United Airlines is making up for the expensive cancellation hiccup that forced a Michigan soldier to spend thousands of dollars to make it home for Christmas with his family.

United spokesman Madhu Unnikrishnan confirmed Monday that the airline will be sending the family a check to cover the money that 21-year-old Pfc. Benjamin Jimenez spent on a one-way ticket back to Michigan. The carrier also is offering him a free flight back to the Frankfurt Airport before his leave expires in early January, Unnikirishnan said.

Jimenez enlisted in the Army in June of 2017 and was stationed in Germany last February. Hoping to spend time with his family, including his grandpa who is set to fly to Michigan from Florida, Jimenez booked a round-trip ticket for $1,116 on Nov. 19 that would get him to the Detroit Metro Airport during the holiday weekend and back to Frankfurt in time to report back for duty in 2019.

When he got to the Frankfurt Airport on Saturday, Jimenez was told his flight had been cancelled, according to his aunt Sarah Mundt, 31, also of Monroe. She said the airline also told her nephew a refund wasn't available for the first flight and that he would have to dispute the charge through his bank.

"They informed him that... he no longer had a flight, and that if he wanted to get to the United States, he had to buy a one-way ticket for $2,500," Mundt said.

"And so, that's what he did."

Mundt later said she is "sad and disappointed" that their family had to go to great lengths to get the airline to do "what should have been done from the beginning," but she is appreciative that they've reached out and that United will get her nephew back to Germany in time.

"United is willing to get him back to his base, which is awesome, because honestly that's all we wanted originally," Mundt added. "(But) it's kind of bittersweet, because we tried for hours ... it took this to be able to get their attention."

An outcry of support from veterans, military families and community members followed a Detroit Free Press story published Sunday night, prompting a flood of Christmas Eve messages from Good Samaritans offering to start GoFundMe pages for Jimenez, and some even went so far as to offer up their travel points and enough cash for a first-class ticket back.

Sen. Adam Hollier of Michigan's 2nd District was one of the folks wanting to reach out to Jimenez and his family to offer up help.

"As a fellow solider and new senator, I saw your article and felt compelled to do what I could to help," Hollier said in an emailed message.

"I remember being stuck in Atlanta’s airport trying to get home during holiday block leave and just wanting to get home to my family. I saw his rank and knew just how much of a burden buying another ticket can be for a lower enlisted soldier. If there was any way I could step in to help get this soldier home, I wanted to make sure I fulfilled that duty."

Several messages came in from across the country.

"We are deeply, deeply touched by everyone's response and everyone's willingness to help," Mundt said.

However, she added that it's hard for her family to accept monetary donations or other offers from the community, so while they are appreciative, they are happy about the response and reimbursement from United.

The airline had previously told the family the cheapest flight it could come up with for Jimenez to make it back to Germany before his leave expires was $3,000.

"[United] literally had us on the phone for two-plus hours," Mundt said. "They kept saying that they were trying to help us, but... I was on hold for 30 minutes at a time, while they said they were looking into things."

Mundt said her nephew didn't have access to email or phone while out in the field, but the family is steadfast that notification of the cancellation was never sent. She added that they've gone through his inbox together.

Mundt said they were informed that United Airlines partners with the airline Lufthansa for German flights, and Lufthansa decided to increase their rates and cancel the flight.

Unnikrishnan on Sunday confirmed the flight was canceled by Lufthansa, but said their records show that passengers were informed of the cancellation. He said then he cannot speak to how Jimenez may not have received a notification.