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Planning a long-distance trip? Before you book a flight, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the airline's cancellation policy in case you need to make changes or cancel your ticket after purchase.
Here's a tip that might surprise you: According to the Department of Transportation, airlines are required to either 'hold a reservation at the quoted fare for 24 hours without payment' or allow a reservation to be canceled within 24 hours without penalty, as long as it's at least seven days before the flight. This applies to both domestic and international flights to or from the U.S.
However, be cautious of potential airline tactics. For instance, some airlines may offer a 'hold' option instead of 'purchase,' which means you might not be able to cancel your ticket as easily. Airlines are only obligated to hold the fare for 24 hours or offer cancellation within 24 hours, but not both.
In some cases, you may have more than 24 hours to cancel for free, depending on where you bought the ticket. For example, if you purchase a ticket on Friday, you might have the whole weekend to reconsider and cancel on Monday. For a guaranteed 24-hour cancellation window, it's best to book directly through the airline.
Business Insider highlights that Southwest Airlines offers free rebooking for flights, making it an appealing choice for those who may need to change their travel plans. Additionally, Southwest flights don't appear on search engines like Priceline or Google Flights, so it's a good idea to check their website directly for deals. Delta and JetBlue are also limiting which third-party sites display their flights.
