Your flight got cheaper. Get the difference back.
US airlines must let you cancel a direct booking at no penalty for 24 hours — sometimes longer. If the fare dropped in that window, you rebook at the lower price and pocket the difference. Most people never check.
Can you recover the drop?
Thirty seconds. Nothing stored, no account.
How to actually get the money
The rule is simple, but airlines don't hand you the difference. You have to do the cancel-and-rebook yourself, in the right order, inside the window.
Confirm the new, lower price first
Pull up the exact same flight and fare class. Screenshot it. You want to be certain the drop is real before you touch your existing booking.
Rebook at the lower price
Book the cheaper ticket while it's showing. Fares move by the minute, so lock the new one in before releasing the old — you don't want to cancel and find the deal gone.
Cancel the original within 24 hours
Go to your first booking and cancel it under the 24-hour rule. A full refund to your original payment method is required by law — not a voucher, not a credit.
Watch the refund land
DOT requires the refund within seven business days for a credit card. If it doesn't appear, that itself becomes a refund complaint — and we can help you check it.
Every US airline's cancellation window
The DOT floor is 24 hours to cancel when you booked at least seven days out. Several airlines go beyond it — worth knowing before you book, not after.
| Airline | Free-cancel window | How far ahead you must book |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | 24 hours | Any booking |
| Southwest | 24 hours | Any booking |
| American | 24 hours | Booked 2+ days before departure |
| Alaska | 24 hours | Booked 1+ day before departure |
| United | 24 hours | Booked 7+ days before departure |
| JetBlue | 24 hours | Booked 7+ days before departure |
| Other US carriers | 24 hours | Booked 7+ days before departure (federal minimum) |
Policies change and airlines can be more generous than the federal floor. Always confirm on your airline's own page before you rely on it. Booking through an online travel agency replaces the airline's rule with the agency's.
This is one of six ways travel money slips away
A dropped fare is money you can recover today. But there's also compensation for delays and bumps, reimbursement your credit card owes you, refunds you're due when a flight changes, and vouchers that quietly expire. RefundTrip checks all of it — free for one flight.
Check a flight — freeQuestions people ask first
Can I really get a refund if the price drops after I book?
If you booked a US flight directly with the airline at least seven days before departure, the DOT 24-hour rule lets you cancel with no penalty for a full 24 hours. If the fare dropped, you cancel and rebook at the lower price and keep the difference. Some airlines give you longer than the federal minimum.
Does this work on basic economy and non-refundable fares?
Yes. The 24-hour cancellation rule applies regardless of fare class — basic economy and non-refundable tickets included — as long as you booked directly with the airline seven or more days ahead.
What if I booked through Expedia or Google Flights?
The DOT rule binds airlines, not online travel agencies. An OTA booking follows that agency's own cancellation terms, which may not match the airline's. Booking directly with the airline is the reliable way to keep the 24-hour protection.
What if my 24 hours have already passed?
The cancel-and-rebook play is gone, but you may still be owed money on the same flight for other reasons — a schedule change, a significant delay, a bag fee refund, or credit-card trip protection. That's what our free flight check is for.
Is the refund a voucher or real money?
Real money. A 24-hour cancellation requires a refund to your original form of payment. If an airline tries to push a voucher or credit instead, that's a refund violation you can escalate to the DOT.
RefundTrip is an information tool, not a law firm or travel agency, and this page is general information about US Department of Transportation rules under 14 CFR 259.5, not legal advice. Airline policies change and can exceed the federal minimum; always confirm current terms with your airline before acting. We are not affiliated with any airline.