How to cancel a flight and get your money back
Six checks, in the order that matters, so you know whether you are owed cash, a credit or nothing — before you press cancel.
The short answer
Whether you get money back depends on who cancels and what you bought. If the airline cancels your flight, or changes it by three hours or more on a U.S. domestic trip (six or more internationally), and you choose not to travel, U.S. rules say you are owed a cash refund — automatically, within 7 business days on a credit card. If you cancel yourself, a refundable ticket comes back as money, while a non-refundable one usually becomes a travel credit, or nothing on basic economy. One exception helps everyone: a ticket bought directly from the airline at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of booking. Always cancel before the flight leaves, with whoever sold you the ticket — the name on your card statement.
Step 1: Find out what kind of ticket you have
Your fare type decides almost everything. You will find it on the e-ticket receipt, in the confirmation email, or under the booking in the airline's app.
- Refundable — you can cancel and get the fare back to the card you paid with, minus any charge the fare rules set.
- Non-refundable (most economy fares) — if you cancel and the flight still operates, there is no cash refund under U.S. rules. Many airlines give you the value back as a travel credit instead.
- Basic economy — the most restricted fare. On many airlines it cannot be changed and returns little or nothing if you cancel yourself.
Step 2: Are you still inside the 24-hour window?
If you bought the ticket directly from the airline at least seven days before departure, federal rules let you either cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, or hold the fare for 24 hours without paying — the airline chooses which of the two it offers.
The rule does not cover tickets bought through travel agencies or booking websites. Many of them offer something similar, but their own terms decide it, so ask the seller first. That includes us: ask the agent before you rely on a 24-hour window for a ticket we issued.
Step 3: Did the airline cancel or change your flight?
This is the case where you are most clearly owed money. If the airline cancels your flight for any reason, or makes a significant change, and you decide not to travel and not to accept a credit, you are entitled to a refund — even on a non-refundable ticket. A “significant change” under the U.S. Department of Transportation's rules includes:
- departing 3 hours or more earlier, or arriving 3 hours or more later, than first scheduled on a domestic trip — 6 hours or more on an international trip;
- a different departure or arrival airport;
- more connections than your original itinerary;
- being moved to a lower class of service (if you still fly, you are owed the fare difference);
- for travelers with a disability, a different connecting airport or an aircraft missing an accessibility feature you need.
The airline has to tell you that you can have a refund. If you turn down the new flight, or simply don't respond and don't take it, the refund must be sent automatically to the way you paid — you do not have to ask. If you accept the new flight and fly it, you are no longer owed a refund, so decide before you click “accept”.
Paid extras follow the same logic: seat, Wi-Fi or other fees for a service you didn't get through no fault of your own are refundable, and a checked-bag fee is refundable if the bag is lost or significantly delayed and you file a report with the airline.
Step 4: Cancel with whoever sold you the ticket
Look at your card statement. The company named there is the merchant of record, and that is who processes your refund. If you booked on the airline's website, cancel there or in its app. If you booked through a travel site or agency, start with them — the airline will often send you back to the seller anyway. Fees for extras like bags or seats are the exception: those are refunded by the airline.
Do not simply skip the flight. On many airlines a no-show cancels the rest of the trip, including the return, and you can lose the ticket's value. Cancel before departure.
Step 5: Refund or travel credit?
When the airline cancelled or significantly changed the flight, the choice is yours: you can insist on the money. Any credit offered instead must stay valid for at least five years, and the airline must tell you its restrictions.
When you cancel a non-refundable ticket yourself, a credit is usually the only option. Before you accept one, check when it expires, whether it is tied to the traveler's name, and whether a fare difference applies when you rebook. It is also worth asking the airline whether any unused taxes or fees on the ticket can be returned.
Step 6: How long the refund takes
For a flight the airline cancelled or significantly changed, the refund is due within 7 business days if you paid by credit card and 20 calendar days for other payment methods, counted from when you turned the alternative down. For a refundable ticket you cancel yourself, the airline's own policy sets the timing. Either way, your bank can take a few extra days to show the credit on your statement.
If the airline or seller refuses
Ask again in writing and keep copies of everything: the booking, the cancellation or change notice, and every reply. If a refund you are owed still doesn't arrive, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation using its air travel complaint form. Disputing the charge with your card issuer is the last resort — card disputes have time limits, so don't leave it late.
Cancelling because you are ill?
U.S. rules don't require a refund of a non-refundable ticket because you are sick, but many airlines will waive a change fee or offer a credit if you ask and can show a doctor's note. Travel insurance may cover it, depending on the policy. Often the better move is to change the flight to new dates instead of cancelling it.
Want an agent to handle the cancellation?
We read your fare rules, tell you exactly what you will get back and what it will cost, and cancel only after you approve: a flat $25 handling fee plus any airline penalty, stated before anything is done. It works for bookings made with us or elsewhere — have the booking reference (PNR) and the last name on the ticket ready.
We can't override an airline's rules or promise a refund your fare doesn't allow. What we can do is find out what you are owed and handle it for you.
Questions people ask
Not if you cancel and the flight operates as scheduled — U.S. rules give no refund in that case, though many airlines turn the fare into a travel credit. You are owed your money back if the airline cancels the flight or changes it significantly and you choose not to travel, or if you cancel within 24 hours of booking directly with the airline at least seven days before departure.
When the airline cancelled or significantly changed the flight, U.S. rules require the refund within 7 business days if you paid by credit card and within 20 calendar days for other payment methods, counted from when you turned down the alternative. Your bank can take a few more days to show it.
No. The federal 24-hour rule applies to tickets bought directly from an airline at least seven days before departure. Travel agencies and booking sites may offer something similar, but their own terms decide it, so ask the seller before you cancel.
Not when the airline cancelled or significantly changed your flight. The airline must tell you that you are entitled to a refund, and any credit it offers instead must be valid for at least five years. If you cancelled a non-refundable ticket yourself, a credit is usually all the airline offers.
Start with whoever sold you the ticket. The name on your card statement is the merchant of record, and that company is responsible for the refund of the ticket when one is owed. Fees for extras such as bags or seats are refunded by the airline.
Sources and how current this is
- U.S. Department of Transportation, Refunds (page last updated by DOT on 7 November 2025).
- 14 CFR 259.5(b)(4) — the 24-hour hold-or-cancel rule.
Last checked by InAirBookings on 12 October 2026. DOT began reviewing these refund rules in 2026, so they may change; we re-check this page and update the date when we do. Airline policies on credits and basic economy vary — your fare rules are the final word.
Not sure what you are owed?
Call with your booking reference. An agent checks the fare rules and tells you, before anything is cancelled.