Flight Cancellation Assistance and Refund Options
Before you cancel, work out whether you or the airline is ending the trip. The answer decides whether money returns, becomes a credit, or stays with the airline. If you want help with your own booking, call 1-855-365-0395.
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Call 1-855-365-0395Independent travel assistance line. Not an airline phone number.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Airline cancels | Refund generally available if you decline the alternative |
| You cancel | Outcome follows your fare |
| Inside 24 hours | Often free for qualifying direct bookings |
| Next step | Check the cause and your fare name |
| Help line | 1-855-365-0395 |
Airline-initiated cancellations
U.S. DOT rules require refunds when an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight and the traveler does not accept the alternative or credit offered. Card refunds should arrive within about seven business days; other payment types within 20 calendar days.
Traveler-initiated cancellations
Your fare sets the result. Some fares return a credit, a few return cash and the most restricted may return little. Read credit expiration and restrictions before accepting a credit.
Step by step
- Identify who cancelled and save the notice.
- Read your fare rules.
- Ask whether you receive a refund, a credit or nothing.
- Cancel through the seller and keep the confirmation.
How major airlines handle cancellations
Fare names and rules differ by airline and change often. Use these notes as a starting point and confirm your own fare.
Delta Air Lines
Its Basic Economy fare (also shown as Main Basic) is usually the most restricted option. For cancellations, check the rules attached to your own fare on Delta Air Lines’s website or app.
American Airlines
Basic Economy is generally the least flexible fare, while higher fares allow more. For cancellations, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
United Airlines
Its Basic Economy fare is usually the most restricted option. For cancellations, check the rules attached to your own fare on United Airlines’s website or app.
Southwest Airlines
The four fare types differ on credits and same-day changes, and Basic credits have a shorter validity. For cancellations, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
Alaska Airlines
Its Saver fare is usually the most restricted option. For cancellations, check the rules attached to your own fare on Alaska Airlines’s website or app.
JetBlue Airways
Blue Basic is the most restricted, while Blue fares allow more. For cancellations, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
Air Canada
Its entry-level economy fare is usually the most restricted option. For cancellations, check the rules attached to your own fare on Air Canada’s website or app.
Lufthansa
Flights from or within the EU may also fall under EU passenger rights rules. For cancellations, what you can do still depends on your fare, so confirm it before you decide.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Cancelling online before noticing the airline already did.
- Taking a credit when a refund was owed.
- Forgetting the 24-hour window.
Questions people ask
Will I get cash back?
If the airline cancelled and you decline alternatives, generally yes. See refund eligibility.
Can I rebook instead?
Yes, if the airline offers it. See rebooking after cancellations.
Where does the refund go?
To the original form of payment.
Ready to sort this out?
Call the travel assistance line and have your confirmation code and travel dates ready.
Call 1-855-365-0395Independent travel assistance line. Not an airline phone number.
Independent information service. VerdictSpot Travel Help is not an airline and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by any airline. Airline names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the topics covered. Airline rules change often; confirm current terms for your own ticket. You can also manage many bookings yourself on the airline’s own website or app. If you call, ask the agent to explain any service fee before you agree to anything.