How to get a refund from United Airlines (cancelled or delayed flight)
Official cancel and refund channels from company policies. Outcome stats appear once enough anonymized cases are shared.
Official contact channels
- Refund: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/refund-policy.html
- Refund: https://www.united.com/en/us/refunds/
- SMS: Text UNITED to 32050
- Notice: 20 days — DOT calendar-day window for non-credit-card refunds
- Deadline note: DOT: prompt refunds within 7 business days (credit card) and 20 calendar days (cash/check/debit/other). Prefer DOT 20 calendar days for deadline tracking; United’s own page says 20 business days for non-card refunds.
Policies: United refund policy · DOT refunds (Federal Register)
Policy quotes
“If your flight is disrupted and you choose not to travel, you can request a full refund to your original payment method.”
— source, verified 2026-10-15“But if you accept our rebooking options… you won't be entitled to a refund.”
— source, verified 2026-10-15“Prompt refunds means refunds made within 7 business days … for credit card purchases, and within 20 calendar days … for cash, check, debit card, or other forms of purchases.”
— source, verified 2026-10-15
What RefundChaser can do
If the company ignores your request, join the waitlist. RefundChaser gives your case its own email address, drafts each message for your approval, follows up on a schedule, tracks your deadlines (like card-dispute windows), and builds a dated evidence packet. When a company requires written notice, USPS Certified Mail is planned (not live during the waitlist). RefundChaser is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.