.

2 This fee applies to all members and is charged instead of the redeposit fee that applies if canceling before flight departure.