United's cheapest first class fare is no longer a plan. Live and Let's Fly reported on October 29 that Base fares in domestic first class went on sale on October 28, and One Mile at a Time confirmed the same day that they now show up in many markets. When we first covered the plan, the reports didn't say what it would cost to change or cancel one of these tickets. Now we know more.
How the three fares compare
Searching United's site, you'll see up to three first class options for a flight: Base, Standard and Flexible. You may need to tick the search box that includes basic and restricted fares to see Base at all.
- Base: you can't get your money back, a change costs $199, seat selection isn't free, you get one checked bag instead of two, and you earn no redeemable miles. It still earns Premier qualifying points, and Live and Let's Fly says the booking screen gives eligible United cardholders 3 miles per dollar.
- Standard: free seat selection, two bags, and changes with no change fee. You still pay the difference if the new flight costs more.
- Flexible: everything in Standard, plus a refund if you cancel.
Live and Let's Fly gives one Los Angeles to Chicago flight as an example: $724 for Base, $804 for Standard and $984 for Flexible. Comparing that with the fare history it tracks for the same flight, it estimates Base is about $20 below the old cheapest first class fare, while Standard is about $60 above it. One Mile at a Time reads it the same way: for anyone who wants the flexibility that used to come with the cheapest ticket, this works out to a price increase.
Correcting what we said before
Our earlier post, based on reports from September and October, said a Base first class ticket couldn't be changed at all. The fare that went on sale can be changed, for $199. Neither report says what happens to the money if you cancel a Base ticket, for example whether any of it comes back as a travel credit. Treat that as unknown for now.
What this means if you've already booked
- Tickets bought before October 28 were sold under the old rules, so this change shouldn't touch them. Your trip details on United's site show the fare you hold.
- On Standard or Flexible, a price drop is still worth watching for, since a change costs no fee. Whether you get the difference back as credit depends on United's rules for your ticket, which neither report covers, so check before you rebook.
- On Base, a price drop is far less useful. Even if United gives back the difference, the fare would have to fall by more than $199 before a change leaves you ahead, and it may not give anything back at all.
- Before you book, compare the gap between Base and Standard with what you might gain from a later drop, plus the seat and bag fees you'd pay on Base. In the example above, the $80 step up to Standard buys back the free change, which a single drop could easily be worth.
Sources: Live and Let's Fly (October 29, 2026) · One Mile at a Time (October 29, 2026)
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