Are award tickets on Delta refundable?

For travel originating from the United States and Canada to anywhere in the world (including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners), Members may change or cancel Award tickets for travel without a redeposit or change fee, excluding Basic Economy fares.



As of early 2026, Delta Air Lines maintains a very flexible policy for most SkyMiles award tickets. For travel originating from the United States and Canada to any destination worldwide, award tickets are essentially fully refundable; you can cancel your flight at any time prior to departure and have the miles redeposited into your account and the taxes/fees refunded to your original form of payment without a redeposit fee. However, there is a major exception: Basic Economy award tickets are generally non-refundable and non-changeable after the risk-free cancellation period (24 hours after booking). For travel originating outside of the U.S. and Canada, some fees may still apply depending on the specific region and fare type. Always ensure you cancel at least before the "gate closes" to avoid being marked as a "no-show," which could result in the forfeiture of your miles. This policy makes Delta one of the more flexible carriers for frequent flyers who need to book speculative trips using their mileage balance.

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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.

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If you're within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket you can cancel your flight without a penalty when you book directly with Delta. Be sure to cancel your flight prior to departure. If you purchased a non-refundable ticket, you may cancel your ticket prior to departure and receive an eCredit if applicable.

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Refundable tickets tend to be much more expensive. Non-refundable tickets are often cheaper, but they do carry risks. With a refundable ticket, you typically pay more but you have the reassurance of knowing that you can get the money returned to you if your travel plans change.

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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.

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You can get a full flight ticket refund only if you booked a refundable ticket. However, airline ticket refund rules vary from airline to airline. Thus, it is better to refer to the airline's website or contact it directly for possible airfare reimbursement.

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To sell your Delta SkyMiles, you will typically need to create an account with the marketplace and provide your SkyMiles account information. The marketplace will then assess your miles and provide you with a quote. Once you accept the quote, the marketplace will purchase your miles and send you the cash proceeds.

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As long as your ticket has been purchased at least seven days before departure, airlines must offer one of two things: you can either hold the ticket without paying for 24 hours or purchase and cancel the ticket within 24 hours and receive a full refund.

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Although federal regulations specify that these tickets must be purchased at least seven days in advance to be eligible for a refund, some airlines will allow you to cancel within 24 hours even if your travel dates are closer. Be aware that these rules apply when purchasing your ticket directly from an airline only.

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In such unfortunate circumstances, you can contact the airline to request a free cancellation or to reschedule your flight in light of the circumstances. You will likely need to provide some form of documentation as proof of the situation such as a death certificate.

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If every passenger was able to cancel for a full refund at any time, airlines would have to raise their prices across the board to account for this increased risk. This is also why nonrefundable fares are often the cheapest tickets offered by an airline.

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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.

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Yes! You can reserve a flight without paying for it in advance. Book now pay later plan allows you to pay for your flight booking in easy monthly installments. Interest rates may vary.

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