How to change or cancel Orbitz flights

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A complete guide to cancelling and changing Orbitz flight tickets – including how much it’s going to cost you.

Whether or not you can change or cancel Orbitz flights depends on when you purchased the tickets, which airline issued them, and the fare type that you bought – details you can find in your itinerary.

In this guide we’ll cover Orbitz flight cancellation policies, refund policies, flight change policies, fees, and anything else you need to know about cancelling or changing Orbitz flights. We’ll also explain exactly how to request a refund and use an Orbitz flight credit. We’ve included information about which airlines allow you to change or cancel Orbitz flights directly on their websites and which ones you must contact directly. Last but not least, we’ll tell you what to do if you need to cancel Orbitz flights due to a medical emergency.



Can I cancel my Orbitz flights and receive a refund?

Whether or not you will receive a refund for cancelled Orbitz flights depends on which airline your flights are on, whether the flight is non-refundable or not, and when you made the reservation.

  • If you cancel Orbitz flights within 24 hours of making the reservation, you’ll get a full refund, provided the cancellation is made by 10pm the day after purchase and the flights are more than 7 days away.
  • Cancellations for Orbitz flights made more than 24 hours previously are subject to airline policies and fees, which you can find in your itinerary.

Can I change Orbitz flights? What will it cost?

  • You can change Orbitz flights within 24 hours of making the reservation for free, provided the change is made by 10pm the day after purchase and the flights are more than 7 days away.
  • For Orbitz flight changes more than 24 hours after purchase, you are allowed to make flight changes if the fare type you purchased permits it. Be aware that some fare types like Basic Economy may not allow changes; you can check the fare type and rules in your itinerary. The airline may or may not charge you a fee to change the flights depending on the fare type.

Does Orbitz charge a fee to change or cancel flights?

Orbitz does not charge a fee for flight changes or cancellations, or for refunds less than 24 hours after initial purchase.

Does Orbitz offer free 24 hour flight cancellation?

Orbitz customers who cancel flights within 24 hours are entitled to a full refund.

How to cancel Orbitz flights

  1. Go to My Trips. Sign in or enter your itinerary number.
  2. Select “Cancel Flight” and follow the instructions.
  3. Most trips can be canceled easily and if a refund is due it will be automatically issued to your original form of payment.
  4. You will be informed of any cancellation fees during the cancellation process.
  5. If your flights can’t be cancelled on the Orbitz website, you’ll see a message instructing you to call customer service. If your airline is on the list below, you’ll need to contact them directly.

How to change Orbitz flights

  1. Go to My Trips. Sign in or enter your itinerary number.
  2. Select “Change Flight” and follow the instructions.
  3. Be aware that some fare types (Basic Economy) may not allow changes.
  4. You will be informed of any change fees during the flight change process.
  5. If your flights can’t be changed on the Orbitz website, you’ll see a message instructing you to call customer service. If your airline is on the list below, you’ll need to contact them directly.

How to request a refund for Orbitz flights

Can you cancel your flights from Orbitz and get a refund? Yes, if your flights are refundable. You can see the airline cancellation and change policies for your fare type in your MyTrips itinerary. Refunds will be automatically issued to the original form of payment and are generally issued within 12 weeks, but may take longer depending on the airline.

  • Once your flights are cancelled, you can track the refund using Orbitz’s MyTrips feature (may take up to 24 hours to be processed). Select the itinerary from the drop-down list to see the current refund status.
  • If your flights are non-refundable but allow changes, most airlines will offer a travel credit (minus a fee for making the changes) you can use to purchase future flights. Details of the credit will be in the cancellation confirmation email you receive from Orbitz.

What should I do if Orbitz cancels my flight?

If Orbitz cancels your flight, it’s because an airline that you’re booked with has cancelled the flight. If this happens to you, or if the airline you’re booked with notifies you of the flight cancellation directly, here’s what to do:
1. Go to MyTrips to see which airline(s) you’re booked with and the current status of your flights.
2. If your booking is on a full-service airline, Orbitz will work with the airline to find you a similar flight. Orbitz will notify you through its app, email, or text you the new flight information. For urgent (for example, same-day) changes, Orbitz may also call you. You can contact Orbitz customer service with questions if you don’t hear from them in a timely manner.
3. Low-cost or discount airlines don’t allow Orbitz to access their booking systems. You’ll need to contact those airlines directly.
4. If necessary, follow the instructions you’ll receive to confirm the new flights. Once the new flights are confirmed with you and the airline, Orbitz will email you your revised itinerary.



What if the new flights aren’t acceptable to you or don’t meet your schedule requirements? If you don’t confirm the new flights you’re offered after an airline-initiated cancellation to your Orbitz flight, you’re entitled to a full refund.

How to use an Orbitz flight credit

After you cancel your Orbitz flights, you’ll receive a cancellation confirmation email containing details of your flight credit (depending on the fare type and if changes / cancellations are allowed). You can use this credit to purchase future flights.

  • To redeem, go to My Account on the Orbitz website, then select Coupons and Credits. If the credit doesn’t show up in the My Account section, call Orbitz at 877-397-6489 and an agent can assist you. You’ll need to know the original itinerary number, credit amount, and traveler names.
  • If the new flight costs more than your airline credit amount, you’ll have to pay the difference.
  • If the new flight costs less than your airline credit amount, some airlines only allow you to use the credit once, meaning you would lose any leftover credit. You can see the airline’s flight change and cancellation policies in the cancellation email you received from Orbitz.

What to do if you purchased two or more one-way flights from Orbitz

If you purchased one-way flights from Orbitz, you will need to cancel or change each flight separately.

Airlines that allow you to cancel Orbitz flights directly on their websites

You can cancel Orbitz flights on the websites of American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. For other reservations, you can attempt to cancel the flights on the Orbitz website or you may have to contact the airline directly.

Airlines that you must contact directly to cancel or change Orbitz flights

If you booked your Orbitz flight on a low-cost airline like EasyJet, Aer Lingus, or Norwegian, you’ll need to contact the airline directly to change or cancel your flight. This is due to the fact that Orbitz doesn’t have access to these airlines’ booking systems.

Here’s a list of the low-cost airlines you must contact directly to cancel or change Orbitz flights.



Flight cancellations due to medical emergencies

Orbitz will work with the airlines on your behalf and advise you of your options if you need to cancel a flight ticket to medical emergency, death of a family member, major weather disruption, natural disaster, or government-issued travel advisory. For assistance with cancellations due to emergencies, call 1-888-656-4546.

Most travel insurance policies cover the costs of flight cancellations due to medical emergencies.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes



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