Whether you get a refund depends on the airline's rules and why you're canceling

Most airlines in the United States do not refund ticket prices when you cancel—they issue a credit toward a future flight instead. The exception is when the airline cancels the flight, changes it significantly, or you booked a refundable ticket. If you paid for a non-refundable ticket and cancel for personal reasons, you will not receive cash back, though you may be able to use the fare as credit with that airline.

The rules are different if the airline is the one making changes. When an airline cancels your flight, significantly delays it, or reroutes you through a different city, you have the right to a refund of the full ticket price—not just a credit. You also have this right if you booked through a third-party site like Kayak or Expedia and the airline cancels; the refund goes back through the original payment method, though it may take the booking site a few days to process it.

Travel insurance and credit card protections can sometimes recover money on non-refundable tickets, but only if the policy covers the specific reason you canceled. Reading the fine print before you buy is the only way to know what you're protected against.

Key Takeaways

  • Non-refundable tickets become airline credits, not cash refunds, when you cancel for any reason.
  • Refundable tickets and airline-initiated cancellations or major changes always result in cash refunds to your original payment method.
  • If an airline cancels your flight, you can request a refund instead of rebooking, and you have the right to that refund even if you booked through a third-party site.
  • Travel insurance and credit card benefits may cover cancellations, but only if the policy specifically covers your reason for canceling.
  • The refund process takes three to seven business days for airline refunds and up to 30 days for third-party booking sites.

Refundable versus non-refundable tickets

When you buy a ticket, the airline assigns it one of two categories: refundable or non-refundable. A refundable ticket means you can cancel anytime and receive your full fare back as cash to your original payment method. A non-refundable ticket means you forfeit the price if you cancel, though most airlines let you rebook on a different flight at no extra charge if the new flight costs the same or less.

Refundable tickets cost more—often 20 to 40 percent higher than non-refundable fares for the same flight. Most people buy non-refundable tickets because the price is lower, then discover too late that they cannot get money back. The airline's website shows which type you bought; look for "refundable" or "non-refundable" in your confirmation email or in the "Manage My Booking" section of the airline's site.

If you bought a non-refundable ticket and cancel, the airline will not send you a check. Instead, you receive a credit—sometimes called a travel credit or flight credit—that you can use toward any future flight on that airline. Most credits do not expire, though some airlines set expiration dates of one to three years. Check your airline's policy on its website or in your confirmation email.

When the airline cancels and you have the right to a refund

If the airline cancels your flight, you are may have access to to a cash refund of the full ticket price, regardless of whether you bought a refundable or non-refundable ticket. You do not have to accept a rebooking on a later flight or a credit toward future travel. The refund goes back to the payment method you used to buy the ticket—credit card, debit card, or bank account if you paid by check or wire.

You also have the right to a refund if the airline makes a significant change to your flight, such as changing the departure time by more than three hours, adding an extra stop, or switching to a much smaller aircraft. The definition of "significant" varies slightly by airline, but most treat a three-hour shift as the threshold. If the airline offers you a rebooking on an earlier flight or one that gets you to your destination at roughly the same time, you can accept that instead of the refund.

Request the refund directly from the airline through its website or customer service line. Go to the airline's "Manage My Booking" page, find your reservation, and look for a "Request a Refund" or "Cancel Flight" option. If that option does not appear, call the airline's customer service number on your confirmation email. Have your confirmation number and the email address or phone number you used to book ready.

Refunds when you booked through a third-party site

If you bought your ticket through Expedia, Kayak, Google Flights, or another booking site, the refund still comes from the airline—but the money goes back through the booking site first. When the airline cancels your flight, you can request a refund either directly from the airline or through the booking site. Most people find it faster to contact the airline directly, since the booking site has to process the refund and then send it to you, adding several days to the timeline.

To request a refund from the airline when you booked through a third party, you will need your confirmation number from the booking site and your airline confirmation number (usually a six-character code). The airline's website will have both in the booking details. Call the airline or use its website to request the refund, and tell them you booked through a third party. The refund will be issued to the original payment method, which is usually the credit or debit card you used on the booking site.

If you prefer to work through the booking site, go to your account on their website, find the reservation, and look for a "Cancel" or "Request a Refund" button. The booking site will contact the airline on your behalf. This route typically takes longer—expect 10 to 30 days instead of 3 to 7 days—because the booking site has to wait for the airline to process the refund, then process it again on their end before sending it to you.

Travel insurance and credit card protections

Travel insurance policies sold by airlines, travel sites, or insurance companies can sometimes refund a non-refundable ticket if you cancel for a covered reason. Common covered reasons include illness, injury, death of a family member, or job loss. Some policies cover "any reason" cancellations, though these cost significantly more and usually refund only 50 to 75 percent of the ticket price.

To use travel insurance, you must have bought the policy at the same time as the ticket or within a short window (usually 14 days). Read the policy document before you buy to understand what reasons are covered and what documentation you need to provide. When you cancel, contact the insurance company with proof of the reason—a doctor's note for illness, a death certificate for a family member, or a termination letter for job loss. The insurance company will then refund you directly, not through the airline.

Some credit cards offer trip cancellation protection as a cardholder benefit. American Express, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and several other premium cards cover cancellations if you paid for the ticket with that card. The coverage amount and covered reasons vary by card. Check your card's benefits guide or call the card issuer to see whether trip cancellation is included and what you need to do to claim it.

How long refunds take and how to track them

Airline refunds typically appear in your account within three to seven business days after you request them. If you paid by credit or debit card, the refund shows as a credit on your next statement. If you paid by bank transfer or check, the money returns to the same account or address. Some airlines process refunds faster—within 24 hours—while others take the full seven days.

To track your refund, log into your airline account and go to "Manage My Booking" or "My Trips." Most airlines show the refund status there, including the date it was processed and the expected arrival date. If the airline does not show a status page, call customer service with your confirmation number and ask for the refund status and expected date.

If you booked through a third-party site, the timeline is longer. The airline processes the refund to the booking site in three to seven days, then the booking site processes it to your payment method in another five to 14 days. In total, expect 10 to 30 days. You can track progress by logging into your account on the booking site and checking the reservation details, or by calling the booking site's customer service line.

What to do if your refund does not arrive

If your refund does not appear within the expected timeframe, contact the airline first. Go to the airline's website, find the customer service phone number on your confirmation email, and call with your confirmation number. Ask for the refund status and the date it was issued. If the airline says the refund was processed but you have not received it, ask them to check the payment method on file—sometimes refunds fail if the card or account information has changed.

If the airline confirms the refund was issued but it still has not arrived after 10 business days, contact your credit card company or bank. Tell them the refund was issued on a specific date and ask them to investigate. Your bank can sometimes locate a refund that was sent to the wrong account or trace one that was lost in processing. Keep your confirmation number and the airline's refund confirmation email handy when you call.

For refunds through a third-party booking site, contact the site's customer service first. They can check whether the airline sent the refund and whether the site has processed it to your payment method. If the booking site says they sent it to your card but you have not received it, contact your card issuer or bank with the same information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a refund if I just changed my mind about the trip?

Only if you bought a refundable ticket. Non-refundable tickets become airline credits when you cancel for any reason, including changing your mind. You cannot convert a credit back to cash. If you bought travel insurance that covers "any reason" cancellations, you may be able to recover part of the ticket price through the insurance claim.

What if the airline changes my flight time by two hours instead of three?

A two-hour change is usually not considered significant enough to trigger a refund right. Most airlines use three hours as the threshold for domestic flights and longer for international flights. You can ask the airline to rebook you on an earlier flight at no charge, but you cannot demand a cash refund for a two-hour delay. Check your airline's specific policy on its website.

Do I lose my refund if I don't request it within a certain time?

There is no legal deadline to request a refund for an airline cancellation, but the sooner you request it, the sooner you receive it. Some airlines may eventually close old reservations and make refunds harder to process, so request your refund within a few weeks of the cancellation. If you booked through a third party, request it through the booking site to ensure the airline knows where to send the money.

What if the airline offers me a credit instead of a refund?

If the airline canceled the flight, you have the right to a cash refund, not a credit. Tell the airline you want a refund, not a rebooking or credit. If the airline refuses, contact your credit card company or the Department of Transportation if you flew a U.S. airline. You can also file a complaint with your state's attorney general's office.

Can I get a refund if I missed my flight?

No. If you missed your flight, the airline is not responsible for refunding the ticket. You may be able to rebook on a later flight, but you will likely pay a change fee or the difference in fare. Some airlines waive change fees if you missed the flight due to circumstances beyond your control, such as a car accident on the way to the airport, but this is at the airline's discretion.