fully refundable tickets from United Airlines??

For my past two trips, I have bought United refundable tickets. I am watching prices to buy next year's United refundable tickets. I have not had to refund tickets. But for various reasons if I had to cancel my trip, I want a refund, not a credit to be used within a year. It's my understanding that any refund goes to how you purchased your tickets.

VOLUNTARY REFUNDS
REFUND MUST BE REQUESTED BEFORE DEPARTURE OF JOURNEY. NO CHARGE. IF ALL PENALTIES IN PRICING UNIT ARE PER PRICING UNIT COLLECT HIGHEST. IF MIX OF PER FARE COMPONENT AND PER PRICING UNIT CALCULATE EACH AS PER PRICING UNIT AND COLLECT HIGHEST. REFUND REQUEST MUST BE LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER TICKET ISSUANCE. FORM OF REFUND - ORIGINAL FORM OF PAYMENT.

I did a test booking for the 'refundable' fare and found the above wording in the "Fare Rules". (at the "learn more") when you get to the page to enter passenger info. ( scroll down to the bottom)

Liz, I'd suggest asking on FlyerTalk. I think you'll get a larger sample of first hand experience. I've only ever cancelled for future flight credit.

I've done it with a fully refundable United ticket. Online. No need to call or chat. Just me and my laptop.

Yes, fully refunded back to the credit card I used for purchase. Automatic and received well within the 7-10 business days that they quote.

I also, just yesterday, changed the return leg of a fully refundable United ticket. Online, no need to call an agent.

Of course, I could have done that with a changeable, but not fully refundable, ticket. But there was a price difference, for which a refund is being processed back to my credit card, not to a credit.

Thank you so much for the replies everyone!! Feeling much better about these tickets!

I have used fully refundable tickets on United for years (uncertainties of booking tickets too far out among other reasons for doing that). The refund goes back to the source of the payment (i.e credit card) and it was always a real actual full refund, no funny money. The refund has always been easy to do online and has always shown up within 48 hours and was ready to spend again on other purchases.

Probably worth noting that all segments MUST be in the same billing group (all refundable not mixed in with some other classes and all must be on actual United planes no code shares) for less hassles.

My United purchases were done on the Chase United Mastercard into/from a Chase account which may or may not have shortened the refund process.

Good luck!

all must be on actual United planes no code shares) for less hassles

My 2 recent refunds both included codeshare segments operated by Lufthansa. Those segments were refunded exactly as the United operated segments were, with no additional steps for the codeshares.

In case anyone is wondering about redeposit of miles from cancelled frequent-flyer tickets, that worked just fine for me in 2022.

I cancelled two flights last year using miles and United quickly redeposited my miles and refunded my taxes and fees.

I’m leaving in a few weeks on. Christmas market trip and my friend and I booked fully refundable tickets, it’s good to know that if we should cancel we will actually receive money back instead of a credit.