Quick answer: Whether you get money back depends on who cancels. If the airline cancels your flight or changes it significantly, which for the US Department of Transportation means 3 hours or more on a domestic trip or 6 hours or more on an international one, and you decide not to travel, you are entitled to a refund to your original form of payment. It must arrive within 7 business days for a credit card purchase. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you usually get a flight credit on a standard fare and little or nothing on a basic fare. Tickets bought directly from an airline at least 7 days before departure can also be canceled within 24 hours for a full refund. For help with a booking made through us, call a travel expert at Fond Travels on +1 (323) 800 6001.
This guide is based on the Department of Transportation's published refund rules and on airlines' own fare pages, checked in October 2026. Fare rules change often, so check the conditions of your own ticket.
The one question that decides everything: who canceled?
Almost every refund question comes down to this.
The airline canceled or significantly changed the flight. Federal rules give you the right to a refund if you choose not to travel, whatever fare you bought, even a basic fare.
You canceled, and the flight operated. The fare rules decide. Refundable fares give money back; non-refundable fares usually give a credit, sometimes minus a fee; the most restricted basic fares may give nothing after the first 24 hours.
You did not cancel and did not show up. On most fares, the value of the ticket is lost. Always cancel before departure, even if you expect nothing back.
When the airline cancels or changes your flight
The Department of Transportation's refund rule took full effect on October 28, 2024. Under it, you are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels your flight for any reason, or significantly changes or delays it, and you choose not to travel or accept an alternative.
The DOT defines a significant change or delay as any of the following:
Departing 3 hours or more earlier, or arriving 3 hours or more later, on a domestic itinerary.
Departing 6 hours or more earlier, or arriving 6 hours or more later, on an international itinerary.
A different origin or destination airport.
More connections than the original itinerary.
An involuntary downgrade to a lower class of service.
For travelers with a disability, a different connecting airport or a substitute aircraft without an accessibility feature they need.
A few points from the DOT that are worth knowing:
Refunds are automatic. If you bought directly from the airline and reject the alternatives, or simply do not respond and do not fly, the refund is due without you having to ask.
Timing. Refunds are due within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 days for other forms of payment.
Credits are optional. An airline may offer a travel credit or voucher instead of a refund, but it must tell you that you are entitled to a refund. If you accept a credit in place of a refund you are owed, the DOT says it must be valid for at least five years.
If you fly, you are not owed a refund. Accepting the changed flight or a rebooking means you are not entitled to a refund of the fare, though you may be owed amenities for a delay within the airline's control.
Downgrades. If you are moved to a lower cabin and still fly, the airline must refund the difference between the two fares.
When you cancel: how fares compare
For a cancellation you choose to make, each airline's fare rules apply. Here is how the basic fares compare on six large US airlines:
Airline and basic fare
After the 24-hour window
United Basic Economy
No changes. Cancel for a partial travel credit
American Basic Economy
No changes. AAdvantage members may cancel for a travel credit minus a fee, on qualifying US-origin trips booked with American
Delta Main Basic
Cancel for an eCredit of the remaining value minus a cancellation charge
Southwest Basic
No cancel fee. Flight credit that expires 6 months from booking. Changes require upgrading the fare
JetBlue Main Base
Travel credit minus a fee. Changes for a fee
Alaska Saver
A credit of 50 percent of the ticket value if canceled at least 14 days before departure; otherwise no changes or cancellations
On standard economy fares and above, most large US airlines no longer charge a change fee on tickets starting in the United States. You pay any difference in fare when you change, and you receive a credit when you cancel. Delta, for example, describes no change fees on tickets from the US and Canada for its standard and premium fares, and JetBlue's Main fare gives a travel credit with no fee. Fully refundable fares, such as JetBlue's Flex fares or Southwest's Choice Preferred and Choice Extra, return the money to your original form of payment.
The 24-hour rule
For tickets bought at least seven days before departure, the DOT requires airlines to do one of two things:
Let you cancel within 24 hours for a full refund without penalty, or
Let you hold the reservation at the quoted price for 24 hours without paying.
Airlines do not have to offer both. Most large US airlines offer the 24-hour cancellation, and it applies even to basic fares.
Three details catch people out:
The seven-day condition. A ticket bought six days before departure is not covered by the federal rule, although some airlines extend the policy.
Changes are not covered. The rule is about canceling or holding, not about changing dates or correcting names for no charge.
Travel agency bookings are not covered. The DOT is clear that the airline's 24-hour requirement does not apply to tickets booked through travel agents or online travel agencies, although agents may offer something similar. If you book through an agency, including Fond Travels, ask what its cancellation window is before you pay.
Fare holds: reserving a price before you pay
A fare hold lets you lock in a price while you confirm dates, leave or travel companions. There are three ways it happens:
The 24-hour hold under the DOT rule, on airlines that choose the hold option rather than the cancellation option.
A paid fare hold, which a few airlines sell for a fee and a set period, such as several days. United, for example, calls its version FareLock. The fee is usually kept even if you do not buy, and some fees can be credited to the fare if you do.
A hold through a travel agent, where some fares can be reserved for a short time before ticketing, depending on the airline's rules.
A paid hold makes sense when the fare is likely to rise and you need a few days to decide. If you are fairly sure you will travel, buying the ticket and relying on the 24-hour cancellation is often the simpler option.
Flight credits: how they work and how to avoid losing them
A flight credit is the value of a canceled ticket, kept by the airline for future travel. Credits are useful, but they come with rules that cost travelers money every year.
Expiry dates vary. Southwest's Transferable Flight Credits from Choice fares expire 12 months from the original booking date, and credits from Basic fares expire after 6 months. JetBlue travel credits are valid for 12 months from the original ticketing date. Other airlines set their own periods, so check the date on your credit.
"Book by" and "travel by" are different. Some credits must be used to buy a new ticket by the expiry date; others require travel by then. Read which one applies.
Credits are usually in the traveler's name. Most can only be used for the person on the original ticket. Southwest allows a single transfer of Choice-fare credits between Rapid Rewards members.
Find the credit in your account. Most airlines show credits in the loyalty account or under the original confirmation number.
Credits from an airline cancellation are different. If the airline canceled and you took a credit instead of the refund you were owed, it must be valid for at least five years under the DOT rule.
If you booked through a travel agency, the credit usually sits on the original ticket, and the agency can often apply it to a new booking for you.
Delays: refunds, care and compensation
Many travelers expect cash compensation for a long delay, as in Europe. US rules work differently.
There is no federal requirement for US airlines to pay cash compensation for delays.
Refunds apply to significant delays. A delay of 3 hours or more on a domestic flight or 6 hours or more internationally counts as a significant delay, and you can choose a refund instead of flying.
Care and amenities come from airline commitments. The DOT points travelers to each airline's customer service plan and its airline customer service dashboard, which list what airlines commit to provide when a delay or cancellation is within their control, such as meal vouchers, rebooking and hotel stays for overnight disruptions.
Bags. If you paid a bag fee and your bag is significantly delayed, the fee is refundable. For domestic flights that means not delivered within 12 hours of arrival; for international flights, 15 hours for flights of 12 hours or less and 30 hours for longer flights. File a mishandled baggage report to claim it.
Flights from Europe. If your delayed flight departs from the European Union or the United Kingdom, or arrives there on a European airline, European passenger rights may give you cash compensation. Those rules are separate from US rules.
The DOT treats seat selection, bags, Wi-Fi, meals, upgrades and lounge access as "ancillary services." You are entitled to a refund of the fee if the service was not provided through no fault of your own, for example broken Wi-Fi, a canceled flight or being denied boarding involuntarily.
For extras attached to a ticket you cancel yourself, airlines set their own rules. Many return the fee as a credit rather than money. See our guide to seat selection rules by airline for how seat fees are treated.
Refundable or non-refundable: which should you buy?
A refundable fare costs more, and it is worth it in fewer cases than people think, because standard non-refundable fares on most US airlines can now be changed without a change fee. It makes sense when:
You may not travel at all and would not use a credit within its validity.
The ticket is expensive, for example a long-haul business class trip.
Someone else, such as an employer, needs the money back rather than a credit.
Step by step: canceling a flight without losing value
Check who canceled. If it was the airline, ask for the refund you are owed rather than accepting a credit by default.
Check the 24-hour window if you have just booked.
Read your fare. Basic, standard or refundable decides the outcome.
Cancel before departure. Southwest, for example, requires cancellation at least 10 minutes before the original departure; most airlines treat a no-show as forfeiting the ticket.
Write down the credit: the amount, the expiry date, whether it is "book by" or "travel by," and whose name it is in.
Use the right channel. Tickets bought from an airline are canceled with that airline; tickets bought through an agency are handled by the agency that is the merchant of record.
How Fond Travels can help
Fond Travels is an independent travel agency in Woodbridge, Virginia, and we are not affiliated with any airline. For trips booked with us, we:
Explain the fare rules before you pay, including what happens if you cancel, so the cheaper fare does not turn out to be the more costly one.
Handle cancellations and changes on bookings you made with us, and request refunds you are owed when the airline cancels or changes a flight.
Keep track of your credits, so a canceled ticket is used before it expires.
Rebook quickly during disruptions, with a travel expert available any hour.
For a ticket bought directly from an airline, contact that airline. For a booking made with Fond Travels, call +1 (323) 800 6001.
Prefer to talk it through? A travel expert answers 24/7 at +1 (323) 800 6001.
FAQ’s
Do I get a refund if the airline cancels my flight?
Yes. If the airline cancels for any reason and you choose not to travel or accept an alternative, US rules entitle you to a refund to your original form of payment, even on a basic or non-refundable fare.
How long does an airline refund take?
The DOT requires refunds within 7 business days for credit card purchases and 20 days for other forms of payment, once the refund is due.
What counts as a significant delay?
For the DOT, departing 3 hours or more earlier or arriving 3 hours or more later on a domestic trip, or 6 hours or more on an international trip.
Can I cancel any flight within 24 hours of booking?
Tickets bought directly from an airline at least 7 days before departure can be canceled within 24 hours for a full refund, or held for 24 hours, depending on the airline. The rule does not cover tickets bought through travel agencies.
Is cash compensation required for delays in the US?
No. There is no federal requirement for cash delay compensation. Airlines' customer service plans list the meals, rebooking and hotels they commit to for disruptions within their control.
What happens if I cancel a basic economy ticket?
After the 24-hour window, it depends on the airline: a partial credit, a credit minus a fee, a credit with a short expiry, or nothing at all. Check your fare before you book.
How long are flight credits valid?
It varies by airline and fare. Southwest Choice credits last 12 months and Basic credits 6 months; JetBlue credits last 12 months from ticketing. Credits accepted in place of a refund you are owed must be valid for at least five years.
Can someone else use my flight credit?
Usually not. Most credits can only be used by the traveler on the original ticket. Southwest allows one transfer of Choice-fare credits between Rapid Rewards members.
What is a fare hold?
A way to lock in a price before paying. Some airlines offer a 24-hour hold under the DOT rule, and a few sell longer paid holds. The fee for a paid hold is usually not returned if you do not buy.
Can I get my bag fee back if my bag is late?
Yes, if the bag is significantly delayed: more than 12 hours after a domestic flight, or 15 or 30 hours after an international flight depending on its length. File a mishandled baggage report.
Should I accept a travel credit instead of a refund?
Only if you are sure you will use it. If the airline canceled, you are entitled to the refund, and a credit offered instead must be valid for at least five years.
Can Fond Travels cancel a ticket I bought from the airline?
No. Tickets bought directly from an airline are canceled with that airline. We handle cancellations, changes and refund requests for bookings made with Fond Travels.
Cynthia Lucas, an accomplished travel writer, joined Fond Travels in 2017, contributing expertise to global travel content. She specializes in affordable travel, helping thousands of readers discover the best flight deals, hotel discounts, and effective itinerary strategies. With firsthand travel experience across various regions and countries, Cynthia combines practical advice with insider insights. Her work has been featured in travel blogs, agency newsletters, and independent trip guides, establishing her as a trusted voice for budget-conscious travelers.
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