The 24-Hour Flight Cancellation Rule

Above, an All Nippon Airways jet at Narita Airport. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years, I have had my flights canceled on occasion. Usually, it they were weather-related (snow) or "maintenance". I haven't requested any refunds, just a re-booking on another flight. I have not had to cancel a flight while traveling.

There is a 24-hour flight cancellation rule that many travelers don't know about. Thanks to the good folks at Condé Nast Traveler, it is all spelled out in an article from May.

It begins with:

In the age of COVID-19, knowing the ins and outs of getting a refund for an airline ticket has never felt more important. Passengers who are navigating an ever-changing web of travel restrictions and personal risk factors need flexible change and cancellation policies. But even before airlines started waiving fees and issuing refunds during the coronavirus crisis, there was the 24-hour flight cancellation rule, which helped passengers get their money back no matter what type of ticket they booked.

The Department of Transportation’s 24-hour refund regulation states that all airlines flying in the U.S., even international carriers, must issue a full refund if the reservation is canceled within a one-day window. Here’s what to know about this helpful policy for when you want to cancel a flight within 24 hours. 

It’s a customer service standard set by the Department of Transportation that says airlines must let travelers hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment, or allow a purchased reservation to be canceled within 24 hours without penalty and with a full refund to the original form of payment. All airlines operating to, from, and within the U.S. must comply with the 24-hour rule. The clock starts ticking on the 24 hours once the ticket purchase has been made.

 There are some exceptions that people should be mindful of.

To read more, go here.