Korean Air Cancellation Policy

Korean Air cancellation policy allows you to cancel Flex Fares for free and most other fares for a fee, depending on your booking class, route, and time of cancellation. 

Highlight for Air flight cancellation policy

Below is an overview of the Korean Air ticket cancellation policy.

• Free cancellation. You can cancel your ticket and claim a full refund if:
  • Your international flight is affected by government travel restrictions due to COVID-19, i.e., international flight tickets (incl. award tickets) with a departure date between March 4, 2020, and December 31, 2022. Alternatively, you can make a one-time change to your flight without penalty up to December 31, 2022, even if your ticket has expired.
  • You ask for a refund at least 91 days before itinerary departures from Korea.
  • Korean Air cancels your flight. 
  • If you cancel an international itinerary departing from Korea or to/from the United States and apply for a refund within 24 hours of purchasing it, provided you purchased your ticket at least 7 days before departure from the Korean Air website, Branch Office, or Service Center.
  • You cancel your flight and ask for a refund on the same day as you purchased your ticket, provided you purchased your ticket directly from Korean Air (website, Service Center, or Branch Office) subject to the time zone of your departure city.
• International flights departing from Korea are charged a refund penalty based on your booking class, route, and time of refund application. 
• International flights not departing from Korea are charged a refund penalty, regardless of when you cancel your flight and apply for a refund.
• Korean Air cancellation policy for international flights to Korea is as follows:
  • Economy Saver fares (N, T) can be cancelled and refunded for a fee, but are non-refundable from the U.S.
  • Economy Standard fares (S, H, E, K, L, U, Q) can be cancelled and refunded for a fee. 
  • Economy Flex fares can be cancelled and refunded for free, but a nominal service fee will apply. 
  • Prestige Class Standard fares (D, I, R) can be cancelled and refunded for a fee. 
  • Prestige Class Flex fares (J, C) can be cancelled and refunded for free, but a nominal service fee will apply. 
  • First Class fares (P, F) can be cancelled and refunded for free, but a nominal service fee will apply.
• Korean Air cancellation policy for domestic flights within Korea allows you to cancel and refund the following fares for a service charge:
  • Economy Saver fares (K, L, U, V, Q, T, N, W).
  • Economy Standard fares (B, M, S, H, E). 
  • Flex fares (Y). 
  • Prestige fares (C). 
• The cancellation policy for Award Tickets is as follows:
  • For domestic award flights cancelled before the ticket expiration date, 500 used miles will be deducted, and 3,000 used miles will be deducted after the ticket expiration date—except in case of involuntary cancellations such as flight cancellations, and cancellations made within the 24-hour grace period (in which case no deductions will apply).
  • For international award flights cancelled:
    • More than 90 days before departure, no miles will be deducted. 
    • Between 90 days and the ticket expiration date, 3,000 used miles will be deducted. 
    • After the ticket expiration date, 10,000 used miles will be deducted. 

Note. No miles will be deducted in case of involuntary exemptions (flight cancellations) and refunds requested within the 24-hour of ticket issue.

Korean Air Cancellation Policy for COVID

The Korean Air cancellation policy in response to the COVID-19 situation allows you to cancel international flights affected by government travel restrictions due to COVID-19. Under this policy, if your international flight ticket (incl. award ticket) is/was scheduled for departure between March 4, 2020, and December 31, 2022, and was affected as mentioned, you can: 

• Cancel your ticket and ask for a penalty-free refund, or 
• Make a one-time penalty-free change to your ticket up to December 31, 2022—even if your ticket has expired

Korean Air Cancellation Fee/Refund Penalty

What are Korean Air flight cancellation fees/charges/refund penalties?

The Korean Air cancellation fee/penalty for international itineraries departing from Korea will depend on your booking class, route, and when you cancel your ticket. 

• No cancellation fee/penalty will apply if you cancel at least 91 days before departure.
• The cancellation penalty increases closer to the departure date. 

For cancellation penalty details, refer to the table below.

Korean Air Refund Service Charge—International Itineraries Departing from Korea

Ticket refunds for international itineraries departing from Korea are subject to the service charges below (in your currency of purchase).

Exemptions

You will not be charged any penalty if:

• You request a refund at least 91 days before an itinerary departure from Korea.
• Your flight is cancelled. 
• If you request a refund within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket, as long as you purchased it at least 7 days before departure through Korean Air’s website, Service Center, or Branch Office.
• You request a refund on the same day you purchased your ticket, as long as you purchased it through Korean Air’s website, Service Center, or Branch Office (subject to the time zone of the departure city).

Korean Air Refund Service Charge—Domestic Flights within Korea

Ticket refunds for domestic flights within Korea are subject to the service charges below:

Charge Amount (Based on one way)

Exemptions

Per prevailing rules, no penalty will apply if:

• Your flight is cancelled. 
• You request a refund on the same day as you purchased your ticket

Korean Air 24-Hour Cancellation Policy

Does Korean Air have a 24-hour cancellation policy?

Like many airlines, Korean Air has a cancellation policy for 24-hour cancellations for: 

1. Flights to/from the United States.
2. International itineraries departing from Korea. 

Under this policy (regardless of fare type), you can claim a full refund if: 

• You request a refund within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket, and
• You purchase your ticket directly from Korean Air (website, Service Center, or Branch Office), and
• You purchase your ticket at least 7 days before departure

Note. All types of tickets are eligible for cancellations under this policy, including non-refundable tickets.

Korean Air Same-Day Cancellation Policy

Can I cancel a flight on Korean Air on the day ticket purchase?

Korean Air same-day cancellation policy applies to both international itineraries departing from Korea and domestic flights within Korea. 

Under this policy, you are entitled to a full refund if you: 

1. Cancel your ticket and request a refund on the same day you purchased your ticket, and
2. You purchased your ticket directly from Korean Air (website, branch office, or Service Center)

Korean Air Award Ticket Cancellation 

What is the Korean Air award ticket cancellation policy?

Cancelling a fully or partially used Award Ticket is subject to cancellation charges unless you cancel more than 90 days before departure. After you cancel your Award Ticket, some miles will be deducted from your account, a refund fee will be charged, and the remaining miles will be credited to your account. 

The refund fee for Award Tickets (in miles) on international flights is as follows:

• More than 91 days before departure Free of charge
• Within 90 days of departure 3,000 miles 
• After the ticket expiration date 10,000 miles

If you request a refund for an Upgrade Award ticket (for international flights) before your ticket’s expiration date, the refund penalty of the original ticket will apply. 

The refund fee for Award Tickets (in miles) on domestic flights is as follows:

• Before expiration date 500 miles
• After ticket expiration date 3,000 miles

A refund fee will be charged, regardless of the penalties and fees applicable to the original ticket.

Korean Air No-Show Penalty If you fail to board your flight after checking in or without cancelling your booking before departure, extra charges will apply (see below). No-show charges apply to all tickets, including Award Tickets (except lap infants with no assigned seats).

How to Cancel a Flight on Korean 

What is the Korean Air flight cancel process?
The Korean Air flight cancellation policy allows you to cancel your flight ticket in any of the following ways: 

• By phone  
  • Call the Korean Air office in your city, or 
  • Call your travel agent
    
• Online/mobile app

How to Cancel a Korean Air Flight Online
Can you tell me how to cancel a Korean Air ticket online?

To cancel a Korean Air flight online, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the homepage (KoreanAir.com)
2. Select Find Trips
   The following page will show up:
3. Retrieve your booking by entering your:
   1. Booking reference/ticket number 
   2. Boarding date
   3. Your last, first, and middle name
4. Click on the Search button
   Your flight booking will show up 
5. Follow the prompts to cancel your flight 

Ticket Refunds at Korean Air

Below are the important points to bear in mind regarding Korean Air ticket refunds:

• Time limit. Refund applications must be submitted within 30 days of a ticket’s expiration date.
• The refund request can be made by phone (the Korean Air Service Center, Branch Office, or your travel agent), or online through the website.
• Documents required for a refund include your e-ticket itinerary and receipt and the passenger’s photo ID (both mandatory). Both must be submitted by the ticket holder/passenger. 
• If a passenger’s representative applies for a refund, the photo ID of the representative and a power of attorney signed by the passenger are required.
• If the ticket holder/passenger is a minor, the legal representative’s ID and proof-of-family documents issued within the last 6 months are required. 
• Mode of refund

• If you purchased your ticket in cash, the refund amount will be deposited into your (i.e., ticket holder’s) bank account.
• If you purchased your ticket with a credit card, the refund will be credited to your credit card account. 
• Refund time. The refund period, depending on the credit card company, is typically 2 – 5 business days after the refund approval. 

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Frequently Asked Questions on Korean Air Cancellation Policy