Cancellation Policies in Airlines

Be sure you understand your airline's cancellation policy.

Although airline cancellation policies vary, there are definite trends in the industry. Read the fine print of the cancellation policy before you book your ticket to be a satisfied customer, even when you cancel.

Sickness

Airlines run the gamut when it comes to charging ill passengers for cancellation of their flights. Of several airlines polled by a CBS5 in Northern California, Virgin America, Southwest and United were the only airlines to waive the cancellation fee on non-refundable tickets when passengers were too ill to travel.

Fare Class

Choosing a "premium fare," refundable ticket when booking will guarantee you more flexibility when traveling. Most tickets booked through internet sites are non-refundable, which makes cancellation policies much stricter.

Airline Credit

Airlines sometimes offer monetary credit when you cancel a ticket. Some airlines apply the price of the unused ticket, minus any fees they've charged, to your next ticket when you enter the ticket number as a "discount" in future travel bookings.

References

• Budget Travel: 10 Tips to Canellation, Change and Refund Policies
• CBS 5: Airline Cancellation Policies
• Bank Rate: 10 Tips to Clip Travel Cancellation Fees