Booking a flight can feel like playing a casino game. You hit “buy now” thinking you’ve snagged a decent deal, only to watch in dismay as the same flight goes on sale two days later for $200 less.
But here’s the good news: you’re not always stuck with the price you paid.
Most travelers assume they’re out of luck when prices plummet after booking, but that’s not necessarily true. Airlines have various policies that can work in your favor; here are some tips on how to navigate them.
The 24-hour window
Your first line of defense is the Department of Transportation’s 24-hour rule. Every airline must offer either free cancellation within 24 hours of booking OR a 24-hour hold without payment (but not both). This applies to any flight touching U.S. soil, whether you paid cash or used miles.
If you spot a price drop within those crucial first 24 hours, cancel your original ticket for a full refund and rebook at the lower fare. It’s the easiest money-back guarantee in travel (assuming you catch the drop quickly enough).
When it’s later than 24 hours: major airlines’ policies
Southwest Airlines makes this simple. With zero change fees, you can reprice your existing flight online and get the difference back as a credit. Bonus: Southwest flight credits never expire.
American, Delta, and United have ditched change fees for most fare types (basic economy being the exception). Call them directly to reprice your ticket—you’ll typically get the difference as a future travel credit.
Alaska Airlines offers a limited price guarantee if you find the same flight cheaper elsewhere within 24 hours. After that window, you can still cancel flexible fares and rebook with a travel credit.
JetBlue eliminated change fees on all fares except Blue Basic. Cancel and rebook with your travel credit, which remains valid for a year from your original purchase date.
Frontier and Spirit both charge change fees, except their premium fare bundles often include free changes.
Strategic cancellation
Sometimes paying a change fee can make financial sense. If your flight dropped by $300 but the cancellation fee is only $99, you’re still ahead by $201. Always run the numbers and then decide if the cancel/rebook hassle is worth the savings.
You might also luck into a free cancellation if the airline significantly changes your flight schedule. When that happens, you can cancel at no cost and rebook at whatever the current price happens to be.
Beyond airline policies
A few booking platforms now offer price protection. Google Flights guarantees select itineraries and will refund up to $500 if prices drop more than $5. Capital One Travel has similar protections on certain bookings. These programs are currently limited to certain situations, but they’re expanding.
Twist’s Take: Flight pricing can be a gamble, but these tips help you hedge your bets.