Flight Prices Decrease After Booking

Finding a great deal on a flight is always a satisfying feeling. However, it can be disheartening to discover that the price of your flight has dropped after you've already made your purchase. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ to secure a refund or credit for the price difference. In this article, we will explore the steps you can take to increase your chances of receiving a refund when your flight price decreases.

Conditions For Cancelling And Refunding:

This is a regular scenario that after booking your tickets you find out that the fare prices have dropped below the price you booked on. But the point is when you see that change. If you go for this abruptly you might end up at a loss rather than having a profit. So here are both the conditions under which you might get to know the price drop of the airlines.

Fare Drop Within 24 Hours of Booking

If the flight ticket you have booked is within the 24-hour time period, you are lucky to spot the price drop and you will surely end up with some profit in your wallet. The rule that every airline flying in/out of the United States has to abide by is the “24-hour rule”. According to the US Department of Transportation policy, every airline has to allow its customers to cancel or change their flight tickets within 24 hours of booking for free.

This rule applies to all flights originating from the United States or landing in the United States. Although you need to keep in mind that only tickets booked directly via the airlines, and at least a week before the departure date.

So if you learn that the fare prices have gone down, make sure to do these things-

Check if you are within the 24-hour time limit.
When spotted make sure to book the flight with low fare immediately.
Then make sure to cancel the flight ticket booked earlier.

Fare Drop After 24 Hours of Booking

The refund policy can vary depending on the type of fare you've purchased. If you opted for a basic economy fare, chances are it's not eligible for any changes or refunds once the initial 24-hour window has passed. However, if you booked a main economy or a higher fare, there might be a possibility of canceling it and receiving a partial refund in the form of credit.

It's important to note that each airline has its own specific refund policy when it comes to price drops. If you find yourself outside the 24-hour window or if your flight isn't covered by the initial 24-hour rule, it's crucial to research and understands the refund policy of the airline you booked with, considering your fare class as well.

In many cases, the fees associated with modifying your reservation can offset any potential savings from a reduced ticket price. Therefore, it's essential to thoroughly comprehend the cancellation and change fees involved before making any decisions to adjust your travel plans.

Remember, understanding the refund policies related to fare types and knowing the specific guidelines of the airline you booked with will help you navigate the process more effectively and make informed decisions about potential refunds for dropped flight prices.

What Are the Policies of Major US Airlines?

Here we will check out all the changes and cancellation policies of all the major airlines in accordance with the changes done after the 24-hour rule period.

American Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$200+	Travel Credit
International	$750+	Travel Credit

For a booked refundable ticket the cancellation may result in returning of your refunds in the original form of payment. However, for a non-refundable ticket, there are very low chances for refunds. The certain conditions for non-refundable tickets where you can be granted refunds are, the death of the passenger or a traveling companion, a change in military orders, and any changes made by the airline to your itinerary that’s 61 minutes or more from the original flight times. Apart from this, you will have to pay for the cancellation and change fees.

Delta Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$200+	Travel Credit
International	$750+	Travel Credit

When you book a non-refundable ticket with Delta, please note that a cancellation fee of $200 will be applied. This fee will be deducted from the total cost of the ticket. After deducting the fee, the remaining amount will be converted into an airline credit. It's important to remember that this credit must be used within one year from the date of your original ticket purchase. If you need to change your reservation and you have a non-refundable ticket, there will be an additional fee ranging from $200 to $500, depending on your destination. Please be aware that basic economy tickets cannot be canceled or changed.

Frontier Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$79 - $119	Travel Credit
International	$79 - $119	Travel Credit

Frontier Airlines makes it clear that any changes made to the itinerary before 60 days of departure are free of cost. Any changes made after this period will result in the implication of the change or cancellation fees. Although the charges depend on the time you are making the changes it can be between $79 to $119.

JetBlue Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$75 - $200	Travel Credit
International	$75 - $200	Travel Credit

JetBlue's Best Fare Guarantee ensures that if you discover a better deal elsewhere on the same day you purchased your ticket, you'll receive a refund of the fare difference. Additionally, you'll be granted a $50 credit towards your next JetBlue flight. However, please note that for fares on different days, charges based on the original ticket cost will apply.

Southwest Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$0	Travel Credit or Refund in the Original Payment Method
International	$0	Travel Credit or Refund in the Original Payment Method

Being one of the most lenient airlines in the USA, Southwest does not charge any cancellation or change fees even if you have crossed the 24-hour time limit. And depending on the fare type, the refund might be either directly transferred to your account or get a travel credit. The refund will depend on the amount and the fare difference between the old and new prices.

United Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$200+	Travel Credit
International	$400+	Travel Credit

United Airlines does not officially state anything about the cancellation or refund policy, but according to records, there are many unofficial ways to claim refunds if flight prices decrease after booking. Except for the basic economy tickets that are totally non-refundable, all other fare types can be canceled and changed for additional fees.

If you spot any price drop within the 24-hour window, call United’s reservation desk and book your flight and then cancel the old flight. If you see a significant price drop after the 24-hour time period, you can check if the fare difference is higher than the cancellation fees, if yes, cancel your ticket and book a new one.

Alaska Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$200+	Travel Credit
International	$750+	Travel Credit

Experience Alaska's price guarantee entitles you to a refund if you discover a lower fare on another website within 24 hours of booking (minimum $10). It's important to note that outside this 24-hour window, our refund policy becomes more stringent. Eligible refunds, excluding Saver fares, will be issued as airline credit with applicable change fees of $125 per person.

Sun Country Airlines:

	Refund/Change Fees	Form of Refund
Domestic	$50 - $100	Travel Credit
International	$50 - $100	Travel Credit

Sun Country allows changes to trips without a fee if made 60 or more days before the departure date. For changes made after that time, fees ranging from $50 to $100 per person, per direction will be applied, depending on the timing of the change. In case the new ticket is cheaper than the original, you will receive a credit for the price difference, which must be used within one year from the date of the original ticket purchase.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why prices for flights suddenly drop, however, if you spot it at the right moment you hit the jackpot. The process for some airlines might be a bit different than the others but still, you can make changes and get the best prices into your pockets.

This blog is dedicated to clearing your doubts about refunds and cancellations if the flight prices drop after your booking. So make sure to clear all your doubts and also share this with anyone traveling frequently.