While in general the United States isn’t exactly leading the way when it comes to consumer protections for airline passengers, we do have one useful feature you don’t find in many other parts of the world — the ability to cancel flights within 24 hours of booking.
Continue reading: Can You Cancel Flights For A Refund Within 24 Hours Of Booking?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
American also typically gives you up until midnight the following day (generally Central time tho I believe I've run into exceptions to that time zone rule), meaning that you can sometimes get close to 48hrs to cancel
@ Stvr -- Could you let me know what's not correct? Of course always appreciate having accurate info, so I'm not sure which aspect isn't accurate.
United info is incorrect. Bookings within 24 hours of departure are eligible for refund right up until departure. Very generous.
In my experience as long as when booking on the United app or website the “24 hour risk free cancellation” notice appears even within 7 days of departure they have honored refunds. I have booked standard United economy flights as backup options during irrops on other carriers same-day and have been able to cancel for full refunds.
Ben, you used a flight with Aeroplan miles as an example above. Do most of the 24 hour rules apply even when booking with points/miles? I wonder because I've been able to cancel a Hawaiian Airlines flight booked using HA miles well past 24 hours and get a full refund (even taxes). Is this like other airlines?
stvr is correct united always let's cancel within 24 hours of booking even basic economy
Years ago I accidentally booked flight for a wrong day (Aer Lingus - constantly switching between European and American calendars messed my mind - booked for Saturday instead of Friday). Fortunately, Aer Lingus follows 24 hour cancellation rule as well.
In practice United lets you cancel within 24 hours even within 7 days of departure, they just list the official rule as the policy.
I noticed you didn't mention holidays or weekends, which I think is worth highlighting.
Ben, I ran into a denial for fee free cancellation once because I didn't book it on the US website (I think it was Iberia?). Wound up paying a fee.
Does US law apply to web purchases not purchased on the US website?
This US law applies to every carrier who wants to fly to from and within US.
Did you contact customer service?
Or you're flying MAD-LHR thinking that this rule also applies.
United's policy is 100% you can cancel up to 24 hours later even if you're booking within 24 hours of travel. It's a really really useful feature. I regularly use it. I also think Delta allow this too, but have only been in that edge case once in the last 18 months so will defer to others. American has always been the least flexible for me.
I think you should also include the 24 hour policy as related to non-US airlines too
American very usefully (on the app anyways) gives you an exact countdown to how long you have to cancel.
Honestly I don't know how important this 24-hours cancellation policy is, and I sincerely hope the rest of the world can adopt this government rule. As someone who is based mostly overseas now, I realize how much I have taken granted for this rule.
I bought a HKG-BKK ticket last week on Hong Kong Airlines, and the fare was good. So I just went for it. Then after I booked it, I suddenly realized that I booked the wrong date due to their early morning departure. But the agent told me that I had to pay the change fee. If it is in the US, I could have easily cancelled the flight and rebooked it with no fee even on a "basic" ticket.
If there is one thing EU261 can change, it is to force airline to adopt the 24 hours cancellation rule, since we sometimes make honest mistakes with names or dates especially flights take off at all kind of times now.
I booked an award flight on Qatar Airways from the US to Doha and cancelled within a few hours. Not within 7 days of travel.
They charged me $25, which is their standard cancellation fee for award tickets. When I called, they said the 24 hr rule doesn't apply for award flights. I pointed out that they were cancelling Qatar Air's own 24 hr rule (which holds worldwide) with the FAA's rule, but the ignore me.
I filed a complaint
I'm generally a harsh critic of AA, but they usually provide free hold on booking which is in addition to the 24 hour policy. That is a major benefit.