Delta Airlines has a cancellation policy that gives passengers some flexibility depending on the type of ticket they buy and when they decide to cancel. One of the most important parts of the policy is the 24-hour risk-free cancellation rule. This means that if you buy a ticket directly from Delta’s website or app, you can cancel your flight within 24 hours and get a full refund. This rule applies to all ticket types, including Basic Economy, refundable, and non-refundable tickets, as long as your flight is at least seven days away. If your flight is less than seven days away, you must cancel within 24 hours of booking to get a refund. This rule lets people change their minds without losing money soon after buying a ticket.
For refundable tickets, Delta offers the most freedom. You can cancel these tickets at any time before your flight and get all your money back to the same card or payment method you used. There are no extra fees for canceling refundable tickets. This makes refundable tickets a good choice for people who might need to change their plans.
Non-refundable tickets are less flexible. After the 24-hour risk-free period ends, you cannot get your money back if you cancel. Instead, Delta gives you a credit, called an eCredit, for the value of your ticket. You can use this credit later to book another flight with Delta. However, depending on your route or ticket type, Delta might take out some fees from the eCredit amount. So, even though you don’t get a refund, you can still use the money toward future travel.
Basic Economy tickets are the strictest. After the 24-hour cancellation window, these tickets cannot be canceled or changed at all. If you cancel within 24 hours, you will get a full refund. But after that, the ticket is non-refundable and cannot be changed. This means you should only book Basic Economy if you are sure about your travel plans.
If you book your flight using Delta’s SkyMiles rewards program, the rules are a little different. You can cancel your award ticket within 24 hours for free and get your miles back. If you cancel later, you may have to pay a cancellation fee, which depends on your flight details. Any taxes or fees paid with the award ticket are usually refunded to your credit card.
If Delta cancels your flight or delays it by more than 90 minutes, you can get a full refund no matter what kind of ticket you have. This is important because even non-refundable tickets become refundable in these situations. You can ask for your refund on Delta’s website or app.
To cancel a flight, you just need to go to the “My Trips” section on Delta’s website or app. Select the flight you want to cancel, then follow the steps to complete the cancellation. Refundable tickets are automatically refunded, while non-refundable tickets usually give you an eCredit.
In summary, Delta’s cancellation policy is designed to be fair. It allows you to cancel within 24 hours of booking for a full refund. Refundable tickets offer the most freedom to change plans. Non-refundable and Basic Economy tickets have stricter rules, but you can still get credit for future travel. Knowing these rules can help you make the best choice when booking your flight and manage your travel plans with confidence.