How to cancel Delta flights and request a refund

Things change. Accepting that fact is one of the keys to happiness – which can be kind of hard to do when your travel plans are all screwed up.

If you need to cancel Delta Air Lines flights, you’re probably wondering if your tickets are eligible for a refund or travel credit. As with all airlines, refunds for passenger-initiated flight cancellations on Delta depend on the fare type purchased. If Delta cancelled or delayed your flights, you’re probably eligible for a refund no matter what fare type you bought.

This guide will explain Delta cancellation and refund policies, show you how to easily cancel Delta Air Lines flights, and request a refund if your tickets are eligible.

24-Hour Cancellation Policy

Delta offers full refunds for flights cancelled within 24 hours of purchase. Since you have until midnight the day after purchase to act (think 11:59pm, not 12:01am), the cancellation window for Delta flights is actually longer than 24 hours. For example, if you buy flights on a Saturday afternoon, you have until late Sunday evening to cancel. The only real exception is that if you buy flights the same day you depart, you only have until midnight that evening to cancel and receive a full refund.

The Delta 24-hour cancellation policy applies to all fare types, including Basic Economy, and is valid for tickets purchased on Delta.com, the Fly Delta app, Delta ticket offices and airport ticket counters, and by phone with the Reservation Sales department.

If you purchased your ticket with SkyMiles and wish to cancel within 24 hours, you’ll need to do it by phone.

If you purchased Delta flights from an online travel agency (OTA), there may be a $50 external ticket handling charge to cancel them unless it can be done through delta.com. In addition, not all OTAs offer free 24-hour cancellation. Two OTAs that allow you to make changes or cancel flights on delta.com and offer 24-hour flight cancellation with full refunds are Orbitz and Expedia.

How to Cancel Delta Flights

1. Go to My Trips.
2. Select the flights you wish to cancel. You can only cancel flights that have not yet departed.
3. Click “Modify Flight”.
4. Click “Start Flight Cancellation”.
5. Follow the instructions to complete the cancellation.
6. If you cancel within 24 hours of purchase, a refund will automatically be issued to your original form of payment.
7. After cancelling a refundable fare, you’ll need to apply for a refund.
8. If you cancel a non-refundable fare, a credit for future travel may be issued depending on the fare type, the region from which the flight originates, the purchase date, and / or the date of travel. See below for details.
9. To cancel Delta award flights, call Delta Reservations.

Request a Refund from Delta Air Lines

Refundable Flights (Passenger-Initiated Cancellations)

If you cancel a refundable Delta Air Lines ticket, you’re entitled to a full refund. Request one using this form.

Refunds Due to Schedule Changes or Delays

You are entitled to a refund on the unused portions of Delta flight tickets in certain circumstances, even if the fare you purchased is non-refundable:

• If Delta changes your scheduled flight by more than 90 minutes (or will result in missed connections)
• If flights are cancelled, diverted, or delayed more than 90 minutes (or will result in missed connections)

You must request a refund from Delta if that’s your preference.  Otherwise Delta will attempt to re-book you on the next available flight.

You’re also entitled to a refund of the unused portion of your ticket if Delta cancels one or more of your flights, no matter what fare type you purchased. Request one here.

Can Delta Basic Economy tickets be cancelled?

Delta’s Basic Economy fare type can’t be cancelled for a refund. You can, however, change Basic Economy flights for free through Dec. 31, 2021. Follow the instructions above to cancel your flight. You’ll be issued a travel credit in the amount of the original ticket. You can use this credit toward replacement Delta flights.

For travel beginning in 2022, Delta’s Basic Economy fares can’t be changed or cancelled.

Can Delta Main Cabin, Business, or First Class tickets be cancelled?

Whether or not tickets in classes other than Delta’s Basic Economy can be cancelled for a refund depends on if you purchased a refundable fare or not. If your fare is refundable, follow the instructions above to cancel.

If you cancel a non-refundable fare in Main Cabin or above (any fare other than Basic Economy), you’ll receive a credit good toward the purchase of new flights. You may or may not have to pay a fee depending on where the flights originate.

Cancel non-refundable Delta flights for future travel credit

North America (and from Caribbean to US / Mexico)

If you cancel a non-refundable flight in Delta’s Main Cabin class or above and it departs from North America, there’s no cancellation fee. You’ll be issued a credit in the amount of the original ticket price valid toward the purchase of future flights. The same is true for flights from the Caribbean to the US or Mexico. To cancel non-refundable Delta Air Lines flights, follow the instructions above.

Flights originating outside of North America

Non-refundable Delta Air Lines flights departing from anywhere other than North America are assessed a cancellation fee, which starts at $200 (see the fare rules on your ticket). You will receive the remaining value of your ticket as a credit good toward future travel. To cancel non-refundable Delta flights, follow the instructions above.

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