What is the 24-Hour Rule for Flight Cancellations?

Last updated on November 25th, 2025

Unless you’ve purchased refundable airfare, chances are you won’t be able to cancel or change your flight without paying a fee. In fact, some tickets don’t allow cancellations at all. However, if your flight is covered by the 24-hour rule, you can cancel (or change) it without penalty.

The rule permits airlines to offer refunds after purchase, or to allow passengers to hold the reservation for 24 hours without payment. Typically, an airline will elect to offer one or the other of these options, but not both.

What flights do the 24-hour rule apply to?

The 24-hour rule covers both international and domestic flights. It applies to all fare types, from basic economy through first class, one-way or round trip. You can even get a refund on a non-refundable ticket, as long as it meets the criteria below.

To be eligible for free cancellation, the flights must:

Originate from the United States, or fly to a US destination, AND
Be purchased at least 7 days before the flight’s departure date, AND
Be purchased directly from the airline, AND
Be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase (some airlines give you to the end of the next day to cancel, so technically you may have longer than 24 hours).

Some examples

Here are some examples of flights that are, and are NOT, eligible for the DOT’s 24-hour grace period.

Air France from Paris to New York – COVERED
Air France from Paris to Mexico City – NOT COVERED
Qatar Airways from anywhere to anywhere with a stop in the US – COVERED
Qatar Airways from Doha to Delhi – NOT COVERED
Delta Air Lines from London to Los Angeles – COVERED
Delta Air Lines from Seoul to Shanghai – NOT COVERED

What airlines do the 24-hour rule apply to?

The 24-hour rule for airlines applies to all carriers flying to, from, or within the United States. This means that airlines based in other countries must also follow the regulation – but only for their flights to or from the US.

What passengers are covered by the 24-hour rule?

For eligible flight bookings, the 24-hour rule covers all passengers, regardless of citizenship, nationality, or country of residence. You don’t have to be a US citizen to take advantage of the ability to cancel your flights within 24 hours of booking.

Are flights that transit through the US covered?

Yes, the 24-hour rule also applies to flights between two international destinations that connect in the US. So, if the flights are from London to Ontario, Canada with a layover in New York, they’re covered.

Are there exceptions to the 24-hour rule?

Yes, there are some exceptions. The 24-hour rule doesn’t cover flights that:

Were purchased from a third party or online travel agency (OTA) like Expedia, Skyscanner, or Kayak (although some OTAs have their own policies that permit free cancellations within 24 hours under certain circumstances. If buying a flight through a third party, make sure to review the fine print, OR
Are on airlines that offer reservation holds rather than free cancellations, OR
Were purchased within 7 days of departure, OR
Don’t depart from the United States, OR
Don’t have the US as a final destination (flights that transit through a US airport to another country aren’t eligible).

If the airline you’re booking with doesn’t have a similar policy, you can simply cancel your flight, get a refund, and rebook for the correct dates.

How does the 24-hour rule work?

You have 24 hours from the time of booking to decide. The airline will either offer an option to hold the reservation for 24 hours before you pay for it, or will allow you to cancel the flights and receive a full refund.
How to cancel: You can usually cancel your flight online through the airline’s website or app. Some airlines require you to cancel by telephone, email, or an online form. You can find 24-hour cancellation policies for individual airlines at the bottom of this page.
Cancel all passengers. Unless otherwise specified in the airline’s policy, if the booking is for more than one passenger, the entire reservation must be cancelled in order to receive a refund.
Refunds: You’ll typically get your money back within a week on the same card you used to book the flight. It has to be the full amount you paid, meaning no fees or partial refunds. If you run into trouble, see what to do about it in the next section.

Travelers booking USA flights are protected by the 24-hour free flight cancellation rule. Image showing analog clock superimposed over hands typing on laptop keyboard. — Booking a flight to or from the USA? You’re automatically entitled to a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours.

Can I use the 24-hour rule to change my flight?

Although it wasn’t implemented for this purpose, you can use the 24-hour rule for airlines to change your flight. This is a great tool if you bought a flight but then find a better price within the 24-hour window.

To take proper advantage of this loophole, make sure to buy the new flight before cancelling the old one. This prevents you from being out of luck if there are problems with the new flight, or in case you can’t actually get the lower price for some reason.

What to do if the airline fails to issue a refund? A real-world example

Even though the DOT’s rule has been around for over a decade, airlines don’t always issue refunds on time – or for the correct amount. For example, I recently purchased flights from SWISS and was forced to cancel them within a few hours. SWISS immediately issued a refund. Unfortunately, it was only for about half the ticket amount.

After several emails to SWISS customer service failed to resolve the situation, I used this form to file a complaint with DOT. It took several weeks, but in the end received the remainder of the refund I was owed, plus a credit to use toward future flights for my trouble. Which brings up an important point: always get a confirmation number or email for your cancellation as proof, and make sure to keep any emails or other documentation at least until you receive the refund.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I cancel a flight within 24 hours if I booked it with points or miles?

Yes, the rule applies to award tickets as well. However, foreign airlines aren’t always aware or just plain don’t comply. In fact, some airline frequent flyer program terms and conditions state that miles won’t be refunded, especially those from partner airlines’ programs. If this is the case with your preferred airline, you might want to clarify the issue by calling them.
If you have problems getting your miles or points refunded, you can use the DOT form mentioned in the paragraph above for some help.

How does the 24-hour refund policy work for flights booked through a travel agent?

The regulation doesn’t apply to flights booked through travel agents. You’ll need to contact them directly for the cancellation, and you may or may not receive a refund depending on their policies and the type of fare you booked.

What happens if I want to change my flight, not cancel it, within 24 hours?

Even if your ticket isn’t changeable for free, you can cancel it within 24 hours, then book a different flight. Just know that you’ll be out the money for both reservations until you receive the refund, which is supposed to happen within 7 days.

Are there any fees associated with canceling a flight within 24 hours?

No, you can cancel a flight without penalty if it’s within the 24-hour window and meets the other requirements.

When does the 24-hour cancellation period start?

The 24-hour period starts as soon as the booking is completed and the e-ticket is issued.

Can I cancel more than one flight reservation within 24 hours for free?

Yes, you can typically cancel multiple flights as long as each one is canceled within 24 hours of booking.

Does the 24-hour refund policy apply to international flights?

The US Department of Transportation’s 24-hour rule for refunds applies to all flights departing from or traving to the United States, both domestic and international.

Which airlines offer 24-hour free cancellation?

All airlines flying to, from, or within the U.S. must offer this, including international carriers and those based in other countries.

How do I cancel a flight within 24 hours?

Contact the airline directly online or by phone and request cancellation.

Do I get a full refund if I cancel within 24 hours?

Yes, you’re entitled to a full refund if you cancel within 24 hours and meet the other requirements.

Can I cancel a non-refundable ticket within 24 hours?

Yes, the 24-hour rule applies even to non-refundable tickets.

Can I cancel a flight booked through a third-party website within 24 hours?

It depends on the website’s policy, but you may be able to cancel with the airline directly.

What happens if I cancel a flight after the 24-hour window?

The airline’s standard cancellation policy will apply, which may involve fees or restrictions.

Is the 24-hour rule for airlines a law?

The 24-hour rule for flight cancellations is NOT a law. It is a US Department of Transportation rule. The difference is that a law has pre-determined legal consequences for breaking it, while the penalty for breaking a rule may vary based on the circumstances. Laws are more serious, have more severe punishments for breaking them, and generally have wider applications than rules.

Which airlines let you cancel for free within 24 hours?

Even if they operate routes to or from the US, not all airlines will let you cancel those flights for free. Instead, they may opt to allow free 24-hour flight holds. We’ve listed the 24-hour refund policies for major airlines below. If a carrier allows you to hold a reservation for 24 hours, we’ve included that information, too.

The airlines policies listed here are for flights cancelled within 24 hours of purchase. Unless otherwise noted, reservations must be booked at least 7 days before departure to be eligible.

North American Airlines

Alaska Airlines – free cancellations and changes within 24 hours for flights booked at least 24 hours before departure. “Saver” fares eligible for cancellation only.
Allegiant – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
Air Canada – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
American Airlines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for flights booked at least 2 days before departure.
Delta Air Lines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
Frontier – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
Hawaiian Airlines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
jetBlue – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
Southwest Airlines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
Spirit – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking.
United Airlines – free changes and cancellations / refunds within 24 hours of booking. Basic Economy ticket or flights booked using Money + Miles are eligible for cancellation only.
WestJet – free cancellations and changes within 24 hours for flights booked at least 24 hours before departure.

Other International Airlines

Aer Lingus – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for flights to or from the US, Canada, or the Caribbean.
Aeromexico – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours on US flights. Cancel by phone to ensure full refund.
Air France – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights. Cancel by email only.
ANA (All Nippon Airways) – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flight reservations.
Austrian Airlines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights. Free 24 hold on telephone reservations.
Avianca – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US tickets.
British Airways – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours up to 24 hours before departure.
Cathay Pacific – free 24-hour cancellations / refunds for loyalty members, regardless of route. You don’t have to be a member to cancel US flights.
Emirates – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights.
Etihad Airways – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US bookings.
EVA Air – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights.
Icelandair – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for flights booked at least 2 days before departure.
Japan Airlines (JAL) – free reservation holds or free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US tickets.
Lufthansa – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights. Free 24 hold on telephone reservations.
Qatar Airways – free reservation hold for 24 hours for flights to or from the US.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours.
Singapore Airlines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights. Cancel by phone to ensure full refund.
SWISS – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours for US flights. Free 24 hold on telephone reservations.
Turkish Airlines – free cancellations / refunds within 24 hours on US reservations.
Virgin Atlantic – free cancellation / refunds within 24 hours, must call to cancel online booking. Free 24 hold on telephone reservations.

Is your airline missing from the list? We’ve only included carriers that include an explicitly stated 24-hour cancellation policy as part of their general cancellation policies. Despite guidance from the US Department of Transportation, many foreign airlines that fly to or from the US haven’t updated their policies to include this.

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