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.

The time it takes to receive a flight refund depends primarily on how you booked and the regulations of your local aviation authority. In 2026, under U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and European (EU261) standards, airlines are generally required to process refunds within 7 business days if you paid by credit card and within 20 business days if you paid by cash or check. However, this "processing time" refers to the airline's action; it may take an additional 1-2 billing cycles for the credit to actually appear on your bank statement. In other regions, such as India under 2026 DGCA rules, airlines must complete the refund process within 14 working days, regardless of whether the ticket was booked directly or through a travel agent. If you booked through a third-party Online Travel Agency (OTA) like Expedia or Orbitz, the process is often significantly slower, as the money must move from the airline back to the agency before being returned to you. Always ensure your cancellation meets the "refundable" criteria to avoid the airline issuing a "travel credit" instead of a cash refund.