Guide
Changing or cancelling a flight without losing the money
Change fees have largely disappeared from standard US domestic fares. The fare difference has not. That distinction is the whole subject: changing a flight is usually free to process and expensive to actually do.
On this page
Start with the 24-hour rule
If you booked within the last 24 hours and departure is at least seven days away, you can cancel for a full refund to your original payment method. Non-refundable fares included. Bookings through agents included.
If you are inside that window and something is wrong, cancelling and rebooking is almost always cheaper and simpler than any change process. Do that first and read the rest of this page only if the window has passed.
What a change actually costs
Three components, and only one of them is usually zero:
- The change fee. Removed on standard economy and above for most US domestic travel on the major carriers. Still present on Basic Economy, on some ultra-low-cost carriers, and on many international fares.
- The fare difference. You pay the difference between what you paid and the current price of the new flight. This is where the money goes, and near departure it can exceed the original ticket price.
- Any residual value. If the new flight is cheaper, most carriers give the difference back as a travel credit rather than cash.
Refund or credit?
| Situation | What you get |
|---|---|
| You cancel within 24 hours, 7+ days before departure | Full cash refund |
| The airline cancels, or delays 3+ hours domestic, and you decline to travel | Full cash refund |
| You cancel a refundable fare | Cash refund, less any published penalty |
| You cancel a standard non-refundable fare | Usually a travel credit for future use |
| You cancel Basic Economy | Often nothing at all outside the 24-hour window |
| You simply do not show up | Usually nothing, and the return leg is often cancelled too |
The last row is worth emphasising. Never just not turn up. Cancelling before departure, even minutes before, usually preserves some value. A no-show typically forfeits everything, and on a round trip it commonly cancels your return as well.
Travel credits: read the expiry
Credits are not money. Watch for: the expiry date, whether it is measured from the date of the original booking or the date of cancellation, whether it is tied to the named passenger, and whether it can be used towards taxes or only the base fare. A credit you will not realistically use before it expires is worth less than a smaller cash refund.
Same-day changes
Separate from a normal change, most major US carriers offer same-day standby or a same-day confirmed change on the day of travel, often at a modest fee and sometimes free for elite members. If you just want an earlier flight home and there is space, this is usually far cheaper than a formal change. It is generally not available on Basic Economy.
When the airline changes your flight
Different situation entirely, and much better for you. If the airline cancels or significantly changes the schedule, you may accept the rebooking or decline it and take a cash refund. Three hours or more on a domestic flight counts as significant, six hours on international. Full detail in your refund rights.
Airlines frequently offer a voucher first. You are not obliged to take it.
Practical order of operations
- Check whether you are inside the 24-hour window. If so, cancel and rebook.
- Find your fare rules. They are on the confirmation, and they determine everything.
- Price the new flight before committing, so you know the fare difference.
- If the change is because the airline moved your flight, say so explicitly — that is a different and better entitlement.
- If you cannot travel at all, cancel rather than no-show, even at the last minute.
- If we issued the ticket, call us and we will work out which of these is cheapest.
Common questions
Can I cancel a flight and get my money back?
Within 24 hours of booking, if departure is at least seven days away, yes, in full. Otherwise it depends on the fare: refundable fares give cash, standard non-refundable fares usually give a credit, and Basic Economy often gives nothing.
Do airlines still charge change fees?
Mostly not on standard US domestic fares on the major carriers. They remain on Basic Economy, on some ultra-low-cost carriers and on many international fares. The fare difference always applies regardless.
What happens if I miss my flight?
A no-show usually forfeits the ticket value and frequently cancels the rest of the itinerary, including your return. If you know you cannot make it, cancel before departure even if it is only minutes ahead.
Can I change just the return leg?
Usually yes on a standard fare, subject to the fare difference on the new return. On a round trip that was priced as a whole, changing one leg can occasionally reprice the entire itinerary, so check the total before confirming.
How long do travel credits last?
It varies by airline, and the clock sometimes runs from the original booking date rather than the cancellation date. Check the expiry when the credit is issued.
The airline moved my flight by four hours. What can I do?
On a domestic flight that is a significant change. You may accept the new flight, ask to be moved to a different one, or decline and take a full cash refund.