United Airlines has a cancellation policy that depends on the type of ticket you purchased and the timing of the cancellation. If you book a flight directly with United Airlines and cancel within 24 hours of booking, and your flight is scheduled to depart at least seven days later, you are eligible for a full refund to your original form of payment. This rule applies to all fare types, including Basic Economy. After the 24-hour window, Basic Economy tickets are generally non-refundable and cannot be changed or canceled for credit. If you bought a non-refundable standard fare, you can still cancel your ticket after 24 hours, but you will not get a cash refund. Instead, the value of the ticket will be issued as a travel credit, which you can use toward a future United flight. These credits are usually valid for one year from the date of issue. If you purchased a refundable fare, you can cancel at any time before departure and receive a full refund back to your original payment method. For award tickets booked using MileagePlus miles, you can cancel and have your miles returned to your account with no fee, unless you miss the flight without canceling, in which case a redeposit fee may apply. If United cancels your flight or makes a significant change to your schedule, you are entitled to a full refund regardless of the type of ticket you have. This applies even to Basic Economy and non-refundable fares. Refunds for eligible cancellations are usually processed within seven business days if you paid with a credit card, or within twenty days if you used another payment method. You can cancel your booking through United’s website, mobile app, customer service phone line, or at the airport. If you booked your flight through a travel agency or a third-party site, you will need to contact them directly to handle the cancellation. United no longer charges cancellation fees on most fares, though a no-show fee may apply if you miss your flight without canceling, especially for award bookings. It is important to cancel before your flight departs to retain the value of your ticket as credit or to avoid fees. Each fare type has its own rules, so reviewing the terms before booking or canceling is always recommended. In general, United’s policy offers flexibility for standard and refundable fares, limited options for Basic Economy, and protection for all fares under the 24-hour cancellation rule and airline-initiated changes.