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Cancel or Refund Your Flight

Supporting Our Customers

Refund, rebooking and expanded reimbursement options remain available  for customers affected by the global IT outage. 

In-page Links

• Cancel a Non-Refundable Ticket , Go to footer note
• Cancel a Refundable Ticket , Go to footer note
• Request a Refund or Reimbursement , Go to footer note
• 24 Hour Risk-Free Cancellation , Go to footer note
• No Show Policy , Go to footer note
• FAQs , Go to footer note

Cancel a Non-Refundable Ticket

How to cancel a non-refundable ticket.

• Visit My Trips on delta.com and click on "Need to Cancel?” 
• Choose "Start Flight Cancellation."
• Follow the remaining steps through the cancellation process. You can check your flight details and confirm that you’d like to cancel before it’s complete.

Tickets with No Cancellation Fee

Cancellation fees are not applicable to the following types of tickets:

• Delta Main Cabin and above tickets for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
• Delta Main Cabin and above tickets for travel originating in the U. S. and Canada to anywhere in the world (including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners)
• Basic Economy tickets are excluded

Tickets with Cancellation Fees

If your ticket type is not included in the No Cancellation Fees policy above (for example, Basic Economy tickets or tickets originating in Europe, Central or South America), then cancellation fees apply, depending on your itinerary (please see the Fare Rules for your ticket). After the cancellation fee is deducted, you will receive the remaining value of your ticket as an eCredit .* The expiration date of your eCredit is typically 1 year from the date of ticket purchase but will depend on the original ticket terms.

*Check your ticket along with the  Baggage & Travel Fees page to view any fees that may apply to your ticket, depending on your origin city and destination. 

Cancel a Refundable Ticket

How to cancel a refundable ticket.

• Ensure you cancel your ticket prior to departure.
• Find Your Trip or Log In and go to My Trips .
• Select the flight you need to cancel.
• Click on the ‘Need to Cancel?' button.
• Select ‘Start Flight Cancellation’ and follow the steps.

Apply for a Refund for a Refundable Ticket

Visit My Trips to request a refund for an upcoming trip. Your ticket must be a refundable ticket, purchased with a credit card, cash or check. Your refund will be issued to your original payment method.

Cancel Your Trip Protection Plan

For a full refund of your premium, you must cancel within 15 days of your plan purchase (or as determined by your state of residence) and must not have filed a claim or departed on your trip. Premiums are non-refundable after this period.

Check Your Refund Status

If you’ve already submitted a refund request for an upcoming trip, you may check to see the status of your refund request.

Request a Refund or Reimbursement

If there is a flight cancellation or significant delay (>120 minutes), you will be rebooked on an alternative flight, or your ticket will be converted to an eCredit for future travel. However, in some instances, you may be eligible to request a refund* of any unused portion of your non-refundable ticket or for unused trip purchases if you choose not to travel. Please note that most tickets are nonrefundable and not all amenities are refundable; see their individual terms for details. Once submitted, we will do our best to process your request in a timely manner and update you on your refund eligibility.

If we have already canceled your flight, and you would like to request a refund to your original form of payment, please complete the Travel Disruption Refund Request form :

• If we have rebooked you on a new flight or your original flight was significantly delayed (>120 minutes) and you would like to cancel and request a refund, please do so within My Trips .

Please note that we are unable to issue refunds for the following:

• Non-refundable tickets that have not experienced a flight cancellation or significant delay (> 120 minutes).
• Tickets purchased from third-party travel sites or agencies (please contact the agency first).
• Tickets already used for travel.

While Delta’s Customer Service Plan excludes refunds for the categories outlined above, we’ve issued a global IT outage waiver to offer more flexibility to customers traveling July 19-28, 2024, who decide not to travel and would like to request a refund for the unflown portion of their ticket. Please review the waiver for details and eligibility.

Already submitted a refund request and would like to check the status of your case?

Check Refund Case Status

Reimbursements

If you incurred hotel, transportation and/or meal expenses due to a significant delay or cancellation that was within our control, please submit a reimbursement request. Once submitted, we will review your request, determine eligibility and update you on the status.

Please note that we are unable to reimburse the following:

• Air traffic control delays
• Weather delays
• Prepaid expenses
• Hotel expenses for stays outside of the city of disruption
• Delayed baggage expenses
• Alternative transportation to your final destination
• Ticket costs for missed connections on other airlines
• Child or pet care
• Delta Sky Club® or other lounge fees

While Delta’s Customer Service Plan excludes reimbursement for the categories outlined above, we’ve issued a temporary reimbursement waiver  for travel occurring July 19-28, 2024, to offer more flexibility to customers impacted by the global IT outage. Review the waiver for details of eligibility and reimbursable expenses.

Request Reimbursement

Already submitted a reimbursement request and would like to check the status of your case?

Check Reimbursement Case Status

*Eligibility for refund and reimbursement requests through the Refund or Reimbursement Request form are limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, for flight disruptions caused by factors within Delta’s control. For residents of countries other than the U.S. and Canada, or for flights departing from an airport within the European Union, please submit requests through our Comment and Complaint form .

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation

24-hour risk-free cancellation process.

• Find Your Trip or Log In and go to My Trips
• Select the trip you need to cancel
• Click the ‘Need to Cancel?' button
• Select ‘Start Flight Cancellation’ and follow the steps
• Receive a full refund, which will be automatically issued to your original form of payment

Delta will process the refund of your ticket when canceled within 24 hours of purchase, however, some banks or credit card issuers may initiate a hold of funds on your credit or debit card. We encourage you to contact your card issuer for their specific policies.

Cancellation request must be made by midnight of the day after the eTicket is purchased or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first. Cancellation request must be made before travel commences for the first flight. Available only for eTickets purchased at the time of reservation through Delta ticket offices and airport ticket counters, Reservation Sales, or at delta.com.

If you wish to pay for your ticket with cash, you may make the reservation over the phone, which will guarantee the fare for 24 hours. Your ticket must be purchased at a Delta ticketing location by midnight of the following day, or your reservation will be canceled. Once purchased, these tickets will not be eligible for cancellation under the Risk-Free Cancellation policy.

Does not apply to travel agency tickets and bookings, paper tickets, or partially-flown reissued tickets. For SkyMiles Award Tickets, please call Delta Reservations to request cancellation.

For tickets purchased with Miles + Cash option, miles will be re-deposited, and cash will be returned in equivalent miles.

Miscellaneous: Cancellation request does not need to go through the same area in which the eTicket was purchased. For example, if you purchase via Reservations, you can cancel through delta.com.

Fares, offers and rules are subject to change without notice.

No Show Policy

Frequently asked questions.

• Credit/debit card purchases are typically processed within 7 business days and may take up to 2 billing cycles to appear on your statement
• Cash or check purchases are typically processed within 20 business days and will be refunded in the form of a check to the person named as the customer on the ticket

In some cases, you may be eligible for an eCredit instead of a refund depending on the extent of your delay. eCredits will automatically be added to your SkyMiles account and can be redeemed for a future Delta flight using your ticket number.

Note: International refunds may take longer due to local banking procedures.

You can check the refund status  online or if you have questions about the amount refunded you can call:

• 800-847-0578 within the U.S. and Canada

To request a refund for a refundable or unrestricted eTicket purchased with a credit card, call Delta Reservation Sales at 800-847-0578 within the U.S. or Canada. For all other countries, see worldwide reservations numbers to locate a number in your area.

You can submit your unused flight coupons/paper tickets by mail to the Delta Passenger Refunds Department at the following addresses:

Via U.S. Postal Service Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds P.O. Box 20537 Atlanta, GA 30320-2537

Via Courier Service Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds, 4th Floor 700 South Central Avenue Hapeville, GA 30354

Even if your ticket is not refundable, you might still be able to cancel your itinerary. You have one year from the ticket's original issue date to use the ticket, subject to any applicable waivers that may extend this expiration date reschedule your travel without losing the full value of the ticket (less any applicable change fees).

• For domestic travel, tickets must be reissued and travel completed within one year of the original ticket date, subject to any applicable waivers that may extend this expiration date.
• For international travel, tickets must be reissued to the same or another international destination, and travel must begin within one year of the original ticket date, subject to any applicable waivers that may extend this expiration date.

Exception: The death of the passenger, immediate family member, or traveling companion. In this case, you will be required to forward a copy of the death certificate to the Passenger Refunds Department mailing address.

Note: Customers who purchase Basic Economy (E booking class) will not be able to change or refund their ticket after the Risk-Free Cancellation period.

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How to refund a nonrefundable airline ticket

Booking flights for a big vacation months in advance can be tricky. It can leave plenty of opportunity for something unexpected to pop up, putting you in a situation where you'd like to change or even cancel your reservation .

Unexpected events can include an illness, a work conflict or a family emergency.

You might also find better airfare and wish you could cancel and rebook at a lower price (hint: often, you can).

Though most airlines don't have the ultraflexible policies they temporarily offered at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are a lot more ways to change a ticket penalty-free than there were a few years ago.

Certainly, purchasing a fully refundable ticket is one way to ensure you can get your money back if something goes wrong. However, it may cost more and isn't always an option.

In some cases, though, you still have options even if you purchased a ticket that's technically nonrefundable.

Take advantage of fewer change fees

One positive change that emerged from the pandemic was that some airlines no longer charge change fees for main cabin tickets and above.

While Southwest Airlines has long been known for not charging change fees, other carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have also abandoned change fees in recent years, at least for most ticket classes.

This means if you run into an unexpected hurdle and your original itinerary doesn't work for you, you should be able to rebook without paying a fee. However, if your new ticket costs more, you'll typically have to pay the difference between your old ticket and your new one. Also, this flexibility isn't typically extended to travelers flying on a basic economy ticket or with a budget airline, so check the specific terms of your fare (note that newcomer Breeze Airways , which brands itself as a "nice low-cost carrier," doesn't charge change or cancellation fees).

Of course, changing your ticket is one thing. What if you simply can't travel at all?

Qualify for a refund under federal policy

This one is pretty straightforward but incredibly important. If your flight is canceled, you are entitled to a full refund if you ultimately decide not to travel.

For domestic flights and international flights departing or arriving in the U.S., you're covered by the rules of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT's website indicates that if your flight is canceled — no matter the reason — you are entitled to a full refund back to your original form of payment for the unused portion of your itinerary.

This applies to flights that are significantly delayed or have a significant schedule change, although DOT policy doesn't specify what constitutes such a disruption.

Cancel and take a flight credit

Consistent with many airlines' policies to eliminate change fees, a lot of carriers will now let you cancel even "nonrefundable" tickets for flight credit.

You won't get your cash back, but you'll receive credit for what you paid, which you can use to rebook your canceled trip or book a future trip.

Again, this usually isn't the case for basic economy tickets or flights on ultra-low-cost carriers , but it can be a useful option if you find a lower price on airfare and want to rebook yourself or have unexpected circumstances arise.

For example, American's policy will allow you to use trip credit in the future as long as your new trip begins no later than one year from the ticket's original issue date and as long as you canceled the original trip before the flight departed.

Delta will also let travelers apply the value for nonrefundable tickets via e-credit for full-fare economy (main cabin) and above. In fact, Delta will even partially refund basic economy tickets minus a cancellation charge.

United will issue future flight credits "if you cancel your trip or change your flight to a less expensive one."

Southwest gives flight credit, at a minimum, for canceled trips of any fare class as long as you cancel at least 10 minutes prior to departure.

Did you book using points or miles?

On many airlines, award tickets booked with frequent flyer miles are fully refundable, and the associated taxes and fees often are, too.

Check the terms of your airline's loyalty program and your specific ticket to make sure you won't be charged a fee to redeposit the miles. If you booked using points or miles, you should be able to get them credited back into your frequent flyer account.

Some airlines may charge a fee to redeposit the points, but that's less common today, too. Similar to airlines that give you flight credit for canceled reservations, this is one option you can use to take advantage of a better deal if the award price drops after you book .

Tell the agent what's going on

Sometimes the truth can go further than you think. Many airlines are understanding and want to try to help you out if they can.

A few years ago, a friend of mine planned a vacation to Cancun, but a medical emergency forced the family to put the trip on hold. JetBlue was extremely understanding of the situation and issued all 16 passengers travel vouchers for the full amount paid, and no fees were charged. Although the family was fully prepared to send in a doctor's note, JetBlue did not even ask for one.

At the time, JetBlue would have normally charged $75 per person to change the tickets, which means the family saved $1,200.

Fortunately, today, JetBlue does not charge a change fee for full-fare economy tickets and above, though you will pay at least $100 to change a Blue Basic ticket.

Check to see if you booked with a credit card that has travel insurance

There are a number of travel credit cards that include travel insurance protections, which can help offset unexpected costs incurred when you have to cancel a trip.

Cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express , the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and others have travel protections that, in some cases, might allow you to make a claim and get reimbursed for expenses when you have to cancel — provided that it's for a covered reason.

Keep in mind these types of protections can also cover unreimbursed expenses if, say, you have to spend an unexpected night in a hotel (with ground transportation to and from the hotel) because of an overnight flight delay. Generally, the one huge caveat is that you must have booked all elements of the trip with that card.

If you paid with a card that has travel protections and qualifies for reimbursement on your card's insurance plan, this is where the card can really pay for itself.

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Don't forget about third-party travel insurance

If you think there's a reason you might end up needing to cancel your trip and either don't have a credit card with trip protections or want even more coverage, you can always consider purchasing a travel insurance plan .

Comprehensive plans will generally reimburse you when you need to cancel a trip for a covered reason. You'll also have the option to add protections like supplemental medical coverage during your trip.

The sooner you purchase the plan after making your first trip payment, the better. Many plans won't cover health conditions or cancellation for named storms or other circumstances that exist before the plan is purchased. So, generally speaking, the sooner you purchase the plan, the more things it'll cover.

You can also purchase cancel-for-any-reason insurance plans, but they can be pretty expensive.

That being said, anything you pay in a premium will eat into the cost savings you get from a refund. So, this is generally a better bet for your long-haul business-class ticket to Europe or Asia and less so for your coach ticket to Florida.

Bottom line

There may be cases where a nonrefundable ticket truly is nonrefundable.

However, with more flexible airline policies, federal refund policies and travel insurance plans or cards with insurance, don't automatically assume you're out of luck if you need to cancel a trip just because you booked a nonrefundable ticket.

Related reading:

• Key travel tips you need to know — whether you're a beginner or expert traveler
• The best travel credit cards
• The best airline credit cards
• The 18 best places to travel in 2023
• 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
• 8 of the best credit cards for general travel purchases
• 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without

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The 2024 guide to flexible travel

Changing or canceling non-refundable flight tickets, how to cancel a trip and get a refund with flexiperk, 1. when the law is on your side, 2. involuntary refunds.

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• Change in departure or arrival time
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• A change from a non-stop to a connecting flight

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4. frequent flyer benefits, 5. choose your airline wisely, 6. extraordinary circumstances, 7. play the waiting game, 8. try your luck, there’s always flexiperk.

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Are plane tickets refundable? Your guide to the refund policies

If your travel plans aren’t set in stone, you know that buying an ultra-cheap fare could be a gamble. Getting a full refund for a ticket you didn’t use – seems like a great choice when you really need some flexibility. Of course, there are trade-offs between non-refundable and refundable airline tickets. So, how to get a positive answer to the big question: are plane tickets refundable?

In this article

The differences between refundable and non-refundable tickets, understanding refundable airline ticket policies, does travel insurance cover non-refundable flight changes, refundable tickets faqs.

When you buy a non-refundable ticket, if you don’t or can’t fly, the airlines aren’t obliged to give you your money back. Buying a refundable plane ticket lets you cancel your trip and have your money refunded.

What’s the catch? Price. A fully refundable ticket can cost a lot more than a non-refundable one . For instance, I searched a flight from LAX to NYC and found fully refundable fares on one flight that were twice the price of non-refundable ones. Some airlines may also charge a fee to issue your refund, while some may only give you a short window to request it.

Keep in mind that regardless of the type of ticket you buy, if an airline cancels your flight you are entitled to a refund. And in recent years, the major US carriers have done away with change or cancellation fees in many instances, so you can often change your flight and only pay the difference in fare.

Airlines have their own contracts of carriage, which govern how they treat refunds, cancellations, and other events. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) holds the airlines accountable to their own contracts. DOT does, however, maintain some regulations that protect travelers on all airlines.

For instance, the so-called “ 24-hour rule ” allows anyone, even if they hold a non-refundable ticket, to cancel a reservation and receive a full refund within 24 hours of the time they booked the flight, as long as the ticket was purchased at least seven days before the flight’s scheduled departure.

If you look across airline cancellation policies, you’ll see that many mention this 24-hour policy as a bonus or part of their customer commitment. It is, however, a federal requirement. The rule requires airlines to either refund travelers or allow them to hold the fare without paying for the ticket for 24 hours; they’re not required to offer both hold and refund options.

If you decide to cancel your flight and get refunded, you may pay a higher fare if you rebook later. The 24-hour rule only applies if you book your ticket directly with the airline. Beyond this, the general rule is that airlines will refund non-refundable tickets if the cancellation or significant change is their fault, but not if you decide not to fly – even if you get sick.

Common refund policies among major airlines

Although federal regulations require airlines to stick to the 24-hour rule, airlines have their own policies about the fees they charge for cancellations. Most airlines offer both refundable and non-refundable tickets. If you buy a non-refundable ticket, you can generally change your travel dates, and some airlines waive change fees. As always, it’s best to check with the carrier’s own policy to see what you’re entitled to.

Are plane tickets refundable on Delta?

Delta sells both refundable and non-refundable tickets on domestic and international flights. You can cancel a non-refundable ticket and Delta won’t charge you a cancellation fee if you have a Delta Main Cabin ticket (i.e above Basic Economy) for travel within the US, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands, or originating in the US and traveling anywhere in the world.

Rather than refunding your money, it will issue you a credit to store for a future flight (just remember that you’ll still have to pay any fare differences on future flights). It does charge cancellation fees on non-refundable tickets in basic economy , or for tickets that originate outside the US, and those fees start at $99.

Always check the airlines’ policies to see if they’ll issue a credit for future travel. But check the terms: Sometimes you’ll have only a certain amount of time to use your credit.

Are plane tickets refundable on American Airlines?

If you bought a refundable ticket on American Airlines , they will process your refund back to your original card within 7 days . Like most other airlines, American does not refund non-refundable tickets, but it does allow you to cancel without a fee and store the value of your ticket as trip credit, which is good for one year from the date of issue.

American doesn’t charge change fees for domestic flights or travel originating in North or South America unless you bought Basic Economy, where no changes are permitted. However, for changes in a ticket originating outside North or South America, they may charge fees up to $750.

Are plane tickets refundable on Frontier?

Frontier Airlines’ policy differs from other carriers in that its tickets are non-refundable . Beyond the federally mandated refund within 24 hours of purchase, Frontier has a strict cancellation policy. If you cancel your ticket after the 24-hour window, you’ll be charged a $99 fee for each direction and the value of your ticket will be held as a credit.

You can add on refundability through Frontier’s bundled “Works” program, which gives you full refundability, a checked bag (which you would normally pay for), reserved seats, and no-fee flight changes. The bundled perks programs start at $99 per direction and vary per ticket. You can only buy them directly from the airline.

If you don’t have a fully refundable ticket, you can buy travel insurance that covers things like unexpected illness or family emergencies. Typically, standard travel insurance covers cancellations for a good reason, but not If you simply change your mind. If you’re the type to change on a dime, look for a cancel-for-any-reason (CFAR) add-on , which will let you cancel for reasons beyond what most policies cover.

You’ll pay more for these, so it’s a good idea to compare the cost to buying a fully refundable ticket (CFAR often makes the most sense if you’re insuring a trip that includes multiple features, like flight, hotel, cruise, and so on). 

You may also want to check your credit card. If it has trip cancellation and interruption coverage, you could be reimbursed for the non-refundable amount of your trip.

Most airlines offer both refundable and non-refundable plane tickets, and each airline is free to establish its own rules and fees for cancellations and refunds. It’s always best to check an airline’s own policies before booking, as travel agencies or websites may have their own refund rules.

If you’d like more information on booking different kinds of fares or are looking to find out the differences between premium economy vs. economy seats and business class vs. first class flights , don’t forget to check the ultimate flight guide .

Yes, federal law mandates that airlines must give you a refund or hold your purchase within 24 hours of buying your ticket if it’s not for travel within a seven-day period and you bought it directly from the airline.

Consistent with the 24-hour rule, if you see a fare go on sale, you can cancel your ticket and buy a new one at a lower price. Some airlines offer limited price guarantees. Or if your flight is eligible for a free change or cancellation, you can have the airline issue you a travel credit which you then use for a lower-priced ticket.

Only fully refundable tickets will be refunded to your credit card (and some airlines charge a fee for this). Non-refundable tickets can be changed, sometimes with a fee, and their value is usually stored as a credit.

Airlines are not obliged to refund you if you cancel a non-refundable ticket for personal reasons, including being late or getting sick. Learning how early you need to get to the airport can be a life changer.

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Strategies to Get a Refund on a Non-Refundable Airfare

See recent posts by Peter Thornton

Have you ever booked a flight and then later realized you can’t get the time off work, weren’t able to find a travel companion, or something else came up and you no longer wanted to travel? Unfortunately, some airlines charge hefty change/cancellation fees or only issue travel credits on non-refundable airfares, but there are a few cases that allow you to get a refund on a non-refundable ticket.

Update: In the wake of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), several airlines have waived change fees and updated refund policies. For more tips to get a refund for flights canceled due to COVID-19, read this guide .

How to Refund or Change a Non-Refundable Airline Ticket

The only way to guarantee you’ll be able to get a refund for any reason is to book a refundable airfare. However, these fares are astronomically high when compared to non-refundable fares. The main consumers of refundable airfares are businesses that need the ability to make multiple changes or refund a ticket and are willing to pay the premium. If you are traveling for leisure, you’ll most likely be purchasing a non-refundable ticket.

Here are some strategies to get a refund on a non-refundable airfare. More commonly, you may be able to change your flight for no additional fee or receive a credit towards a future purchase depending on the airline and/or the type of ticket you have purchased.

Related: Cancel for Any Reason Insurance, Explained

Free Cancellation within 24 hours of Booking

If you are booking a ticket for travel within, from, or to the United States, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations state that you are entitled to a full refund on non-refundable tickets within 24 hours of booking as long as your flight is at least 7 days away—with no cancellation fee. Airlines are also allowed to hold a reservation for 24 hours, without payment, to satisfy this rule, but most will just make you pay first and refund after the fact if you change your mind. This rule applies to tickets purchased directly with the airline and does not apply to tickets booked via online travel agencies (OTAs) or other third parties, however, many of the major OTAs have similar policies. Some airlines and online travel agencies have even more generous policies than what is required by law.

For instance, Delta ’s risk-free cancellation policy states that the cancellation request must be made by midnight the day after the ticket was purchased or midnight of the departure date, whichever comes first. Essentially, there is no advance purchase requirement to be eligible for a full refund within 24-hours of booking directly with Delta. Southwest seems to have the same no advance purchase required policy to be eligible for a refund, though their language is not as clear. Alaska Airlines ' risk-free cancellation policy only applies to flights purchased at least 24 hours in advance of departure.

American Airlines allows you to refund any ticket within 24 hours of booking as long as you’ve booked at least 2 days prior to departure. American also offers a free 24-hour hold on select flights if you book seven or more days prior to departure. If your flight is eligible, this option will be labeled “hold” on the “Review and Pay” page. Your reservation and price will be held for 24 hours, which you can then purchase and have another day to cancel your purchase for free if your plans change. In addition, they have an extended hold option for a fee .

United ’s 24-hour flexible booking policy is no different than what is required by the DOT, though they also offer a FareLock service on select flights for a fee. Purchasing FareLock will hold your reservation and price for the specified amount of time. Another option to hold an airfare for free is to choose “Other forms of payment” and then select “Pay in person” from the dropdown on United's payment page. This will essentially hold your reservation, without payment, for 24-hours. You’ll still be able to access your reservation and pay online as normal within 24 hours. After payment, you’ll still have the 24-hour grace period to cancel for free, giving you up to 48 hours total to think about your plans risk-free.

All other major U.S. airlines simply follow requirements set by the DOT. However, purchasing your ticket via an online travel agency can be beneficial when it comes to free cancellation. Many third-party sites such as Expedia , Orbitz , or Priceline offer free cancellation until end of day (varies between 10 and 11:59pm) the following business day after purchase, regardless of how far in advance you are purchasing your flight. This means you could buy a flight departing the next day and still be able to cancel it risk-free. Also, you can potentially purchase a ticket on Friday and have until Monday night to cancel your flight without penalty. This could be extended to Tuesday night if Monday happens to be a holiday.

Requesting a full refund for flights within 24 hours of booking is pretty straight forward. Just simply look up your itinerary on the booking site and look for a link or a button to cancel the reservation. Alternatively, you may call the airline or booking agency to cancel.

Related: How to Get a Refund When Your Flight Price Drops After You Buy

Refunds for Delays, Cancellations, and Schedule Changes

Many airlines have a special provision in their contract of carriage about “involuntary refunds”. This varies by airline, but it basically states that if an airline refuses to carry you for any reason, or if your flight is delayed more than a specified amount of time, you can apply for a full refund, even on a non-refundable ticket. These documents are a lot to read through, but I’ll provide links for the major US and Canadian airlines below.

• Air Canada’s contract of carriage
• Alaska Airlines’ contract of carriage
• Allegiant’s contract of carriage
• American Airlines’ contract of carriage
• Delta’s contract of carriage
• Frontier Airlines' contract of carriage
• Hawaiian Airlines' contract of carriage
• JetBlue’s contract of carriage
• Southwest Airlines' contract of carriage
• Spirit Airlines' contract of carriage
• Sun Country Airlines' contract of carriage
• United Airlines' contract of carriage
• WestJet’s contract of carriage

Of course, if the airline cancels your flight — and you choose not to be rebooked on a new flight — you are entitled to a full refund, even if you’ve booked a non-refundable ticket. If you have a ticket for a non-refundable flight that you can no longer take, and the DOT 24-hour rule doesn’t apply, you may or may not find it worthwhile to “show up” for your flight and hope it gets canceled or severely delayed. You do have to check-in for the flight in order to receive a refund for a last-minute cancellation or severe delay, but simply checking-in online may satisfy that requirement.

There is also the schedule change loophole. If the airline changes their flight schedule and your flight suddenly changes departure/arrival time, length of layover, or switches from a nonstop to a connecting flight, you may be able to get a refund. A flight change of only a few minutes will usually not warrant a refund, but be diligent in checking your itinerary to make sure there aren’t significant changes, because the airline may not notify you that a schedule change qualifies for a refund. If you notice a significant change, call the airline and request a refund, explaining that the schedule no longer works for you.

Update: On April 3, 2020, the U.S. DOT issued an enforcement notice to airlines, clarifying that a prompt refund must be given to consumers who do not wish to accept alternative offers from the airline when a flight to, from, or within the U.S. has been canceled by the airline — even for flights canceled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic .

Another benefit some online travel agencies have is an offer to refund price drops if you book with them and the price drops on the same itinerary. CheapAir.com offers this service and will refund the difference (up to $100) in the form of a travel credit good for one year from the departure date of the original ticket. CheapAir does include a booking fee in its fares so you will likely be paying slightly more for your ticket on CheapAir than on other sites.

There are also insurance companies that sell cancel for any reason travel insurance. These are typically costly, but do offer more insurance than you can get with your credit card. Many credit cards offer some sort of travel insurance, but there usually has to be a qualifying reason for that insurance to be valid.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Travel Insurance: Everything You Need to Know

How to Change Your Flight Without Paying a Fee

If all you want to do is change travel dates or itinerary, there are certain airlines that allow this without paying a change fee. However, a fare difference will always apply, so you may still have to pay more if the airfare has risen since your original purchase. During certain circumstances, such as forecasted severe weather, most airlines will preemptively allow you to make flight changes free of charge within a certain time frame and will often not charge a fare difference.

Update: Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many airlines are now allowing travelers to voluntarily change flights without an extra fee . Make sure to check your airline's specific policies before booking.

As with the schedule loophole listed above, if the airline changes your itinerary significantly due to a schedule change, you may be able to reschedule your flight to a more preferred flight schedule or even to a different date. Say you booked the connecting flight from Los Angeles LAX to New York LGA, because it was cheaper than a nonstop flight to JFK or Newark. If the airline changes your flight to include a long layover or a day flight becomes an overnight connection, you can try your luck at calling the airline and ask if you can be put on a nonstop flight from LAX to NYC instead.

Southwest Airlines has the best policy when it comes to flight changes. If you buy a non-refundable ticket on Southwest, you’ve essentially purchased a travel credit with them good for one year from date of purchase. If at any point, up to 10 minutes prior to departure, you decide you don’t want to take your flight, you may change or cancel the reservation for no fee.

You can either re-book any flight at the same time or keep the credit on that reservation (up to one year from original purchase date) for a future flight. It doesn’t even have to be the same route, you can change to a completely different itinerary if you wish. You can make as many changes as you want and can even receive a flight credit if the price drops on your flight and you re-book at the lower price.

Both Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines have relatively new no change fee policies for changes made at least 60 days in advance of departure. Alaska Airlines also does not have a change fee for Main Cabin and First Class fares. JetBlue offers a refund in the form of a flight credit if you are able to re-book the same exact flight itinerary at a lower fare within 5 days of original purchase. Additionally, there are no change fees for Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra, and Mint fares, but if you are flying Blue Basic and want to change your flight, you will be charged $100-$200 per person depending on the route.

Related: New No Change Fee Policy on Sun Country Airlines

All other domestic airlines require you to purchase at least a Main Cabin or standard Economy fare in order to make changes to your ticket. Changes are simply not allowed for basic economy fares on major airlines such as  Air Canada ,  Alaska ,  American ,  Delta ,  Hawaiian ,  United , and  WestJet  — not even for a fee. The good news is that most of these airlines have eliminated change fees for standard fares originating in the U.S. With the ongoing pandemic, many airlines are also temporarily allowing changes for Basic Economy tickets booked within a certain date range, such as Delta's  2021 Basic Economy Changeability Waiver  or Hawaiian Airlines' Basic Economy  travel waivers . Make sure to take a look at your carrier's policies to see if your ticket qualifies for these waivers.

During initial booking, both Frontier and Spirit allow you to purchase a bundle or add-on that allows free flight changes for less than what a change fee would cost after booking. Frontier’s The Works bundle even makes your flight refundable, making it one of the most valuable options on Frontier.

In the unfortunate event of a death in the family or other extraordinary circumstances, you may be able to have change fees waived by the airline, even without insurance. In these cases, call the airline and explain your situation. Be prepared to provide documentation.

Using Frequent Flyer Awards to Avoid or Lower Change/Cancellation Fees  

If you want your travel plans to be more flexible, another option is to book your flight using frequent flyer miles or points. Most frequent flyer tickets will have significantly lower fees for flight changes or cancellations than paid tickets. Some may even have no fees depending on your status with the airline. As usual when it comes to fees, Southwest has the best policy, which allows you to cancel award tickets without any penalties and all your miles will be redeposited into your account.

Stay on top of breaking sales, fare drops, and more! Follow us on Twitter @Airfarewatchdog . And make sure to sign up for FREE airfare alerts to be notified when prices drop.

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Travel plans sometimes change and you may want a refund for a purchased airline ticket or other related services such as baggage or seat fees.  This page contains useful information to determine whether you are entitled to a refund for air fare or services related to a scheduled flight. 

Am I Entitled to a Refund?

In the following situations, consumers are entitled to a refund of the ticket price and/or associated fees.

• Cancelled Flight – A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel.
• DOT has not specifically defined what constitutes a “significant delay.”  Whether you are entitled to a refund depends on many factors – including the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances.  DOT determines whether you are entitled to a refund following a significant delay on a case-by-case basis.
• Class of Service Change - A consumer is entitled to a refund if the consumer was involuntarily moved to a lower class of service.  For example, if the consumer purchased a first-class ticket and was downgraded to economy class due to an aircraft swap, the consumer is owed the difference in fares.  
• Note : In situations where you have purchased an optional service and that amenity either does not work or is not available on the flight, you may need to notify the airline of the problem to receive a refund.
• Airlines may have different policies to determine when a bag is officially lost.  Most airlines will declare a bag lost between five and fourteen days after the flight, but this can vary from one airline to another.   
• If an airline unreasonably refuses to consider a bag lost after it has been missing for an unreasonable period of time, the airline could be subject to enforcement action by the DOT.  
• Learn more about lost, delayed, or damaged baggage .
• Fully refundable ticket - Consumers who purchase fully refundable tickets are entitled to a refund when they do not use the purchased ticket to complete their travel

In the following situations, consumers are not entitled to refunds except under very limited circumstances: 

• Non-refundable tickets - Consumers who purchase non-refundable tickets are not entitled to a refund unless the airline makes a promise to provide a refund or the airline cancels a flight or makes a significant schedule change.      
• Personal Issue - Consumers who purchase nonrefundable tickets, but are unable to travel for a personal reason, such as being sick or late to the airport, are not entitled to a refund.  
• Unsatisfactory Service - A consumer who willingly takes a flight but has a bad experience with the airline or the flight is not entitled to a refund.  
• Incidental Expenses – A consumer who incurs incidental expenses such as a rental car, hotel room, or meal due to a significantly delayed or cancelled flight is not entitled to a refund of the incidental expenses. 

Note : While airlines are not required to issue a refund for non-refundable tickets, they are free to do so or they may issue a credit or travel voucher for future use on the airline.  Airlines must also comply with the promises they make, and in some instances, they may be willing to offer passengers accommodations or other benefits that they are not required to provide.  Contact the airline directly to inquire about additional accommodations or benefits. 

What if I purchased or reserved my ticket through a travel agent or online travel agency?

• Ticket agents and online travel agencies are required to make “proper” refunds when service cannot be performed as contracted on a flight to, within, or from the United States.
• (i) an airlines cancels or significantly changes a flight;   
• (ii) an airline acknowledges that a consumer is entitled to a refunds; and  
• (iii) passenger funds are possessed by a ticket agent.

What should I do if I am entitled to a refund and would like to receive one from an airline or ticket agent?

• You should proactively request a refund in writing from an airline or a ticket agent if you believe that you are entitled to a refund.
• If you contact the airline or ticket agent to obtain a required refund and you are refused that refund, you should file a complaint against the airline or ticket agent with the Department at https://secure.dot.gov/air-travel-complaint .

Cancelling a Ticket Reservation or Purchase within 24 hours of Booking

For airline tickets that are purchased at least seven days before a flight’s scheduled departure date and time, airlines are required to either:

allow consumers to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund without a penalty for 24 hours , or

allow consumers to reserve a ticket (place it on hold) at the quoted prices without paying for the ticket for 24 hours .

• Airlines are not required to offer both a hold and a refund option. Check your airline’s policy before purchasing a ticket. However, if an airline accepts a reservation without payment, it must allow the consumer to cancel the reservation within 24 hours without penalty. If an airline requires payment with a reservation, it must allow the consumer to cancel the payment and reservation within 24 hours and receive a full refund.

Although airlines must hold a reservation for 24 hours or provide a refund to consumers at their request within 24 hours of making a reservation, airlines are not required to make changes to a ticket free of charge (for example - change your ticket to a different date or correct a misspelled name on the reservation).

In some cases, instead of paying for a change fee and a potential difference between the original ticket price and the current ticket price, it may be cheaper to request a refund for the ticket and rebook. However, please keep in mind that ticket prices can change quickly.

Does the 24-hour refund/reservation requirement apply to tickets purchased or reserved through a travel agent or online travel agency?

No, the 24-hour refund/reservation requirement for airlines does not apply to tickets booked through online travel agencies, travel agents, or other third-party agents.  However, these agents are free to apply the same or similar procedures to provide equivalent or similar customer service.

If you purchased your ticket through an online travel agency (or other agent), you should contact the travel agent directly to obtain a refund before contacting the airline.

How quickly are airlines, travel agents, and online travel agencies required to process a refund?

Airlines and ticket agents are required to make refunds promptly.

For airlines, “prompt” is defined as being within 7 business days if a passenger paid by credit card, and within 20 days if a passenger paid by cash or check.

For ticket agents, prompt is not defined.

This may be addressed in a future DOT rulemaking. More information can be found here: 

Airline Ticket Refunds and Consumer Protections

Air Transportation Consumer Protection Requirements for Ticket Agents

DOT Relaunches Air Consumer Website

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How to Get a Refund on a Nonrefundable Flight

A nationally recognized reporter, writer, and consumer advocate, Ed Perkins focuses on how travelers can find the best deals and avoid scams.

He is the author of "Online Travel" (2000) and "Business Travel: When It's Your Money" (2004), the first step-by-step guide specifically written for small business and self-employed professional travelers. He was also the co-author of the annual "Best Travel Deals" series from Consumers Union.

Perkins' advice for business travelers is featured on MyBusinessTravel.com , a website devoted to helping small business and self-employed professional travelers find the best value for their travel dollars.

Perkins was founding editor of Consumer Reports Travel Letter, one of the country's most influential travel publications, from which he retired in 1998. He has also written for Business Traveller magazine (London).

Perkins' travel expertise has led to frequent television appearances, including ABC's "Good Morning America" and "This Week with David Brinkley," "The CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," CNN, and numerous local TV and radio stations.

Before editing Consumer Reports Travel Letter, Perkins spent 25 years in travel research and consulting with assignments ranging from national tourism development strategies to the design of computer-based tourism models.

Born in Evanston, Illinois, Perkins lives in Ashland, Oregon with his wife.

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When you fly, chances are you almost always buy the cheapest ticket that serves your needs. And the cheapest tickets are almost always nonrefundable. Nevertheless, it’s sometime possible to refund plane tickets, even if they’re “nonrefundable”—with some caveats. You can often get at least part of the dollar value refunded as value toward a future ticket, and you can sometimes get the full value in cash.

How to Refund Plane Tickets: The 24-Hour Golden Rule

At the most basic level of refunding any plane ticket, there’s one simple Department of Transportation rule that all airlines that operate in the U.S. must follow. The golden rule: Anyone who booked at least one week in advance of departure has 24 hours from the time of purchasing the ticket to cancel it in exchange for a total refund—no matter what kind of airline ticket you bought.

The idea of this consumer protection is to allow you to lock in what looks like a good deal when you spot it, while still providing a window of time for you to search for a better deal. Beyond that kind of cancellation, however, figuring out how to refund plane tickets is a lot more complicated, for a variety of reasons.

General Airline Rules for Refunding Plane Tickets

Canceling for an unforeseen reason of your own before starting the journey is called a “voluntary” refund, and the big domestic airlines in the U.S. and Canada do not have lockstep policies in how they all handle them. Airlines based in other parts of the world have similar but not identical policies: If you’re considering buying a ticket on one of them, check the fine print.

Airline Change Fees

The near-universal rule of ordinary “standard” nonrefundable tickets is that you won’t get cash back, but you can apply the dollar value of a cancelled ticket, minus a stiff change fee, toward the purchase of another ticket for future travel, usually within a year. Fee policies vary among the big airlines. The following fees apply to the lowest “general” or “Standard” coach/economy/ main cabin fares. Most lines offer a set of more expensive fares with fewer limitations. The best fee policy in North America is the Southwest refund policy:

• The generous Southwest refund policy allows you to apply the full dollar value of a canceled nonrefundable ticket toward a future ticket. Southwest is unique among U.S. airlines in offering this feature, and it—along with two free checked bags—is no doubt a big contributor to Southwest’s high ranking by travelers.
• American, Delta, and United, the ‘Big Three,’ handle cancellation refunds and fees similarly: The fee for most nonrefundable fares is $200 for domestic trips, and up anywhere from $200 to as much as $750 for international tickets.
• Air Canada charges $50 for changes more than 60 days in advance of departure; $100 for changes within 60 days, and $150 for a same-day airport change.
• Alaska charges a $125 change fee.
• Allegiant charges $75 per segment (double that for round-trip) for cancellations up to seven days in advance, with no retained value within seven days.
• Frontier has no change fees 60 days or more in advance, and then charges $79 up to 14 days in advance, and $119 for anything later.
• Hawaiian charges $200 for travel outside Hawaii but within North America, and $50 to $300 for international flights. Changes fees for within the Hawaiian islands is $30.
• JetBlue charges $75 for a ticket costing less than $100, $100 for a ticket costing $100 to 149, $150 for a ticket costing $150 to $199, and $200 for a ticket costing $200 or more.
• Spirit Airlines charges a $90 (online) or $100 (phone) change fee to retain value until seven days before your trip, with no retained value within seven days of departure.
• WestJet charges about $25 for North American tickets more than 60 days in advance of departure, and about $85 for changes within 60 days of departure. Fees are higher for European flight routes.
• All airlines treat the new, very lowest “basic economy” fares as truly nonrefundable; so use it or lose it.

In all cases, a traveler wishing to apply a refund credit toward a future trip must rebook at whatever fares are available at the time of rebooking, not at the original fares .

Occasional Work-Around: “Involuntary” Refunds for Schedule Changes

If your airline cancels a flight or changes its schedule after you bought a ticket, in almost all cases it owes you a full cash refund. That is, an involuntary refund.

And travelers looking to cancel or change a nonrefundable trip can sometimes use a schedule change to get a full cash refund. Frequent flyers sometimes use a minor schedule change as an excuse to refund a ticket for a trip they may very well decide not to take at all: Airlines often change schedules, and even a small schedule can sometimes be enough to justify a refund.

But individual airlines apply different rules on how “small” a schedule change triggers the option to refund plane tickets:

• Spirit says two hours
• Delta and Hawaiian say 90 minutes
• American says 61 minutes
• Air Canada and Alaska say 60 minutes
• United says 30 minutes
• Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, and WestJet say “significant” delays without defining a specific time

American, Delta, and United also offer full refunds in the event of a traveler’s death, or death of travel companion or a close family member. They also cover call to jury duty and “certain illness situations.” Extensive documentation is required to support these claims—and you probably won’t be reimbursed until all of it is submitted.

Bundled Travel Insurance

These days, just about every airline offers to sell you travel insurance at the time you buy your ticket. The initial offer generally includes cancellation coverage in the amount of the ticket price; the insurance usually costs between six and seven percent of the ticket value. Compared with conventional travel insurance, these policies tend to be more restrictive in the enumerated “covered reasons” for cancellation, concentrating mainly on sickness and accident.

A representative of Allianz, the insurance a majority of airlines use, said that the refund covers the entire ticket price, not just the cancellation or change penalty. But traveler have been known to report that when the time for reimbursement on a cancellation due to a medical problem or some other event comes, the insurance provider tried to get him to accept only reimbursement for the $200 change fee. So be sure to read into what your insurance includes, and then stand your ground when you make a claim.

More from SmarterTravel:

• The 10 U.S. Airlines That Charge the Most Baggage Fees
• 8 Tips for Sitting Together on the Plane Without Paying Extra
• 5 Common Travel Insurance Questions, Answered

Consumer advocate Ed Perkins has been writing about travel for more than three decades. The founding editor of the Consumer Reports Travel Letter, he continues to inform travelers and fight consumer abuse every day at SmarterTravel.

Editor’s note: This story was originally published in 2014. It has been updated to reflect the most current information.

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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What to Know About Refundable vs. Nonrefundable Plane Tickets

Are plane tickets refundable? Here’s what you need to know before you book.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, air travel demand was up 12 percent in July 2023 compared to July 2022. If you’re one of the many Americans flying this year, it’s important to understand if and when you’re eligible for a refund when you change or cancel your plane ticket. I had the opportunity to speak with Stella Shon, an expert in all things travel and personal finance, to dive deep into air travel rules and regulations so you know what to do if you need a flight ticket refund. Here’s everything you need to know about booking a refundable plane ticket and how to get a credit, even if you book a nonrefundable fare. 

Nonrefundable vs. Refundable Plane Tickets 

Purchasing a nonrefundable plane ticket means if you cancel your trip, you are not entitled to a cash refund of the full fare of your ticket. On the other hand, a refundable plane ticket allows you to cancel your airfare and receive a refund to your method of payment. Either way, if the airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to receive a refund, no matter which ticket you have. 

“Interestingly, the post-pandemic world brought forth some favorable changes if you’re looking to change or cancel your flight,” says Shon. “Pre-COVID, you had to pay a pesky change/cancellation fee that could cost upwards of $200. Now, the major U.S. airlines allow you to modify your flight for free and pay the fare difference, as long as you don’t book basic economy.” 

Refundable tickets are often far too expensive to justify the added cost; a refundable ticket can cost hundreds more dollars for the same exact flight.

“100% refundable tickets no longer provide as much value for travelers, as you’ll receive a voucher from the airline that you can typically use for a year” if you cancel your nonrefundable flight, says Shon. “Unless you’re a traveler whose plans are really that uncertain, you’re better off booking a nonrefundable ticket that allows you to modify your reservation and still receive a voucher.”

Related: The Best Time to Book a Flight for Domestic, International, and Summer Travel

The 24-hour Refund Rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation has regulations to protect travelers. As long as you book your plane ticket at least seven days before the scheduled departure time, airlines are required to either allow travelers to cancel their reservation and receive a full refund 24 hours from the time of booking or allow travelers to place a hold on the fare without paying for the ticket for 24 hours. Keep in mind that airlines do not have to offer both a refund and a hold option, so it’s important to understand which option is provided before you book your ticket.  

This 24-hour rule does not apply if you book your ticket through a travel agency or other third-party platform. It is only enforced with direct airline bookings, although many platforms will offer similar procedures. 

What to Do if You Need to Change or Cancel a Nonrefundable Flight Ticket

Changing a nonrefundable flight ticket is simple. All you need to do is go to your booking and select your new flight (many airlines make this easy via their website or app). As noted earlier, as long as you aren’t flying basic economy, most major carriers have waived the change fee and will only charge a fare difference (if applicable). 

If you need to cancel a nonrefundable flight ticket, your ability to get a refund will often depend on how you made your reservation. If you paid for your flight with miles, you usually have a much easier time canceling your trip and getting those miles redeposited into your account. If you paid for your ticket, you can typically still get a voucher for future travel, minus any applicable cancellation fees. It’s relatively uncommon to be unable to receive any sort of travel credit for a canceled trip as long as you cancel well before your flight. 

Does travel insurance cover nonrefundable flight changes?

When booking a plane ticket on most of the major carriers, you will likely see an option to add travel insurance to your booking through a third party, like Allianz Global Assistance. Adding this to your reservation gives you coverage for a covered trip cancellation or interruption, along with travel delay expenses. 

“If your vacation is impacted by sickness, family emergency, or other reasons, you can file a claim under your travel insurance to get reimbursed for nonrefundable expenses, including your flights, hotels, and other travel expenses,” says Shon. “Just be prepared to provide documentation to support your claim.”

Adding travel insurance is often much cheaper than booking a refundable plane ticket and gives you much of the same coverage for cancellation, assuming the reason for canceling is covered. Travel insurance will not cover your claim if you just change your mind and don’t feel like taking a trip. 

Do credit cards cover nonrefundable flight changes or cancellations? 

There are plenty of credit cards that offer a variety of coverage options when you’re traveling. In Shon’s opinion, “The best credit card comes from the Chase Sapphire suite of cards. Either the Chase Sapphire Preferred ($95 annual fee) or the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee) offer a bevy of perks for travelers in case of an emergency, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost or delayed baggage reimbursement, and even primary rental car insurance.” She continues, “The more expensive Chase Sapphire Reserve card may be worth footing the bill for complimentary emergency evacuation, transportation, and medical and dental coverages.”

Similarly, if you book your flight through a credit card travel portal, like Capital One Travel, you can potentially add on cancellation coverage at checkout. If you book a flight via the platform, you can pay an additional fee to be able to cancel your flight for any reason, up to three hours before departure. You may be eligible for a partial cash refund or a 100% airline travel credit for the value of the ticket. 

Related: I'm a Professional Traveler Who's Visited 51 Countries, and These Are the 4 Travel Credit Cards I Swear By

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure .

What are Prepaid, Non-refundable Trip Costs?

Your insurable trip costs are your prepaid, non-refundable costs. “How much money would you lose cancelling your trip if you got hit by a cement truck at the last minute?”

Here are some common non-refundable costs you will forfeit if you were forced to cancel your trip at the last minute:

• All payments, including deposits, for your travel arrangements
• Pre-arranged transportation (ever tried getting to JFK?)
• Tuition for a class you’re taking (e.g., a cooking class in France)
• The rent on the property you’re staying in (e.g., the Italian villa or Florida condo). It doesn’t matter if you are renting from a private party or a business. What does matter is that the rental agreement must have a penalty schedule showing your cancellation penalties.
• Theater tickets, event tickets, Disneyworld passes, etc.
• Non-refundable airline tickets

More about airline tickets: Changeable does not equal refundable. Refundable means that if you cancel you will get 100% of your money back in cash – not credits or vouchers .

Q. Can you just divide your total trip cost by the number of travelers and use the average trip cost to price the travel insurance and still be fully covered for all prepaid trip costs if you have to make a claim?

A. The answer is “No”. If you under-insure your trip costs you will end up getting a lot less than you expect when you have a claim. Plus, you will probably unintentionally void your Pre-Existing Medical Conditions coverage.

Read this: How To Correctly Quote a Travel Insurance Plan

Q. Why is it important to know changeable does not equal refundable ?

A. Because if you are thinking you’ll just insure the change fee and not the entire cost you paid for the ticket, you may forfeit any plan benefits associated with having to insure the full non-refundable prepaid trip cost. The main impact would be to the Trip Cancellation / Interruption Benefits of the Waiver of the Pre Existing Medical Condition Exclusion and the Cancel For Any Reason option.

With many plans, if they say that you must insure all non-refundable travel arrangements that are subject to penalties they mean just that: non-refundable or subject to penalties . It makes no difference even if the ticket is changeable with a fee. It’s still non-refundable and it must be insured.

Q. Are Frequent Flyer Miles, Credit Card Rewards and Other Free Travel Awards Covered?

A. Since this is a complicated answer, click here to see all the details .

Q. Do Cruise Line Port Charges or Taxes need to be insured?

A. I myself (Steve) started a thread on Cruise Critic in January 2010 asking specifically if cruise lines’ Port Charges or Taxes are refundable. I received dozens of responses. The majority were “No, they aren’t refundable”. However, I also got responses saying “Yes, they are refundable”. It seems to vary from cruise line to cruise line.

So, should you insure Port Charges or Taxes? I don’t know. If you choose not to insure Port Charges or Taxes, I suggest you get, in writing, from the cruise line that they are fully refundable if you cancel at the last minute. Your risk is that if you don’t insure the full non-refundable prepaid trip cost, you may forfeit any plan benefit associated with having to insure the full non-refundable prepaid trip cost including, but not limited to, obtaining the Waiver of the Pre-Existing Medical Condition Exclusion and the Cancel For Any Reason option.

Q. Are all First or Business Class tickets refundable?

A. No, they used to be fully refundable, but now many have a non-refundable fee and you get the rest of the money back if you cancel the ticket. In this case, you are just obligated to insure the non-refundable fee. See Steve’s blog post “How Do I Insure Business Class Airline Tickets?” for a more detailed discussion.

Here’s what are typically not prepaid, non-refundable trip costs:

• Lodging costs that you pay after you arrive. See Steve’s blog post “Don’t Waste $429 on Un-Needed Trip Cancellation Insurance” for a more detailed discussion.
• The cost of meals
• Day trips, excursions and other side trips you arrange after your trip’s departure
• The cost of souvenirs, gifts or other items you expect to buy on your trip
• Passports (some plans will provide coverage for replacement if lost or stolen during your trip.)

Also, Frequent Flyer tickets have a $0 trip cost.

Why is Your Trip Cost Important?

The cost of a travel insurance plan is usually based on three factors:

• Your age(s)
• Your per person prepaid, non-refundable trip cost
• The length of your trip (from the day you leave to the day you return)

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Checked bags

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Carry-on bags

Through checked bags

No; we’ll only through check bags if all your tickets are in the same reservation and you are connecting to another American Airlines or one world ® flight.

Paying for bags online

Yes, if you buy your ticket on / after February 20, 2024, you can save on your 1st checked bag fees on American Airlines marketed and operated flights for travel within and between the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

You can only pay for bags online starting 24 hours and up to 2 hours before departure if you're flying within and between the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska and select Caribbean cities.

You can't pay for bags online if you're waitlisted, standing by for another flight, or had a flight disruption and you haven’t confirmed your new flights.

You can pay for up to 3 checked bags per person on aa.com or in the app when you check in. We'll send an email confirmation with instructions on where to drop bags at the airport.

If you are checking more than 3 bags per person, you can add more at the airport according to the max permitted for your trip.

No, after you paid for bags online you can’t add more later. You can check more bags at the airport according to the max permitted for your trip. Checked bag fees may apply.

You can only pay for bags on aa.com, in the app or at the airport.

Yes; indicate you plan to check bags when you check in on aa.com or in the app. Our system will recognize your applicable complimentary bags.

Yes. You can pay for up to 3 bags per person on the same reservation. For example, 4 passengers can pay for a total of 12 bags.

Yes, when they travel on a military fare, but do not have the option to pay for bags online. If you’re not traveling on a military fare show your military ID at the check-in counter to receive free bags.

The standard bag refund policy would apply.

You must pay carry-on pet fees at the airport.

No. If you pay for your bags online the bag fees are non-refundable.

You can make changes to your flight based on the rules of your ticket. Checked bag fees will carry over to your new trip in most cases.

Checked bag fees you paid are non-refundable if you cancel your trip and if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags.

Curbside check-in

We recommend you arrive to the airport at least 2 hours before domestic flights to allow plenty of time to check in and clear security before scheduled departure. If you're using curbside check-in, allow yourself at least 45 additional minutes.

Service fees are non-refundable, but if you've been incorrectly charged for bag fees paid at a Bags Inc. curbside concierge location (generally indicated with Bags Inc. uniformed employees), contact Bags Inc. at 407-284-1231 or through this link.

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Refunds and receipts

Learn how to request a refund or receipt

You have 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket for a refund if you booked at least 2 days before departure. The 24-hour refund policy applies to all ticket types, but you have to cancel the trip to get a refund.* Reservations booked as part of group block do not qualify for the 24-hour refund.

Refunds will be issued to the original form of payment in full amounts, less:

• Sale-imposed non-refundable taxes
• Service charge for booking through Reservations

To cancel your trip, find your trip online or log in to your AAdvantage® account.

• Find your trip
• Log in to your account

*If you bought your ticket through a travel agency or another booking source, contact them for a refund.

If you bought your American Airlines ticket directly from us, you can request a refund online. We'll process your refund back to the original credit card within 7 days (it should appear on your statement in 1-2 billing cycles). For cash and check purchases, we’ll process your refund within 20 days after receiving a complete refund request.

Keep in mind, refund requests must be submitted while your ticket is valid – 1 year from the original ticket date. We will not process refunds on expired tickets.

If you bought your ticket from a travel agent or a website like Expedia, please contact the agent or travel site directly.

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We do not refund cash for non-refundable tickets.

We will refund a non-refundable ticket to the original form of payment if:

• You cancel within 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket*
• There is a schedule change of more than 4 hours and you decide not to travel
• There is a schedule change of 90 minutes or more within 72 hours of your scheduled departure time and you decide not to travel
• There is death of the passenger / traveling companion
• Military orders / change in duty

Refunds will be made to the original form of payment. Supporting documents may be required.

You may be entitled to a refund of some taxes included in the price of your ticket:

• Upon written request, taxes or fees not imposed by the airline that are specific to destinations can be refunded
• Taxes or fees won't be refunded if American has an obligation to pay regardless of travel
• Refundable taxes and fees will be refunded to the original form of payment
• If you're only refunded taxes, the remaining value of the ticket will be lost and can't be used for future travel

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*Must be booked at least 2 days before departure.

Within 24 hours: You have 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket to cancel for a refund if you booked at least 2 days before departure. After 24 hours, refunds to your original form of payment are not allowed.

After 24 hours: If you're an AAdvantage ® member and canceled your flight on or after January 17, 2024, you can receive a travel credit, minus a Basic Economy cancellation fee. To qualify, your AAdvantage ® number must be in your reservation and your trip must be:

• Booked in the U.S. directly through American
• Traveled wholly within the 50 U.S. states
• On American Airlines marketed and operated flights
• Canceled on aa.com or in the American app before your first flight departs

If you cancel a trip that has already begun, the ticket loses any remaining value and cannot be used for future travel.

Ticketing and other fees

Yes, you can apply the unused value of your ticket towards future travel on American, depending on the fare rules.

• If you cancel your trip on aa.com before departure, we will cancel your ticket and issue a Trip Credit. Your Trip Credit will be valid until the date listed on the credit.
• If you cancel your trip through any other channel, we will cancel your ticket and issue a Flight Credit. When using your Flight Credit travel must begin within 1 year from the date your ticket was first issued. You may be charged a change fee and any difference in ticket price.

Keep in mind, you must cancel your original ticket before the first flight departs, or the ticket will lose any remaining value and cannot be used for future travel.

Travel credit terms and conditions

If the product or service you paid for was provided on an alternate flight, no refund will be provided.

However, these products and services are eligible for a refund if you’re unable to use them:

• Bag fees (refund does not apply to bags bought online)
• Priority boarding
• Same-day flight change or standby

You can request a receipt for most tickets booked in the past 9 months. Simply enter the 13-digit ticket number and the passenger last name.

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It may take up to 72 hours or more for your transaction to appear. Be sure to verify the requested information including your date of purchase, last four digits of the credit card, and last name.

Get a receipt for onboard purchases

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June 1, 2020

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Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Please see your plan for full details. Benefits/Coverage may vary by state, and sublimits may apply.

Insurance benefits underwritten by BCS Insurance Company (OH, Administrative Office: 2 Mid America Plaza, Suite 200, Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181), rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Co., under BCS Form No. 52.201 series or 52.401 series, or Jefferson Insurance Company (NY, Administrative Office: 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233), rated “A+” (Superior) by A.M. Best Co., under Jefferson Form No. 101-C series or 101-P series, depending on your state of residence and plan chosen. A+ (Superior) and A (Excellent) are the 2nd and 3rd highest, respectively, of A.M. Best's 13 Financial Strength Ratings. Plans only available to U.S. residents and may not be available in all jurisdictions. Allianz Global Assistance and Allianz Travel Insurance are marks of AGA Service Company dba Allianz Global Assistance or its affiliates. Allianz Travel Insurance products are distributed by Allianz Global Assistance, the licensed producer and administrator of these plans and an affiliate of Jefferson Insurance Company. The insured shall not receive any special benefit or advantage due to the affiliation between AGA Service Company and Jefferson Insurance Company. Plans include insurance benefits and assistance services. Any Non-Insurance Assistance services purchased are provided through AGA Service Company. Except as expressly provided under your plan, you are responsible for charges you incur from third parties. Contact AGA Service Company at  800-284-8300 or 9950 Mayland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233 or [email protected] .

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Trip Cancellation Insurance Explained

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Table of Contents

What is trip cancellation insurance?

Covered reasons for trip cancellation, what is not covered by trip cancellation insurance, cancel for any reason trip insurance, is trip cancellation insurance expensive, different ways to get trip cancellation insurance, which insurance coverage is best for me.

When booking travel, particularly expensive trips consisting of nonrefundable reservations, it makes sense to consider trip cancellation insurance since it can protect your deposit if your plans do not materialize due to unforeseen events. However, not every reason for canceling a trip will qualify for coverage, so you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the basics of trip cancellation insurance.

Trip cancellation coverage can be purchased as part of a comprehensive travel insurance policy , or you can receive it for free when you hold certain premium credit cards. The benefit is designed to protect prepaid, nonrefundable reservations, including flights, hotel reservations and other bookings if the trip is canceled due to an extraordinary circumstance. Each policy will state exactly which events are considered valid reasons for cancellations.

With COVID-19 still affecting travel plans, you’ll want to pay close attention to which reasons for cancellation due to the pandemic are valid. For example, wanting to cancel a trip you booked a while ago because your destination now has rising COVID-19 numbers and you’re afraid to travel is not likely a valid reason.

If you want to be able to cancel a trip for truly any reason, consider the Cancel For Any Reason supplemental upgrade when purchasing your insurance policy. CFAR will allow you to get up to 75% of your trip investment back as long as the trip is cancelled at least two days before departure.

» Learn more: Does my travel insurance cover the coronavirus?

Imagine you’ve booked a two-week vacation to Italy costing $5,000 ($1,000 flight, $3,500 hotel and $500 excursions), all of which is nonrefundable. Then, a week before your departure date, you fall and break your leg.

So, what does trip cancellation insurance cover?

If you have trip cancellation insurance, you’ll be able to get your entire prepaid, nonrefundable trip cost back (as long as the entire amount was insured), since injuries that necessitate medical treatment and prevent you from taking your trip qualify as a covered reason.

Other covered reasons include death of your traveling companion, inclement weather that results in disrupted service, jury duty, terrorist incident, job termination and other extraordinary events.

Although this is not an entire list of all the covered reasons, generally the cancellation must be due to unforeseen circumstances to qualify for a reimbursement. Review the fine print of your policy for the details of exactly which reasons are covered. When seeking reimbursement, you’ll need to submit claims to the insurance provider to substantiate your claim.

Although a wide range of reasons allow you to receive your prepaid, nonrefundable travel expenses back in the event of a trip cancellation, there are important exclusions to know about.

Trip cancellation insurance will not cover losses arising from self-harm, foreseeable events, acts of war, taking part in activities considered dangerous (e.g., skydiving, bungee jumping, endurance races, etc.), a felony, childbirth, dental treatment and more.

» Learn more: How to find the best travel insurance

So what if you want the flexibility to cancel your trip for reasons other than those covered by your policy? For that, you're going to need the CFAR insurance mentioned above.

CFAR is often available as an add-on to travel insurance policies, and while it can come in handy if you want to cancel your trip just because, you're not likely to get all your money back.

Most CFAR policies will only reimburse 75% of your nonrefundable travel expenditures.

» Learn more: Best travel insurance with Cancel For Any Reason Coverage

The price of trip cancellation insurance can vary based on the traveler’s age, destination, length of trip, cost of trip and insurance company.

Using the same $5,000, two-week trip to Italy as mentioned above, a search of policies on SquareMouth (a NerdWallet partner) ranged from $115 to $470, representing 2.3% to 9.4% of the total trip cost.

» Learn more: How much is travel insurance?

All policies provide 100% coverage of the trip cost, however the more expensive plans usually have higher limits on benefits like medical evacuation.

If you’re only looking for trip cancellation coverage and no other protections, a policy equating to 2.3% of the total trip expenses seems reasonable.

On your travel credit card

Trip cancellation coverage can be included as part of a comprehensive travel insurance plan or offered as a benefit on premium travel credit cards.

For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® will reimburse you or your immediate family members up to $10,000 per trip. The Business Platinum Card® from American Express and many other American Express cards also offer up to $10,000 in trip cancellation coverage. Terms apply.

These premium cards also offer other insurance benefits like trip interruption coverage, emergency assistance services, trip delay and more.

If you travel often and typically purchase trip cancellation coverage, consider applying for one of the cards that offer complimentary travel insurance . Not only will you get trip insurance benefits, but you will also get other travel perks and statement credits that can partly offset the annual fee.

Supplement by purchasing policies out-of-pocket

If the coverage limits offered on the cards aren’t sufficient or you’re looking for more protections (e.g., coverage for emergency medical expenses), you’d be better off with a travel insurance . Although you’d incur an additional cost for purchasing a comprehensive plan, you’d have many more benefits not commonly found in the insurance policies offered by the credit cards.

A comprehensive trip cancellation policy is likely to cover canceled flights so long as the flight or flights are nonrefundable and are a part of the total, prepaid expenses covered by your policy. Insurance provided by travel cards typically includes trip delay or cancellation coverage so long as you used that card to pay for your flight reservations.

If you're forced to cancel your trip due to extraordinary circumstances beyond your control, travel insurance will provide coverage for some or all of your nonrefundable travel expenditures, depending on your policy. Covered events will vary, so be sure to review the terms of any plan you intend to purchase.

Trip cancellation insurance is available for purchase from a wide range of companies and is often included as a benefit on travel credit cards. Under certain circumstances, it provides coverage for prepaid travel expenses in the event that you cannot complete your trip as planned.

A comprehensive trip cancellation policy is likely to cover canceled flights so long as the flight or flights are nonrefundable and are a part of the total, prepaid expenses covered by your policy.

Insurance provided by travel cards

typically includes trip delay or cancellation coverage so long as you used that card to pay for your flight reservations.

If you’re going on a trip consisting of costly flights, hotel reservations and excursions and would like to protect your prepaid, nonrefundable deposit but do not need any other coverage, a minimally priced trip cancellation insurance policy is a good choice.

If you have a premium travel credit card , check if you already have trip cancellation insurance as a benefit before you purchase a policy.

However, if you’re looking for additional coverage like travel medical insurance , and/or a basic plan doesn’t have adequate limits, consider a comprehensive travel insurance policy from providers such as AAA , Allianz , and AIG . Read NerdWallet's full analysis of the best travel insurance companies here .

Insurance Benefit: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

The maximum benefit amount for Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is $10,000 per Covered Trip and $20,000 per Eligible Card per 12 consecutive month period.

Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.

Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

1x-2x Earn 2X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

85,000 Earn 85,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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What Non-Refundable Tickets Are & How Do They Work?

If it is to comprise all the airlines’ interpretations of non-refundable tickets, these are basically “sale” airline tickets that can’t be changed or returned for the full amount of money that you paid for them.

What’s the difference between non-refundable and refundable tickets?

If you purchase airline tickets that are stated as refundable, you will be able to reimburse the full amount in case you want to cancel your flights. It is to be pointed out that some airlines’ policies will require the purchasers to pay a service fee in order to cancel the flight. So, in that case, you may end up not getting the full refund of your refundable ticket.

Non-refundable plane tickets, however, can’t be returned for the full paid price. In some cases, airlines could accept canceling or changing the non-refundable fares but would give a partial refund in form of a voucher instead. Other air carriers would make credit card or cash reimbursements, but that’s rarer. And even if you might be eligible for any form of a refund, you might find yourself paying a change fee or other processing charges.

Are non-refundable flights legal?

The short answer is, yes. Flight tickets have a certain set shelf time and their prices fluctuate according to the market demand and supply, as well as other unpredictable variables. Thereafter, if every customer returned or changed for a full refund, airlines would have to raise their prices across the entire board as a way to get accounted for the risk. And that’s why non-refundable tickets are always the cheapest ones proposed by an airline.

Canceling non-refundable airline tickets

As mentioned before, travelers who need to cancel their non-refundable flights might get partial airline vouchers instead, and rarely cash or credit card refunds that are coupled with substantial processing fees that would lower the original purchase value. All of this fully depends on the airline’s plane ticket refund policy but also other factors like customer loyalty or particular fare class.

Highly discounted tickets are usually classified as basic economy and, as a rule, these can’t be returned nor changed, with no exceptions. But, as the DOT’s 24-hour rule was adopted, travelers are able to make changes or cancel their flights within 24 hours from when the purchase was made.

How to change non-refundable airline tickets without paying fees?

It depends entirely on the airline’s policy whether or not you have to pay the change or cancel fee if you get decided to alter or cancel your ticket. But it also depends on some particular circumstances. For instance, the death of someone dear to you may be enough for the airline to waive the cancellation fee. The process though isn’t always easy, usually going hand-in-hand with the necessity to provide some kind of evidence that caused the creation of that circumstance.

Another example when the airline may waive the change or the cancellation fee is when it alters your flight time (at least one hour before or after the scheduled time). The same goes for canceled flights by the airline and flights that are delayed for more than the time mentioned in the airline’s plane ticket refund policy.

In case your flight experiences some alterations like it is being canceled or delayed, the airline should call you so that you can make changes to the flight for a little charge or no charge at all. In case the airline doesn’t call you, you should get in touch with its representatives and ask directly for a refund if you are willing to do it.

Missing, canceling and not showing up for non-refundable flights

Travelers with non-refundable fares who miss their flight for reasons beyond their control, like delayed connections or bad weather conditions as usual aren’t charged any change or cancel fees. They can also be offered a standby ticket for the next available flight, but that is not a guarantee that they’ll arrive at the destination on time or via the initial itinerary.

In other cases, when travelers can potentially control whether or not they will miss the flight, like oversleeping or showing up with an expired ID, they will likely be charged a fee for the flight modification.

Speaking of other cases, when travelers are late for the flight, for instance, airlines can provide them with a standby slot for the next flight if they make it to the airport in less than two hours from the missed flight.

As you can see, every particular case may be discussed with the airline and can end up very well for the passenger. The simple fact is that you should be prepared to provide evidence that you couldn’t be on time at the airport so that the airline waives the fee and provides you with an alternative solution.

If it is to compare not showing up at the airport and canceling the flight altogether, we’d suggest you proceed to cancel it for the sake of the negotiation.

Rescheduling non-refundable flights

The cost of rescheduling non-refundable flights, both for canceling and changing them, depends on the airline, itinerary, cabin class, loyalty program, timeframe, and many other factors.

Here’s a gathered list of major airlines’ policies that might catch your interest. We suggest you pay close attention to the fact that different rules might be applied for award flights (those you purchase with your miles). So, it is better to get acquainted with the airline’s policy first before you purchase the flight.

American Airline

Same-day change fee - $75 for domestic flights, flights within Caribbean and Canada; $150 for transatlantic flights. All are applicable only for the main cabin. Domestic flights change fee - $200 no matter the cabin. International flights change fee - up to $750 no matter the cabin. Cancelation policy - the value of the non-refundable flight can be applied to future travel occurring within a year from the purchase date.

Same-day change fee - $75 Domestic flights change fee - $200 International flights change fee - $200 - $500 Cancelation policy - the value of the non-refundable flight can be honored in the form of a flight voucher valid within a year from the purchase date.

Same-day change fee - Free All flights change fee - Free. Depending on the initial value of the ticket, you would only have to pay the fare difference. Cancelation policy - Free for all the cabin classes.

Same-day change fee - $75 Domestic flights change fee - $200 International flights change fee - $400+ Cancelation policy - the value of the non-refundable flight can be honored in the form of a flight voucher valid within a year from the purchase date.