Japan Airlines Cancellation

Japan Airlines’ cancellation policy is constantly being updated in response to the COVID-19 situation. This page brings you up to speed with everything you need to know about domestic and international flight cancellations on Japan Airlines.

If your Japan Airlines flight is cancelled or changed, or the local authorities impose an entry restriction, you can postpone or cancel your flight free of charge, i.e., without paying any cancellation charges. 

• Japan Airlines’ cancellation fee waiver (due to COVID-19) applies to all international flights departing on/before April 25, 2022 (regardless of fare rules), as long as they start with 131 and meet the following conditions:
  • If the flight schedule is changed or the flight is cancelled, you can cancel your ticket without penalty (i.e., without paying any cancellation charges) as long as you do it at least 1 day before departure.
  • If you’re unable to fly due to travel restrictions imposed by the destination city you’re travelling to, you can cancel your ticket from 2 months before departure till the departure date and get a full refund without paying any cancellation charges. 

• Japan Airlines’ cancellation policy (due to COVID-19) also applies to JMB Award Tickets and domestic fares for non-Japanese residents.
  
  Exception. Domestic Japan Airlines tickets (for flights within Japan) beginning with 131-14, 131-875~9, and domestic EMDs beginning with 131-553 are excluded from the cancellation fee waiver.
  
• If you’re cancelling your ticket voluntarily due to a change of travel plans, refer to the cancellation rules on your ticket and contact the source of purchase for more information on cancellations and refunds.
  
• If a domestic flight within Japan is cancelled, delayed by more than 30 minutes, or diverted (for any reason) you can either opt for an alternative flight or cancel it and get a refund.
  
• If you book a ticket to/from the United States, you can:
  • Hold your booking for 24 hours at the quoted fare without payment, or 
  • Cancel and refund your ticket within 24 hours of purchase if you make the booking at least 1 week before departure 

Japan Airlines Cancellation within 24-Hours

Japan Airlines 24-hour cancellation policy

Japan Airlines 24-hour cancellation policy applies to all flight bookings to or from the United States in compliance with a U.S. Department of Transportation ruling. Under this rule, if you book a flight ticket to or from the United States, you can either hold your booking for up to 24 hours at the quoted price without paying for it or cancel and refund it within 24 hours of purchasing it provided that you purchase the ticket at least 7 days before departure. 

How to Cancel a Flight on Japan Airlines

How do I cancel a ticket on Japan Airlines?

You can cancel your Japan Airlines ticket online or by phone. If your ticket qualifies for a refund, you can cancel your flight booking or refund it regardless of the fare rules. If you’re cancelling a JMB Award ticket, the JMB miles will be credited back to your JMB account without penalty. However, if you purchased your ticket from a travel agency, you must contact them directly to process your cancellation and refund.

Refer to the table below if you want to cancel your ticket or request a refund.

How to Cancel and Refund Online

How do I cancel and refund my Japan Airlines flight online?

You can cancel and refund your ticket online through JAL’s website via Manage Booking up to 1 day before your flight’s departure (up to 11.59pm) and up to 72 hours before departure if your flight reservation includes Deutsche Bahn Rail Services and Reservations. One important point: when you cancel online, your entire itinerary will get cancelled—you cannot cancel a part of your itinerary.

Qualifying Conditions for Online Cancellations

You can only cancel your reservation online if: 

• You purchased your ticket through the JAL website/mobile app. 
• You purchased your ticket with a credit card/eJAL points.
• Your flight booking does not include bid upgrade/upgrade awards.
• You have not checked in for your flight. 

Points to Remember 

• If a cancellation fee applies to your ticket and the system charges you for it, you must call the Japan Airlines office in your city/country for a refund. 
• If no cancellation fee applies and you qualify for a full refund, a fee exemption notification will display on the Cancellation summary page (as shown below). 

• If your ticket cannot be refunded online through JAL’s website, you will need to fill out JAL’s online International Refund Application Form. 

How to Cancel and Refund a JAL Flight by Phone 

To cancel and refund your Japan Airlines flight ticket: 

• Call JAL (open 24/7), or
• Call the JAL Call Center in your city/country (within business hours) 

Note

• You must cancel your ticket within the cancellation deadline.
• The Ticket Service charge paid at the time of purchasing the ticket is non-refundable. 
• Refund requests will only be entertained for eligible tickets. 

• Refund requests must be made:
  • For unused tickets Within 1 year and 30 days from the ticket’s issue date. 
  • For used tickets Within 1 year and 30 days from the date of travel. commencement.
• Refund requests for JMB Partner Airlines Award Tickets/oneworld Award Tickets must be made within 1 year from the ticket issue date.

Where to Apply for Ticket Refund

According to Japan Airlines ticket cancellation policy, you can apply for a refund online or by phone, depending on how you purchased your ticket (as shown in the table below).

How to Calculate the Refundable Amount on Japan Airlines

Per Japan Airlines flight cancellation policy, the refund amount for tickets and EMDs will be calculated as explained below. 

• Tickets 
  • Before commencement of travel. The refund amount will be the total fare, taxes, and fees paid minus the cancellation charge mentioned in the fare rules.
  • After commencement of travel. The refund amount will be the difference between the total fare, taxes, and fees paid minus the portion of fare, taxes, and fees used minus the cancellation charge mentioned in the fare rules.
    
    Note. In case of non-refundable fares, only the used taxes, fees, charges, etc., will be refunded. Ticket service fees paid at the time of purchase/change may not be refundable.
    
• Electronic Miscellaneous Documents (EMDs)
  • Unused fees and charges due to change of ticket may be refunded.
  • Depending on the payment method (at purchase), some EMDs may not qualify for a refund. 

Refund Processing Time 

Under Japan Airlines cancellation policy, the refund processing time will depend on how you purchased your ticket—by credit card or cash.

• Credit card purchases will be refunded to the credit card account used for purchasing the ticket/EMD and can take approximately 2 months to reflect on your statement. If adjustments with other airlines are needed, it may take longer.
• Cash purchases will be refunded to the designated bank account within 2 weeks after the receipt of the refund application, subject to a bank transfer fee at the passenger’s expense. In most cases, the amount will be transferred to the passenger named on the ticket. Additional time may be required if adjustments with other airlines need to be made. 

Japan Airlines Cancellation Charges—International Sectors

What are Japan Airlines cancellation charges for international flights?

Japan Airlines cancellation charges for international flights depend on your travel/booking class, as shown in the tables below. 

Japan Airlines Cancellation Fee—Domestic Sectors

What is Japan Airlines cancellation fee for domestic flights within Japan

Japan Airlines cancellation fee for domestic flights within Japan for most flights is ¥440 if cancelled before departure. The Post-departure cancellation fee (if permitted) is ¥440 plus 20% of the fare (or higher), as shown in the tables below.

Japan Airlines cancellation fees for Advance Purchase Fares and Transit Fares (7 and 28) will depend on when you cancel, as shown in the table below. 

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Frequently Asked Questions on Japan Airlines Cancellation