Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy, 24-Hour Refunds, Fee Waivers

If you’ve booked a ticket on Delta and want to cancel it, you must know the provisions of the Delta Airlines cancellation policy. This page will clear your doubts on Delta Airlines flight cancellation policy and the conditions under which you can qualify for full refunds. Go through the sections below to learn about Delta’s cancellation fees, cancellation process, and how to avoid paying cancellation fees.

Conditions for Full Refund

Can I cancel my Delta flight and get a refund?

The Delta Airlines cancellation policy allows you to cancel your ticket and claim a 100% refund if:

You purchase your ticket (any type) directly from Delta and cancel it within 24 hours.
Delta cancels your flight.
Delta delays your flight by more than 90 minutes.
You’ve purchased a refundable fare.
The passenger/travel companion dies and you can prove it.
You’re a Delta Platinum or Diamond Medallion member holding an award ticket.
You receive a sudden military deployment order (subject to documentary proof).
Any special circumstances that prevent you from catching your flight—but solely at Delta’s discretion.
Your Delta Airlines ticket (except Basic Economy) falls under the no-cancellation fee policy:
- You purchased your ticket after August 31, 2020, for travelling within the United States, Puerto Rico, or USVI.
- Your flight (incl. joint venture and codeshare partner flights) originates from North America to anywhere and you purchased your ticket after December 9, 2020.
- Your flight is between the Caribbean and the United States/Mexico.

Delta 24-Hour Cancellation Policy

Delta Airlines’ 24-hour risk-free flight cancellation policy applies to all tickets purchased directly from Delta Airlines. Under this policy, you can cancel any flight booking within 24 hours—regardless of your fare type.

Exceptions to the 24-hour cancellation policy

Delta’s 24-hour cancellation policy does not apply to:

Tickets booked from travel agencies
Paper tickets
Partially-flown reissued tickets

To cancel a SkyMiles Award ticket, you must contact Delta Reservations.

Delta Airlines COVID-19 Cancellation Policy

What is Delta Airlines’ cancellation policy in response to COVID-19?

Delta Airlines’ cancellation policy offers additional relaxation to passengers during the COVID-19 travel waiver period, which expires on April 30, 2021.

If you purchased your ticket on or before April 30, 2021:
- You can cancel your flight before departure.
- You must travel anytime up to December 31, 2022.
- After you cancel your flight, you will receive an eCredit for the full value of your ticket.
- You must use your eCredit to rebook your new flight by December 31, 2022.
- If you don’t rebook your new flight and travel by December 31, 2022, your eCredit will expire.
If you purchased a Basic Economy ticket after April 30, 2021, with a travel date till December 31, 2021 (included):
- You can make changes to your flight without paying a flight change fee.
- You cannot cancel your flight.
- Delta’s temporary 2021 Basic Economy Changeability Waiver policy will apply to your ticket.

Note. If you purchased a Basic Economy ticket after April 30, 2021, with a travel date in 2022, you cannot cancel, refund, or change your ticket outside of the 24-hour cancellation window.

The change fee and award redeposit fee has been eliminated for tickets purchased in 2021 for flights that originate from North America and the Caribbean (incl. Basic Economy fares purchased after April 30, 2021, as long as the new travel date is through December 31, 2021). This means you can cancel your award ticket and rebook it later without having to pay any change fee.
The change and cancellation fee for award tickets has been waived for travel within the U.S., provided you change or cancel prior to departure. If you cancel an award ticket that expired in 2021, you can now use its unused value for purchasing a new ticket by December 31, 2022 (only the fare difference, if any, will apply).

Note. if you cancel a ticket under the COVID-19 travel waiver, you will not be entitled to a full cash or credit card refund—you will get a Delta credit for future use.

Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy for Medical Reasons

Delta Airlines cancellation policy allows you to cancel your flight booking for medical reasons. This policy applies to passengers who suddenly fall ill before their flight and are unable to travel as a result. However, you must be able to support your reason for cancellation with valid documentation (i.e., a medical certificate), and you must cancel your flight before it departs.

Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy due to Weather

Under Delta Airlines ticket cancellation policy, if your flight is cancelled due to extreme weather conditions, you are allowed to cancel the flight (or the one offered in its place) and get a full refund.

Delta Airlines Military Cancellation Policy

Delta Airlines military cancellation policy applies to military personnel travelling on Delta Airlines. Under this policy, if military personnel receive a deployment order that prevents them from catching their flight, they are allowed to cancel the flight and receive a full refund.

Delta Airlines Award Ticket Cancellation Policy

Under Delta Airlines award ticket cancellation policy, if you cancel an award ticket outside the 24-hour risk-free window, you are entitled to a full refund of your SkyMiles to your Delta Airlines account. This applies to any award ticket cancelled in 2021. In normal circumstances, you would be charged a fee of USD 150 for redepositing your miles.

Note. Delta award tickets must be cancelled (or changed) at least 72 hours prior to departure. Cancellations and changes made within 72 hours of your flight will result in the forfeiture of your SkyMiles.

Delta Airlines flight cancellation policy will depend on what type of ticket you’ve purchased and when you cancel it. Ticket types include:

Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy by Fare Type

Basic Economy tickets, which are the most restrictive.
Non-refundable tickets, which have some restrictions.
Refundable tickets, which are most flexible.

You must cancel your ticket before your flight’s departure. The table below presents a snapshot of Delta Airlines cancellation policy by fare type and cancellation period, along with the cancellation fees.

Delta Airlines Cancellation Fees
Time Period	Basic Economy Tickets	Non-refundable Ticket Originating within North America	Non-refundable Ticket Originating outside of North America	Refundable/Flex Tickets
Within 24 hours of booking	Free of charge	Free of charge	Free of charge	Free of charge
After 24 hours of booking	Not allowed*	Free of charge	Cancellation fee: USD 200-500	Refundable
Within 24 hours of departure	Not allowed*	Free of charge	Cancellation fee: USD 200-500	Refundable
* Temporarily allowed if you purchased your ticket on/before April 30, 2021, as long as you cancel before departure and rebook and travel anytime up to December 31, 2022 (due to COVID-19 travel waivers). If you purchased after April 30, 2021, and your travel date is through December 31, 2021, you can make changes to your flight but not cancel it. But if you booked after April 30, 2021, and your travel date is in 2022, you are not allowed to cancel, refund, or change your ticket outside of the 24-hour cancellation window.

**How to Cancel a Flight on Delta Airlines**

How does the cancellation policy for Delta Airlines allow me to cancel my flight?

The cancellation policy for Delta Airlines allows you to cancel your flight:

By phone
- Call +1-844-903-1897 or the Delta office in your city/country
- Call the travel agent you purchased your ticket from
Online or with the Fly Delta mobile app
At a Delta Airlines sales counter

Online Cancellation Process

If you purchased your ticket directly from Delta (website, app, call center, or sales office), you can cancel your ticket online as explained below.

Go to Delta.com
Click on My Trips
Select/enter your:
1. Confirmation number, or
  Credit/Debit card number, or
  Ticket Number
2. First and last name
Click on the search button 🡪
Select the flight you want to cancel
Click on Modify Flight
Choose Start Flight Cancellation
Complete the flight cancellation process

How to Cancel an Award Ticket

You can cancel a Delta award ticket by logging into your SkyMiles account, retrieving your reservation, clicking the Modify Flight button, and following the self-explanatory prompts to cancel your award ticket. It can take a couple of hours for your refunded Miles to show up in your account.

How to Avoid Delta Airlines Flight Change/Cancellation Charges

Follow the tips below to save on flight change fees at Delta:

Use Delta’s 24-hour risk-free policy. The 24-hour DOT rule applies to all flights within the United States and allows you to cancel any flight within 24 hours of purchase.
Buy a refundable fare. They’re costlier, but you won’t have to pay any change or cancellation fee if your plans change.
Hold a Delta Medallion Elite status. Gold, Diamond, and Platinum Medallion members enjoy special fee waivers on award travels, typically costing USD 150.
Keep an eye on flight schedule changes. You may qualify for a fee waiver or reduction for flight delays exceeding 2 hours, route changes, or flight cancellations. In such a scenario, you will receive an option to change or cancel your flight by email.
Call Delta Airlines on +1-844-903-1897 (toll-free in the U.S./Canada) or in your city/country if you need advice on the best way out if you’re not sure what to do.

How Do I Get a Refund from Delta?

Whether you qualify for a refund depends on when you booked your ticket, your fare type, and how you purchased it. If you qualify for a refund under Delta’s refund policy, you will either receive it directly to your original form of payment or as an eCredit for future use.

24-hour refunds. If you cancel your ticket within the 24-hour window, you will automatically receive a refund issued to your original form of payment. You don’t have to do anything other than canceling your ticket.

Refundable tickets. If you had purchased a refundable ticket, you must first cancel your ticket and then submit a Delta Refund Request. To qualify for a refund, you must have purchased your ticket by cash, check, or credit card. If you want a refund on an unused trip purchase, you must fill out a form for eCredit or refund. For details, refer to the section titled How to Initiate Your Refund Request on Delta below.

Non-refundable tickets. Non-refundable tickets cannot be refunded. However, you may be eligible to receive an eCredit against the value of your ticket after a cancellation fee of USD 200 – 500 is deducted. However, if your flight originates within the United States, you will not be charged a cancellation fee. You will be able to use the eCredit for travel on any Delta flight.

If a family member or a co-passenger on your booking dies, you can ask Delta for a refund. You will, however, be required to provide proof to Delta’s refund department, such as a death certificate.

Basic Economy tickets. Basic Economy tickets only qualify for refunds within the 24-hour window. If you don’t cancel within the risk-free 24-hour window, you will not be entitled to any refund unless your ticket falls under a COVID-19 travel waiver as described in the sections above.

How to Initiate Your Refund Request on Delta

How do I get a refund from Delta?

If you’re requesting a refund within 24 hours, you can cancel your ticket and request a full refund online via Delta.com.

Go to the Delta.com
Log in if you have a Delta account and select Find My Trips
If you don’t have a Delta account, select My Trips
Select your trip and click on the Cancel Flight button
Follow the prompts to submit a Delta refund request

If you’re requesting a refund after 24 hours, i.e., after your risk-free cancellation period is over, you must follow a different channel to make a refund request, as shown below.

A screenshot of Delta’s online Cancel Flight and Request Refund form

If you want to cancel your flight, use this online form and click on the Cancel Flight button to apply for an eCredit.
If your flight was delayed or cancelled, or you received a service downgrade, and you want to cancel it and request a refund, use the same online form above, click on the Request Refund button, and fill out the Cancel and Refund Form that shows up on your screen.

When cancelling your ticket or applying for a refund, you must fill out the form(s) completely.

Note

After you fill out the form, your request will be processed by a Delta Airlines representative.
It will typically take 7 business days to process domestic debit/credit card purchases but may take up to 2 billing cycles for the refund to reflect on your account statement.
If you purchased your ticket with cash/check, your refund will be processed within 20 business days.
If you qualify for an eCredit, the credit will be added to your Delta.com account will be accessible within 7 days through your ticket number.
Your refund or eCredit will be issued according to the fare rules and waivers that apply to your ticket.

Alternative Option. You can also cancel over the phone by calling Delta Airlines on +1-844-903-1897. If you’re holding an award ticket, call this dedicated phone number +1-800-323-2323 and ask a representative to help you with your refund.

Tracking Your Delta Refund

A screenshot of Delta Airlines’ Check Refund Status page

You can track the status of your refund as follows:

Go to the refund status page
Enter your:
- First and last name
- Ticket/document number
- Refund request number (sent to you by email)
- Click on the Continue button

Your refund status will show up on the screen.

Note

After you’ve initiated your refund request, it can take up to 7 business days for domestic refunds to be processed but up to 2 billing cycles n ,. to be reflected on your debit/credit card statement. Cash purchases can take up to 20 business days to be processed.

Frequently Asked Questions on Delta Cancellation Policy

You can get a full refund after cancelling your flight if:

You cancel a ticket you purchased directly from Delta Airlines within 24 hours.
Your flight gets cancelled or delayed by more than 90 minutes.
Your fare conditions entitle you to a full refund.
A co-passenger on your booking dies.
You have an award ticket and you are a Delta Platinum or Diamond Medallion member.
A sudden military deployment order prevents you from catching your flight.
Any extraordinary situation prevents you from catching your flight—and Delta agrees.

Delta Airlines cancellation policy allows you to cancel a ticket without penalty in the following situations:

You purchase your ticket directly from Delta and cancel it within 24 hours.
Your Delta flight is delayed by 1.5 hours or cancelled.
Your ticket is fully refundable.
Someone in your booking dies.
You cancel an award ticket on an elite status.
You receive a military deployment order.
An emergency situation develops and Delta agrees to your cancellation request.

Yes, Delta Airlines does have a 24-hour cancellation policy and it applies to all types of fares, including non-refundable Basic Economy fares. To be eligible, you must fulfill the following 2 conditions:

You must purchase your ticket directly from Delta Airlines.
You must cancel within 24 hours of booking.

Delta’s 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy allows passengers to cancel any Delta Airlines flight within 24 hours if they purchase their ticket directly from Delta Airlines. This policy applies to all types of fares, including non-changeable and non-refundable fares.

Passengers can cancel their flights online or through Delta’s mobile app.

After the 24-hour window has passed, Delta Airlines’ change fee can range from USD 75–200 within the United States, whereas Delta Airlines’ change fee for international flights can range from USD 200–500, depending on your fare class and destination.

Delta Airlines’ change fee (earlier USD 200/ticket) has been eliminated for all domestic and international flights originating from the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This includes flights operated by SkyTeam and codeshare partners but does not apply to Basic Economy fares.

Per Delta Airlines’ change fee waiver, all tickets purchased on or before March 30, 2021—including Basic Economy tickets—can be changed for up to 1 year from the original date of purchase without incurring any change fee. This means if you purchased a ticket on March 30, 2021, you can convert your ticket into an eCredit and use it for travel anytime up to March 29, 2022.

Yes, it is, under certain conditions. Per Delta’s cancellation fee waiver, tickets purchased before April 17, 2020, with a travel date up to March 30, 2021, can be changed or cancelled without any fee—and utilized anytime up to December 31, 2022.

Delta has also waived its cancellation and change fee for award tickets for travel within the United States. Additionally, award tickets purchased in or expiring in 2021 can now be used to purchase a new ticket by December 31, 2022.

If your new flight (i.e., Delta Airlines changed flight) is cheaper than your original flight, the excess amount will be credited to your account as an eCredit which you can redeem later for travelling in the future.

If you cancel your Delta flight before its departure, the value of your ticket will be credited to your account in the form of an eCredit. However, this does not apply to Basic Economy tickets, which can neither be changed nor refunded after March 30, 2021.

You can check your eCredit balance and expiry date via delta.com/redeem.

You can redeem your eCredit for future travel via delta.com/redeem.

If you purchased your ticket on or before March 30, 2021, you won’t have to pay a change fee. The value of your existing flight ticket will be applied to your new flight ticket. Fare differences must be paid for, however.

However, this waiver does not apply to Basic Economy tickets purchased after March 30, 2021. If your travel originates outside of North America, you will have to pay a change fee for any ticket purchased after March 30, 2021.

If you booked your ticket before April 17, 2020, and your travel date is between March 2020 and March 2021, you can use your eCredit to travel anytime you wish till December 31, 2022.

You can cancel your Delta Airlines ticket by phone or online via My Trips. Third-party ticket cancellations must be made directly by contacting the party concerned.

It can take 7 – 30 days for your refund to materialize (if you qualify).

You have the option to book another flight in place of the cancelled flight (at no additional charge) or ask for a refund.

If you booked directly from Delta, you can cancel through My Trips at Delta.com. After clicking on it, enter your name and flight confirmation number in the boxes, click on the Find My Trip button, select the trip you want to cancel, click on the Cancel Flight button, and confirm the cancellation.

Your refund will be credited to your original form of payment.

You can cancel a refundable ticket by phone or online. The online facility is only available to you if you purchased your ticket directly from Delta and not a third party. Online cancellations can be made through the My Trips tab (homepage) by entering the name flight confirmation number, selecting the Cancel Flight button, and confirming the cancellation.

You can also visit a ticket office to apply for a refund.

Cancelling a non-refundable ticket will incur cancellation charges. The cancellation fee will be deducted from the cost of your ticket and the balance amount, if any, will be credited to your account as an eCredit which you can use later to purchase another ticket. This does not apply to Basic Economy tickets, which cannot be cancelled or changed.

Online cancellations can be made through the My Trips tab on the homepage.

The cancellation fee will depend on your itinerary but typically ranges from USD 200–500. The cancellation fee can change and is indicated on your ticket (under Fare Rules). After you cancel your ticket, you will receive the balance (if any) in the form of an eCredit, per the terms and conditions that apply to your ticket.

If Delta cancels your flight or your flight gets delayed significantly, Delta will either rebook you on an alternative flight or convert your ticket into an eCredit for use in the future.

You can check your refund status online. If you have any questions, you can call:

From the Canada and USA: 800-847-0578
From Atlanta and Georgia 404-715-5417
From outside the United States and Canada 404-715-5417

You can cancel your Delta flight without penalty if you cancel within the 24-hour window. To qualify for a penalty-free cancellation, you must purchase your ticket directly from Delta and cancel within 24 hours. If you meet both these conditions, you are eligible to cancel any type of ticket—even a non-refundable ticket.

Delta’s No-Show policy requires that tickets purchased after March 31, 2021, must be cancelled prior to departure. Passengers who do not cancel their tickets before departure will lose the value of their ticket, and Delta will cancel all the flights in the itinerary.

You can submit unused paper tickets and flight coupons to Delta Airlines at the following addresses:

By U.S. Postal Service	By Courier
Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds P.O. Box 20537 Atlanta, GA 30320-2537	Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds4^th Floor, 700 South Central Avenue Hapeville, GA 30354

You may be able to cancel your trip even if your ticket is non-refundable (this does not apply to Basic Economy tickets, which can only be cancelled within the 24-hour risk-free window). You will need to reschedule your trip within 1 year from your original ticket’s issue date. If your ticket falls under a travel waiver, its validity period may be extended without any loss of value, but a change fee may apply. If you’re holding a domestic ticket for travel within the United States, your ticket will have to be reissued and you must complete your travel within 1 year of the original ticket’s issue date unless a travel waiver extends your ticket’s expiration date.

If your ticket is for international travel, you can have it reissued to the same destination or a different one, as long as you begin your travel within 1 year of the original ticket’s issue date, subject to any travel waivers that apply and/or extend your ticket’s expiration date.

The only exception is if the passenger, co-passenger, or an immediate family member dies. In such a scenario, you will need to mail (via U.S. Postal Service) a copy of the death certificate to:

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Passenger Refunds
P.O. Box 20537
Atlanta, GA 30320-2537

Alternatively, you can courier it to:

Delta Air Lines, Inc.
Passenger Refunds

4^th Floor, 700 South Central Avenue
Hapeville, GA 30354

Delta Airlines Reservations

Delta Airlines Baggage Policy

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Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy