Just booked an airline ticket and realize you made a mistake? Or, pulled the trigger and realized maybe you shouldn't take that dream vacation just yet? No problem. Most U.S-based airlines have a written policy that allows you to cancel your reservation fee-free, if done within 24 hours of booking. Other airlines have a 24-hour HOLD policy, which enables you to place a reservation on hold, allowing you some extra time before making the purchase. Here is a summary:
-Southwest Airlines: (no link) 24 hour cancellation policy. Beyond 24 hours, Southwest does not charge a change fee, allowing you to hold as travel credit up to a year from date of purchase. -Continental Airlines: 24-hour cancellation policy -U.S. Airways: 24-hour HOLD policy -Virgin America: 24-hour cancellation policy -Delta Airlines: Cancellation until midnight the next day. -United Airlines: 24-hour cancellation policy -American Airlines: 24-hour HOLD policy.
Mike
Message edited by: FatWallet moderator on 2009-07-19 20:01:28 CDT
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With AA it's 24-47hrs. I believe they expire at 12mid CT the next day. So, it's a 36hr HOLD if you hold at noon Monday (expires midnight next day).
And often, with the airlines that allow a HOLD, you can hold for a day and repeat each day until you are sure you want to buy.
Check that same airfare exists, cancel the current HOLD, and quickly create a new HOLD. I've done this with AA and have essentially kept a great airfare on hold a few days.
Message edited by: briankh on 2009-07-20 11:33:04 CDT
briankh said:With AA it's 24-47hrs. I believe they expire at 12mid CT the next day. So, it's a 36hr HOLD if you hold at noon Monday (expires midnight next day).
And often, with the airlines that allow a HOLD, you can hold for a day and repeat each day until you are sure you want to buy.
Check that same airfare exists, cancel the current HOLD, and quickly create a new HOLD. I've done this with AA and have essentially kept a great airfare on hold a few days.
lray said:I assume you have repeat the hold over the phone?
Noo... FW'ers don't use the PHONE! Use the AA website. There's a "Hold" button and a "Purchase" button. Just use "Hold".
Their online system won't let you "Hold" two reservations with flights on the same day. So, you must cancel the "Hold" you have and quickly "Hold" it again.
But, you can have two windows open with selected flights and everything ready to "Hold" again in one window. Go to other window and cancel the "Hold" that is about to expire, then click "Hold" on the new reservation. You're essentially creating another "Hold" two seconds later.
If you see that airfare has gone up, quit doing that and click "Purchase" on the "Hold" you created the day before.
This is a good method when they announce really good sales; like their Net SAAver Weekend Getaways. You can reserve as soon as the list of cities is released, then have a day or two to think about whether you really want to go that weekend or not.
Message edited by: briankh on 2009-07-20 15:26:46 CDT
pianopeep said:I assume that this doesn't apply to Opaque booking sites like Hotwire and Priceline?
Of course not. You pay immediately and agree to accept whatever flights they give you. They don't "hold" reservations.
You can "hold" multiple reservations directly with the above airlines while you're trying bids on those sites. Let them expire if the bidding sites' deal is better.
Message edited by: briankh on 2009-07-20 15:25:22 CDT
You can still cancel a reservation through Priceline published airfare within 24 hours. Just call up the customer service. It doesn't work for "Name your own Price".
Hotwire and Priceline bids don't display the airline and so once a bid is accepted, its unchangeable even a minute after that for ANY reason AT ALL.
briankh said:lray said:I assume you have repeat the hold over the phone?
Noo... FW'ers don't use the PHONE! Use the AA website. There's a "Hold" button and a "Purchase" button. Just use "Hold".
Their online system won't let you "Hold" two reservations with flights on the same day. So, you must cancel the "Hold" you have and quickly "Hold" it again.
But, you can have two windows open with selected flights and everything ready to "Hold" again in one window. Go to other window and cancel the "Hold" that is about to expire, then click "Hold" on the new reservation. You're essentially creating another "Hold" two seconds later.
If you see that airfare has gone up, quit doing that and click "Purchase" on the "Hold" you created the day before.
This is a good method when they announce really good sales; like their Net SAAver Weekend Getaways. You can reserve as soon as the list of cities is released, then have a day or two to think about whether you really want to go that weekend or not.
Same goes for reward travel on aa.com. For high demand destinations where inventory is limited, I will usually grab the best I can find (might be a few days off, undesirable routing), and keep checking for new inventory.
Keep in mind that most holds expire at midnight local time, so the best time to start searching for limited inventory items is early in the morning. While there is a small fee for phone reservations, I find that some of the better agents are able to "find" more desirable reward routings than the web site - particular for international travel. They don't seem to mind repeated calls (once or more per day) to update inventory, and if you get one that does, simply hang up and call back.
Should also apply for revenue tickets. I have found that American has been matching most domestic fare sales (Southwest, etc), so will hold a reservation on aa.com first, and if the fare is higher than expected, will comparison shop for better deals.
You can cancel on air tickets booked on Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz within 24 hours without any airline cancellation fees. They used to take their $5 or $7 fees per ticket. That fee is now gone so i don't know if they will take any thing. I have done this for Expedia and Travelocity. You will have to call for this.
boniam said:You can cancel on air tickets booked on Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz within 24 hours without any airline cancellation fees. They used to take their $5 or $7 fees per ticket. That fee is now gone so i don't know if they will take any thing. I have done this for Expedia and Travelocity. You will have to call for this.
With Orbitz it's actually till midnight the next day.
Jetblue has no forgiveness, their unofficial policy is within 2 hours. I called 3 hours after I booked the ticket, booked it for the wrong week and they charged me $100 cancellation fee per ticket. Once I use my remaining credit, I will likely never fly with them again.
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