United Trip Insurance: Altering Your Flight Plans With Ease

United Airlines offers a variety of travel insurance options to its customers, including comprehensive travel insurance policies and more limited flight insurance plans. The airline's trip insurance provides coverage for various unforeseen events, such as illness, injury, flight cancellations due to bad weather, and travel warnings due to terrorism. United also provides travel protections to customers holding specific co-branded credit cards, such as the United Business Card, United Club Business Card, and United Gateway Card. These cards offer benefits like trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, and lost luggage reimbursement. It's important to note that United's basic economy tickets may be subject to a change fee, except for certain international tickets issued before July 31, 2021.

United Airlines' 24-hour flexible booking policy

United Airlines offers a 24-hour flexible booking policy, allowing travellers to change or cancel their flight reservation within 24 hours of booking without incurring any fees. This policy applies to all customers, regardless of the fare selected, as long as the ticket was booked at least one week before departure. This means that if you need to change your plans, you can do so without penalty as long as you act within the 24-hour window.

The 24-hour flexible booking policy is a great option for those who need some flexibility when booking their travel. It gives you the freedom to make changes to select reservations, including cancelling your reservation and requesting a full refund of the ticket price. This policy applies to tickets booked through various methods, including online at united.com, at United City Ticket Offices, airport ticket counters, or through the United Customer Contact Center.

It's important to note that this policy does not apply to basic economy tickets. While you can still cancel a basic economy ticket and receive a full refund within the 24-hour window, you are not able to make any changes to the reservation. Additionally, any FareLock fees paid to hold a reservation are non-refundable.

United's 24-hour flexible booking policy provides peace of mind and flexibility for travellers who may need to adjust their plans shortly after booking their flight. It's a great option to consider when making your travel arrangements.

Non-refundable tickets and change fees

For passengers who have purchased non-refundable tickets, the ability to change their flight plans becomes especially important in the event of unforeseen circumstances. Here's a comprehensive guide on how United Trip Insurance can assist with flight changes for non-refundable tickets and the associated change fees:

With United Trip Insurance, you can have peace of mind knowing that you're covered if you need to make a change to your non-refundable ticket. The insurance policy allows you to change your flight without incurring any additional fees or penalties. This is particularly useful if your travel plans are uncertain or if you're concerned about last-minute changes. The insurance provides flexibility and can save you a significant amount of money, especially if your original ticket had a higher base fare.

To utilize this benefit, simply purchase United Trip Insurance at the time of booking your flight or during the specified option period. This insurance option is presented during the booking process, and it's important to select it before proceeding to payment. By opting for the insurance, you're essentially buying the flexibility to make changes to your flight plans without any financial penalties.

It's important to understand that the insurance doesn't just cover the change fee; it also protects the value of your original ticket. When you make changes to your flight, you can apply the full value of your original ticket, including any taxes and fees, toward the purchase of a new ticket. This means you won't lose out on the money you've already spent, and you have the freedom to choose a new flight that suits your revised travel plans.

Keep in mind that the availability of flights and fares for your new travel dates will determine if there is any difference in fare that you need to pay. United Trip Insurance ensures that you're not burdened with additional change fees on top of that difference. Without the insurance, you would typically have to pay a change fee for each ticket changed, and these fees can be quite substantial, often ranging from $200 to $500 or more, depending on your fare type and destination.

It's worth noting that United Trip Insurance has certain terms and conditions, and eligibility criteria apply. These may include specific deadlines for purchasing the insurance, restrictions on certain fare types, and limitations on group tickets. Additionally, the insurance doesn't cover any other travel arrangements you may have made, such as hotel bookings or car rentals. Therefore, it's always important to carefully review the insurance policy details before purchasing to ensure it meets your specific needs and expectations.

Trip cancellation/interruption insurance

United offers trip cancellation/interruption insurance on the following credit cards:

• United℠ Business Card
• United Club℠ Business Card
• United Club℠ Infinite Card
• United Gateway℠ Card
• United℠ Explorer Card
• United Quest℠ Card

United's trip cancellation and interruption coverage is generally limited to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip. However, the United Club Infinite Card and the United Business Card have higher limits of $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip.

United credit cards' trip cancellation/interruption insurance covers you if your trip is cancelled or interrupted for the following reasons:

• Accidental bodily injury, death or illness that prevents you, your immediate family member or your travel companion from going on the trip
• Change in military orders
• Organised strikes that affect public transportation
• Terrorist incidents within 25 miles of your residence (for trip cancellation) or the airport, booked lodging at the destination location (for trip interruption)
• Travel warning due to terrorism within 25 miles of the airport, booked lodging at the destination location (for trip interruption)

This insurance does not cover trip cancellation or interruption that results from the following:

• Change of plans, financial circumstances or work obligations
• Pre-existing conditions
• Loss of tickets or travel vouchers
• Pregnancy (after the 26th week)
• Default of the common carrier
• Losses resulting from warlike acts, such as civil war, rebellion, revolution or insurrection

To file a claim, call the benefits administrator at 1-888-880-5844 (from the U.S.) or 1-804-281-5768 (if outside of the U.S.) within 20 to 60 days of the incident. Provide the details of what happened, and an agent will send you the necessary paperwork to complete and return within 90 days.

Standby policy

United Airlines' standby policy allows any passenger to fly standby on a flight departing within 24 hours of their original travel, regardless of the type of ticket or class of service purchased, without a standby fee.

MileagePlus elite status holders, also known as Premier members, can confirm a seat on the same day with the same departure and arrival cities as their original ticket. They are not required to pay a fee if the new seat is in the same fare class. If no seats are available in the purchased fare class, a fare difference may apply.

Non-Premier MileagePlus members and general non-members may be able to confirm a seat on another flight within 24 hours of the originally scheduled departure time. A fare difference may apply, even if the same fare class is available.

To be on standby for a flight, add yourself to the standby list on the website or app, at an airport kiosk, or by talking to a United representative at the airport. To do this online, through the app or at a kiosk, click on "View flight options". Keep an eye on the display screens near the gate for your new flight or track your standby status on the United app.

United's partnership with Allianz Travel

United Airlines has a partnership with Allianz Travel, a global leader in specialty insurance for travel, events, tuition, and more. Allianz offers travel insurance benefits and assistance services designed to give travellers peace of mind and added protection when travelling.

The Allianz Partners Advantage combines a long, proven track record with constant innovation to stay ahead of customers' changing needs. They have a powerful network of over 900,000 committed professionals in 75 countries, providing an always-exemplary customer experience.

Allianz's travel insurance covers trip interruption, trip cancellation, trip and baggage delay coverage, and travel medical insurance for international trips.

United Airlines is a member of the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world. Through this partnership and others, United Airlines offers its customers a wide range of benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem MileagePlus miles on more than 35 airlines worldwide.

Frequently asked questions