There are several situations when you might want to cancel a confirmed flight on Delta Air Lines. A new job, an addition to the family, an injury or a health emergency can end travel plans in a moment.
Over the last year, many U.S. airlines, including Delta, implemented that help travelers cancel most flights painlessly and without a charge. Still, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the nuances of the recent policy, including how to cancel a Delta flight online and how much it costs to cancel a Delta flight.
Delta’s flight cancellation policy is most easily understood by knowing what fare restrictions exist by ticket type. These types are as follows:
Secondary to ticket type is the window of time in which you cancel your trip. The airline recommends that all cancellations happen prior to departure.
Here’s its flight cancellation policy:
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Introverts, rejoice, as the easiest way to cancel a Delta flight is online. Log in to your Delta SkyMiles account, go to My Trips and select the trip you want to change or cancel. Click the “Modify flight” button and proceed with the cancellation.
Another way to cancel a Delta flight is by calling reservations at 800-221-1212. However, this method might be time-consuming, especially given staffing issues or if there’s a severe weather event. Both factors can affect phone wait times.
If the hold queues for reservations are too long and you can’t get an agent on the phone, it’s possible to cancel a Delta ticket through an online chat session. and request a flight cancellation.
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If your flight qualifies for the free cancellation policy, you’ll receive an eCredit toward your next booking.
The cost to cancel a Delta flight depends on when you want to cancel and the type of fare you purchased. Not all fares are treated equally, so let’s take a look at how much it costs to cancel a Delta flight.
Passengers who cancel a flight within 24 hours of purchase are entitled to a full refund back to the credit card, no matter what type of ticket they booked.
Previously, passengers who purchased Delta basic economy tickets by April 30, 2021, fell under the COVID-19 travel waiver, which allowed free cancellation in exchange for a travel voucher, or an eCredit in the amount of the original cost of the ticket.
Basic economy tickets for travel through Dec. 31, 2021, are eligible for cancellation at no cost. Normally, and resuming in 2022, basic economy ticket holders will lose the value of their ticket if it’s canceled outside of the 24-hour booking window.
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A cancellation fee is waived on domestic Delta tickets, including to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, purchased after Aug. 31, 2020; international flights that originate in North America purchased after Dec. 9, 2020; and flights between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean.
The value is distributed as an eCredit to spend on future flights with the airline.
Beyond the 24-hour booking window, canceling a nonrefundable ticket will incur a cancellation fee that starts at $200 and depends on your itinerary. This up-to-$500 fee will be deducted from the original cost of your flight, and you’ll receive the remaining value of the ticket as an eCredit to spend on future Delta travel.
To get a refund, your ticket must have been purchased with a credit card, cash or check. The refund will be issued to your original payment method. You can apply for a refund on the .
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You can cancel a Delta award ticket for free up to 10 minutes prior to departure time without having to pay a mileage redeposit fee (which was a hefty $150 prior to the pandemic). Miles redeemed on basic economy award tickets aren’t refundable unless they’re canceled within 24 hours of booking.
Log in to your Delta SkyMiles account, navigate to My Trips at the top and click “View trip details” for the award flight you’d like to cancel.
From there, click “Modify flight” and “Start flight cancellation,” then follow the steps.
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What happens if you miss a Delta flight without canceling it first?
No-shows on tickets booked after March 31, 2021, will lose the value of the ticket. For this reason, it’s best to cancel or change a flight if you know in advance that you can’t make it, especially now that many flight cancellations are free of charge.
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You have options when canceling your Delta flight, no matter the reason. Most fares for travel originating in North America, except basic economy, are eligible for free cancellations, which means the risk of losing your money is low. Just remember to change or cancel your flight before it’s considered a no-show to keep the ticket’s value for future travel.
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This post was originally published on Nerd Wallet
