United FareLock Still Around After All These Years
13 years ago, in late 2010, we wrote about a new service being offered by Continental Airlines called FareLock. We were amazed that they chose to launch this innovative new product in the middle of their merger with United Airlines. So we are pretty surprised that United continues to offer this product so many years later, but it is a product that may be a useful tool in your travel planning.
Quick Answer: How Does United FareLock Work?
United FareLock is an optional paid feature that lets travelers hold certain United fares for a limited time before purchasing. It can be useful when you need time to confirm plans, coordinate with other travelers, or avoid losing a fare while deciding. But FareLock is not free, is not available on every itinerary, and only makes sense when the value of holding the fare is greater than the fee.
| Question | Short Answer |
|---|---|
| Does FareLock buy the ticket? | No. It holds an eligible fare temporarily; you still have to complete the purchase. |
| Is FareLock always available? | No. Availability depends on the itinerary and United’s booking system. |
| Is the FareLock fee refundable? | Generally, treat the fee as the cost of holding the fare, not as part of the ticket price. |
| When is FareLock useful? | When you need time to confirm plans and the fare might rise or disappear. |
| When should you skip it? | When your plans are firm enough to book now, or when the fee is not worth the protection. |
How Does United FareLock Work?
All airlines are required by law to give you a full refund within 24 hours of purchase or to give you a 24 hour hold on a ticket that begins, ends, or travels within the United States, as long as it is purchased at least a week in advance of travel. United Airlines’s FareLock allows you far more flexibility- for a price.
You can choose hold your ticket and price for 3 days, 7 days or even 14 days. You can select an auto-purchase option which will purchase the ticket automatically at the end of the lock period. Or you can have the lock expire without purchase if you choose not to enable auto pay. United FareLock is not available on all flights.
United FareLock Cost
The cost of United FareLock varies based on the how long you are holding your fare for, whether you are using cash or miles and on other factors as well. It appears that the cost ranges from $5-$24.99. This is a reasonable price to pay to lock in your pricing without committing to purchasing a ticket. Let us know if you see pricing outside of this range.
United FareLock Rules
- FareLock is available only on flights operated by United and United Express®. The charge is per ticket.
- FareLock is nonrefundable.
- FareLock prices are not applied toward the price of the ticket.
- Customers can buy their ticket at any time before the end of the FareLock hold period.
- If the ticket isn’t paid for before the end of the hold period, it will be cancelled.
- If you cancel your itinerary, you will not receive a refund for buying Premier Access
- Any tickets bought after using FareLock can changed or be refunded as per the fare rules. See our 24-hour flexible booking policy for details.
Is United FareLock Worthwhile?
As far as we know, no other airline allows you to save a fare for more than 24 hours. United’s unique FareLock product is great when you are not quite ready to book but want protection from the price of your ticket going up. This low cost option is a valuable tool for planning your perfect trip!
