How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (2024)

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How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (1)

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The cost for changing or canceling a flight will vary by airline. We’ll break it down and offer some tips for avoiding change and cancellation fees altogether. The cost to change or cancel a flight depends upon the specific details of an airline’s policy, which vary by airline. In some cases, you can make changes to your itinerary with no fee.

Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees can vary from as low as $25 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

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CarrierDomestic changeInternational changeSame-day change
Air New Zealand$50$100$0-$50
Alaska Airlines$0 (except Saver fares)N/A$25-$50
Allegiant$25N/AN/A
American Airlines$0$0-$650Starting at $50
ANA$0-$500$0-$500$0-$500
British Airways$0- $35$0- $35N/A
Cathay Pacific$0-$90$0-$90$0-$90
Delta Air Lines$0$0$75
easyJet£25- £54£25- £54£25- £54
El Al$0- $50$0- $50$0- $50
EmiratesNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specified
Etihad AirwaysNot specifiedNot specifiedNot specified
Frontier Airlines$0-79$0-79$79
Hainan AirlinesNot specified$200-$250Not specified
Hawaiian Airlines$0 (excluding Main Cabin Basic fares)$0 (excluding Main Cabin Basic fares)Not specified
JetBlue$0–$100$0–$200$75 (waived for Mosaic customers)
Korean Air$30$30N/A
Norwegian Air$0-$65$0-$65$0-$65
Qatar Airways$0-$25$0-$25$0-$100
Ryanair$45-$60$45-$60$45-$60
Singapore Airlines$0 (first change)$0 (first change)$0 (first change)
Southwest Airlines$0$0$0
Spirit Airlines$0 - $119$0 - $119$199
Thai Airways$125 USD + 30 SGD$125 USD + 30 SGD$125 USD + 30 SGD
Turkish AirlinesTRY 350TRY 350TRY 400
United Airlines$0$0 Up to $75 depending on status
WestJet$0 CAD - $590 CAD$0 CAD - $590 CAD$0 CAD - $590 CAD

How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (3)

Tip: Cancel in 24 hours to avoid fees

A simple way to change or cancel a flight without paying a fee is to do so within 24 hours of booking. After this window, the next option is to wait to see if the airline makes a change to the flight — the departure time, the aircraft, etc. — which will automatically grant you a refund if you change or cancel. Otherwise, some airlines, like Southwest, let you cancel your flight at no cost, and you likely won’t be charged if you have proof of a family emergency or, in some cases, if you hold elite status with an airline.

United Airlines was the first major U.S. airline to permanently eliminate change and cancellation fees — and other airlines quickly followed suit. While there are still a few noteworthy exceptions, now it’s easier than ever to adjust your itinerary for little to no cost.

Changing or canceling a flight with credit card travel insurance

How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (4)

Tip: Credit cards can help with flight changes

Credit cards can be a helpful tool when you need to change or cancel a flight. Research your credit card’s travel insurance benefits to see if they offer trip cancellation or interruption insurance. Get a full list of credit cards with trip interruption coverage in our travel insurance guide.

If you can’t get your money back by canceling a trip through an airline, you may be able to do so through your credit card company. Credit cards with travel insurance can be used to reimburse nonrefundable expenses on canceled trips. If you used a credit card with this perk to purchase any part of your trip, you might be eligible for a refund if your trip is a “covered loss.” Depending on the card, you may be refunded up to $20,000. For most card issuers, covered losses include injury, illness or death of a traveling partner or business partner, weather, terrorism and jury duty.

In general, trip cancellation and trip interruption are covered by credit cards with travel insurance. Both cardholders and immediate family members tend to be covered with credit card travel insurance, even if the primary cardholder isn’t traveling on a trip. Card issuers typically don’t cover trips that last over a certain length, such as 60 days, or ones that are canceled because of a change in your plans or your personal finances.

See our Best Travel Credit Cards

The following cards offer travel insurance, in the form of trip interruption and trip cancellation insurance:

CardTrip Interruption/Trip Cancellation InsuranceAnnual Fee
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip$550
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip$0
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip$95
United Club℠ Infinite Card
Up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per trip$525
United℠ Explorer Card
Up to $1,500 per person and $6,000 per trip$95
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Up to $5,000 per person and $10,000 per trip$95

In a few circumstances, airlines allow travelers to cancel or change their nonrefundable tickets for free. The most common cancellations for which airlines waive change fees are:

  • Cases of personal injury or illness
  • Jury duty
  • Natural disasters
  • Family death
  • Military deployment

In all of these cases, you should call the airline’s customer service line to explain your situation. Be prepared to provide proof of the reason for the requested change or cancellation, as most airlines will require you to submit supporting documentation.

Depending on the airline and your situation, you’ll either receive a travel credit or a monetary refund after your change is approved. Airlines will usually waive the change fee and grant a travel credit that can be used within a year of the original booking date.

Award ticket change and cancellation policy

If you booked your tickets with credit card points, you’ll likely still have to pay a change or cancellation fee. Several major airlines charge fees for changing your award travel or you must cancel and redeposit your miles.

It’s important to note that the rules for awards programs vary from airline to airline. In addition, there may be different rules depending on whether you transferred points from your credit card’s general rewards program. If you’re unsure about the rules of your particular program or airline, it’s best to call the customer service number and speak with a representative about your options.

How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (5) Learn more about our picks for the best rewards credit cards.

There are some general ways you can cancel or change your flight without needing to pay any fees at all, or at least mitigate the cost of your change/cancellation fees:

1. Change or cancel your ticket within 24 hours of booking

The primary way to avoid paying a change fee on an airplane ticket is to change or cancel the ticket within a day of booking your trip. The Department of Transportation has a long-standing policy that requires airlines to provide free changes to consumers within 24 hours of purchasing, so long as a ticket is bought at least seven days before a flight. Once the 24-hour grace period ends, your options for modifying your itinerary for free depend on what type of ticket you have.

2. Wait to see if the airline changes or cancels your flight

Outside the 24-hour post-booking window, basic economy fares are often nonrefundable. Your best chance at changing your basic economy ticket for free is to wait and see if the airline changes some aspect of the flight. If the airline moves the flight time by a significant margin or changes the type of aircraft, then you might be eligible for a refund.

3. Make smaller changes

Round-trip fares are likely to incur greater change/cancellation fees than one-way fares. If you purchased a round-trip flight and need to change the first leg to a different day, your best bet will likely be to pay the change fee and book a new flight. If you only need to change the return portion of a round trip, however, it may be cheaper to book a new one-way flight than to pay the cancellation fee.

If your ticket is one-way rather than round-trip, the most affordable way to change your flight may be to skip the current ticket and buy a new fare, depending on the cancellation fee charged by your airline. In some cases, the cancellation fee alone can cost more than booking a new flight altogether. Plus, airlines charge the difference in fare when you purchase a new ticket — so if you bought your ticket at $150, for example, and the current price for that fare is $275, you’d need to pay $125 on top of any cancellation fee.

How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (6)

Tip: Most airlines cancel the entire round trip if you miss the first leg

While skipping a flight and buying a new one can be less expensive than paying a modification fee, it’s important to note that most airlines will cancel your entire itinerary if you miss the first leg of a round trip. As such, this strategy should be used only on one-way flight reservations and return legs of round trips. If you do pursue this option, it’s advisable to compare fares at different airlines to find the cheapest one-way flight from your origin to destination.

4. Consider standby

For those looking to move their flight time to earlier or later in the day, airlines offer two different options — standby and same-day confirmed change — which usually cost $100 or less. With a same-day confirmed change, you forfeit your current ticket and pay a fee to get a guaranteed seat on another flight. With standby, you pay a fee to be placed on a waiting list for the next available flight to your destination, and you get to keep your current reservation.

The information related to Chase Freedom Flex℠ and World of Hyatt Credit Card has been independently collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication.

Interested in a travel card with no annual fee?

See our Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can reschedule or cancel a flight. However, you may need to pay a change or cancellation fee depending on the airline you booked with and the fare class of your ticket. Luckily since Covid-19, many airlines have reduced change fees or waived them altogether.

The cost of changing a flight will depend on the particular airline you’re booked with and which fare class you purchased. Many airlines have currently waived change fees for economy fares and higher, but still require change fees for basic economy fares. These fees can range from $25 to $400+, depending on the airline’s policy.

Much like with change fees, many airlines have reduced the cost of or eliminated cancellation fees altogether. To determine the cost of canceling your flight, you will need to check with your airline directly.

Many airlines have eliminated change fees, including Delta, United and American, to name a few.

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On this page

  • Airline flight change fees for economy fares
  • Changing or canceling a flight with travel insurance
  • Common reasons airlines waive change fees
  • Award ticket change and cancellation policy
  • Quick tips to avoid cancellation or change fees
  • FAQs

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How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree (2024)

FAQs

How much does it cost to change or cancel a flight in 2024? | LendingTree? ›

Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy-fare flight. The fees can vary from as low as $25 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight +1-866-738-0689.

How much does it cost to change flights? ›

With a non-refundable ticket, you can change your flight when you pay a change fee of $0-$400, depending on your travel route, plus the price difference. As a reminder, Basic Economy tickets are non-refundable and non-changeable in most cases, but may be canceled for a partial eCredit.

How much does it cost for flight cancellation? ›

INR 3000 or Airfare charges (Whichever is lower). Cancellation fee will depend upon the time of cancellation. Know more. INR 3500 or Airfare charges (Whichever is lower).

What is the cost of rescheduling a flight? ›

INR 2500 or Airfare charges plus Fare difference will be charged (Whichever is lower).

How much money will I get if I cancel my flight? ›

Canceling a nonrefundable fare will result in an e-credit for the full amount paid (minus any cancellation fees, depending on fare type and route). However, if you cancel a refundable ticket, you'll get the amount paid refunded back to your original form of payment.

How can I change my flight without paying a fee? ›

With our 24-hour booking policy you can make changes to your reservation within 24-hours of buying your ticket without paying a fee. But there are a few rules: You must book your flight at least one week in advance. You must cancel or change your flight within 24 hours of the time you made your reservation.

How to reschedule a flight without charges? ›

Change the booking within 24 hours: A few airlines permit you to change your flight somewhere around 24 hours of reserving for nothing. How might you change your flight if so? The ideal way is to call customer service. Like that, you can confirm your Airline's approach and ensure you won't be charged any expenses.

Can I cancel my flight and get a full refund? ›

If you cancel the ticket, you may be charged a fee. If the airline cancels the flight, you're entitled to a full cash refund. You can cancel a ticket essentially up until the day of travel, so there's no sense in canceling early and paying a fee.

Do I lose my money if I cancel a flight? ›

Does cancelling flights cost money? Cancelling flights can incur a fee. A cancellation fee charged is sometimes charged by the airline, depending on the terms and conditions of your ticket. If you purchase a fully-refundable flight ticket, this fee may not apply.

How to cancel a flight without penalty? ›

If your flight is at least 7 days away from the time of booking, you are entitled to a full refund within the first 24 hours of booking with no fee. . In response to this, many OTAs offer even more flexibility than the regulations require. Many airlines offer more flexibility than this too.

Why is it expensive to change flight date? ›

When you want to make changes to your ticket, the airline requires that we price the change in the same or a higher class of service, or price bracket, as the original ticket. As the calendar gets closer to the date of the flight, the classes of service on the flight become uniformly more expensive.

Why does it cost so much to change flight dates? ›

Here are some reasons for this price discrepancy: Fare Rules and Restrictions: Airlines typically offer different fare classes, each with its own set of rules and restrictions. Tickets purchased at lower fares may come with more limitations, such as higher change fees or non-refundable conditions.

What happens when you reschedule your flight? ›

The agent will get on the call to help you reschedule. Give your flight details and your rescheduling date for the next Flight to the agent. The agent will verify all your details and reschedule your Flight as promised. Pay the respective charges to the Airline and get the confirmation message.

Is it better to cancel or change a flight? ›

If you purchased a round-trip flight and need to change the first leg to a different day, your best bet will likely be to pay the change fee and book a new flight. If you only need to change the return portion of a round trip, however, it may be cheaper to book a new one-way flight than to pay the cancellation fee.

How late can you cancel a flight? ›

Airlines are required by the U.S. Department of Transportation to refund your money if you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking unless they offer a free 24-hour hold option when shopping for tickets.

What are valid reasons to cancel a flight and get a refund? ›

Top Reasons Most People Cancel Trips
  • Injury or Illness. Sickness and injury are the top reasons for cancelling a trip. ...
  • Death. ...
  • Natural Disaster. ...
  • Acts of Terrorism/Evacuation. ...
  • Financial Default of the Travel Company.
  • Death or Hospitalization of Host.
  • Residence Damage. ...
  • Jury Duty or Military Deployment.

Why is it expensive to change a flight date? ›

When you want to make changes to your ticket, the airline requires that we price the change in the same or a higher class of service, or price bracket, as the original ticket. As the calendar gets closer to the date of the flight, the classes of service on the flight become uniformly more expensive.

Can you pay to change flights? ›

You can change your flight online up to 2.5 hours prior to the scheduled departure time of the original or new flight, whichever is earlier. Changes are subject to payment of a change fee, charged per person per flight.

Why do airlines charge so much to change a flight? ›

They also admit that change fees aren't just a significant revenue source for the major airlines; in fact, these companies have built their business models around them and similar fees, such as luggage fees and other ancillary charges. In short, the fees are a source of major profit. And the airline industry is hooked.

How much does it cost to change American Airlines flight date? ›

If you purchase a ticket that is an unrestricted fare, you can make changes to your flight with no change fee (based on seat availability). However, an additional collection of fare may apply.

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