What Is United Fare Lock Option? | How to Use and Benefits
By FlightLinkers Team • 9/10/2025
When it comes to considering the world's major airlines, United never takes a seat back. The carrier is known for providing excellence as services, amenities and facilities to both the domestic and international travellers. The airline is committed to provide the comprehensive experience and as a part of its commitment, it includes offering flexible booking options like Fare Lock. Detailed information is given below:
What is the Fare Lock in United Airlines?
It is a paid service which will allow the travellers to temporarily hold a selected flight itinerary and lock in the current fare. It will guarantee that the price will not increase before they are ready to purchase the ticket.
This feature is particularly valuable for the passengers who have found a desirable option but need some time to finalize their plans, secure the approvals or coordinate with others without the pressure of an immediate price change or the flight selling out.
How Does united airlines Fare lock Work?
You need to go to the official website or the mobile app and then search for the option and select the desired flight.
During the checkout process on the travel information page, an option to purchase the fare lock united will appear if the selected itinerary is eligible for the service.
The passenger needs to select a hold duration which will be offered of 3, 7, or 14 days depending on the flight and how close the travel date is.
Pay the fees for the service which will be non-refundable to secure the reservation and lock in the fare for the chosen duration.
Before the hold period expires, you have to return to my trips section to complete the purchase of the ticket at the guaranteed locked-in price. If the purchase is not complete yet then the reservation will automatically be cancelled at the expiration time.
An additional option for the convenience is there known as auto pay option which can be set up during the initial purchase.
If selected, the credit card on file will be automatically charged for the ticket price when the hold period ends. It will ensure that the purchase is completed even if the customer forgets.
What are the Key Features and Terms?
The primary advantage is that the quoted ticket price is locked in and will not increase during the period. But it is also essential to note that united fare lock what if price goes down? So, if the fare decreases during the lock period the customer will still be charged the original price.
If you don't want to pay the extra amount after the united farelock price goes down then cancel the farelock and rebook at the lower fare. But it will lead you to lose the original farelock fee.
The farelock with united ensures that the specific flight itinerary will not sell out during the hold period.
The service of united airlines fare lock is usually available only on the flights operated by the United and it may not be available on all the flights of partner airlines. It can be used for both cash tickets and award tickets that are purchased with miles.
The united fare lock cost is the charge for the service of holding the fare and is non-refundable irrespective of whether the customer ultimately purchases the ticket or cancels the hold.
The fee is separate from the ticket price and is not applicable as a credit towards the final ticket purchase.
If the passenger wishes to change the itinerary during the whole period, then they must cancel the current farelock reservation and purchase the new for the recent itinerary provided the new flight is eligible.
You need to understand that this facility is useful when you need more than 24 hours to confirm your plans before you are ready to spend the money on the ticket. The 24 hours policy is a safety net after you have purchased the ticket.
What is the Cost of Fare Lock?
To understand whether the united farelock worth it or not, you need to understand the cost in detail.
The amount is variable and depends on several factors including the specific it, fare conditions and the length of hold period chosen.
The starting prices are around $5.99 to $7.99 for a 3 day hold and it increases for longer durations like 7 days of 14 days options.
The charge is applied per ticket aur sometimes per reservation not per passenger. So, this should always be confirmed during the booking process.
The farelock on united can also be purchased for award tickets which is often with a slightly different fee structure which could be a cash or miles.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Will this option guarantee me a specific seat on the plane?
It guarantees the fare and the space on the flight; it does not typically guarantee a specific seat assignment but you are able to select and pay for seats during the Fare Lock process.
❓ Is it possible to use Fare Lock to hold a basic economy ticket?
It is generally available for most fare types however the eligibility can be different and the option will only appear during the booking process if the chosen fare is eligible.
❓ What will happen if I forget to buy the ticket before the Fare Lock expires?
If the ticket is not purchased before the whole period expires then the reservation will be automatically cancelled. If you have selected the auto pay option, the ticket would be purchased automatically at the expiration time.