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Sometimes plans change and you are forced to cancel a flight that you had been looking forward to for months. If you’ve ever been in a position where you needed to cancel a flight, you know the process can be both expensive and complicated.
If you happened to book your flight with Delta Air Lines and need to cancel, you’re in the right place! Here’s all the information you need to navigate its 2023 cancellation policy and determine what policies apply to your situation.
| Time Period | Basic Economy | Non-Refundable Tickets With Travel Originating from North America (Excluding Basic Economy) | Non-Refundable Tickets With Travel Originating Outside of North America | Refundable /Flex Tickets |
| During 24-hour risk-free cancellation period | No Charge | No Charge | No Charge | No Charge |
| After 24-hour risk-free cancellation period | Not permitted | No Charge | Remaining value minus $0 to $500 cancellation fee | Refundable |
| Within 24 hours of flight departure | Not permitted | No Charge | Remaining value minus $0 to $500 cancellation fee | Refundable |
All customers will have 24 hours from the time of the original booking to cancel a reservation without being charged a cancellation fee, regardless of fare selected.
If you’ve purchased a basic economy ticket, you have 24 hours from the time the ticket purchased was placed to cancel. Afterward, you will no longer be permitted to cancel your ticket and will be on the hook for the full amount.
For Delta tickets purchased after December 9, 2020, cancellation fees are not applicable for travel originating from North America to anywhere in the world. Flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners are included.
After canceling your ticket, the value of your fare will be refunded to you as an eCredit that you can redeem on a future flight with Delta within 1 year from the original issue date; any fare difference may apply.
After your 24-hour grace period, the cancellation fee for a non-refundable ticket can range from $0 to $500 depending on the location you’re traveling to.
Ticket cancellation fees for flights originating from outside of North America range from $200 to $500; the fee depends on the length of the flight, location, and type of fare).
After canceling your ticket, the remaining value of your fare (minus the cancellation fee) will be refunded to you as an eCredit that you can redeem on a future flight with Delta within 1 year from the original issue date; any fare difference may apply.
If you shelled out the extra cash to purchase a refundable ticket, cancellations can be made anytime before the departure of your flight and the refund will be issued to your original payment method.
Delta SkyMiles award tickets for travel within the U.S. can be canceled without fee any time prior to departure.
For award tickets that originate outside of the U.S., cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance of the departure or return of the flight. Award ticket cancellation fees are a flat fee of $150 regardless of fare class or destination, but the fee is waived if you’re a SkyMiles Platinum or Diamond Medallion member.
After canceling your ticket and paying the $150 cancellation fee, all of the miles that you used to book the flight will be deposited back into your account.
Hot Tip: Looking for even more information about canceling award tickets? Explore our guide on canceling award tickets, including information on over 30 carriers, to learn more.
As with cancellations, all customers will have 24 hours from the time of their original booking to change their reservation without being charged a fee, regardless of fare selected.
| Time Period | Basic Economy | Non-Refundable Tickets | Refundable /Flex Tickets |
| During 24-hour risk-free cancellation period | No Charge + fare difference | No Charge + fare difference | No Charge + fare difference |
| After 24-hour risk-free cancellation period | Not permitted | No Charge + fare difference | No Charge + fare difference |
| Within 24 hours of flight departure | Not permitted | From $75 when available | From $75 when available |
If you’ve purchased a basic economy ticket you are not permitted to make any changes to your flight itinerary after the 24-hour grace period has passed.
Delta no longer charges change fees for domestic and international tickets purchased or for travel (excluding Basic Economy) after April 30, 2021.
Same-day flight change fees are $75. The same-day change fee is waived for all Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallions members. Same-day changes are only eligible on flights in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
If you’re changing your flight because you’ve found a cheaper option, the remaining value of your fare (minus the change fee) will be refunded to you as an eCredit that you can redeem on a future flight with Delta.
With a refundable ticket, changes can be made anytime until 24 hours before the departure of your flight and there is no fee to do so — all you will need to pay is the difference in price. If you’re changing to a cheaper flight, the difference in fare will be refunded to your original method of payment.
Delta does not charge change fees for award tickets.
Step 1: Log into your account on Delta’s homepage and select “My Trips.”
Step 2: Once you’ve selected the trip you want to change or cancel, select “Modify Flight.”
Step 3: Chose to either change or cancel your flight.
Step 4: If you’re changing your ticket you can now go through the process of selecting a new flight. If you’re canceling your ticket, the next page will list the flight itinerary you want to cancel. To finalize, you just need to press “cancel” or “request refund” depending on your type of ticket.
If you have eCredits in your account they can be viewed by logging in at delta.com with your SkyMiles number. Go to “My Delta” and open the Certificates and eCredits module within “My Wallet.”
When you’re ready to redeem your eCredits, simply book a flight as you normally would as the option to redeem your eCredits will be presented when you’re ready to finalize the transaction. The maximum number of eCredits allowed with the purchase is 3 per ticket. Keep in mind that each eCredit must be used within 1 year of the date you received it.
Hot Tip: Have more than 3 eCredits that you want to use for your round-trip ticket? Split that round-trip ticket into 2 one-way trips and you can use 3 eCredits on the first ticket and another 3 on your return trip!
In summary, if you’re worried that you may need to cancel your flight and want to make sure you can get a refund, flex or refundable fares are going to be your best, albeit more expensive, option.
Having to deal with canceling a flight can be difficult enough as it is, but knowledge is power. Be certain to review fare rules closely so that you know what your options are both at the time of booking, and if you end up needing to cancel.
That depends on what fare type you’ve purchased and whether or not you’ve purchased a refundable ticket.
If you’ve purchased a basic economy ticket, you are not permitted to cancel the ticket for a refund after the 24-hour grace period from when your ticket was purchased.
If you have a non-refundable ticket, flights originating from North America can be canceled for free. Flights originating from outside of North America will range from $200 to $500 (depending on the length of the flight, location, and type of fare). Afterward, you will receive the remainder of your fare, minus the fee, in the form of an eCredit for use on a future Delta flight.
If you have a refundable or flex ticket you can cancel anytime before the departure of your flight and you will be reimbursed on your original method of payment.
Yes, all customers will have 24 hours from the time of their original booking to cancel their reservation without being charged a cancellation fee, regardless of fare selected.
Non-refundable tickets with flights originating from North America can be canceled for free.
To cancel a non-refundable ticket for flights originating from outside of North America, you will be required to pay between $200 and $500 depending on the length of the flight, location, and type of fare. The remaining fare will be given to you as an eCredit for future use on a Delta flight.
Your eCredit will expire exactly 1 year after its issue date.
It really all depends on your reason for canceling the flight. If it’s due to an immediate family member’s death or sickness, Delta may waive your cancel fees, but they may ask for proof.
If you believe you have a legitimate reason to have your cancellation fees waived then it never hurts to call and ask!
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Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.
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59 comments
Linda Archer
September 14, 2019
What is the best way to request a refund for a Delta airline ticket that had to be cancelled because of illness. Do you want me to call you (what is the 800#?) or send you an email and what information do you need to complete this transaction? . Thank you, Linda
Katie Seemann
September 16, 2019
Hi Linda,
We aren’t Delta. We are Upgraded Points, a miles and points travel blog. You can reach Delta customer service at 800-221-1212. Good luck!
Al
April 16, 2020
I have a question about an ecredit I got for canceling my flight recently. I got a $150 ecredit and I am booking a flight for sometime later in the year, the new flight is $70, will I keep the $80 as ecredit or will I forfeit it?
Jarrod West
April 29, 2020
Hi Al,
Yes, Delta will allow you to apply the $80 of residual value to another ticket as long as you use it before the eCredit expires.
Victoria Dippold
December 16, 2019
Flights booked with points were cancelled due to a death of a family member. Where do I send the death certificate and what else do I need to reinstate my points. Thank you
Jarrod West
December 16, 2019
Hi Victoria,
Did you book your flight with Delta? If so, just contact their customer service team and they can give you instructions on where exactly it would need to be sent. I’m very sorry for your loss.
Kelly
March 07, 2020
Great article! Any idea what happens if I purchase a refundable ticket with an ecredit but later need to cancel?
The Delta site says you’ll be refunded by method of payment of cash, check or charge. However, nothing is said regarding ecredit. Would a new ecredit be issued or is the amount lost?
Jarrod West
March 08, 2020
Hi Kelly,
In this case, you should be refunded with another ecredit.
Thanks for reading!
John
March 12, 2020
I booked LAX>WLG with miles back in February for a flight on 4/4/20. When I try to cancel the booking the system wants $300. to cancel. Several reports are that this should be a no charge transaction due to the coronavirus changes.
Delta by phone is unavailable….it offers a 6+ hour wait time.
Suggestions?
Christine Krzyszton
March 13, 2020
Hi John. Yes, phone lines are severely backed up right now. The online self-serve system employs the normal cancellation process and may not waive fees due to the virus waiver. You can wait until closer to your departure date (within a week or so) and hopefully call volume will diminish or you can try @Delta on twitter. Even on Twitter there will be a wait for a reply, however.
Randall Wolken
March 21, 2020
We have been trying To cancel this flight (0708 confirmation # XXXX). Cancun to Indy. April 4th) for weeks. Due to the Coronavirus we are not ALLOWED to fly. We are worried we will not get a refund. Can you please help me with this? This is March 21,2020. Thank You
Randall Wolken
Christine Krzyszton
March 21, 2020
Hello Randall. Please understand that we are not Delta Air Lines. We are Upgraded Points, a blog specializing in resources for travel, credit card rewards, and related information. I have removed your personal information for privacy reasons. It is possible to cancel the reservation online at Delta.com. Here is the link, instructions, and what to expect after you cancel. https://www.delta.com/us/en/advisories/coronavirus-travel/overview
jen
April 04, 2021
Never having bought a fully refundable airline ticket before, how “refundable” are they? Do they give every penny back, or are there still fees? I don’t really care what airline or destination, I just need to make a large “purchase”, on my credit card, then return it later. Which airlines typically return 100% of fully refundable tickets? Does Delta, for example, do this? In other words, if the ticket is $5,000, do they give you back $5,000, or $4,900? Happy Easter!
Jarrod West
April 05, 2021
Hi Jen,
Fully refundable airline tickets are just that, fully refundable. As in, whatever price you pay for the ticket, whether it be $500 or $5,000, will be fully refunded back to your method of payment. You will not have to pay any cancellation fees whatsoever. Many airlines offer these fares, including Delta. Happy Easter!
Jeanne
April 14, 2021
April 14 Delta’s wait time is over four hours on the phone. The MODIFY FLIGHT red button is a dead end with this message:
Is Delta not allowing by default changes or cancellations! I am not able to modify or cancel my flight seven or six days out now.
Help!
Error Oh no! We’re sorry, but this system is not available at this time. Please try again later.
If this problem persists, please call our Online Customer Support Desk at 1-888-750-3284 for assistance.
For non-U.S based customers, please call Delta Reservations, opens in new window for your country. #SHO006
Coronavirus Travel Updates: If you are still unable to retrieve your reservation, your flight may have been canceled due to a schedule change and you may be eligible for an eCredit. Visit our guide to help locate your eCredits and instructions on how you can redeem.
Jarrod West
April 14, 2021
Hi Jeanne,
If their online systems are not operating correcting then it seems the only recourse would be to call their customer support desk. You could also try contacting their customer support team on Twitter.
Ashley
April 21, 2021
I had eCredit from a canceled trip in 2020. I just used it to buy a round-trip flight on Delta (paying the difference with a credit card). The person I’m traveling with is not fully vaccinated and would have to quarantine after arriving at the destination. It no longer makes sense to go on the trip. I am going to cancel the ticket, does anyone know if they will give me my eCredit back? I know I have 24 hours to cancel for a full refund, but out of pocket the flight cost me $37, and the majority of the flight was paid for with the eCredit. Thanks!
Jarrod West
April 23, 2021
Hi Ashley,
Yes, you should receive your eCredit back if you cancel the ticket.
Christine Ice
April 24, 2021
I purchased tickets in January of 202 for myself, my husband, and my brother-in-law to attend my nieces wedding on March 21, 2020, in Jacksonville, FL. Of course, the wedding was cancelled so we cancelled our tickets. I read above that the tickets are useable until December of 2022. Thank you.
My question is: can my daughter-in-law use one of those tickets to go to fly to Orlando, FL?
Jarrod West
April 29, 2021
Hi Christine,
Unfortunately, the eCredits for your Delta tickets can only be used by the person they were originally issued to.
Teri
May 26, 2021
If I book a main award ticket using miles and then need to cancel will all the miles be returned to my account or will I be issued an ecredit?
Jarrod West
May 26, 2021
Hi Teri,
The miles would be returned back to your account.
isabella
June 08, 2021
Is an award ticket the same as using miles to purchase a ticket?
Katie Seemann
June 09, 2021
Hi Isabella,
Yes, anytime you hear someone use the phrase “award ticket” that simply means it was purchased with miles.
Barbara
June 12, 2021
We booked flights to Europe and home from Russia using Delta air miles. We paid cash for seat upgrades. The tour we were going on was canceled so we canceled our flights. After a very long phone call, we got all our air miles refunded and the taxes we were charged and the seat upgrades were also refunded, but they are now charging us almost $500 for “non-refundable taxes” on our air miles. I have never heard of these taxes. I asked how they could be nom-refundable since we didn’t pay them in the first place.
Carmela
June 12, 2021
I read that that Delta doesn’t charge a fee if you cancel your flight. But what if you cancel only your return flight? Are you charged any fee?
Jarrod West
June 14, 2021
Hi Carmela,
No, you should not be charged a fee for canceling the return leg.
Jennifer
June 23, 2021
Is it better to be a no-show or cancel the flight of a Non-Refundable Basic Economy ticket? I won’t get any money back either way. Would I at least get to keep my Skymiles if I kept the ticket and was a no-show?
Jarrod West
June 23, 2021
Hi Jennifer,
No, if you do not show up for the flight you will not be able to keep the Skymiles either.
Elaine
August 17, 2021
Delta has a basic economy fee waiver for flights bought after Apr 2021. You Should be able to cancel for a credit.
Steven
August 06, 2021
The article says ” For award tickets with travel outside of the U.S., cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance of the departure or return of the flight. Award ticket cancellation fees are a flat fee of $150 regardless of fare class or destination, but the fee is waived if you’re a SkyMiles Platinum or Diamond Medallion member. After canceling your ticket and paying the $150 cancellation fee, all of the miles that you used to book the flight will be deposited back into your account.” But I’m not sure this is correct. Delta on their website writes: “Effective December 9, 2020 for travel originating from North America to anywhere in the world (including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners), Members may change or cancel Award tickets for travel without a redeposit or change fee, excluding Basic Economy fares.” https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/how-to-use-miles/travel-with-miles So does the $150 fee apply to tickets with travel outside the US or originating outside the US?
Jarrod West
August 18, 2021
Hi Steven,
Thank you for pointing that out. The $150 fee applies to tickets that originate outside of the U.S., so I’ve tweaked that sentence to make that more clear. Thanks for reading!
Aaron
December 20, 2021
I have two upcoming trips this summer. All are using SkyMiles, one is round trip from ATL to Cancun, Mexico, and one round trip to Hawaii. If I decided to cancel these or change the times, would I get a full refund of the points?
Jarrod West
December 21, 2021
Hi Aaron,
Yes, you should receive a full points refund if you decide to cancel these flights.
Steve
December 22, 2021
If I made an award reservation on Delta and cancel, do I have to pay anything to get my miles returned to my account? Thanks.
Jarrod West
December 27, 2021
Hi Steve,
Did you use your miles to purchase a basic economy ticket, main cabin ticket, or something else?
Daniel
January 06, 2022
My cash paid ticket just went down in price. If I claim this price difference as a credit, will I be able to claim more flight credits on the same ticket if say the price continues to go down before my trip happens? Is there a limit on how many credits I can claim from Delta on a specific trip or is it essentially unlimited as long as the trip continues to have price drops? This is on a Delta Main Cabin flight flown entirely within North American. Thank you for the help.
Jarrod West
January 10, 2022
Hi Daniel,
As far as I know, you should be able to claim the credit multiple times if the price continues to drop.
Cathy
January 17, 2022
If Delta changes my itinerary and I cancel the flight–should I have received a full refund versus an ecredit? I was booked in comfort plus but not on a fully refundable ticket. I received an credit that I used to book another ticket… Now I am wondering if I could have received a full refund.
Jarrod West
January 18, 2022
Hi Cathy,
By how many hours did they change your itineary?
Lauren
April 05, 2022
Hi. If I buy a non refundable ticket from NY to Italy and I have to cancel or change the flight, will I get back full e-credit (equivalent to the amount I paid for the ticket) or partial? Thank you.
Katie Seemann
April 05, 2022
Hi Lauren,
If you booked a Basic Economy ticket you’ll get back a partial e-credit if you have to cancel.
Amy
April 18, 2022
I understand that my Skymiles will be redeposited if I cancel an international award ticket (originating in the US) but what about the $100+ taxes and fees I had to pay out of pocket? Do they issue that as an ecredit or do I lose that money? Thank you!
Jarrod West
April 19, 2022
Hi Amy,
You should receive an ecredit for those funds.
Don
June 11, 2022
If I buy a fully refundable ticket do I have to cancel the flight before it departs?
Jarrod West
June 13, 2022
Hi Don,
Yes, you have to cancel the flight before it departs in order to receive the refund.
Erin
November 10, 2022
Is there any timing requirement for Delta to process my refund for a refundable ticket? The website says 7 business days. Rep just told me 4-6 weeks. We’re talking over $5k here on 6 tickets.
Jarrod West
November 10, 2022
Hi Erin,
The Department of Transportation defines a prompt refund as 7 days. There is no reason why it should take 4-6 weeks to return your money. If they insist on 4-6 weeks then I would file a DoT complaint.
Ben
January 31, 2023
If I’ve booked a round trip, non-refundable, main cabin, delta ticket using cash:
Can I take the first leg of the flight, then proceed to cancel the return leg and receive an ecredit?
Jarrod West
February 01, 2023
Hi Ben,
Yes, you should be able to receive an ecredit for the canceled portion of your trip.
SG
February 22, 2023
Booked a trip from DC to Spain on miles + $51 for taxes main cabin – if cancelled, I know the miles will be refunded but how about the $51 for taxes? Will the $51 be refunded back to the original form of payment or will it be ecredit?
Chris Hassan
February 22, 2023
The taxes will be refunded to the original form of payment.
RaleighDawg
May 19, 2023
If I won’t know if I am going to take a flight until it is within an hour before it leaves. Can I still cancel it if I have checked in on the app? This would be a backup flight in case there is an issue with one leaving an hour earlier. Backup flight is booked with points on Delta.
Christine Krzyszton
May 22, 2023
Hi RaleighDawg. You should be able to. According to Delta’s cancelation policy for a main cabin non-refundable ticket, you can cancel up until departure. “Main Cabin tickets and higher that are canceled prior to departure will retain the value of the ticket.” In addition, Delta states that “Delta Main Cabin and above tickets for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and USVI” do not incur a cancelation fee. Basic Economy tickets are excluded.
Pat
May 20, 2023
How far in advance do i have to cancel my flight to still get a Delta E-Credit. Flying Main cabin in the US?
Christine Krzyszton
May 21, 2023
Hi Pat. According to Delta’s cancelation policy for a main cabin non-refundable ticket, you can cancel up until departure. “Main Cabin tickets and higher that are canceled prior to departure will retain the value of the ticket.” In addition, Delta states that “Delta Main Cabin and above tickets for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico and USVI” do not incur a cancelation fee. Basic Economy tickets are excluded.
Doug
May 26, 2023
Hey now. We’re looking at a one way award redemption from Jamaica to the US. The miles needed for the flights we want went up before we booked. There are less desireable connections still available now. My question is, if we book the less desireable connection (in Main) now, and the point level drops for the connection we want, can we exchange our award reservation, or cancel our original rez and rebook, without incurring any additional charges? I’m uncertain even after reading your wonderful article. Thanks.
Keri Stooksbury
June 02, 2023
For award tickets that originate outside of the U.S., cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance of the departure or return of the flight. Award ticket cancellation fees are a flat fee of $150 regardless of fare class or destination, but the fee is waived if you’re a SkyMiles Platinum or Diamond Medallion member.
After canceling your ticket and paying the $150 cancellation fee, all of the miles that you used to book the flight will be deposited back into your account.
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