Award no-show vs redeposit rules: what happens to miles

What happens to the miles when you cancel instead of flying?

The rules speak to the member who acts before departure. Delta's programme rules take a broad no-fee position for award travel originating in the United States and Canada to anywhere in the world, including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners: the member may change the origin, destination, routing, date and time, or cancel the award ticket, without a redeposit or change fee. [6] Delta Basic experience fares sit outside that position and carry a change fee if changes are permitted, and any mileage difference, taxes and fees still apply to a change. [6]

That position is not worldwide: for some travel originating outside the United States and Canada, Delta says award ticket restrictions vary and tickets may be non-cancelable or changeable for a fee. [6]

United's MileagePlus rules approach the same moment from the charge side. A service charge may be imposed for each change or cancellation a member requests after an award ticket or other award has been issued. [5] When an award is cancelled or returned in accordance with the programme's applicable rules, the ticket's fare rules or, where relevant, a partner's rules, the miles taken for it are redeposited into the member's account, subject to a service charge — and some awards are not eligible for redeposit of miles and will state so. [5]

Weighing a cancellation against the charges that come with it is set out in award change and cancellation fees compared, and the award ticket change checklist covers the order in which to make the checks. The charge-only side of a missed flight is described in the glossary entry on the no-show fee.

Delta SkyMiles vs United MileagePlus side by side

Each row states the position for the programme and situation named in it, because neither set of rules transfers to the other programme. [5] [6]

What changes once part of the award ticket has been flown?

Delta draws a line at departure. Once travel has commenced on an award ticket, the award is considered used, and mileage is not credited back to the account for the unused portion of the ticket. [6] A member who flies the outbound and does not take the return therefore has no route back to the return miles under that rule. [6]

Passing the seat to somebody else is not an alternative once the ticket is issued. Delta states that award tickets are non-transferable once issued and that name changes are not permitted after an award ticket has been issued. [6] United issues an award in the member's own name, or at the member's request in the name of another person for non-commercial use [5], and its rules state that awards and benefits are not transferable except as those rules set out. [5]

Exceptions and limits

• Delta Basic experience fares. The no-fee change and cancellation position excludes Delta Basic experience fares, which carry a change fee if changes are permitted. [6]
• Award travel starting outside the United States and Canada. Restrictions vary and tickets may be non-cancelable or changeable for a fee. [6]
• Partner-operated award travel. Delta's partner award rules may vary and are subject to each partner's terms, and some partners add a surcharge collected at booking. [6] United's award tickets may be subject to the taxes, fees, tariffs, contract of carriage, ticket terms and re-accommodation policies of the carrier operating the flight. [5]
• Awards United excludes from redeposit. Some awards may not be eligible for redeposit of miles and will state so, and United will not redeposit miles for redemptions made using the member's stolen security credentials or password. [5]
• Upgrade with Miles. Apart from tickets refunded under Delta's Risk Free Cancellation policy, miles used for Upgrade with Miles cannot be redeposited — even for fully refundable fares. [6]
• Airline-caused cancellations and schedule changes. These sit outside a member's own cancellation. United states that awards are valid only to destinations served both when the award ticket is issued and at the time of departure, and that neither United nor its partners are liable for schedule changes that cancel service to a destination [5]; Delta places award travel under the contract of carriage of the operating carrier. [6]

Frequently asked questions

What happens if I never fly the award ticket at all?

The rules describe acting before departure: a Delta award for travel originating in the United States and Canada can be cancelled without a redeposit or change fee, apart from Delta Basic experience fares [6], and United redeposits miles for an award cancelled or returned under the applicable rules, subject to a service charge [5].

Is there a fee to get award miles redeposited?

United may impose a service charge on each change or cancellation a member requests after an award is issued, and the miles are redeposited subject to that charge [5]. Delta's position for award travel originating in the United States and Canada is no redeposit or change fee, with Delta Basic experience fares excluded [6].

Can someone else use my award ticket if I cannot travel?

Delta does not allow it: award tickets are non-transferable once issued and name changes are not permitted after issue [6]. United issues an award in another person's name only at the member's request at the time of issue, for non-commercial use, and awards are not transferable outside its rules [5].

Does an airline schedule change count as a member no-show?

It is handled under the operating carrier's terms rather than as a member cancellation: United's rules make awards valid only to destinations served both at issue and at departure, with neither United nor its partners liable for schedule changes that cancel service to a destination [5], and Delta places award travel under the operating carrier's contract of carriage [6].

What about Miles + Cash or Upgrade with Miles?

Delta redeposits miles on Miles + Cash changes and cancellations, including miles purchased as part of the transaction [6]. Upgrade with Miles is different: outside Risk Free Cancellation, those miles cannot be redeposited, even on a fully refundable fare [6].

Related pages

Terms: no-show fee, award reinstatement, frequent flyer glossary. Guides: award change and cancellation fees compared, award ticket change checklist.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. The comparison covers Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus award tickets only; American AAdvantage, Air Canada Aeroplan, Flying Blue, Emirates Skywards and hotel loyalty programmes are not covered here.

5. United MileagePlus Rules, checked 18 October 2026
6. Delta SkyMiles Program Rules, checked 18 October 2026