How Airline Flight Credits Work

Expiry rules, who can use a credit, combining with cash, and the mistakes that cost people their money.

By WarBird Flight editors · Updated September 17, 2026 · 2 min read

What a credit is

When you cancel a non-refundable ticket before departure, most airlines keep the value as a credit tied to the original ticket number. It is not cash and it is not transferable on most carriers.

Expiry

Typically one year from the original purchase date, not from the cancellation. On most airlines the new ticket must be booked before that date; on some, travel must also be completed. Check which rule your airline uses before waiting.

Using it

Give the agent the credit or original ticket number. If the new fare is higher, pay the difference. If it is lower, most US carriers issue the remainder as a new credit. Some airlines let you combine several credits; others allow one per ticket.

Credit, voucher, and travel bank are not the same

The word 'credit' hides three different things, and the difference decides what you can do. A flight credit is the value of your own cancelled ticket, tied to your name and its ticket number. A transportation voucher — often given as compensation for a bump or a disruption — is usually more flexible and sometimes transferable. A travel-bank or wallet balance behaves more like an account you draw down. Each has its own expiry and its own rule on whether it can be split across trips or combined with a card. When you call, read the airline the number and ask which of the three it is, because the redemption rules follow from that, not from the label in the email.

Rebook early, not on the deadline

Because the expiry usually runs from the original purchase date, a credit from a ticket you bought months ago may have far less life left than you assume, and the cheap seats on your preferred date can be gone well before the credit itself lapses. Treat the expiry as the last day to book, not the day to start looking. If a credit is about to expire and you have no firm plans, booking any refundable-window fare and cancelling within 24 hours does not extend it — the safer move is to call and ask the airline directly whether an extension is possible, which some grant case by case.

Common losses

Letting the credit expire, trying to use it for another passenger, and forgetting that basic economy tickets often produce no credit at all. Call (708) 866-8751 with the ticket number and the agent will read the exact rules on your credit.

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