How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Flight Date on United Airlines?

 


How Much Does It Cost to Change Your Flight Date on United Airlines?

Uncertainty is a part of modern travel. Whether your plans shift, an emergency arises, or you find a better scheduling opportunity, knowing the costs to adjust your booking can save you stress—and money. If you’re flying with United, you’ll want to understand the United Airlines Change Flights Policy, particularly how much it costs to change your flight date.

This guide breaks down who pays, what fees may apply, and how you can minimize or avoid those charges altogether.

A More Flexible Approach to Flight Changes

As part of its evolving ticketing strategy, United has significantly reduced change fees on most fare types. The only exception is most Basic Economy fares, which remain non-changeable. For all other fare classes—including Standard, Premium Plus, Business, and First Class—United does not charge a change fee. Instead, you pay only the difference between your original ticket and the new one.

If your new flight is cheaper, United typically issues a travel credit—which you can use for future bookings—minus any fare difference. That credit is generally valid for up to one year from the date of purchase.

Basic Economy Exceptions

Basic Economy is the only fare category that does not allow changes or cancellations after purchase. However, United provides a 24-hour risk-free window: you can cancel within 24 hours and receive a full refund as long as your flight departs seven or more days after booking. After that, changes are not permitted. If your travel timeline is tight, consider avoiding Basic Economy altogether.

How United Calculates Change Costs

Here’s a step-by-step overview of how fees are handled when you change your flight date:

1. Fare Difference:
 United looks at the difference in price between your original ticket and the one you’re changing to. You’ll pay the higher rate, while any reduction is usually credited for future travel.

2. Fare Class Rules:
 If you've booked anything above Basic Economy, there’s no change fee. All changes are processed under the current fare rules.

3. Taxes and Fees:
 Auxiliary charges like taxes, aviation fees, or fuel surcharges aren’t refunded if you book a cheaper flight. These may still apply regardless of fare savings.

How to Change Your Flight

Changing your flight on United is easy and can be done through several methods:

Visit United.com or open the United mobile app
Log in and head to “My Trips”
Select the reservation you want to change
Choose a new flight date
Pay the fare difference, if applicable
Confirm the transaction and receive a new itinerary

This online process is fast, transparent, and usually cheaper than calling the reservation desk, where agent fees may sometimes apply.

United Travel Credits and Future Use

If the new flight is cheaper than your original booking, United typically issues a travel credit—sometimes called an eCredit—for the difference. These credits are valid for one year from the ticket’s original date of issue and can be used toward flights, seat upgrades, baggage, or even in-flight purchases.

Tips to Minimize Change Costs

Avoid Basic Economy if there’s any chance your travel dates might shift.
Book Standard or higher fares to take advantage of United’s no change fee policy.
Always make date changes through your United account or mobile app to ensure proper credit handling.
Monitor fare prices. If you find a lower fare after booking, consider changing to capture the savings.
For complex itinerary changes or multi-city bookings, call United—and consider using specialist help from aeroflyticket to avoid pitfalls or missed opportunities.

When to Call for Help

If you have a multi-leg trip, an award ticket, or need to add services like upgraded seats or extra baggage at the time of change, contacting an expert can save you time. aeroflyticket’s team can also help you apply travel credits efficiently, manage mixed-cabin bookings, or find the best time to change based on fare data.

 English Helpline: +1-855-956-2158
 Spanish Helpline: +52-800-953-1667

Final Thoughts

So, how much does it cost to change a flight date on United Airlines? For most fares (excluding Basic Economy), there’s no change fee—only the difference between your original ticket and the new one. That makes United’s United Airlines Change Flights Policy one of the more traveler-friendly options in today’s market.

Need help managing your itinerary or making cost-effective changes? Don’t hesitate to call our team. We're here to ensure your trip adapts smoothly to your life’s changing plans.

Related blogs: 

Alaska Airlines change flight

Spirit Airlines Flight change

Delta Airlines flight change
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Do I Cancel My Emirates Manage Booking?

  How Do I Cancel My Emirates Manage Booking? Travel plans are never set in stone. Whether it’s due to unexpected work changes, health concerns, or evolving itineraries, cancellations are sometimes unavoidable. If you've booked a flight with Emirates and now need to cancel it, the airline offers a user-friendly way to manage your itinerary online. If you’re wondering how do I cancel my Emirates manage booking , this guide will walk you through the process step by step and help you understand what to expect. What Is Emirates Manage Booking? The Emirates Airlines manage booking feature allows travelers to make changes to their itinerary after purchase. Through this online portal, you can view your flight details, select or change your seats, add special services, update passenger details, and, most importantly, cancel or reschedule your trip. Access to this system is available through the Emirates website or mobile app. All you need is your last name and booking reference to get st...
Read more

Does Volaris Allow Seat Selection?

Image
  Does Volaris Allow Seat Selection? When booking a flight, choosing your seat can make a big difference in how comfortable your journey is—especially on longer routes. If you’re flying with Volaris Airlines and wondering, “Does Volaris allow seat selection?” , the answer is yes—but with specific rules, options, and fees depending on your fare type. Understanding the Volaris Airlines Seat Selection Policy can help you get the seat you prefer while avoiding last-minute surprises at the airport. In this blog, we’ll explore how Volaris seat selection works, what your choices are, and when it's best to make your selection. Overview of Volaris Airlines Seat Selection Policy Volaris is a low-cost Mexican airline known for offering basic fares with the option to add-on services like baggage, food, and, of course, seat selection. The Volaris Airlines Seat Selection Policy gives passengers the freedom to choose their preferred seat—whether it's a window view, extra legroom, or sitting...
Read more

What Does a Group Mean in Southwest Airlines?

Image
  What Does a Group Mean in Southwest Airlines? Planning a trip with multiple people—be it friends, family, colleagues, or a sports team—can be exciting, but managing group bookings can often be tricky. If you’re wondering “What does a group mean in Southwest Airlines?” , the airline offers a specialized service to make the process easier and more cost-effective. This service is known as Southwest Airlines Group Travel . In this blog, we’ll explain what qualifies as a group on Southwest, how the booking process works, the benefits of group travel with Southwest, and how to get the best support when organizing a group trip. What Is Considered a Group on Southwest Airlines? Southwest Airlines defines a group as 10 or more passengers traveling together on the same flight and date. This type of booking falls under the airline’s Group Travel Program , which is separate from individual or standard reservations. The program is designed to offer greater flexibility, personalized service,...
Read more