If they cannot accommodate you on a flight that works with your schedule, you can cancel with no fee—and you're entitled to a full cash refund, not a voucher. The rules vary by airline, but typically the time difference must be at least one hour; on some airlines the minimum is two hours.

Whether you can get a refund in 2026 depends heavily on the type of ticket you purchased and the timing of your cancellation. If you bought a fully refundable fare, you are entitled to a refund to your original payment method, though these tickets are usually more expensive. For non-refundable tickets, you typically won't get cash back; instead, you might receive a "future flight credit" or "travel voucher," often after paying a cancellation fee. However, there are "24-hour" or "48-hour" grace periods (like the 24-hour rule in the US or the new DGCA rules in India) that allow you to cancel for a full refund if the flight was booked well in advance of departure. In March 2026, many regions have introduced stricter consumer protections; for example, in India, airlines must now process refunds within 7 days for credit card bookings. Additionally, if the airline cancels the flight or makes a significant schedule change (usually 3+ hours), you are legally entitled to a full cash refund regardless of your ticket type. Always check the "fare rules" before clicking purchase to see the specific penalties.