Use the 1-Day Free Cancellation to Save on Flights

If booking a flight means days of research, endless hesitation, and triple-checking every detail before clicking 'confirm,' you might not know about the 1-day cancellation policy many airlines offer for free. This rule lets you cancel within a day without penalty, making booking less stressful and potentially saving you money.

What is the 1-day free cancellation rule?

The 1-day free cancellation is a regulation under U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines that allows travelers to cancel or modify their booking within 24 hours of purchase. This policy ensures that passengers have a grace period to confirm their plans without financial risk. Airlines are also allowed to offer a free 24h price lock instead, but most opt for the cancellation option.

This rule is subject to three main conditions:

• The booking must be made at least seven days before the flight.
• The flight must depart from or arrive in the United States.
• The ticket must be purchased directly from the airline, not through a third-party website.

How 1-day free cancellation helps you save on flights?

You can use the 1-day free cancellation rule to your advantage in several ways:

• Lock in cheap fares even if in doubt: Book first, confirm later — ensuring you don’t miss out on the best rates.
• Double-check fare drops: Set up an alert 23 hours after booking to check if the fare dropped. If it does, cancel and rebook at the lower price.
• Flexibility to adjust plans: Spotted a better itinerary or realized you need a different departure time? Change your flight without incurring penalties.

In theory, you could rebook your flight daily until the price hits its lowest point, as long as the fare doesn’t increase. It’s a bit tedious, but it might be worth it if you expect a drop in the coming days.

Which airlines offer 1-day free cancellation?

Any US airline or international airline flying from or to the US. Given their global reach, non-US airlines often apply this policy to all flights, even those not involving the US. Fare class doesn't impact this policy, so the most restrictive tickets are still eligible.

How to cancel a flight within 24 hours?

Most airlines allow you to log into their website or mobile app, navigate to the "Manage Booking" section, and select the option to cancel or modify your reservation. Once you complete the process, many airlines automatically refund the full amount, while others may process the refund after reviewing your request. If the option isn't available online, you can call the airline's customer service to cancel your booking.

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