How to Cancel a Flight: Expert Tips for Last-Minute Changes

To cancel a flight, contact the airline or travel agency where you booked, either through their website or by phone. Most airlines offer online booking management tools where you can find cancellation options. You'll need your booking confirmation number and the last name on the ticket to access your reservation.

Here's the basic process: Find your booking (check your confirmation email or log into the airline's website), review the cancellation policy and any fees, cancel the flight through the online portal or customer service, and confirm you receive a cancellation confirmation. Most importantly, if you cancel within 24 hours of booking and your flight is more than seven days away, you can get a full refund regardless of ticket type.

The amount of money refunded to you will depend on your ticket type: Fully refundable tickets (typically standard economy or above) enable cash refunds if you cancel, but they often cost significantly more upfront when you buy the ticket. Most basic economy tickets are nonrefundable, meaning—at best—you'll receive a travel credit instead of cash if you cancel. Budget airlines often have the strictest policies, while carriers like Southwest offer more flexibility with free cancellations even close to departure.

Step 1: Find your booking info

You'll need:

• Your booking confirmation number (also called PNR or reservation code)
• Who the ticket is assigned to

These can be found in:

• The email confirming your booking
• Airline app or website (if you have an account)
• Travel agency website (if you used one)

Step 2: Understand your airline’s cancellation policy

Before you start the cancellation process, check whether your ticket is refundable or nonrefundable. This determines what you'll get back—cash, credit, or nothing at all. Most economy tickets are nonrefundable, but you may still get a travel credit minus fees.

Step 3: Visit the airline’s website or app

Navigate to the "Manage My Booking" or "My Trips" section. Every airline calls this something slightly different, but it's usually prominently displayed on the airline’s homepage.

Step 4: Find the flight you want to cancel

Enter your confirmation number and last name to pull up your reservation. Select the specific flight you want to cancel if you have multiple segments.

Step 5: Review fare conditions based on your fare type

The airline will show you what money will be refunded to you if you ask for a refund and other conditions. For example, you will find out if your tickets are refundable or not, whether you have to pay cancellation fees, and what you will receive (total or partial refund, travel credit, or no refund at all).

Step 6: Initiate the cancellation process

If you wish to continue, click the cancel option and follow the prompts. The system will walk you through your options and show exactly what you'll receive back.

Step 7: Check the cancellation and refund terms in your booking confirmation

Review all details before confirming. Make sure you understand:

• Refund amount and timeline
• Credit expiration dates
• Any restrictions on future use

Step 8: Confirm the cancellation

Complete the process and save your cancellation confirmation number. You'll need this if you have issues later.

Step 9: Keep records of all communications and confirmations

Save emails and any customer service interactions. This documentation helps if you need to dispute charges or follow up on refunds with the airline or your card issuer (if applicable).

Important considerations according to experts

Here are some extra aspects you may want to keep in mind if you need to cancel a flight.

24-hour rule

If you book directly with the airline and your flight is more than seven days away, you can cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. The 24-hour free cancellation rule does not always apply for tickets booked through agents or OTAs. 

No available cancellation

If your booking is nonrefundable, consider options to change the date, receive a travel credit, or verify if your travel insurance covers cancellations due to exceptional circumstances.

Refund processing

Refunds (if eligible) may take several days to appear in your account, depending on your payment method and the airline's processing times. Credit/debit card purchases are typically processed within seven business days, while cash or check purchases can take up to 20 business days.

No-show policy

Failing to cancel a flight in advance may result in a no-show, which can lead to the cancellation of your return flight, forfeiture of any refund, and possible penalties that could affect future travel. Always cancel your reservation rather than simply not showing up.

Travel agents & online travel agencies (OTA)

Cancellations for flights booked through an agent or OTA must be handled by that agent, not the airline. Additionally, having a third-party in the process can make it more complex and time-consuming, so it is advisable to book flights directly with the airline to avoid issues with cancellations.

Airline’s customer service

If you're unable to cancel online or need assistance, look for a "Contact Us," "Customer Service," or "Talk to a person" option on the website or app. Many providers offer live chat, phone support, or email assistance for these cases. Canceling ASAP will give you the time to communicate with the airline promptly.

Canceling by ticket type

Sometimes, cancellation policies vary depending on the ticket type. For example, a basic economy ticket for a flight may be nonrefundable, but a premium economy ticket may be refundable. Keep this in mind when booking, as there may be a small monetary difference to enable cancellation in case of an emergency.

Canceling flights by airline

The cancellation process varies from one airline to another, and our experts at Going have compiled the specific details for the most popular airlines in the US.

Canceling flights by third-party vendors

Since it’s also possible to cancel flights booked through third-party sites, this is how you’d go about requesting a cancellation. 

Cancellations in practical cases

How to cancel a flight ticket purchased in the past 24 hours

If you've booked a flight within the past 24 hours, you're in luck! If you buy a ticket for a flight to or from the United States and purchased directly with the airline, you can get a full refund (or change the ticket) with no fees as long as you bought the ticket at least seven days in advance of the trip. This is true whether or not the airline is a US-based carrier; it simply has to be flying you to or from the US.

This is thanks to a US Department of Transportation rule, which requires that airlines must "hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment or allow a reservation to be canceled within 24 hours without penalty." Most airlines offer the latter.

Important: This 24-hour rule only applies when you book directly through the airline—not if you're booking through an online travel agency (OTA). However, many OTAs, such as Priceline, have similar 24-hour cancellation policies.

Within this 24-hour period, you can usually cancel your flight directly through the website or call the airline's customer service.

How to cancel a fully refundable flight ticket purchased more than a day ago

A fully refundable ticket is usually more expensive than a nonrefundable ticket. Depending on the airline, a refundable economy flight can sometimes be three times more expensive than a nonrefundable economy flight.

If your ticket is fully refundable, you can usually cancel your flight online. Look for a "My Trips" or "Manage My Flight" section of the airline's website; the name will vary per airline. Otherwise, you can call the airline's customer service.

How to cancel a nonrefundable flight ticket purchased more than a day ago

If you purchased a nonrefundable ticket, sometimes it can mean that you're out the money, but other times, it means you can still use some of the value of the ticket for a future flight. Generally, a cancellation fee will be deducted from the original cost of your flight, then any remaining value is provided as a credit/voucher that can be used toward the purchase of another ticket.

Exactly how much value you'll retain depends on the fees, and those vary by airline. As soon as you know you won't make your flight, call the airline immediately and talk to customer service. If you're lucky, you'll catch a representative having a great day who is super willing to help you out. Be polite, courteous, and gracious—a pleasant attitude can go a long way.

First, ask for a refund. Explain your circumstances, or look for a loophole. If that doesn't work, your best bet is to ask for a voucher or a flight change. Sometimes an airline will give you a voucher that you can use within a year.

Flight cancellation policies & best practices 

Whether you're eligible for a refund depends on your ticket type and airline policy. Tickets that are fully refundable allow you to get your money back, but they're often significantly more expensive. However, most basic economy tickets are nonrefundable, meaning that if you cancel, you'll typically receive a credit or voucher rather than a full refund.

The US Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide certain protections, but these vary based on circumstances:

When you ARE entitled to a refund:

• Flight canceled by the airline
• Significant schedule changes by the airline
• You cancel within 24 hours of booking (for flights 7+ days away)
• Fully refundable ticket purchased

When you are NOT entitled to a refund:

• Nonrefundable tickets
• Personal issues or change of plans
• Dissatisfaction with service
• Incidental expenses
• Extraordinary circumstances (inclement weather, strikes)
• After being offered re-routing options for an informed cancellation

For more detailed regulations, check the Department of Transportation's guidelines.

Pro tips for avoiding future cancellations

Travel insurance: Is it worth it?

Travel insurance is often marketed as a must-have, but truth is, credit cards already offer similar protections. For example, premium travel cards like Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum provide coverage for trip cancellations, delays, and lost baggage, reducing the need for third-party policies.

However, if you're booking a nonrefundable ticket, traveling internationally, or have prepaid hotel stays, insurance might be worth considering—especially for medical emergencies abroad. If you end up getting coverage, make sure it includes trip interruption protection and that you are fully aware of its refund policies.

Booking strategies to minimize cancellation risks

Booking flexible fares is the easiest way to avoid costly cancellations. Many airlines now allow free changes on main cabin or higher tickets, and some even let you change basic economy tickets for a small fee. You can also look for fare classes labeled "flex" or "refundable," which offer better cancellation policies.

A simple tip to avoid missing connections (and therefore last minute cancellations) is to book direct flights whenever possible. If your schedule is uncertain, consider booking with an airline that doesn't charge change fees (such as Southwest).

Another smart approach is to use flight search tools to find the best price. Knowing how to find the best flight deals ensures you get the best price upfront and don't have to resort to canceling your ticket.

Check all the flight details

Before buying your ticket, double-check every aspect of your itinerary. No one wants to cancel their flight over a small mistake like incorrect travel dates, baggage restrictions, or an unnecessarily long layover.

Remember to pay close attention to details like departure times, visa requirements, and connection times. Also, if you're booking through third-party sites, always verify your ticket details with the airline directly.

Track flights and prices with Going

If you book your flight at the best possible price, you won't feel the need to cancel and rebook just to save money. So, instead of worrying about fluctuating prices, sign up for Going's flight alerts and receive the best deals before you buy.

With a Going Limited membership, you can get the best deals for domestic US flights. Premium and Elite members also receive notifications for discounted fares, mistake fares, and international travel deals, helping you secure the lowest price upfront. Join Going today!