How To Get Money Back On A Non-Refundable Air Ticket

You can easily avail a refund on a non-refundable air tickets if your travel plan has been disturbed by unavoidable circumstances. Airlines mostly allow their customers to avail a refund on the airline ticket if there is some political unrest or bad weather conditions at their travelling destination.

If you have made a booking with a US airline then the US Transportation Department regulations need that if you have booked your ticket for 7 days ahead flight then you are legible for cancellation of the reservation that you just made and get a refund without paying any extra charges, but you have to make the cancellation within 24 hours of the booking.

If you make a change like cancellation or increasing the dates further, you may get a fare difference, but you won’t be charged with penalty fees for it. This not only applies for the US airlines it also applies for other airlines selling in the US.

American Airlines

American Airlines allows you to book a seat and hold the airfare for 24 hours this means that you cannot PAY while holding your seat when you choose the 24-hour hold option. But if you pay and then go for a cancellation, you will have to pay the cancel fee on the payment.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines allows you to cancel your airline ticket within 24 hours without any extra charges while it also allows you to make any cancellations or reservation before your flight time, the refundable amount is credited in the full amount which you paid and you can use that credited amount for future travel within the same year.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines has so far offered the best cancellation policy, they allow you to cancel or make any changes sixty days prior to your travel without any charges.

So to take advantage of the 24 hour cancellation policy, we suggest that it’s best you make your booking directly with the airlines either by phone or online.

Frequent Flyer Award Tickets

Do the frequent flyers tickets, also get this benefit? Honestly, no idea some airlines like the British Airways allow you to cancel the tickets within 24 hours of booking on frequent flying award tickets. However, the rules are pretty different for the frequent flyer tickets in the US and the 24 hour cancellation doesn’t apply for frequent flyers.

The Schedule Change Escape

You can also get a refund on a non-refundable ticket if the airline has made any schedule changes, for example if your flight was ready for departure at 10 am but after the schedule change it is departing at 6 am in that scenario you can always qualify for refund, you can call the airline and request them for a refund explaining them that the new schedule doesn’t work for you any more, if the change in time is has 2-3 hours difference the airline will understand and give you a refund but if it’s only a few minutes then don’t expect much.