How long does it take Delta to refund money?

We will issue refunds for eligible tickets typically within 7 business days for domestic credit/debit card purchases. Once processed, the refund may take up to two billing cycles before it is reflected on your credit/debit card statement.



For a qualifying flight cancellation in 2026, Delta Air Lines typically processes credit card refunds within 7 business days. However, once Delta has "processed" the refund, it may take an additional 1 to 2 billing cycles for the credit to actually appear on your bank or credit card statement, depending on your financial institution's policies. If you paid with a debit card, gift card, or cash, the process is slightly longer, usually taking up to 20 calendar days for the funds to be returned or a check to be mailed. For non-refundable tickets that were canceled by the passenger (rather than the airline), Delta usually issues an eCredit almost instantly, which will appear in your SkyMiles account or "My Trips" section. If you are entitled to a cash refund under the "24-hour risk-free" policy or due to an airline-initiated cancellation, you can track your specific request through the "Check Refund Status" tool on Delta's official website using your 13-digit ticket number.

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Airlines and ticket agents are required to make refunds promptly. For airlines, “prompt” is defined as being within 7 business days if a passenger paid by credit card, and within 20 days if a passenger paid by cash or check.

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Airlines and ticket agents are required to make refunds promptly. For airlines, “prompt” is defined as being within 7 business days if a passenger paid by credit card, and within 20 days if a passenger paid by cash or check.

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Delta's policy includes: A full refund within 24 hours of booking. For non-refundable tickets, a cancellation fee applies, and the remaining balance is issued as e-credit for future Delta flights. Refunds are processed within 7-10 business days for credit card purchases and 20 business days for other payment methods.

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Are Plane Tickets Refundable? Most airlines offer a choice between refundable and non-refundable airline tickets. Refundable tickets tend to be much more expensive. Non-refundable tickets are often cheaper, but they do carry risks.

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When a refund is due, the airline must forward a credit to your card company within seven business days after receiving a complete refund application, according to the Transportation Department. However, the credit may take a month or two to appear on your statement.

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File a claim against the airline if they continue to refuse your refund. If you're in the US, you can file a claim directly with the Department of Transportation, while other countries have different avenues. Keep calling. It can be frustrating but keep following up with the airline.

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For flights that are within the United States, you can change your flight or receive a refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, but only if your flight is at least 7 days away.

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You can get your money back for all parts of the ticket you haven't used. For instance, if you have booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket back from your airline.

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Covered reasons for Trip Cancellation
  • Medical reasons (unforeseen ailment, injury or death in the family)
  • Inclement weather or natural disasters (tropical storms, hurricanes, etc.)
  • Terrorist attack (in or around where you're planning to visit)
  • Financial default (of a carrier)
  • Involuntary layoff or termination.


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Tweeting at the airline's customer service team, submitting a request for compensation online or writing a letter the old fashioned way are other options that have met with success…

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If an airline is not honoring its refund policies or the airline's refund policies seem unfair or deceptive consider suing the airline in small claims court. In small claims court, the judge will be the ultimate decider of whether an airline's refund terms are fair or enforceable.

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Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

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To speak with a representative about a new or existing reservation, call 800-221-1212. If you are a Medallion® Member, check the Contact Us section in the Fly Delta mobile app for your dedicated phone line. If you are a SkyMiles member, have your SkyMiles account number available to expedite your call.

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Understanding Changes & Refunds If your ticket is non-refundable, you will see the word “Nonrefundable” next to the cabin name in My Trips. If you do not see “Nonrefundable,” your ticket may be a refundable ticket. Don't forget to protect your trip with Trip Protection.

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If you know you can't make a scheduled flight, it's better to cancel your flight rather than be a no-show. If you cancel, you might receive a partial or whole credit for the fare purchased, to be applied to a future flight.

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