SWISS Air Cancellation Policy

The Swiss Air cancellation policy provides flexibility and convenience for its passengers. If you need to cancel your flight, you can do so online or by calling the Swiss Air customer service team. The cancellation policy varies, depending on the type of ticket you have purchased and the fare conditions associated with it. It is important to review these conditions carefully before making a flight booking. 

Swiss Air offers options such as free cancellations within 24 hours of booking on select routes, refundable and non-refundable tickets, and the ability to make changes to your itinerary for a fee. To ensure a smooth and hassle-free cancellation process, you should familiarize yourself with the SWISS Air flight cancellation policy (explained on this page) and reach out to the customer service team if you have any questions or need assistance.

Major Highlights of SWISS Airlines Cancellation Policy

Knowing how the SWISS Air cancellation policy works is important. It can not only help you save time and money but also ensure a smooth, hassle-free travel experience. Below are some of the key highlights of the SWISS Air cancelation policy. 

• You can cancel your SWISS Air flight and get a full refund* only if:
  • SWISS Air cancels your flight and does not offer you a replacement flight.
  • The scheduled departure time of your flight is:
    • Brought forward by at least 1 hour 
    • Delayed by at least 2 hours 
  • The actual departure time of your flight is changed by at least 5 hours due to a short-term flight disruption on the day of travel or the following day
  • You purchase a ticket to/from the United States at least 7 days before departure time and cancel it within 24 hours of booking. 

*Pro-rata for partly-used tickets. 

• Voluntary cancellations will only be allowed in the following cases:
  • Due to medical restrictions (illness, accident, etc.), subject to documentary evidence. 
  • On refundable (Flex) fares, subject to cancellation charges.
• SWISS Air’s non-refundable tickets cannot be cancelled. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, the entire fare will be forfeited and only the airport taxes will be refunded. 
• For tickets booked through a travel agency, contact the agency directly. The cancellation and refund conditions will depend on what you were informed at the time of booking.
• If your ticket cannot be cancelled or refunded, changing/rescheduling your ticket (if permitted) may be a cheaper option than cancelling it.
• If your flight is cancelled, you will be automatically rebooked (free of charge) to your destination on an alternative flight in the same travel class. If SWISS is unable to rebook you or you want to travel at a more convenient date, you can rebook yourself on an alternative flight during the validity of your ticket (usually 1 year) online via the registration page or by phone.
• You can cancel a cancelled flight and submit it for reimbursement through the Refunds page or by phone. 
• If a flight departing from Switzerland or the E.U. is cancelled or subjected to a long delay, or if you’re denied boarding on a confirmed ticket, you have certain rights under EU regulation 261/2004. 
• You can cancel your ticket online or by phone. 

To avoid last-minute surprises, do go through the remaining terms and conditions of the SWISS Air flight cancellation policy below.

How to Cancel SWISS Air Flight?

You can cancel your SWISS flight online or by phone. 

Online cancellations can be made in 3 ways—via Manage my bookings, Refunds, and SWISS Chat Assistant. 

Cancel Swiss Flight Online

To cancel your SWISS flight via Manage my bookings, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the homepage, Swiss.com
2. Click on Book & Manage and then on Manage my bookings
3. Log in with your Travel ID or your Booking code and name 
4. From Flight details
   1. Select and cancel your flight 
   2. Request a refund 

To cancel your SWISS flight via the Refunds page, follow the steps below:

1. Go to the homepage
2. Scroll down and select Refunds
   (it appears under Customer support)
3. Check the Refund Check box appearing against Request ticket refund manually
4. Complete the general information and details sections
5. Hit the Submit button

To cancel a SWISS Air flight via SWISS Chat Assistant, Nelly: 

1. Go to the homepage
2. Scroll down and select Refunds
3. The SWISS Chat Assistant will pop up automatically 
4. Click on Start Chat 
5. Enter your booking code or ticket number 
6. Follow the prompts to cancel and refund your ticket

Cancel Swiss Flight By Phone

To cancel a SWISS Air flight by phone, follow the steps below:

1. Call SWISS Air’s customer service. 
2. Provide your flight information to the agent—such as
   your booking code/e-ticket number, departure date, and
   personal ID details. The agent will confirm these details and ask
   you the reason for cancelling your flight.
3. Confirm the flight cancellation. The agent will apprise you of your refund options. 
4. Receive confirmation email. After your flight cancellation request, it will be processed and you will receive a confirmation email. Save this email for future reference. 

Points to Remember when You Cancel a SWISS Flight

• Non-refundable tickets cannot be cancelled/refunded outside the 24-hour grace period for flights to/from the U.S. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket outside of the grace period, you will only be refunded the airport taxes (except due to medical reasons, flight cancellations/delays, etc., that qualify for a full refund). 
• Only refundable fares (Flex) can be cancelled for a fee. 
• If you purchase your ticket from a third party/travel agent, you must contact them directly to cancel/refund your flight. The fare rules that apply would have been communicated to you in the confirmation email you would have received after you booked your ticket. 
• Before cancelling your ticket, refer to the terms and conditions of your ticket to ensure you have fully understood the cancellation policy, incl. any penalties or fees.
• If you cancel your flight due to a medical emergency, etc., you may receive a special exemption if you can provide valid documentary proof. 
• If your flight is cancelled and the alternative flight does not suit you, you can have the option to get rebooked on another flight within your ticket’s validity period (mostly 1 year). You can do this online through the registration page or by phone. 
• You have special rights if your flight departing from an airport in the E.U. or Switzerland is cancelled or delayed for long, or if you’re denied boarding on an overbooked flight. 

SWISS 24 Hour Cancellation Policy

SWISS Air 24 hour cancellation policy allows passengers to cancel their flight within 24 hours of booking without incurring any fees. However, this policy applies to all flights departing from or arriving in the United States, regardless of the destination. Passengers are eligible for a full refund of their ticket price if they choose to cancel within this timeframe. 

The 24-hour cancellation policy applies only to bookings made directly through SWISS Air or its authorized agents. If the reservation was made through a third-party website or travel agency, their cancellation policies may differ. 

How to cancel a SWISS flight within 24 hours?

To take advantage of the 24-hour cancellation policy on eligible routes, you must cancel your flight and apply for a refund within 24 hours of booking in any of the following ways, as explained above: 

1. Online through Manage my bookings 
2. Online via SWISS Chat Assistant
3. Through the Refunds page 
4. By phone 

Note. SWISS Air 24-hour cancellation policy is only applicable to tickets booked directly through SWISS Air and not through third-party websites/travel agents.

SWISS Air Cancellation Fee

SWISS Air cancellation penalty will depend on the type of ticket you’ve purchased and the fare rules associated with it. 

• The cancellation fee/penalty for refundable tickets (such as Flex) will depend on your route and travel class.
•  The cancellation fee/penalty for non-refundable tickets will be the full fare paid by you minus airport taxes.

For more information regarding SWISS Air cancellation policy and associated fees, review the terms and conditions of your ticket or contact SWISS Air. 

SWISS Air Refund Policy

SWISS Airlines refund policy allows you to cancel your flight depending on what type of ticket you have purchased. If your ticket is refundable, you are eligible for a refund of the ticket price (including any taxes and fees) less the applicable cancellation fee. However, you must apply within the specified timeframe. 

Non-refundable tickets are not eligible for a refund, except for airport taxes. 

Major Highlights of SWISS Air Refund Policy

Below are the major highlights of SWISS refund policy. 

• Complete refunds are only made if:
  • Your flight is cancelled and no alternative flight is offered to you.
  • The scheduled departure time of your flight is either:
    • Advanced by 1 hour or more, or 
    • Delayed by 2 hours or more 
  • Your flight’s actual departure time is changed by at least 5 hours on the day of travel or the following day because of a short-term flight disruption.
• Tickets that have been partially used will be refunded on a pro-rata basis.
• Voluntary ticket cancellations due to medical reasons will only be permitted subject to the presentation of documentary proof, as advised at the time of booking. 
• The cancellation of a refundable fare will result in the complete forfeiture of the fare, except for airport taxes which will be refunded. 
• To cancel a travel agency ticket, you must contact them directly. The refund terms would have been provided to you through the confirmation email issued at the time of booking. 

SWISS Air Rules for Compensation

Knowing your rights as a passenger is crucial, especially when it comes to airline cancellations. If your SWISS flight is cancelled or delayed for long, or you have been denied boarding you may be entitled to compensation under certain circumstances. According to EU Regulation 261/2004, if your flight is departing from an EU airport or arriving at an EU airport on an EU carrier and the cancellation is within the control of the airline, you may be eligible for compensation. 

According to Swiss International Airlines cancellation policy, the amount of compensation will depend on the distance of your flight and for how long you were delayed. It’s important to note that there are exceptions and limitations to these regulations, such as extraordinary circumstances like bad weather, air traffic control strikes, etc. 

Validity. The E.U. regulation applies to: 

• All passengers departing from or arriving at an EU airport or Switzerland.
• Passengers holding confirmed reservations. 
• Only passengers who have checked in before the check-in deadline (except if the flight is cancelled). However, if no check-in time is indicated, it must be at least 45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. 
• Fares that are available to the public

The Right to Care, which refers to: 

• Meals and refreshments based on the waiting time
• Hotel accommodation plus the cost of transfer (if needed)
• 2 phone calls, emails, or faxes or e-mails, unless this would delay your departure 

SWISS Air Cancelled Flight Compensation 

If your SWISS Air flight is cancelled, you have the right to: 

• An alternative flight/mode of transportation (as above)
• Care and assistance (as above)
• Reimbursement and compensation (as above)

The amount of cancelled flight compensation will depend on the distance of your original flight and the alternate flight offered to you. 

• For flights within 1,500km, the compensation is €250
• For flights within Europe and flights ranging from 1,500 to 3,500km, the compensation is €400
• For flights exceeding 3,500 km, the compensation is €600

Your compensation will be reduced by half if an alternative flight is offered to you and its arrival time does not exceed the original flight’s scheduled arrival time by: 

• Up to 2 hours for flights within 1,500km, or 
• Up to 3 hours for flights ranging from 1,500 to 3,500km, or 
• Up to 4 hours for flights exceeding 3,500km

Exceptions to Cancelled Flight Compensation. You will not be entitled to any compensation under E.U. Regulations if: 

• Your flight was cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances that could not have been avoided by SWISS Air—such as poor weather, security risks, strikes, political instability, and unanticipated flight safety issues.
• You were informed of the flight cancellation:
  • At least 14 days before departure.
  • 14 – 7 days before departure and the alternative flight offered to you was scheduled to depart within 2 hours prior to the original flight’s departure time and arrive up to 4 hours later than the scheduled arrival time.
  • Within 7 days before departure, the alternative flight offered to you was scheduled to depart within 1 hour prior to the original flight’s departure time and arrive up to 2 hours later than the scheduled arrival time.

SWISS Air Delayed Flight Compensation 

Under EU Regulation 261/04, you are entitled to assistance if your flight is delayed beyond the scheduled departure time by:

• 4 hours for flights exceeding 3,500km 
• 3 hours for flights ranging from 1,500 to 3,500km 
• 3 hours for flights exceeding 1,500km within the EU
• 2 hours for flights within 1,500km

If your flight is delayed by more than 5 hours, you are entitled to: 

• A full refund for the unused part of your ticket within 7 days, and
• A full refund for the unused plus used part of your ticket if the onward flight no longer serves any purpose plus free return transportation (if required) to your original point of departure as soon as possible.

Boarding Denials Due to Overbooking

If you are denied boarding due to overbooking against your will, the airline must rebook you at the earliest on an alternative flight to your final destination—and under comparable conditions. You can also ask to be re-routed to your destination later at a convenient date, provided you’re willing to pay the cost of your food, hotel accommodation, and transfer. 

Regardless of whether you were denied boarding voluntarily or involuntarily, you have the right to receive an alternate flight or a refund plus compensation by bank transfer, cash card, or (if you agree) a voucher. The amount of compensation will be the same as that provided above in case of flight cancellations, including the reduction in compensation by half if you’re offered an alternative flight.

Exceptions to boarding denial compensation. You will not be entitled to any compensation if you were denied boarding due to your fault, for reasons of health and safety, or insufficient documentation.

SWISS Air Compensation for Downgrading

If SWISS Air downgrades you to a lower travel class than the one you paid for, you are entitled to receive compensation within 7 days. The amount of compensation will depend on the flight and the airfare you paid per segment. The compensation will be: 

• 30% of the fare paid per segment for flights within 1,500km
• 50% of the fare paid per segment for flights ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 km 
• 50% of the fare paid for flights exceeding 1,500km within Europe
• 75% of the fare paid per segment for flights exceeding 3,500km

Frequently Asked Questions on SWISS Air Cancellation Policy

The FAQs section below addresses common inquiries regarding SWISS Airlines cancellation policy. Whether you’re wondering about refund eligibility, fees, or the process for cancelling a booking, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find answers to your questions and ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience when cancelling your travel plans with SWISS Air.