Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > United States
Reload this Page >

Did you know that there is a 24 hour cancellation period even on non-refundable tickets?

Did you know that there is a 24 hour cancellation period even on non-refundable tickets?

Old Mar 13th, 2005, 03:15 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Did you know that there is a 24 hour cancellation period even on non-refundable tickets?

I'm just curious if anyone else knows about this? A friend just told me his experience when he was able to cancel (at no penalty) some tickets he'd purchased the day before. He'd been watching fares and had seen just what he wanted. Unfortunately he didn't jump on it and it was gone by evening. Finally, after a week of continued watching, he decided to buy some tickets that were not as convenient and a little more expensive than he'd wanted to pay. Of course, the next day the ticket prices on the flights he's really wanted were back. So, he called United (or was it American) and said he remembered something about a 24 hour period in which you can cancel tickets with no penalty. Sure enough they let him do it, and he was able to buy the Northwest tickets he wanted. I thought once the purchase button was pushed, that was it on non-refundable non-changeable tickets. Did you know that airlines have this practice, and have you ever done it?
julies is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2005, 03:23 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not true... at least I don't think so...
If you used a TA, you used to be able to void a ticket prior to following Monday (I think it was Monday) Now you can only void on a couple of airlines within 24 hours.
This was only when you used a TA.
I know there is an active TA that will respond to this!

TxTravelPro is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2005, 03:28 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,558
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Northwest always gives me a 24 hour grace period, even on FF tickets, before the deal is final.
Maggi is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2005, 03:31 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is this AFTER you have purchased... actually applied the charge to your credit card????
OR is this a 24 HOLD, in other words, you can purchase at that price for the next 24 hours?
TxTravelPro is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2005, 03:54 PM
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'm sure he said it was a purchase because he talked about needing to get all the new arrangements made within the couple grace hours he had remaining. I know I have run into 2 kinds of holds in the past. One they willhold the fare for 24 hours but it automatically expires if you don't confirm with your credit card. Less frequently I have run into the we'll take your credit card # and if you don't call back to cancel, the ticket is yours.
julies is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2005, 05:04 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 15,749
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I do know that you can always hold American tickets for 24 hours before purchase, but I always thought once you had actually purchased them, that was it.
Patrick is offline  
Old Mar 13th, 2005, 05:18 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Northwest does allow a refund 24 hours after purchasing the tkt with no penalty. So yes, after they've chargec your card, you have a 24 hr grace period. I've been able to take advantage of this a couple of times when my plans have changed. All airlines are different though. I know America West charges the customary change fee even within 24 hrs of purchasing.
Jane_R is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 04:45 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
So far, it seems to be a NW thing.
I will revise my doubt to AA... since this is the only airline I fly and even in my TA days, I don't think I ever sold a NW ticket.
I have voided tickets, held tickets and rolled over fares but I am certain they do not allow refunds after purchase unless the ticket is FULLY REFUNDABLE.
Sort of defeats the purpose of non-refundable tickets if you ask me.
Sure, it's nice of them to do but it seems to me that this would drive additional costs. It takes time and effort to arrange the refund. Maybe not much, but it does require some.

TxTravelPro is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 05:20 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,251
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I called my friend to reconfirm what he had told me. The airline was United, and he had fully purchased the tickets, but they allow a 24 hour grace period. When he reticketed on NWA he said they have a policy where you have until midnight of the day following purchase to back out. By the way, these were cheap coach class seats we are talking about, so they had to have been non-refundable because we all know that any reasonably priced seat is always non-refundable.
julies is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 06:14 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think that some states have laws requiring the 24 hour leeway for ANY credit card purchase. Some of the airlines probably allow it just to prevent having to figure out what state you're from vs. what state you purchased your ticket from etc etc.
tracys2cents is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 06:21 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,711
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Most of my tickets are purchased tyhru my TA.I can cancel within the 24 hours after the tickets are issued.Yes, it used to be Monday.But now thru the processing "machinery" it is only 24 hours.If I purchase a ticket on Friday then I have until Monday for him to "void" the ticket.But he doesnt void his fee.That part of the cost is totally non refundable.Well, yes he has budged a bit in the past.
BeachBoi is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 06:32 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,399
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
USAIR online allows you to cancel/make changes within 24 hours if you booked online. They are bending over backwards to stay in business.
travelinwifey is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 10:44 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 19,419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think I read something while making an international reservation with Continental: either they let you hold your reservation for 24 hours before paying in full, or you can reverse your reservation in 24 hours after purchase.
FainaAgain is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 11:06 AM
  #14  
MaureenB
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I was able to cancel tickets I'd already bought on Frontier airline last year. I called within 24 hours of the purchase and was able to change the dates of travel without penalty. It was a pleasant surprise. Maybe all airlines are required to do it.
 
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 11:19 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 12,492
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
but does this also apply to tickets through travel websites that aren't the airline's themselves? (expedia, orbitz, etc?)
lincasanova is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 11:53 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I've cancelled nonrefundable tickets with Northwest, Delta, United, Alaska and Southwest, all within 24 hours of clicking the purchase button and received a full refund back to my credit card. With Alaska, I believe if you choose the 24 hour hold option, then you don't have the 24 hour cancel option, it's either one or the other. In my case, I purchased right away so I could cancel up to 24 hours.
Patty is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 12:57 PM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,203
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow! This is a total revelation to me!
Awesome to know...
TxTravelPro is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 02:27 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tracy2cents has it going on! It is not the airline, or ticket, it is certain state laws that require 24 hours for change of heart on most purchases, if I'm not mistaken. This means purchasing a home, car, boat, airline tickets...you can bail out once the passion of the purchase wears off, and the reality of affordability wears on. Good reminder for all of us searching for airfare these days!!!
hmmmm is offline  
Old Mar 14th, 2005, 04:58 PM
  #19  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,885
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Just a little heads up for American flyers.

AA took a different route, which actually I prefer because it doesn't tie up any money on your CC. AA will hold and guarantee the fare up to 11p or midnight the following day. So, it allows you to hold the res, check everything and only then proceed with purchase, BUT, once you buy it, you don't have another 24 hours to return it.

The 24 hour cancellation policy came out after Congress hearings few years ago because of too many passenger complaints. The airlines, scared that Congress will go back to a partial regulation, offered to adopt the so called Rule 24 or whatever it was called, but were given some room to wiggle. Most took the "pay now, cancel 24 hours, get your money back" approach, AA took the "put on hold, think about it, purchase or it will get cancelled automatically" approach.
AAFrequentFlyer is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Suzanna
Europe
9
Jul 27th, 2013 05:08 PM
woodstockguy
Europe
14
May 15th, 2008 12:54 PM
gail
Air Travel
9
Dec 29th, 2004 08:39 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -