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The United States Department of Transportation requires U.S. airlines to allow travelers the opportunity to hold or cancel an airline ticket during the 24-hour period immediately following the booking of a flight without penalty.
The agency requires airlines to provide a full refund in the original form of payment should a traveler wish to cancel their ticket, as long as the reservation has been made seven days or more prior to the flight’s scheduled departure time.
However, each airline adheres to these rules in its own manner, as the DOT doesn't provide strict requirements but rather general guidance. Since there is no defined standard, it’s critical to know the nuances of the different policies. After all, you might need to cancel for various reasons, including if you set up a flight price tracker and find a better fare.
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Major U.S. Airline Policies
American Airlines
American allows free cancellation within 24 hours of booking for paid tickets in all fare classes, provided the ticket was booked at least seven days before departure. Award tickets are different — you can cancel those free of charge before your first flight departs, regardless of how close to departure you booked.
American also offers a free 24-hour hold option for select flights departing at least seven days later. This allows you to hold your seat at a given fare price for up to 24 hours before confirming and paying. If you don't finish booking before the 24 hours is up, your trip will be automatically canceled.
United Airlines
United Airlines allows free changes or cancellations within 24 hours of booking which begins at the time of purchase. United also offers a paid hold option called FareLock. These holds range in price depending on the fare and can last three, seven or 14 days. Additionally, Basic Economy fares are not eligible for changes within 24 hours, but they still qualify for full refunds if canceled within that time frame.
Delta Air Lines
With Delta's risk-free 24-hour cancellation policy, Delta issues full refunds for tickets purchased directly with them and canceled by midnight of the day after purchase or midnight of the departure date of the first flight—whichever comes first.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska is quite generous with its 24-hour cancellation policy by allowing both free changes and cancellations within the first 24 hours of a ticket purchase, as long as the travel booked is more than 24 hours away from the time of purchase.
For cancellations within 24 hours of ticket purchase, you'll get a full refund. If you'd rather change your flight in this same time period, you're able to do so once without paying a change fee. However, you'll still be responsible for any fare increases.
Moreover, the airline notes that Saver fares canceled beyond the 24-hour window are only eligible for a 50% credit, as long as the cancellation is done at least 14 days before departure.
Related: Alaska Airlines Made It Easier to Get a Refund for a Schedule Change or Flight Cancellation
Southwest Airlines
Southwest still lets you cancel a reservation at least 10 minutes before departure, but there are some important caveats.
- If you booked a Choice Extra or Choice Preferred ticket, those are refundable to your original payment method or you can opt for a Transferable Flight Credit.
- Choice tickets are not refundable, but the ticket's value will be converted to a Transferable Flight Credit.
- Basic tickets are also not refundable, but any remaining value on the ticket at the time of cancellation will be converted to a flight credit.
If you cancel a ticket within 24 hours of purchase, you can opt for a refund to your original payment method, a Transferable Flight Credit (depending on the type of ticket purchased), or a flight credit.
JetBlue
JetBlue allows you to cancel your flight up to 24 hours after booking if the reservation is made at least one week prior to departure. You'll receive a full refund to your original form of payment.
However, canceling anytime after 24 hours of booking results in a refund of JetBlue credit only. Blue, Blue Plus, Even More, and the Mint fare types have no change or cancellation fees. However, Blue Basic carries a $100 cancellation fee for North America, Central America, and Caribbean itineraries and a $200 cancellation fee for all other routes.
The flight credit issued is valid within one year of the original ticketing date.
Frontier Airlines
Frontier notes that a refund to the original payment method is only allowed if you cancel within 24 hours of booking and your flight is seven or more days away.
However, Frontier says Diamond elite members “may be eligible for a refund” if they cancel their ticket at least 24 hours before departure.
Online Travel Agency 24-Hour Policies
Most of the travel agency policies we researched defer to the individual airlines and/or DOT's 24-hour rule. That includes Priceline and Expedia. When it doubt, however, we usually recommend booking directly with an airline as opposed to a third-party.
Related: Best
Final Thoughts
As you can see, each airline demonstrates its own interpretations of the Transportation Department's requirements. Armed with this information, you can protect your wallets and holidays by leveraging these policies in your favor.
When it comes time to book, make sure you use one of the best cards for purchasing airline tickets. And, don't forget to check for point-stacking opportunities when it makes sense if you decide to book through a portal.
Thanks for your articles, very useful. Unfortunately, Icelandic Company Fly Play doesn’t honor this rule when reservation is not made in US Dollars (nevertheless, Customer Service will respect this right in case of reservations in other currencies, only if the customer give a proof of being an american citizen). In this regard, there are two different pages in the website: one, stating limitation by currency (only USD), and other page with a customer service plan where there is not any limitation. My request of refund within 24 hours in a flight between NY an Barcelona was rejected because my reservation was made in Euros and I was an European citizen. Just for your information.
Does this work for any ticket booked with a US airline – such as a BA operated codeshare booked through AA website?
If you book it through AA.com, it’ll follow the AA policy listed.
Back in the days i had a medical situation and wasn’t able to fly – i contacted United with the documents, but they said “no refund” – my transatlantic-trip by Lufthansa was cancelled without any problems, but the inner-us-trip with United they didn’t give me any cent back – kind of strange, this was..
I’ve had exactly the opposite experience multiple times this year with United. Documentation provided, fees refunded. The flight wasn’t refunded, it was saved as a credit, but they waived all the fees.
Thanks for organizing this concisely and all in one place. Great for future reference.
No problem, Susan!
Love Southwest!
Good to know and Southwest has the most customer friendly policy among all US airlines.
Good to know. I’ll have to make sure to read the rules whenever I book. I don’t know if I’ll remember this post. Or maybe I should be looking up things here first and cross ref it with what I read just to see if I can understand it fully. I know things change but, of course, anything on the travel agent or airline website would be in legal terms.
Great reference!
I wish these policies existed in Europe.
A lot of evaluation to do to take the best offer.
I think Priceline rule is easy to understand and not bad at all.
Good thorough information to have. Thanks.
I often book through American Express to take advantage of get 5X MR points and the pay-with-points option (which then gives me 35% of my points back because of having the Business Platinum Card). I have been told by an American Express Agent that they give until 2359 the next day for cancellation and full refund. Reading this article, I’m wondering now if the agent was just quoting me American’s policy (since I was probably booking an AA Flight) and it would be different for other airlines. I’ll have to clarify next time I talk to them. Thanks for the info.
Good reference.
However I wish people didn’t assume that, by booking from the US, that every airline in the world is required to offer 24-hour cancellation, even though the flights don’t touch the US…
Does this apply for foreign airlines as well?
The referenced documentation on the DOTs website spells out the specifics – I’d recommend you check with your particular carrier to figure out their exact policy implementation.
Had some problems with Travelocity last night attempting to cancel an American Airlines reservation. Through the Travelocity site it would only offer me travel credit (which would then get dinged with a $200 fee when I went to apply the travel credit to future AA reservations). I had to call AA directly, cancel my ticket, then call Travelocity to request a refund. Wasted about an hour, with zero explanation from Travelocity.
I’d leave the ‘hold’ on speakerphone when I can at work (and, probably have someone call me on the other line just before they answer, to screw it up). But, at least you got it’
A very useful summary, thanks.
Thanks. Does the JetBlue policy mean I can cancel up to the last minute and still get a full credit. And does this mean a refund if reserved with miles?
I’ve taken advantage of these 24-hour policies. It’s funny how they charge your credit card almost instantly but take 10 days to issue the refund.
Nice to be reminded of our options
This is one of the few instances where Americans have greater purchase protections than in the EU.
Thanks for this. An interesting read. Priceline’s policy is a good one to remember!
Here’s to Alaska for their generous cancellation policy!
Agreed. I plan to start leveraging their policies for speculative trips more often.
So is airlines like Frontier operating illegally?
No, they are not. Why would you think they are? We actually don’t cover the ULCCs (Ultra Low-Cost Carriers) Frontier/Spirit — sure they get a mention in the Priceline policy, but that has nothing to do with the airline policy when booking directly.
Good to have this information to keep, a few times we have had to cancel and must admit did not know the airlines terms on this.
Thanks for the different airlines policies on the matter, good to know each individually.
Does the 24 hours start from payment or time the ticket is held?
What is the difference between the two?
Since you can hold a ticket without paying full fare [usually a nominal amount] for 24 hours, my guesstimate is that it would be from actual time of payment of the fare.
I wish more airlines adopted the SW policy.