What are the rules for rebooking flights?

In many cases you can apply your ticket to another trip in the future, but there may be a steep fee. Many fares also have a penalty for changing flights or dates even if you don't want a refund. You may also have to pay any difference in air fares if your fare-type is not available on the new flight.



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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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Airlines are required by the DOT to refund you your money if you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking unless they offer a free, 24-hold option on a fare while you're searching for flights.

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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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The Department of Transportation's 24-hour refund regulation states that all airlines flying in the U.S., even international carriers, must issue a full refund if the reservation is canceled within a one-day window of booking.

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Be aware that some airlines may charge a fee for rebooking the missed flight. This is especially likely if you're flying with a low cost airline, or have chosen a cheaper ticket with more restrictions on changes. You may also be asked to pay the difference in fare if the rebooked flight costs more.

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Flight Cancellations If your flight is cancelled, most airlines will rebook you for free on their next flight to your destination as long as the flight has available seats.

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Is there a time limit on changes or cancellations? Yes. You can change or cancel your flight up until 10 minutes before your scheduled departure time. For example, if you had a flight scheduled to depart at 8 a.m., you'd have until 7:50 a.m. to make changes or cancel the flight.

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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.

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In some cases, you can make changes to your itinerary with no fee. 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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Your ticket
A refundable ticket allows you to change or cancel your flight without a fee. A non-refundable ticket may cost less, but if you need to make changes you'll be charged a change fee and any difference in fare. If you buy a Basic Economy fare, changes are not allowed.

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