Refundable vs. non-refundable fares
Refundable fares (typically the most expensive in any cabin) can be cancelled at any time before departure for a full refund to the original payment method. Non-refundable fares cannot be voluntarily cancelled for cash; they may produce a travel credit, depending on the airline. The price difference between refundable and non-refundable on the same flight can be 3x to 5x.
When non-refundable becomes refundable
Even on a non-refundable ticket, several events trigger a refund right: the airline cancels the flight; the airline makes a 'significant' schedule change; the passenger cancels within the regulator-mandated 24-hour window; or the destination becomes inaccessible due to government action. Each airline defines 'significant' differently — usually two hours or more for the EU, four hours or more for some US carriers.
Refunds vs. credits vs. compensation
Three different things often get confused. A refund returns the money you paid. A travel credit is an internal voucher with an expiration date. Compensation (under EU261 or APPR) is an extra cash payment for inconvenience, paid on top of any refund. You can sometimes claim all three for the same disrupted flight.
Key takeaways
- Refund eligibility depends on fare type, jurisdiction, and cause of cancellation.
- Schedule changes above a defined threshold convert non-refundable tickets into refundable ones.
- Refunds, credits, and compensation are three separate entitlements.