Need to Cancel a Flight?
Review Your Available Options First.
Whether the airline cancelled your flight or you need to cancel voluntarily, available refund, credit and rebooking options depend on the ticket, airline rules and original ticket issuer.
Independent third-party travel assistance. Not affiliated with any airline. Service fees may apply if you choose to proceed.
What applies depends on who cancelled
The options available after a cancellation differ depending on whether the airline cancelled the flight or you are choosing not to travel.
A refund may be required
Eligibility depends on the actual circumstances of your itinerary.
It depends on the fare rules
Non-refundable tickets normally do not qualify for a cash refund when the passenger voluntarily cancels a flight operating as scheduled, except where a specific policy or rule applies.
If you booked through a travel agent or online travel agency, the entity shown as the merchant on your payment statement may be the one responsible for issuing the refund. Checking your card or bank statement is often the quickest way to identify who that is. SkyBuzzz is an independent assistance service and cannot issue refunds for tickets it did not sell or control.
Eligible refunds are generally automatic
Under current US Department of Transportation rules, a passenger who is entitled to a refund should not have to argue for one.
Where a refund is required, it is generally issued automatically. There is normally no need to negotiate, escalate or make a special request.
An eligible refund normally returns to the card or payment method used for the booking, rather than as a credit toward future travel.
An airline cannot replace a required refund with a voucher or credit unless the passenger affirmatively accepts that alternative.
An eligible refund generally includes the unused ticket amount together with applicable taxes and fees, including fees paid for services that were not provided.
Eligible refunds are generally due within seven business days for credit-card purchases and 20 calendar days where another payment method was used.
If an eligible refund is not processed within the applicable timeframe, contact the responsible airline or merchant of record. You may also review the DOT complaint process.
SkyBuzzz provides independent travel assistance and general informational support. We do not determine legal eligibility, provide legal advice, or guarantee a refund or any other outcome. For the current official position, see the US DOT refunds page.
What may count as a significant change
Not every schedule change qualifies. DOT rules describe particular situations that may make a refund available if you choose not to accept the new itinerary.
Departure moved earlier
Departure three or more hours earlier for a domestic itinerary, or six or more hours earlier for an international itinerary.
Arrival moved later
Arrival three or more hours later for a domestic itinerary, or six or more hours later for an international itinerary.
Different airport
Departure from a different origin airport, or arrival at a different destination airport, than the one originally booked.
Additional connections
An itinerary with more connection points than the one originally purchased.
Downgrade
An involuntary downgrade to a lower class of service than the one booked and paid for.
Accessibility changes
For a passenger with a disability, certain changes to connecting airports, or to substitute aircraft where a needed accessibility feature is unavailable.
This is general information, not advice about your specific ticket. Whether any of the above applies depends on the circumstances, and these rules can change — parts of the framework are under active review. Verify the current position directly with the airline, the merchant of record, or the US DOT refunds page.
Refund or travel credit?
Both can be reasonable choices. They carry different value and different conditions, so it is worth comparing them before accepting either.
- Returns value to the original form of payment.
- Not restricted to one airline, route or passenger.
- Generally covers the unused ticket amount plus applicable taxes and fees.
- Where required, generally issued automatically rather than on request.
- Due within seven business days for card purchases, 20 calendar days otherwise.
- May carry airline, passenger, route or transferability restrictions.
- May not cover taxes and fees on a future booking.
- Offered instead of a required refund, it generally must be valid at least five years and disclose material restrictions.
- Issued after a voluntary cancellation, different airline and fare rules may apply.
- Some airlines may offer an enhanced credit value above the cash amount.
Compare the cash value, the expiration date, the restrictions and how likely you are to travel with that airline again before accepting a credit. Accepting a credit or voucher may mean giving up a refund you would otherwise have been eligible for.
US passenger protections, in general terms
General information published by the US Department of Transportation. Whether any protection applies depends on the airline, the fare and the circumstances of the itinerary.
The 24-hour reservation rule
For bookings made directly with an airline at least seven days before departure, the airline must offer either a 24-hour cancellation with a refund, or the ability to hold the fare for 24 hours — whichever it chooses. The requirement applies to airlines, not to travel agents or online travel agencies, which may set their own policies.
If the airline cancels
Where an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight and the passenger does not accept the changed flight, rebooking, credit or other compensation, a refund to the original form of payment is generally required — and is generally issued automatically. A voucher cannot be substituted unless the passenger affirmatively accepts it.
Significant schedule changes
DOT rules describe particular changes that may make a refund available if the passenger declines the new itinerary: departure three or more hours earlier or arrival three or more hours later on a domestic itinerary (six for international), a different origin or destination airport, added connections, an involuntary downgrade, and certain accessibility-related changes. Not every schedule change qualifies.
Refunds must be prompt
Where a refund is due, it is generally required within seven business days for a credit-card purchase and 20 calendar days for other payment methods. If that passes, contact the airline or the merchant of record shown on your statement.
Delayed and lost baggage
Where a checked bag is significantly delayed, the checked-bag fee may be refundable. Airlines may also be liable for reasonable expenses caused by baggage they lose or delay, up to a set limit.
Who issues the refund
Where a ticket was bought through a travel agent or online travel agency, the entity shown as the merchant on the payment statement may be responsible for issuing the refund rather than the airline. There is also no US federal requirement for airlines to compensate passengers for a delay itself; meals and hotels during a delay follow each airline's own commitments.
Rules change, and parts of this framework are under active review. For the current rules, see the US DOT Aviation Consumer Protection pages. This summary is general information only. It is not legal advice, and SkyBuzzz does not determine eligibility.
When travelers request cancellation assistance
These are the situations we are asked about most often. If your situation is not listed, call and a travel agent can help you review the available options.
The airline cancelled your flight
If you do not accept the rebooking, credit or other compensation offered, a refund to your original form of payment may be required. Eligibility depends on the circumstances.
You booked within the last 24 hours
Where the booking was made directly with an airline at least seven days before departure, a 24-hour cancellation or hold protection generally applies. Third-party bookings follow the seller policy.
The schedule changed significantly
Certain changes to timing, airports, connections or class of service may make a refund available if you decline the new itinerary. Not every change qualifies.
You booked through another website
The merchant shown on your payment statement may be the party responsible for issuing a refund. We can help you identify where the request should go.
Something happened and you cannot travel
Illness, bereavement or an emergency. There is generally no automatic entitlement, though airlines may have discretionary policies worth reviewing.
You are weighing a credit against a refund
Compare cash value, expiration, restrictions and your likely future travel before accepting either option.
Questions about cancellations
If an airline cancels or significantly changes a flight and you do not accept the changed flight, rebooking, travel credit or other compensation, applicable DOT rules generally require a refund to your original form of payment. Where a refund is required it is generally issued automatically, so you should not have to negotiate for it. Eligibility depends on the actual circumstances of your itinerary.
If the flight is operating as scheduled and you choose not to travel, refund or credit eligibility generally depends on the fare rules, the ticket issuer and the applicable cancellation policy. Some fares allow a refund or credit; others allow neither.
It depends on the situation. A non-refundable fare normally does not qualify for a cash refund when the passenger voluntarily cancels a flight that is operating as scheduled. Different rules may apply where the airline cancelled or significantly changed the flight, where the booking falls inside the 24-hour window, or where a specific airline policy applies.
For qualifying bookings made directly with an airline at least seven days before departure, the airline must provide either a 24-hour cancellation with a refund, or the ability to hold the reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours. Which of the two is offered is the airline's choice. It does not mean that every ticket change or name correction is free.
The DOT requirement applies to airlines rather than to travel agents or online travel agencies. A third-party seller may operate its own 24-hour cancellation policy, but it is not required to match the airline requirement. Check the policy of whoever sold you the ticket.
It is the business shown as the merchant on your card or bank statement for the ticket purchase. Where a ticket was bought through a travel agent or online travel agency, that entity may be the party responsible for issuing a refund rather than the airline. Checking your statement is usually the quickest way to identify it.
Generally seven business days for a credit-card purchase, and 20 calendar days where another payment method was used. If an eligible refund has not been processed within the applicable timeframe, contact the responsible airline or merchant of record. You may also review the DOT complaint process.
DOT rules describe particular situations, including departure three or more hours earlier for a domestic itinerary or six or more for an international one, arrival three or more hours later domestically or six or more internationally, a different origin or destination airport, additional connection points, an involuntary downgrade, and certain accessibility-related aircraft or connecting-airport changes for passengers with disabilities. Not every schedule change qualifies, and these rules can change.
A cash refund returns value to your original form of payment and is not tied to one airline. A travel credit may carry airline, passenger, route, transferability and usage restrictions. Where a credit or voucher is offered instead of a refund that is required, it generally must be valid for at least five years and must disclose material restrictions. Credits issued after a voluntary cancellation may follow different airline and fare rules. Compare cash value, expiration and restrictions before accepting one.
No. Whether a refund, credit or rebooking is available is decided by the airline and the ticket issuer under the rules that apply to your ticket. We can help you review the available information, but we cannot promise an outcome, and you should be cautious of any service that does.
SkyBuzzz provides independent travel assistance and general informational support. We do not provide legal advice, represent any airline or guarantee refund eligibility or outcomes. For the official position on refund rules, see the US Department of Transportation refunds page.
No service fee for the initial consultation. If you choose paid assistance, we'll disclose our service fee before you agree. Airline charges and fare differences are separate.
Other ways we can help
If something has gone wrong with your booking, a live travel agent can help you review the available options on one call.
Review Your Cancellation Options Before Proceeding
Speak with a travel agent about the available refund, credit or rebooking information for your ticket. No service fee for the initial consultation. If you choose paid assistance, we'll disclose our service fee before you agree. Airline charges and fare differences are separate.