When purchasing a ticket, many airlines stipulate that there will be a “cancellation penalty” if the ticket is canceled before departure. This seems to primarily apply to economy class fare options (like Aegean Air), and according to Indian legislation, the cancellation penalty may be waived if the ticket is canceled within, say, 24 hours of purchase.

The majority of consumers, according to this Travel SE response, would rather not show up than have their ticket canceled if there was a cost involved. The fee’s existence is attributed to “complex revenue optimization systems,” according to the response as well.

Can passengers get any refund If they cancel their flight

If you cancel a paid fare, you will receive a travel credit for the full amount paid, but Southwest won’t take any costs out of that voucher. Additionally, if you used Southwest points to make your reservation, the airline will promptly and fee-free refund them to your account.

The U.S. The Department of Transportation mandates that airlines “promptly” and automatically offer reimbursements for specific travel interruptions starting in April 2024.

 Time period,” says Keyes. It makes no difference if the ticket was non-refundable. It makes little difference if a worldwide pandemic or inclement weather caused it. If you decide not to proceed, you are entitled to a cash return and are not required to accept a flight credit or travel voucher.”

How to make a flight cancellation on a big airline

There are many airlines that don’t charge you a lot to cancel a flight. We’ve gathered the policies and related costs for every major airline so you can determine how to cancel a flight, even if each one runs a little differently. This information is intended for a regular traveler with a standard reservation, not a status passenger.

We have provided links to our comprehensive guides for each airline, which provide further information about their policies, in case you made your reservation under unusual circumstances. The guidelines for modifying a flight rather than canceling it entirely are also included in these guides.

The cancelation policy of Alaska Airlines 

Removing a paid reservation with Alaska Airlines

For travel beginning more than 24 hours from the time of purchase, Alaska permits cancellations of all reservations made within 24 hours of the reservation being made.

There are no cancellation fees after the 24-hour period, and all fare kinds are now qualified for some form of credit. You will receive a certificate good for a future flight in the full amount paid for Main and First Class prices. (Saver rates for flights booked before this date, even if canceled in advance, will not be credited.)

Source: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

When a flight is canceled, all certificates you get are valid for a period of 12 months from the day your original ticket was issued or 30 days from the date of cancellation, whichever comes first.

During the booking procedure, acquiring a completely refundable fare is the sole method to obtain a complete refund.

Canceling a reservation that was made using miles in Alaska

By contacting Alaska’s reservation service, travelers can cancel their award reservation. When you cancel your award flight, the airline will return the miles to your account and pay you for any applicable taxes.

Cancellation policies of Allegiant Air

Removing a purchased reservation from Allegiant

When it comes to airline cancellations, Allegiant has some of the strictest restrictions anywhere. You have to cancel seven days before departure and still be charged a price.

Source: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Removing a reservation made using miles on Allegiant

When it comes to redeeming a mile-based reward reservation, Allegiant has a special policy. The flight must be canceled at least seven days in advance, and you will be assessed the same amount for each part. You will receive a voucher for the ticket’s worth in place of your account being credited with the points you redeemed.

The cancelation policy of American Airlines 

Getting out of a paid reservation in the US

All American reservations, with the exception of basic economy rates, can now be canceled without incurring any fees. Nonetheless, the restrictions for certain flights that originate outside of North and South America change slightly.

There is a $99 fee for basic economy prices, which is deducted from the total cost of your ticket. Only AAdvantage members are covered by this policy when traveling inside the 50 states.

Source: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Advantage members who cancel a reservation will receive a trip credit that will expire one year from the original ticket’s issuing date. Unfortunately, nonmembers will only have six months to spend travel credits granted on or after March 11, 2024. However, this is a good excuse to sign up for the AAdvantage program as membership is free.

Canceling a reservation made in the United States using miles

Award flight cancellations are free on American. Redeposit fees do not apply, and your miles will be promptly credited back to your account. Not to worry about this more restrictive fare category, as basic economy fares cannot be booked with miles. From firsthand experience, though, you should ensure that the taxes and fees you pay are returned to the original payment method (a credit card, for example) and aren’t granted as trip credits.

Cancellation policies of Delta Air Lines

Canceling a paid reservation with Delta

For flights departing from the United States and Canada, the majority of Delta fare classes (apart from Delta basic economy tickets) permit free flight cancellations. Sadly, flights operating in the basic economy from Mexico cannot be canceled.

Source: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Canceling a mile-based Delta reservation

Like with a paid reservation, you can cancel your flight and Delta will return the miles to your account at no cost as long as you book a fare type other than basic economy. Furthermore, Delta will return any applicable taxes and fees to the original payment method.

You can still cancel your ticket if it is booked as basic economy (for domestic travel inside the United States and Canada). When you cancel, Delta will, however, remove 9,900–19,900 miles from the amount that is redeposited into your account.

The cancelation policy of Frontier Airlines

Removing a paid reservation from Frontier (US AIRLINES)

Regretfully, Frontier Airlines is no longer as accommodating to customers as it once was. If you decide to change your flight instead of canceling, you can avoid paying the cost. This is only useful if you are aware of another Frontier flight that you would like to reserve.

This is due to the fact that when changes are made to a Frontier reservation 60 days or more prior to the departure date, there is no change cost. You will, however, be assessed a cost (per direction) during the 60-day period: $49 for flights departing 59 to seven days in advance and $99 for flights departing six days or less.

Source: ARTUR WIDAK/GETTY IMAGES

Canceling a reservation made with miles on Frontier

Frontier levies a cancellation fee even if your reservation was made using miles, in contrast to many other airlines. No matter how long in advance you cancel, there will be a $75 redeposit fee to pay.

The cancelation policy of JetBlue Airways (US AIRLINES)

Removing a paid reservation from JetBlue

There is no charge to cancel your reservation prior to departure for all fare levels, with the exception of Blue Basic fares.

You’ll get a JetBlue Travel Bank credit for the full amount paid back on all non refundable fares; this credit has an expiration date of one year from the original booking date. Although these credits cannot be transferred, you can use them within your JetBlue account to make reservations for additional passengers.

For every other way, a person must pay $200. For these reservations, you will still receive a travel credit (without the charge).

Source ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Canceling a mile-booked JetBlue reservation

Any JetBlue flight reserved using points is cancelable without incurring fees. The points you have redeemed will be returned to your account upon cancellation. Nevertheless, unlike most other airlines, JetBlue does not return your original payment method with the taxes and fees you have paid; instead, they will be applied to your JetBlue Travel Bank account. Once more, the received credits expire 12 months from the initial booking date.

The cancelation policy of Southwest Airlines

Removing a paid reservation from Southwest

In the event that you must cancel your flight, Southwest is among the top airlines. If you give yourself at least ten minutes’ notice before takeoff, you can cancel a Southwest trip for free.

You will receive a credit for the amount paid for the two least expensive fare categories, Wanna Get Away and Wanna Get Away Plus fares. Only the original passenger may utilize the credit for Wanna Get Away fares; it is not transferable. Anyone can utilize the credit if you purchased a Wanna Get Away Plus ticket.

Source: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Canceling a reservation made with miles on Southwest

Just like with a paid reservation, Southwest will reimburse your points to the original account used to book the award without assessing costs if you need to cancel a ticket using miles at least ten minutes prior to departure. The original payment form containing the taxes and fees paid for the award will be refunded.

The cancelation policy of Spirit Airlines 

Removing a paid reservation from Spirit

You can cancel a flight on Spirit airlines but the fee varies depending on what you do. You’ll get a credit for the amount paid less the cancellation charge if you decide to cancel. Nevertheless, the credit has a 90-day expiration date and isn’t transferrable.

Canceling a reservation made with miles on Spirit

The same cancellation policies that apply to paid reservations also apply to Spirit flight reservations made with miles.

The cancelation policy of United Airlines 

Canceling a paid reservation with United

f you are flying within the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, or on an international flight that originates in the United States, you can cancel for free on practically all United flights, with the exception of those scheduled in basic economy.

Source: ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

Removing a United reservation that was made using miles

Award flight cancellations are no longer subject to fines from United; your miles will be refunded upon your cancellation. However, if you fail to show up for your reward flight, United will charge you $125 for redistributing miles, regardless of your status.

Are airline tickets refundable? 

The type of fare you purchased and your desired return amount will determine whether you are eligible for a refund on your airline tickets. No airline returns all of the money paid for each ticket purchased in full to the original payment method. If you would prefer this option, you will have to buy a refundable ticket or a more flexible tariff type.

Some airlines let you buy an add-on to your ticket, but not all of them provide refundable fare alternatives. If you need to cancel, this add-on could result in a complete refund for your reservation.

For instance, one of the advantages of Frontier’s “The Works” package is that your ticket is totally refundable.

Refunds are not always available for some airlines’ simplest fare categories. For example, you cannot receive a refund on an airline ticket if you purchase it on United at a basic economy fare. You will forfeit the full amount of your ticket if your plans change and you are forced to cancel.

In summary

Make sure you understand the airline’s policies before buying your next ticket. You always hope that everything goes according to plan when you travel. But things happen in life, and sometimes you have to cancel a flight.

Booking with a more accommodating airline or choosing a price class with greater flexibility can be your best option if you’re not sure about your plans when making your reservation.