When Airlines Owe You a Cash Refund, Not a Credit
The US Department of Transportation's automatic refund rule: which cancellations and schedule changes qualify, how fast the money must come back, and how to ask.
By WarBird Flight editors · Updated September 14, 2026 · 2 min read
The rule in one sentence
Since late October 2024, US rules require airlines to refund the ticket in the original form of payment, automatically and without being asked, when the airline cancels the flight or changes it significantly and the passenger does not accept the alternative. This applies to non-refundable tickets too.
What counts as a significant change
If the airline offers a rebooking that you accept, no refund is owed. If you decline it, or the airline simply cancels, the refund is due for the unused part of the ticket.
- Departure or arrival moved by more than three hours on a domestic flight, or more than six hours on an international flight.
- Departure or arrival airport changed.
- More connections added than the original itinerary had.
- Downgrade to a lower class of service.
- A change to a less accessible aircraft for a passenger with a disability.
How fast
Seven business days for credit card purchases, twenty calendar days for other payment methods. The refund must be in cash or to the original card; the airline cannot substitute a voucher unless you choose one. Checked bag fees are refundable when a bag is delayed more than 12 hours on a domestic flight, and paid extras such as Wi-Fi or seat selection are refundable when not delivered.
What the rule does not cover
Flights you cancel yourself outside the 24-hour window keep their fare rules: a non-refundable ticket becomes a credit, not cash. Weather delays that do not reach the thresholds above are not refunds either, though airlines usually rebook for free.
If the refund does not arrive
Call (708) 866-8751 with the confirmation code. The agent checks whether the change met the threshold, files the refund request with the airline if it was booked through the agency, and tells you what to say to the airline if it was not. Complaints go to the Department of Transportation's air consumer office when an airline refuses.
Cancellation and refund rules by airline
What a cancelled standard-fare ticket turns into on each carrier, and the US refund rule that applies to all of them. Policy copy last checked September 2026.
| Airline | Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Air Lines | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| United Airlines | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| American Airlines | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Southwest Airlines | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Alaska Airlines | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Air Canada | Tickets to or from the US booked seven or more days ahead can be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund under US DOT rules; Air Canada applies the 24-hour rule broadly. | Details |
| Lufthansa | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| British Airways | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Air France | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| KLM | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Norwegian | Norwegian's own 24-hour cancellation applies to bookings made more than 14 days before departure on many fares; US DOT rules apply to tickets touching the US. | Details |
| Emirates | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Qatar Airways | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
| Etihad Airways | Under US Department of Transportation rules, any ticket to, from, or within the United States booked at least seven days before departure can be cancelled for a full refund within 24 hours of purchase. | Details |
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