o.a.t. travel cancellation policy

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Cancellation policies of major US airlines and online travel agencies

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Miles and points enthusiasts are usually meticulous in planning their travels. But sometimes life gets in the way, and we have to change our plans or cancel altogether. Other times, we might jump on a super low fare and realize afterwards that it doesn’t work for our schedule.

In those situations, the best travel insurance credit cards may not have potent enough benefits to provide a full refund. If you need to change your plans, airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) like Orbitz , Expedia , and Priceline all have different cancellation policies. And with airlines, fare rules can be rather complicated. Here’s a rundown of what to expect when you cancel a ticket.

Airline Cancellation Policies

Generally speaking, airlines may refund you for a cancelled ticket, depending on the fare paid.  Most low fares, regardless of the class of service, are completely non-refundable.

And policies vary on award tickets, too. Very few award tickets are completely refundable (you’ll get all of your miles or points back with no fee), while other airlines charge penalties to return miles to your account.

Alaska Airlines

Cancel within 24 hours:  Full refund, no fees

Fully refundable ticket:  Refunded to your original form of payment, no fees

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets:  $125, plus difference in fare

Same day confirmed change: $50 ($25 if flying entirely within California or other shuttle markets)

Exceptions: Passengers with MVP Gold elite status or higher won’t pay change fees

Change/cancellation fee:  $125 if changing your ticket more than 24 hours after booking

Exceptions: MVP Gold Alaska Airlines elite status or higher

Flights reserved through June 30, 2020, for travel until May 31, 2021, can be canceled or changed with zero fees — no cash refunds. You must rebook your flight for travel within one year of your original itinerary. You are responsible for the difference in fare.

American Airlines

Cancel within 24 hours: Full refund as long as you book at least two days prior to departure. You will not receive a refund on certain taxes or fees for booking via phone

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets: $200 for domestic flights, up to $750 for international flights

Same day confirmed change:  $75 ($150 between New York-JFK and London Heathrow)

Exceptions: Executive Platinum American Airlines status receives free same-day flight changes. Basic Economy flights cannot be changed

Change/cancellation fee:  Free date changes (origin and destination must remain the same), $150 for origin and destination change. $150 cancellation fee for first passenger, and $25 for each additional passenger on the same reservation

Exceptions:  Executive Platinum members exempt from award change fees

Flights reserved through June 30, 2020, for travel through Sept. 30, 2020, can be cancelled or changed for free — no cash refund. You’ll be responsible for difference in fare.

Cancel within 24 hours:  Full refund, no fees

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets: $200 per domestic ticket (plus difference in fare). International change fees cost up to $500. You’ll receive an eCredit for future use with Delta in the amount of your ticket minus the fee.

Same day confirmed change: $75

Exceptions:  Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion Members Delta status exempt from same day change fees. Basic Economy cannot be altered

Change/cancellation fee:  $150 (changes must be made 72 hours or more before departure)

Exceptions:  Platinum and Diamond elites are exempt from award change fees

Flights reserved through June 30, 2020, can be canceled or changed for free for up to one year after the purchase date — no cash refunds. You’ll be responsible for the difference in fare.

Fully refundable ticket:  The WORKS fare bundle gives you fully refundable and changeable tickets, no fees

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets:

• $0 if changed or cancelled 60+ days prior to departure
• $79 if changed between 59 and 14 days prior to departure
• $119 if changed 13 days or less prior to departure
• You’re responsible for difference in fare. If you change your flight to a cheaper option, you will not be refunded any value
• If you cancel your itinerary, you’ll receive a travel credit valid for 90 days (you must use it within 90 days, but you can book travel further out)

Same day confirmed change: $119

Exceptions:  Elite 100K members receive the WORKS bundle

Change/cancellation fee:  $99.

Exceptions:  $0 change fees if change is made eight or more days prior to travel and the same class of service is available on your new flight

Cancel within 24 hours:  Full refund, no fees (ticket must be booked seven days or more prior to departure)

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets: For Blue and Blue Plus, you’ll pay:

• $75 for fares costing $99 and under
• $100 for fares costing between $100 and $149
• $200 for fares costing $200 or more

For Mint class, you’ll pay $200

Exceptions: Mosaic status exempt from all change fees except for Blue Basic fares

Change/cancellation fee:  Same as non-refundable tickets

Exceptions:  Mosaic status

Flights book through June 30, 2020, can be changed or canceled for free. You are responsible for difference in fare. If you change to a lower-priced ticket, you’ll receive a travel credit valid for 24 months from its issue date.

Fully refundable ticket:  Refunded to your original form of payment, no fees

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets:  Wanna Get Away fares (the cheapest) are refunded in the form of  Southwest travel funds . You can use these toward any Southwest purchase, but they typically expire within one year of the issue date.

Same day confirmed change:  No fees as long as you change more than 10 minutes before boarding. You’ll be responsible for the difference in fare

Exceptions:  A-List and A-List Preferred Southwest elite status members can jump on an earlier Southwest flight for no charge if there’s room

Change/cancellation fee:  Fully refundable up to 10 minutes before boarding

Exceptions:

If you change or cancel your Wanna Get Away fare by September 7, 2020, the travel credits you’ll be issued won’t expire until Sept. 7, 2022.

Spirit Airlines

Cancel within 24 hours:  Full refund, no fees as long as reservations are made more than seven days prior to departure

Fully refundable ticket:

• $90 per person via the Spirit website
• $100 per person via Reservations/Airport Modification or Cancellation
• $50 per person for Group Booking Itinerary Modification or Cancellation

Same day confirmed change:  $99 per person for standby

Change/cancellation fee:  $110

Fares booked by June 30, 2020, can be changed or canceled for free. If you cancel your itinerary, you’ll receive a travel credit valid for 12 months. If you change your flight instead of canceling, you’ll need to pay the difference in fare. If you book a cheaper flight, you’ll receive a travel credit for the difference.

Mile redeposit fees for canceled award flights are waived.

United Airlines

Change/cancellation fee for non-refundable tickets:  $200 for domestic flights, up to $1,000 for international flights

Same day confirmed change:  $75

Exceptions:  Basic Economy fares cannot be changed. Premier Gold, Premier Platinum and Premier 1K status are charged no fees for same day changes. Premier 1K is exempt of all change fees

Change/cancellation fee:

• $75 for changes made 61+ days in advance
• $125 for changes made within 60 days
• $125 for no-shows

Exceptions:  United Airlines elite status offers varying discounts on change fees.

Price when booking 60 days of departure:

• $100 with Premier Silver
• $75 with Premier Gold
• $50 with Premier Platinum
• $0 with Premier 1K

Price when booking 61+ days from departure:

• $50 with Premier Silver
• $25 with Premier Gold
• Free with Premier Platinum

You can cancel or change flights purchased through June 30, 2020, for free. If you change, you’re responsible for the difference in fare. If you book a cheaper fare, you will not be reimbursed. If you cancel your flight, you’ll receive travel credits valid for 12 months.

Mile redeposit fees are waived for canceled award flights.

Online Travel Agency (OTA) Cancellation Policies

If you book a paid ticket through an Online Travel Agency, you may be able to cancel your ticket and get a refund or apply the value of the ticket towards future travel.

Bear in mind that even though you’ve purchased a ticket through an OTA, your ticket will still be subject to the fare rules, cancellation policies, and fees from the airline you’re traveling.

Change/cancellation fees:  $30, generally. This is on top of the fees charged by the airline. You may receive travel credit for canceling non-refundable flights, minus any fees. Fully refundable tickets can take up to 45 days to be redeposited to your form of payment

COVID-19 policy changes:  All Orbitz policy changes appear to have ended. You’ll still save with most airlines, as they may not pass along change and cancellation fees during this time

Change/cancellation fees:  You’re only charged fees passed along by airlines. You may receive travel credit for canceling non-refundable flights, minus any fees

COVID-19 policy changes:

, really. Expedia invites you to try and cancel directly with the airline (with the exception of low-cost carriers like Frontier and Spirit)

Change/cancellation fees:  It APPEARS that Priceline simply follows the policies of its airline partners — so be prepared to pay whatever the airline charges. A very select few airlines may not be eligible for refunds no matter what (again, low-cost carriers). If someone has firsthand knowledge of fees incurred by Priceline, leave a comment.

, except the ability to reach customer service agents more easily through chat if you’re departing within 72 hours

Bottom line

If your plans change and you need to cancel or change a paid or award airline ticket, you’ll have to look closely at the policies of the specific airline or online travel agency you booked with — especially in the time of coronavirus.

Generally, you can get a refund on fully refundable tickets (but may pay a fee). Non-refundable tickets can sometimes have their value applied to future travel, but you’ll always pay a difference in fare and airline change fee (except on Southwest, which doesn’t have change fees). Online travel agencies have similar policies, and will defer to the airline’s fare rules and fees.

Have you had to change or cancel a ticket recently? What was your experience?

Joseph Hostetler

Joseph Hostetler is a full-time writer for Million Mile Secrets, covering miles and points tips and tricks, as well as helpful travel-related news and deals. He has also authored and edited for The Points Guy.

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AARP Answers: Travel Cancellation Policies and Coronavirus

What to know about rescheduling, refunds, credits and more

I have a vacation planned for summer. Will I get a refund if I cancel?

It depends on several factors, including if you protected your trip with travel insurance that included Cancel for Any Reason coverage. CFAR coverage usually adds about 50 percent to the price of a basic policy, which averages 4 to 10 percent of a trip's cost but gives you the most flexibility if something unexpected (like the coronavirus pandemic ) requires you to cancel. Note that fewer insurance companies are offering CFAR coverage these days, according to Stan Sandberg, cofounder of TravelInsurance.com, a site for comparing and purchasing travel insurance policies.

Even if you don't have CFAR coverage, many providers — from hotels to cruise lines to rental-car companies — are loosening change and cancellation policies during the coronavirus outbreak. When the company cancels a cruise or tour, it's likely to offer a full refund and, in some cases, a bonus, says Lauren Cardinale, travel consultant and owner of Travel Design Co. in New Orleans. “They're usually offering a 100 percent refund or future travel credit of 100 percent — or even 125 percent or 150 percent — to entice people to keep their money with the company.”

When the customer cancels, even due to a pandemic during which authorities are asking people not to travel, many companies offer only waived change fees and vouchers or credits toward future travel. Refunds are harder to come by.

Vacations By Rail, for instance, is offering travelers who’ve paid for escorted tours scheduled on or before May 31 will receive a travel credit for 120 percent of the amount paid to be applied to another 2020 tour. Those who’ve paid for escorted tours leaving after May 31 can change to another 2020 tour for no charge, but if they cancel, the normal fees apply (see the site for details). Independent vacation bookings for 2020 can be moved to 2021 for a $250 fee.

Grand European Travel is offering customers who are booked on company-canceled trips (through June 30, for now) vouchers for future travel through 2022. For trips it has not yet canceled, the company is no longer charging a fee for rescheduling up to 30 days before departure.

The best deal for consumers depends on how close they are to a scheduled departure date, Cardinale says. It may be advantageous to hold off on canceling — for now. “If [vacationers] are paid in full and they're already within the cancellation penalty, it's in their best interest to just hold on and wait to see what the supplier does,” she suggests. “They'll benefit the most that way.”

Don't hotels usually allow you to cancel at the last minute, anyway?

Yes, so canceling hotel reservations shouldn't be a problem if you booked directly with the hotel. If you snagged a special nonrefundable rate, you could lose money, but even in that case many hotels are being more flexible during the pandemic and are allowing no-fee cancellations. Note that you're likely to experience long wait times if you try to call the big hotel chains to make changes, so first try to change your reservations online.

Examples of hotel policies

Radisson Hotels is offering no-fee changes or cancellations for all stays through June 30, though its site notes that the company is “constantly updating” its policy based on coronavirus-related developments, and it’s subject to change. Radisson is also asking guests to call agents “only if your travel is within the next 72 hours.” If you make a reservation between April 1 and June 30 for any future date, you can cancel for no charge up to 24 hours before arrival, even for advance purchase rates that are normally not cancelable.

Choice Hotels also asks guests to modify reservations online. If you’ve booked a noncancelable, prepaid rate directly with Choice Hotels, you can cancel with no charge up to 24 hours before arrival if you use the company’s online form by June 30.

Hilton says that all “noncancelable” (advance-purchase) reservations for arrival on or before June 30, 2020, can be changed or canceled at no charge up to 24 hours before the scheduled arrival day. That also applies to new reservations, including Advanced Purchase, made between April 1 and June 30 for any future travel date.

Hyatt is permitting changes to existing reservations (including the usually more restrictive advance-purchase rates) made before April 1 for arrivals before June 30 up to 24 hours in advance; the same applies to new reservations (including advance purchase). The policy applies to new reservations, too, with some exceptions.

Best Western is allowing guests to cancel anytime up to 24 hours before arrival for no fee by June 30, with some exceptions.

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is waiving cancellation and change penalties on new or existing direct bookings for stays through May 31, 2020, up to 24 hours (or less, if permitted by the hotel's policy) before arrival.

If you've booked your trip through an online travel agency such as Expedia (or AARP Travel Center Powered by Expedia) or Booking.com, you may need to make changes through that site, the hotel, car rental, airline, cruise line directly. On its site Expedia says, “We will continue to work with travel partners as necessary to implement flexible policies” during the outbreak. The company also has a customer service portal to assist with changes.

What about booking and canceling a car rental during these uncertain times?

For new car-rental reservations with any company in the next few months, consider the “pay later” option, even if it's a bit more expensive than a prepaid rate, to allow for the most flexibility.

Hertz is allowing prepaid reservations booked before March 13 to be rescheduled for use within 24 months for no charge, though canceling a prepaid rental will include the usual fees, except in travel-restricted areas (you can make changes online). It has also waived young-renter fees and lowered the renter age from 20 to 18 “to help college students and young drivers returning home or needing transportation.”

Avis has a similarly loosened change and cancellation policy.

I see promotions for cruises and other trips that are so cheap! Should I book a bargain vacation for later this year?

Maybe. There are many great deals now, with providers going overboard to sweeten the pot. Viking River Cruises, for one, is offering free air and special savings and requiring smaller (2-for-1) deposits for 2020 and 2021 sailings if you book by April 30 — and it has a “risk-free guarantee,” through which you’ll be allowed to change your cruise date up to 24 hours before departure for no fee (this also applies to bookings made before the outbreak). Some of Disney’s Deluxe Resorts are offering 25 percent off rooms through Aug. 31.

If you do want to book, consider travel insurance with a CFAR policy. And it's all the better if you can book with a travel provider offering no-fee cancellations or the option to buy a protection plan that allows for no-penalty, last-minute cancellations. Many are doing so to address travelers’ concerns about unpredictability.

Royal Caribbean — whose current offerings include a six-night Bermuda cruise leaving May 15 from New Jersey for $308 — recently extended its “Cruise With Confidence” policy for trips through Sept. 1. This allows guests to cancel up to 48 hours before they sail and to get a future cruise credit good through 2021. For cruises the company cancels, customers can receive a full refund or a 125 percent cruise credit also good through 2021 (not applicable if you’ve booked with the “Cruise With Confidence” policy, in which case you’ll receive the 100 percent credit).

American Cruise Lines, which offers river and coastal trips in the U.S., is trying to reassure travelers with a “Cruise With Comfort” guarantee for all journeys departing through Aug. 31, 2020; it allows customers to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before the cruise starts. They'll receive a voucher for a future cruise before the end of 2021.

Collette, which offers tours around the world, has an optional Travel Protection Plan and waiver that you can purchase when booking that allows you to cancel for any reason up to 24 hours before departure for a full cash refund. It starts at $149 per adult for domestic escorted tours under six days and goes up to $925 for Antarctica tours.

Uniworld River Cruises is allowing customers to reschedule (or receive a voucher to use through 2022) up to 14 days before their departure for any 2020 or 2021 cruise, excluding September trips. If you want to cancel, you'll pay a penalty, but that amount can be used toward a future journey. Airfares booked through Uniworld are subject to airline cancellation fees.

(For information on airlines’ policies, see “ Coronavirus and Travel: What You Should Know ").

One final thing to keep in mind, says Cardinale: The situation is “messy, and things are moving fast. What holds true today might not hold true tomorrow.” Travelers who are flexible and will be satisfied with a future travel credit if things change may be eager to book. Those who are set on specific dates and would expect a full refund should wait.

Editor's note: This story was originally published on April 7, 2020. It's been updated to reflect cancellation policy changes.

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Help! One Company Refused to Refund Travelers More Than $100,000

Then our columnist intervened with the Boston-based tour operator Overseas Adventure Travel.

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By Sarah Firshein

Dear Tripped Up,

My trip to Egypt with Overseas Adventure Travel was scheduled to depart in late March. O.A.T. canceled the tour because of Covid-19, which was a relief. The company notified me of the cancellation and offered either a credit for rebooking or a full refund that would have included airfare. The next week, I learned via email that I had been rebooked on the same trip next year. Unbeknown to me, the stated policy had changed: O.A.T. was no longer offering refunds. I told them that I had a medical condition and did not know when — or if — I would be able to travel, and asked whether they were just going to keep my $17,500 if I couldn’t travel by the end of 2021. Answer: Yes.

I feel I am being held hostage by O.A.T. How are they allowed to keep my money? Roz

They’re not. But, if the extraordinary number of reader complaints I have received — more than a dozen and counting — are any indication, they have been doing so anyway.

Overseas Adventure Travel is part of Grand Circle Corporation, a family of travel companies based in Boston. The small-group and cruising company has been recognized nationally.

But Massachusetts happens to be one of only a handful of states with specific laws that guarantee consumers protection against travel sellers , including requiring that tour operators offer the option of cash refunds (in addition to vouchers or credits for rebooking) when they fail to provide agreed-upon, paid-for services. According to the law, the cash refund must be “an amount equal to the fair market retail value of any undelivered, purchased travel service.”

Translation: When they cancel your trip, they are legally required to offer you the money back.

But even when individual consumers know their rights, they have few options at their immediate disposal when a customer-service representative — usually the only public-facing proxy for a company’s official or unofficial policies — refuses to relent on refunds.

As Adam Anolik, a San Francisco- based travel-industry lawyer, explained over email, that’s why oversight — forcing a company to comply with state laws — can feel like an uphill battle. “The outcome can often turn on who cancels, which is why a lot of suppliers and travelers are playing chicken right now. In reality, many of these statutes are seldom enforced. This pandemic could cause some of them to be dusted off,” said Mr. Anolik.

This is the third Tripped Up column in a row that addresses the issue of refunds. Although travel has stopped and is only starting up again — slowly and in only a few destinations — the aftershocks of that screeching halt, brought on by the coronavirus, continue to reverberate.

As travel companies now suffer a cash crunch, they are facing off with travelers over credits and refunds . Airlines are sidestepping refund regulations established by the United States Transportation Department and the European Union, betting that negative press (and even class-action lawsuits) are still preferable to negative-balance bank accounts.

It’s not hard to surmise, just by reading your email, what happened at O.A.T.: the realization that issuing refunds en masse would bleed the company dry. Tweaking the immortal words of Biggie: no money, mo’ problems.

To determine if my hunch was correct, I reached out to O.A.T. While they didn’t answer my question directly, I was able to recoup more than $100,000, collectively, for you and 10 other readers. Some got total refunds, while others (including you) received partial refunds or continue to wait for certain fees and sums to clear.

In an emailed statement, an O.A.T. spokeswoman said the company is “working to improve our processes and to better address the needs of each traveler whose trip was canceled or postponed due to the pandemic. We are either rebooking travelers on another trip or providing a refund.” Since mid-March, she said, O.A.T. has refunded more than 5,000 travelers — amounting to more than $12 million.

TripAdvisor, ConsumerAffairs and other review sites show lingering frustrations about the company’s coronavirus policies, but several Times readers, according to emails I’ve received, have made headway by filing parallel complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office . That agency said that it has received about 275 consumer complaints so far about canceled O.A.T. trips and has been pressuring the company to comply with the state’s travel-seller laws.

Other travelers looking for refunds may have a better chance if they’re dealing with companies headquartered within Hawaii, Washington state, Illinois or California. In Hawaii, consumers have the right to a cash refund (minus previously disclosed cancellation fees) within two weeks of requesting one. Washington requires travel companies to issue cash refunds within 14 days (or 30 days when the funds are already paid to a vendor, as might be the case for a tour operator) when they cancel a service. In Illinois, the Travel Promotion Consumer Protection Act was created in the 1980s to safeguard against travel scams that promise too-good-to-be-true deals. California, with some of the strongest consumer protections in the country, requires cash refunds for undelivered services within 30 days from whichever date is earliest: the scheduled departure date, the date the refund is requested or the date the service was canceled by the travel company. (Mr. Anolik has a detailed breakdown of other state-by-state travel laws on his firm’s website. )

Back to O. A. T.: In a follow-up note a few weeks ago, you said that you feel the company provides a “good travel service.” But, you wrote, “pushing all the risk of uncertainty onto the client by refusing a refund makes me fearful to ever do business with O.A.T. again.”

You raise an important point. Even though people can’t travel right now, many of us are continuing to dream about our next trip — and that means making conscious and subconscious decisions about which companies to spend money with once the pandemic has passed.

Sarah Firshein is a Brooklyn-based travel writer. If you need advice about a best-laid travel plan that went awry, send an email to [email protected] .

WE CAN DREAM ABOUT TRAVEL Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook . And sign up for our Travel Dispatch newsletter : Each week you’ll receive tips on traveling smarter, stories on hot destinations and access to photos from all over the world.

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The coronavirus pandemic brought air travel to a screeching halt. And while the pandemic was plenty brutal for the industry, it also brought some silver linings. Among them: better airline change and cancellation policies.

Airlines began offering flexible travel policies to help with the ensuing uncertainty. And since then, airlines have iterated on those change and cancellation policies, with some more generous than others. Southwest has always stood out (and it continued to get better by removing expiration dates on its flight credits). Meanwhile, some airlines that were generous in the first few years of the pandemic have since reverted to their old ways.

Here we’ve rated the flexible booking policies for eight major U.S. airlines on several criteria, and ranked them from most flexible to least. We’ve also included some tips for when, how and whether to book your upcoming flights:

Airlines with the best flexible travel policies

If you have the option to book future air travel with several airlines, here are our current rankings of which ones offer the most flexible policies:

These rankings are based on the policies outlined below. For many travelers, even the more restrictive policies will still offer plenty of value, so compare this table against your own travel plans and uncertainties.

Tips for booking

Book directly through the airline. Generally, using a third party like Expedia, Orbitz or a credit card rewards portal is a fine alternative to purchasing directly through the airline. However, as anyone who has tried to deal with these online travel agencies this month can tell you, it adds an extra layer of uncertainty and customer support wrangling for changes and cancellations.

Canceling a ticket doesn’t mean you get your money back. Most airlines issue a credit for canceled bookings that can be used for some amount of time (often 12 months) after the cancellation. So you shouldn’t book a dozen flights for this year assuming you can cancel them and simply get your money back.

Award flights (using miles) have the same flexible policies as cash flights. And booking last-minute one-way flights with miles is often a good strategy .

Industry-wide airline policies

Airline ticket policies range across companies, but there are a few standards to count on.

Basic economy

In most cases, basic economy fares cannot be changed or canceled for free on any airline. This means that these fares should be avoided outright by any traveler who is not completely confident in their plans. As a rule of thumb, they are the least-refundable airline tickets.

» Learn more: Basic economy vs. main cabin

“Free” cancellations

Just because a fare can be canceled without incurring a fee does not mean you will get your money back. In most airlines, in most cases, canceling a flight will result in receiving a voucher or credit with the airline. These vouches are also fairly limiting in that they usually have expiration dates (one year from issue date is common). Notable exceptions include Southwest Travel Funds , which do not expire.

What does this mean? Travelers shouldn’t book several flights, planning to cancel all but the one they expect to take. Doing so will result in receiving a large sum of expiring credits on a specific airline.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024 , including those best for:

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

1.5%-6.5% Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$300 Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

on Capital One's website

2x-5x Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

75,000 Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

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Changes, Cancellations and Standby

When your travel plans change, your reservation can too.

When you want to change your flight

Cancellations within 24 hours, nonrefundable & refundable fares, same-day switch & standby, frequently asked questions.

Need an extra day in paradise? Want to leave early? We’ve got options.

Change / cancel fee info for each fare

To find which fare you purchased, please reference the original booking email. To view your trip, visit  Manage Trips or chat with us . 

• Confirmation code or ticket number
• Please note, customer cancellations (for any reason) cannot be reinstated.  
• You can save this $25 per person fee by self-serving online at jetblue.com.

If your travel was booked  seven days  or more prior to the scheduled departure date, you have  24 hours  from the time the booking was made to cancel your reservation without being charged a cancellation fee. The entire booking must be cancelled to qualify (not applicable for JetBlue Vacations reservations).

Nonrefundable fares

Refundable fares.

• If you don't show up to the airport without changing or cancelling your flight, your fare can be forfeited. 
• Blue Basic fares booked or exchanged on or after Mar 18, 2024 cannot be changed and must be cancelled prior to departure to avoid forfeiting the fare. 
• If a flight change request is made prior to scheduled departure and on the same calendar day, customers may take advantage of our same-day switch options (see below). 
• This includes any extra or optional purchases such as Even More® Space, priority security, additional bag fees, etc. 

Same-day switch

JetBlue customers may make a confirmed same-day switch for a flat fee of $75 (no fare difference applies) for Blue, Blue Plus and Mint fares. Blue Basic fares booked on or after Mar 18, 2024 are not eligible for same-day switches or same-day standby. Blue Basic fares booked before Mar 18, 2024 are eligible for same-day switches or same-day standby with a $75 fee.  Mosaic members may continue to make free same-day switches on all fares (including Blue Basic) starting 24 hours prior to departure without paying a fare difference or the applicable fee. 

A same-day switch can only be made on the day of travel, beginning at midnight in the time zone of your departing flight. 

You can do a same day switch for the same airport, or an approved neighboring airport.

Standby travel is based on seat availability, is not guaranteed and, depending on your fare, is subject to an additional $75 fee (no fare difference applies). Standby is not allowed for Blue Basic, except for Mosaic members.   In order to travel standby, you must have already purchased a seat on JetBlue. You may list standby on  any sold-out flight between the same cities on the same calendar day  as your confirmed scheduled departure. 

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Cancel or Refund Your Flight

In-page links.

• Cancel A Non-Refundable Ticket , Go to footer note
• Cancel a Refundable Ticket , Go to footer note
• Request a Refund or Reimbursement , Go to footer note
• 24 Hour Risk-Free Cancellation , Go to footer note
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Cancel a Non-Refundable Ticket

How to cancel a non-refundable ticket.

• Ensure you cancel your ticket prior to departure (Tickets not changed or canceled prior to departure will have no remaining value)
• Find Your Trip or Log In and go to My Trips
• Select the trip you need to cancel
• Select the ‘Need to Cancel?’ button
• Select ‘Start Flight Cancellation’ and follow the steps

No Cancellation Fee

Cancellation fees are not applicable for the following tickets:

• Delta Main Cabin and above tickets for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and USVI
• Delta Main Cabin and above tickets for travel originating from the United States, Canada or the Caribbean to anywhere in the world (including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners)
• Basic Economy tickets are excluded

Cancellation Fees

If your ticket is not included in the No Cancellation Fees policy above (for example, Basic Economy tickets or tickets originating in Central or South America), then cancellation fees apply and start at $99 depending on your itinerary (subject to change – the applicable fee is listed in the Fare Rules for your ticket), and you will receive the remaining value of your ticket (after deduction of the cancellation fee) as an eCredit.* The expiration date of your eCredit will depend on the terms of your original ticket and any applicable waivers.

*For tickets issued for travel originating in Korea, tickets will be refunded to the original form of payment after deducting the cancellation fee. Check your ticket along with the Baggage & Travel Fees page to view any fees that may apply to your Basic Economy ticket depending on your origin city and destination. An eCredit will not be issued if the cancellation fee exceeds the ticket value.

Cancel a Refundable Ticket

How to cancel a refundable ticket.

• Ensure you cancel your ticket prior to departure
• Select the flight you need to cancel
• Click on the ‘Need to Cancel?' button

Apply for a Refund for a Refundable Ticket

Visit My Trips to request a refund for an upcoming trip. Your ticket must be a refundable ticket, purchased with a credit card, cash or check. Your refund will be issued to your original payment method.

Cancel Your Trip Protection Plan

For a full refund of your premium, you must cancel within 15 days of your plan purchase (or as determined by your state of residence) and must not have filed a claim or departed on your trip. Premiums are non-refundable after this period.

Check Your Refund Status

If you’ve already submitted a refund request for an upcoming trip, you may check to see the status of your refund request.

Request a Refund or Reimbursement

If there is a flight cancellation or significant delay (>120 minutes), you will be rebooked on an alternative flight, or your ticket will be converted to an eCredit for future travel. However, in some instances, you may be eligible to request a refund* of any unused portion of your non-refundable ticket or for unused trip purchases if you choose not to travel. Please note that most tickets are nonrefundable and not all amenities are refundable; see their individual terms for details. Once submitted, we will do our best to process your request in a timely manner and update you on your refund eligibility.

If we have already canceled your flight, and you would like to request a refund to your original form of payment, please complete the Travel Disruption Refund Request form :

• If we have rebooked you on a new flight or your original flight was significantly delayed (>120 minutes) and you would like to cancel and request a refund, please do so within My Trips

Please note that we are unable to issue refunds for the following:

• Non-refundable tickets that have not experienced a flight cancellation or significant delay (> 120 minutes)
• Tickets purchased from third-party travel sites or agencies (please contact the agency first)
• Tickets already used for travel

Already submitted a refund request and would like to check the status of your case?

Check Refund Case Status

Reimbursements

If you incurred hotel, transportation and/or meal expenses due to a significant delay or cancellation that was within our control, please submit a reimbursement request.* Once submitted, we will review your request, determine eligibility and update you on the status.

Please note that we are unable to reimburse the following:

• Air traffic control delays
• Weather delays
• Prepaid expenses
• Hotel expenses for stays outside of the city of disruption
• Delayed baggage expenses
• Alternative transportation to your final destination
• Ticket costs for missed connections on other airlines
• Child or pet care
• Delta Sky Club® or other lounge fees

Request Reimbursement

Already submitted a reimbursement request and would like to check the status of your case?

Check Reimbursement Case Status

*Eligibility for refund and reimbursement requests through the Refund or Reimbursement Request form are limited to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, for flight disruptions caused by factors within Delta’s control. For residents of countries other than the U.S. and Canada, or for flights departing from an airport within the European Union, please submit requests through our Comment and Complaint form .

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation

24-hour risk-free cancellation process.

• Click the ‘Need to Cancel?' button
• Receive a full refund, which will be automatically issued to your original form of payment

Delta will process the refund of your ticket when canceled within 24 hours of purchase, however, some banks or credit card issuers may initiate a hold of funds on your credit or debit card. We encourage you to contact your card issuer for their specific policies.

Cancellation request must be made by midnight of the day after the eTicket is purchased or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first. Cancellation request must be made before travel commences for the first flight. Available only for eTickets purchased at the time of reservation through Delta ticket offices and airport ticket counters, Reservation Sales, or at delta.com.

If you wish to pay for your ticket with cash, you may make the reservation over the phone, which will guarantee the fare for 24 hours. Your ticket must be purchased at a Delta ticketing location by midnight of the following day, or your reservation will be canceled. Once purchased, these tickets will not be eligible for cancellation under the Risk-Free Cancellation policy.

Does not apply to travel agency tickets and bookings, paper tickets, or partially-flown reissued tickets. For SkyMiles Award Tickets, please call Delta Reservations to request cancellation.

For tickets purchased with Miles + Cash option, miles will be re-deposited, and cash will be returned in equivalent miles.

Miscellaneous: Cancellation request does not need to go through the same area in which the eTicket was purchased. For example, if you purchase via Reservations, you can cancel through delta.com.

Fares, offers and rules are subject to change without notice.

No Show Policy

Frequently asked questions.

• Credit/debit card purchases are typically processed within 7 business days and may take up to 2 billing cycles to appear on your statement
• Cash or check purchases are typically processed within 20 business days and will be refunded in the form of a check to the person named as the customer on the ticket

In some cases, you may be eligible for an eCredit instead of a refund depending on the extent of your delay. eCredits will automatically be added to your SkyMiles account and can be redeemed for a future Delta flight using your ticket number.

Note: International refunds may take longer due to local banking procedures.

You can check the refund status  online or if you have questions about the amount refunded you can call:

• 800-847-0578 within the U.S. and Canada
• 404-715-5417 within Atlanta, Georgia or outside of the U.S. and Canada

To request a refund for a refundable or unrestricted eTicket purchased with a credit card, call Delta Reservation Sales at 800-847-0578 within the U.S. or Canada. For all other countries, see worldwide reservations numbers to locate a number in your area.

You can submit your unused flight coupons/paper tickets by mail to the Delta Passenger Refunds Department at the following addresses:

Via U.S. Postal Service Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds P.O. Box 20537 Atlanta, GA 30320-2537

Via Courier Service Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds, 4th Floor 700 South Central Avenue Hapeville, GA 30354

Even if your ticket is not refundable, you might still be able to cancel your itinerary. You have one year from the ticket's original issue date to use the ticket, subject to any applicable waivers that may extend this expiration date reschedule your travel without losing the full value of the ticket (less any applicable change fees).

• For domestic travel, tickets must be reissued and travel completed within one year of the original ticket date, subject to any applicable waivers that may extend this expiration date.
• For international travel, tickets must be reissued to the same or another international destination, and travel must begin within one year of the original ticket date, subject to any applicable waivers that may extend this expiration date.

Exception: The death of the passenger, immediate family member, or traveling companion. In this case, you will be required to forward a copy of the death certificate to the Passenger Refunds Department mailing address.

Note: Customers who purchase Basic Economy (E booking class) will not be able to change or refund their ticket after the Risk-Free Cancellation period.

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Problem with a trip you booked through a portal? Here's what you should do

The holiday season usually brings flight delays and cancellations. Also, if you're traveling through regions with snow, the chances of weather affecting your travel add a layer of uncertainty.

Along with bringing extra patience when traveling, knowing what to do if something goes wrong can also help you find a solution.

Unfortunately, that can be easier said than done. We receive emails regularly asking for help. They usually read something like this: "I booked a trip through my credit card's online travel portal. The flight was canceled, so the airline told me to contact the portal and the portal told me to contact the airline. No one is helping."

If you have problems with a booking made with an online travel agent (OTA) or a claim related to your credit card's benefits, what should you expect during this process of delays or cancellations? Also, if things aren't working, what can you do to improve the situation when it's impossible to contact the online travel agency where you originally made your booking?

Here are our best tips to get your trip back on track and help you move claims forward if you need to submit one.

What is an online travel agent/online travel agency?

Before we start, I want to ensure we're all talking about the same thing. When you book a flight directly with an airline or a hotel, you know who to talk to if your trip is canceled or delayed.

Conversely, there can be advantages and disadvantages to using a travel agent or aggregator websites like Expedia.com, Booking.com or the travel portal from your credit card issuer. These websites function as an intermediary, selling travel reservations to you, but they aren't the ones operating the flight, hotel or cruise.

This can add a layer of complexity when things go wrong during your trip, and some of these websites have better track records than others when it comes to helping you sort out your trip during schedule changes.

There are other considerations for whether you should use an online travel agent/online travel agency (OTA), and we have several articles you can reference on that topic:

• 9 things to consider when choosing to book via a portal vs. booking directly
• These cancellation horror stories show why you should think twice before booking through an OTA
• Why this reader says he'll avoid booking through OTAs from now on
• 6 reasons to avoid booking through an online travel agency
• 4 reasons to consider booking your next hotel stay through an online travel agency

For today's purposes, let's assume you already have a reservation made through an OTA. Our goal is to help you navigate changes and cancellations to your trip and problems with any related claims when something goes wrong. This includes asking American Express, Capital One, Chase and Citi what people should do if there are problems with bookings made in their portals. Some of their tips are included below.

A trip change or cancellation before travel

The first set of issues you might encounter is a schedule change or cancellation before you depart. Depending on how drastically your trip is affected, you should receive options for alternate flights or accommodation, or possibly an option to cancel altogether for a refund.

Before your trip and checking in online, the OTA still owns your reservation. It's worth knowing that you will need to deal with the online travel agency for any changes before your trip. Contacting the airline or hotel directly will likely end with you being told to contact the portal's customer service team.

Making changes before your trip

If you receive an email saying that there was a change to your trip (or if you decide you want to make a change), the best thing to do is understand the change clearly and then see what your options are.

In addition to the options presented in the email, search online to see what else is available. Is there another flight to your destination at a time that works for you? If you can no longer stay at your hotel, did you find something nearby from the same brand?

Knowing other options available from the same company or its partners can help you know what our options are. There are probably more options than just the one or two presented in the email you received to tell you about a change to your trip. If you know what exists, you can advocate for yourself when rebooking.

That said, if you want a travel plan that wasn't immediately presented to you in an email or when managing your reservation online, you may need to call. Unfortunately, hold times on the phone are one of the major complaints related to bookings from an online travel agent. See the section below for tips on reaching customer service quickly.

With cruises, the cruise line should communicate changes with you before your trip, and what happens next will vary by how soon you're sailing and how significant the change will be. The cruise line may offer you a discount on a future sailing or onboard credit during your sailing if you choose to keep your booking. Significant changes may come with an offer for a refund. Changing to a different cruise with that same company may be an option if there are significant changes to the sailing you reserved, so ask about this if you're interested.

Refunds for cancellations

Assuming a trip was canceled and you should receive a refund, refunds for cash payments and refunds when you paid with points function differently.

Assuming you booked a hotel and won't be staying there, a Hotels.com cancellation or Booking.com cancellation should be refunded to the credit card used during your booking. Double-check your booking terms to see how long the refund will take. The same applies when you book a flight or cruise through an online travel agency and paid by credit card.

Related: If your flight is canceled, here's what to know about securing a seat assignment on your new flight

However, if you paid with points from a bank's travel portal, this will work differently. If you paid with points and your trip is canceled by the provider (such as an airline), American Express will process your refund as a statement credit.

However, according to a spokesperson for American Express, you can call the number on the back of your Amex card to ask for your refund to be converted to points. Conversely, Capital One will refund you in the way that you paid: credit card, miles or a mix of the two.

A Trip change and cancellation during travel

We'll consider the "you've started traveling" period to begin when you check in online for a flight.

Once you check in for a flight, the airline takes over your reservation. At that point, the airline becomes responsible for any changes — whether that's due to a canceled flight or because you decide you want to make a change.

"This limits a booking agent's ability to resolve an issue if one comes up," according to a spokesperson for American Express Travel. "If a change or cancellation is needed, contact your booking agent before you check in to avoid being bounced between customer service teams and potential fees."

A spokesperson for Chase mentioned a larger grace period but reiterated the same issue: "Chase Travel may no longer be able to make changes on the customer's behalf and only the airline can assist" within two hours of departure.

If you've checked in already or if you miss a flight, you should deal directly with the airline — not the website where you made your booking. The airline should help you make new arrangements. If the airline insists that you contact your booking portal, ask the airline to add notes to your reservation stating this.

Senior credit cards editor Matt Moffitt dealt with this problem during a flight cancellation. He had the airline put a note on his reservation saying that they approved the OTA to make changes to help him avoid back-and-forth when trying to change his flight.

Related: Your flight is canceled or delayed – here's what you should do next

For problems with hotels, most hotel programs have some sort of room guarantee . If you show up at a hotel and it's closed or they can't honor your confirmed reservation, the hotel should find a new place for you to stay. This should not be your responsibility.

For more details, you can read the reservation guarantee policies for Hilton , Hyatt , IHG and Marriott . You may even receive compensation if your original hotel booking cannot be honored.

Related: 3 things to do if your flight is delayed

Cruises are very different. It's important to read the fine print and check the terms of your cruise contract. Many of these contracts indicate that a cruise itinerary can be changed and that the cruise line does not have to refund you.

Itinerary changes can happen due to mechanical failures, disasters at the port of call or other issues beyond the cruise line's control. If there is a change, the cruise line may offer you some type of perk (typically onboard credit). However, moving you to a different cruise — in the way you could change to a different flight due to schedule changes — probably isn't an option unless you choose to buy a ticket for that other cruise.

How to reach customer service quickly

Let's say that plans have gone sideways, and you need to talk to customer service to rebook or cancel your trip. Hold times can be long with any airline or hotel program and travel portals are no better. For example, consider that "impossible to contact Expedia" has a high search volume on Google.

If you need to reach someone quickly, consider contact methods like a direct message on Twitter, calling a number outside the U.S. where wait times may be shorter or even choosing an option for a different language from the customer support menu. For more tips on how to quickly reach customer service, consult the following:

• How to quickly reach an airline customer service agent
• Here's how the TPG staff is beating long hold times and getting airline support quickly
• Last resort: Stuck on hold trying to reach your airline? Head to the airport

It's worth noting that a spokesperson for Capital One Travel says their team is committed to reducing wait times on hold or redundancy created by transferring you to a different department after you call for help with an existing booking. Each agent is trained to handle any type of travel request, according to this spokesperson, to help customers reach a solution without excessive wait times.

How to use credit card protections and submit a claim

If you're having problems with a claim related to your credit card's benefits, such as rental car protections or trip delay insurance, calling the number on the back of your credit card won't help, unfortunately. That's because many of these benefits are managed by independent insurance companies.

Related: What you can ask from an airline after a delayed or canceled flight

In order to help your claim move through the claims process as efficiently as possible, there are a few things you can do. First, ensure you keep all receipts related to your claim and submit legible copies of these and any other documents you send to the claims agent.

Additionally, you should ask for documentation from your travel provider regarding any issues. If there is a cancellation, delay or accident, ask for this in writing. You may need this paper trail for claims like trip delay reimbursement or proving that expenses related to your claim were unavoidable.

Related: Flight delayed? Remember these 4 things if you want trip delay reimbursement from your credit card

What if the claims process isn't working as it should? Unfortunately, contacting the credit card issuer won't help, because you will be told to contact the benefit provider. While the benefit is attached to your credit card, it's usually offered by an outside company.

If you're having issues with a claim — such as no response to questions you send or being asked to send the same documents repeatedly — you'll still have to work with the benefits administrator to solve these issues. For American Express protections, you can find details in your complete guide to travel protections on American Express cards .

For Visa and Mastercard credit cards, many of these benefits are administered by eclaimsnline.com. We asked how to resolve some of these issues but did not receive a response at the time of writing.

Related: 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed

Suppose you continue encountering problems and cannot get help with your claim. In that case, you may need to consult places like the Better Business Bureau or the attorney general covering the area where your claims administrator is located. For advice on these legal issues and your rights surrounding them, seek legal advice from a lawyer.

Bottom line

Our goal is to help you be as prepared as possible. In this way, you can know what to do if there's a schedule change, cancellation or mishap along the way.

Get familiar with your credit card benefits and how to use them. Know who to contact if something goes wrong and how to resolve your issue as quickly as possible. In this way, you can move forward with your trip and reduce delays.

Reducing delays should help you reduce stress and get back to what you really want: enjoying your trip.

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Customer service FAQs

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Checked bags

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• Oversize and overweight bags

Carry-on bags

Through checked bags

No; we’ll only through check bags if all your tickets are in the same reservation and you are connecting to another American Airlines or one world ® flight.

Paying for bags online

Yes, if you buy your ticket on / after February 20, 2024, you can save on your 1st checked bag fees on American Airlines marketed and operated flights for travel within and between the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

You can only pay for bags online starting 24 hours and up to 4 hours before departure if you're flying within and between the U.S., including Hawaii, Alaska and select Caribbean cities.

For departures from Dallas Fort Worth, TX (DFW) or Washington Reagan National, DC (DCA) you can pay up to 2 hours before your scheduled departure.

You can't pay for bags online if you're waitlisted, standing by for another flight, or had a flight disruption and you haven’t confirmed your new flights.

You can pay for up to 3 checked bags per person on aa.com or in the app when you check in. We'll send an email confirmation with instructions on where to drop bags at the airport.

If you are checking more than 3 bags per person, you can add more at the airport according to the max permitted for your trip.

No, after you paid for bags online you can’t add more later. You can check more bags at the airport according to the max permitted for your trip. Checked bag fees may apply.

You can only pay for bags on aa.com, in the app or at the airport.

Yes; indicate you plan to check bags when you check in on aa.com or in the app. Our system will recognize your applicable complimentary bags.

Yes. You can pay for up to 3 bags per person on the same reservation. For example, 4 passengers can pay for a total of 12 bags.

Yes, when they travel on a military fare, but do not have the option to pay for bags online. If you’re not traveling on a military fare show your military ID at the check-in counter to receive free bags.

The standard bag refund policy would apply.

You must pay carry-on pet fees at the airport.

No. If you pay for your bags online the bag fees are non-refundable.

You can make changes to your flight based on the rules of your ticket. Checked bag fees will carry over to your new trip in most cases.

Checked bag fees you paid are non-refundable if you cancel your trip and if you buy or get an upgrade that includes free checked bags.

Curbside check-in

We recommend you arrive to the airport at least 2 hours before domestic flights to allow plenty of time to check in and clear security before scheduled departure. If you're using curbside check-in, allow yourself at least 45 additional minutes.

Service fees are non-refundable, but if you've been incorrectly charged for bag fees paid at a Bags Inc. curbside concierge location (generally indicated with Bags Inc. uniformed employees), contact Bags Inc. at 407-284-1231 or through this link.

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Learn how to request a refund or receipt

You have up to 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket for a refund if you booked at least 2 days prior to departure. The 24-hour refund policy applies to all ticket types, but you have to cancel the trip to get a refund.* Reservations booked as part of group block do not qualify for the 24 hour refund.

Refunds will be issued in full amounts, less:

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*If you bought your ticket through a travel agency or another booking source, contact them for a refund.

If you bought your American Airlines ticket directly from us, you can request a refund online. We'll process your refund back to the original credit card within 7 days (it should appear on your statement in 1-2 billing cycles). For cash and check purchases, we’ll process your refund within 20 days after receiving a complete refund request.

Keep in mind, refund requests must be submitted while your ticket is valid – 1 year from the original ticket date. We will not process refunds on expired tickets.

If you bought your ticket from a travel agent or a website like Expedia, please contact the agent or travel site directly.

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We do not refund cash for non-refundable tickets.

We will refund a non-refundable ticket to the original form of payment if:

• You cancel within 24 hours from the time you first buy your ticket*
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Refunds will be made to the original form of payment. Supporting documents may be required.

You may be entitled to a refund of some taxes included in the price of your ticket:

• Upon written request, taxes or fees not imposed by the airline that are specific to destinations can be refunded
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*Must be booked at least 2 days before departure.

If you're an AAdvantage ® member and canceled your flight on or after January 17, 2024, you can receive a travel credit, minus a Basic Economy cancellation fee. To qualify, your AAdvantage ® number must be in your reservation and your trip must be:

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• Traveled wholly within the 50 U.S. states
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• Canceled on aa.com or in the American app before your first flight departs

If you cancel a trip that has already begun, the ticket loses any remaining value and cannot be used for future travel.

Ticketing and other fees

Yes, you can apply the unused value of your ticket towards future travel on American, depending on the fare rules.

• If you cancel your trip on aa.com before departure, we will cancel your ticket and issue a Trip Credit. Your Trip Credit will be valid until the date listed on the credit.
• If you cancel your trip through any other channel, we will cancel your ticket and issue a Flight Credit. When using your Flight Credit travel must begin within 1 year from the date your ticket was first issued. You may be charged a change fee and any difference in ticket price.

Keep in mind, you must cancel your original ticket before the first flight departs, or the ticket will lose any remaining value and cannot be used for future travel.

Travel credit terms and conditions

If the product or service you paid for was provided on an alternate flight, no refund will be provided.

However, these products and services are eligible for a refund if you’re unable to use them:

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You can request a receipt for most tickets booked in the past 9 months. Simply enter the 13-digit ticket number and the passenger last name.

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19 Things You Need to Know Before Booking an Airbnb

Posted: December 15, 2023 | Last updated: December 15, 2023

How to Ditch the Hotels

Airbnb has made it easier than ever to find unique places to stay, often at prices that beat the big hotel chains. The site also offers a variety of accommodations, from luxury rentals to tiny homes and even Airstreams, making it a viable option for all budgets. But if you've never booked an Airbnb before, the process can seem daunting: What should you look for in a property and a host? What kind of fees will you encounter, and are you able to cancel at the last minute? We've consulted with travel experts to answer those questions and more in this guide for Airbnb newbies.

Related: Airbnb Rental Scams to Watch Out For

Scour the Reviews …

These days, you probably won't even buy a toothbrush online before reading the reviews , and booking an Airbnb is no different — just be sure to look beyond the general star ratings. "Look for honest reviews that go into detail about what was great or awful," says Kate Bernath of A Cali Girl in Bali . "Short reviews are useless and literally tell you nothing about what you can expect from your experience." Of course, focus on reviews that touch on any factors of special concern, like safety, amenities, host attentiveness, or even how comfortable the bed is.

… But Don't Treat Them as Gospel

Phoebe Howlett, a travel blogger, cautions that Airbnb reviews are skewed. "Over 82% of the properties on there have at least a 4.5-star rating," she says, warning that review inflation likely stems from customers' reluctance to criticize property hosts and a desire to receive positive reviews themselves. For a more balanced look at a property, she recommends a service like AirDNA , which also weighs factors like host status, response time, and cancellation policies.

Filter, Filter, Filter

A general search for Airbnbs in a popular destination can yield an overwhelming number of results, so be sure to tailor your search, says Alessandro Mannino, communications manager for NeighborWho . "The website provides a very comprehensive list of filters based on guest preferences, so take advantage of this feature. You will make it much easier and quicker for yourself to find the ideal place to stay." Search criteria can be general (shared space or entire apartment, or number of bedrooms and bathrooms, for instance) or granular (the language you want your host to speak, whether you want an indoor fireplace, if you want breakfast with your stay).

Send the Host a Message

Now isn't the time to be shy. Betsy Ball, co-founder and partner of Euro Travel Coach , says you can help determine how attentive your host will be by simply sending them a quick message or two before booking, asking for clarification on anything you're unsure about. "Ask questions. Get a sense of the level of hospitality they offer you," she says. "Is it consistent with your expectations? Did they answer you in a timely manner?" If not, that could be a red flag.

Look for Superhosts

Another way to ensure you'll be renting a great spot from a great person? Search for Airbnb "superhosts" — a designation they can earn only by maintaining very high ratings and response rates, and very low host cancellation rates. "These are the real gems," says Jeff Miller of Our Passion for Travel . "These hosts know what they're doing and have earned their status by meeting a minimum number of high-quality stays and feedback. … You can take this as a sign of quality that they know what to do, will respond quickly if there is an issue, and have a seamless process."

Analyze the Photos

Airbnb hosts aren't shy about showing off a photogenic property, so consider a lack of photos a bad sign, say Lee and Stacey Hopkins of One Trip at a Time . And if you'd prefer to stay in an Airbnb that isn't used as someone's primary residence, look at the amount of clutter in the photos, they recommend. "If you can see cupboards full of stuff, or plenty of ornaments, fridge magnets and such, then the person probably lives there and you will stay among their stuff, rather than it being just used for Airbnb." Mannino recommends treating brilliant photos with skepticism, just as you might if you were buying a house. "Always compare the provided photos with the written description. Watch for fish-eye lens distortion that can be used to make the space appear bigger than it is," he says.

Know What You'll Pay, and When

Originally, all Airbnb guests were on the hook for the entire cost of their stay upon booking. But in early 2018, the platform debuted a fee-free " Pay Less Up Front " option that requires only a 50% deposit at the time of booking. The catch? The total stay has to cost at least $250, and users need to book their stays at least two weeks in advance. If you don't meet those criteria, you'll still likely be on the hook for the whole cost of your stay during booking.

Consider Long-Term Stays

While most people associate Airbnb with weekend getaways and other short-term stays, they could be missing out by looking elsewhere for long-term accommodations. "Booking somewhere on Airbnb for a month or more typically comes with a big discount," says Yaz Purnell of The Wallet Moth . "Many hosts would rather have their property booked up for a full month rather than a couple of days here and there, so they will include a discount for people booking long-term stays. With this tip, I've managed to find Airbnb hosts offering 20% or even 30% discounts for stays over a month, plus it's a great way to really get to know a new location."

Search the Dates You Know You'll Travel

While it might be tempting to just get a feel for listings and prices by browsing any old dates, that may give you an inaccurate picture of what you'll pay. Cassandra Brooklyn of EscapingNY says the site's demand-based "dynamic pricing" is to blame. "In many cases, weekends and holidays cost more, so the place you're currently looking at advertised at $100 a night can easily jump to $150 a night during your desired dates, not counting another $100 in taxes and fees that will be tacked on."

Don't Forget the Fees

Speaking of fees: When you book an Airbnb, don't be surprised to see a service fee as high as 20% tacked onto your nightly rate. You'll also be on the hook for a cleaning fee, and experts say this can range from minimal to quite a bit. "The amount can be very different from different hosts," Ball says. "The cleaning fee is more important for short stays. If there is an $80 cleaning fee for one night, that sounds like a lot — but if it is for a week, that is much more reasonable."

Read the Rules

Most Airbnb hosts will have a standard list of house rules — for instance, no smoking, noise limits after a certain hour, or restrictions on when you can use common spaces in the case of shared accommodations. But you'll also want to read carefully for anything that seems to overreach, like strict limits on what you're allowed to cook, when you're permitted to shower, or even what you're allowed to wear while sitting on the couch (yes, really).

Review Cancellation Policies

You've booked your getaway with the best of intentions, but what happens when you suddenly can't make it? Each host sets their own cancellation policies, but they generally fall into three categories : flexible (full refunds for cancellations at least 24 hours in advance of a stay), moderate (at least five days in advance), and strict (at least 14 days in advance). "Many hosts do have cancellation policies that are quite strict, so it's important to know what they are and be OK with that," Ball says. "Even if the host has a liberal cancellation policy, you can lose the Airbnb fee that you paid, so be aware of that. Sometimes, even if the cancellation policy is strict, a host may be reasonable if something happens, and they could possibly refund your payment, or part of it, if they are moved to do so."

Hosts Can Cancel, Too

When you book an Airbnb property, note that the host will always have the ability to pull the plug on your reservation. "Be aware that a host can cancel at any time — even a week before you're due to arrive," Bernath warns. "Even though you'll be reimbursed, you'll be left desperately searching for a decent place to stay at the last minute, which can sometimes be impossible within your original budget." Take heart, though: Hosts are incentivized not to do this and can have their accounts suspended if it happens too often.

Know How You'll Check In

Hotels have someone manning the front desk even at 2 a.m., but your Airbnb can be a little trickier. If you know you will arrive at an unconventional hour, search for properties that allow some form of self check-in, Miller recommends. "Flying in late? You'll want an Airbnb that has a lock box of passcode entry into a building. Some Airbnbs will require the host to meet you for check-in, and in this example, that wouldn't work well." Another tip? Make sure you save your host's contact information in case there's any confusion finding the place or accessing it.

Check for Basic Safety Equipment

Hotels are well-equipped with sprinkler systems, dead bolts, and other safety features. Airbnbs can and will vary, however. "I recently stayed alone with my 4-year-old son in an Airbnb in Lisbon and had a few safety concerns," says travel expert Kathleen Porter Kristiansen. The Airbnb "was on a top floor without smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. Check the listing beforehand and consider traveling with your own smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors," she recommends. Similarly, Suzanne Garber, co-founder of Gauze, a company that maintains an international hospital database, urges families with kids to determine whether an Airbnb has been safety-proofed, and says guests who have particular needs like wheelchair access or one-level living should double-check accessibility with their host.

Note Any Must-Have Amenities

Airbnbs are not hotels, and you can't take for granted that you'll receive a full slate of amenities. "Airbnb is often a lot less expensive than staying in a traditional hotel, and you will also not always get all of the amenities that travelers come to expect from a hotel," cautions Maggie Turansky of The World Was Here First . "Stay with the mindset that you will get exactly what is lined out in the description, and don't go in expecting more." The same goes for service: Some hosts will go the extra mile, with a glass of wine at check-in or carefully vetted restaurant recommendations — others, you may never see unless you actively seek them out.

Consider Getting Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a smart buy for any trip that requires a substantial investment, and when you're staying in an Airbnb, it can offer some additional peace of mind. "I was recently staying at an Airbnb in Iceland and had my apartment burgled while I was out," warns Lora Pope of Explore With Lora . "I tried to contact Airbnb to see if they have any insurance to cover incidents like this, but they do not. The host is also not required to have any insurance. It is entirely up to the guest to have insurance to cover their belongings in the event of theft." Travel insurance may also offer additional protection if you fall victim to a strict Airbnb cancellation policy.

You Can't Go Incognito

While it's relatively easy to maintain your privacy ducking into and out of a hotel, Airbnb is different. "Guests and hosts are both required to verify their identities through social networks," notes Molly Fergus, general manager at TripSavvy . "They confirm personal details and scan official IDs into the system … If you tend to be a private person who doesn't dabble in social media and harbors a reluctance to turn over personal information, Airbnb might not be a good choice." Also, unless you choose a property with a self-check-in option, face time with your host is almost assured. For many travelers, this can add a welcome dash of local knowledge to their stay, but for others, it may be uncomfortable.

Steer Clear of Scams

While Airbnb actively goes after scammers, there are still isolated instances of fraud. Mannino says you need to particularly look out for seemingly cheap but great finds in high-demand places. "If you see an offer that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be careful of very low rental rates compared to others," he cautions. Another common issue: Sites that have been carefully designed to look like Airbnb, but aren't, or any time you're asked to wire funds. "Get to the site by doing an organic Google search versus clicking on a social media or an online ad to ensure you are on the official site," he recommends.

This article was originally published on Cheapism

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