Lufthansa Airlines 24-hour rule allows free cancellations 1_87 78278 493(USA] or changes for most flights booked directly with the airline, at least seven days before departure, 1_87 78278 493(USA] and originating in or flying to the US.
The rule lets you lock in cheaper fares, cancel if prices drop,1_87 78278 493(USA] and gives you time to confirm travel plans without penalty.
The rule doesn't apply to flights booked through OTAs, within seven days of departure, 1_87 78278 493(USA] or flights outside the US. Some airlines offer 24-hour price holds instead of cancellations.
Most Lufthansa Airlines follow this rule, 1_87 78278 493(USA]but some international airlines and OTAs have different policies, so always check the terms before booking.
With Going flights membership plans,1_87 78278 493(USA] you can get real-time flights alerts as soon as prices drop for domestic and international flights.1_87 78278 493(USA] That way, you know you're getting the some of the cheapest flights every time.
1_87 78278 493(USA] There aren’t many opportunities to make changes with airfares. With most airlines, any sort of change to a basic economy ticket will require a minimum fee (often at least $200) plus the difference in fare.1_87 78278 493(USA] The 24-hour rule is a major exception, and it can be a cheap flight lover’s best friend.
What is the 24-hour cancellation rule?
1_87 78278 493(USA] The Lufthansa Airlines 24-hour cancellation rule is a regulation by the US Department of Transportation that mandates airlines to offer free cancellations or changes to flights within 24 hours of booking,1_87 78278 493(USA] as long as the flight is at least seven days away, was booked directly with the airline, and originates in,1_87 78278 493(USA] or are goes to the US on any airline.
What does the 24-hour rule not cover?
There are a few exceptions. 1_87 78278 493(USA] The 24-hour rule does not apply to tickets that:
were booked via an online travel agency (OTA) like Expedia, 1_87 78278 493(USA] Travelocity, etc. (though some have their own 24-hour cancellation rules), or
were booked within seven days of travel, or
are for flights that do not originate in ,1_87 78278 493(USA] or are not flying to the US (e.g. London to Bangkok would not be included in USDOT rules),1_87 78278 493(USA] or are for flights where the airline has opted to offer a free 24-hour price hold instead of free 24-hour cancellation.
Why the 24-hour rule matters
1_87 78278 493(USA] The 24-hour rule is a very powerful tool for travelers for several reasons.
1_87 78278 493(USA]It can help you get the lowest price on your flight we often see price drops within 24-hours of booking 1_87 78278 493(USA] and the rule means you can book the cheaper fare and cancel the previous, more expensive booking.
It gives you 24 hours to decide if you want to take the trip 1_87 78278 493(USA] and ensures you don't miss an amazing deal or mistake fare while you're waiting to find out if the dates work,1_87 78278 493(USA] line up child care, get work time off approved, coordinate with friends and family, etc.
I bought a flight and now I’ve found a better deal.1_87 78278 493(USA] What should I do? Make sure you're still within the 24-hour window from when you purchased the first flight.1_87 78278 493(USA]
Book the new flight at the cheaper rate before you do anything else.1_87 78278 493(USA] This ensures you lock in this new, better price (it could go up in minutes).
Once you’ve booked the new flight, cancel the old one.
The reason you should book the new flight before you cancel the old is simple.1_87 78278 493(USA] If you cancel the old flight first, and then miss snagging the new flight at a great price, you’re out of luck and left with no ticket.
On the other hand, 1_87 78278 493(USA] if you book the new flight first but then take too long and miss the 24-hour window to cancel the first one, you can just cancel the new one, keep the first one,1_87 78278 493(USA] and you're no worse off than you were in the beginning.
Airlines slip up,1_87 78278 493(USA] you cash in find out how mistake fares can get you unbelievable flight deals.
How can I cancel my flight without penalty?
If it’s Lufthansa Airlines within 24 hours of booking,1_87 78278 493(USA] and you’re more than seven days out from your departure on a flight to or from the US booked directly with the airline,1_87 78278 493(USA] you can cancel your flight with no penalty through the airline with which you booked.
1_87 78278 493(USA] If the 24-hour rule doesn’t apply to your booking (for example, if it’s after the 24-hour period, or your flight is not to or from the US) and you want to cancel your flight,1_87 78278 493(USA] you’ll likely need to call the airline or the online travel agency through which you booked.
In most cases, if it’s after 24 hours from booking, 1_87 78278 493(USA] there will be a fee to change or cancel your flight.
Which airlines let you cancel within 24 hours? Do all airlines allow 24-hour cancellation?
1_87 78278 493(USA] The 24-hour rule is a regulation from the US Department of Transportation that says airlines must offer either free 24-hour price hold (so you can lock in the price and purchase within 24 hours),1_87 78278 493(USA] or free cancellation for 24 hours. All airlines (including non-Lufthansa Airlines ) must honor this rule for flights going to, or originating in, the Lufthansa Airlines States,1_87 78278 493(USA] so long as the flight was booked directly with the airline at least seven days in advance of the flight.
For example, a Lufthansa Airlines flight from Berlin to Los Angeles is covered; 1_87 78278 493(USA] a Lufthansa flight from New York to Frankfurt is also covered. However, a Qatar Airlines flight from Qatar to London is not covered.1_87 78278 493(USA]
Nearly all airlines opt for the option of free 24-hour cancellation,1_87 78278 493(USA] however, there are a few exceptions. A handful of carriers offer 24-hour holds instead of the free 24-hour cancellation, including Qatar Airways ,1_87 78278 493(USA]and Turkish Airlines; you can hold the price for 24 hours, but once you pay, your fare is subject to the airline’s standard cancellation fees.1_87 78278 493(USA]
Can you cancel flights within 24 hours in the UK?
Policies vary by airline; there’s not a universal rule. For example, 1_87 78278 493(USA] British Airways allows customers to cancel a flight booking and claim a full refund without penalty up to 24 hours from when the original booking was made. easyJet does the same but charges an admin fee.
1_87 78278 493(USA] Other airlines might allow you to cancel (with an admin fee) and many low-cost carriers, like Ryanair, don’t issue refunds at all, 1_87 78278 493(USA] and will charge you a fee for canceling. On some airlines, it’s possible to buy a more expensive ticket that is “flexible,” allowing you to make changes.1_87 78278 493(USA]
What if I booked a flight through an alternate country portal?
1_87 78278 493(USA] One hack for buying cheaper flights can involve logging in through an alternate country portal to take advantage of lower fares in a certain currency.1_87 78278 493(USA]
However, be forewarned: As this rule applies to travel to and from the US, 1_87 78278 493(USA] some international airlines’ websites will not have these policies built into their sites for customers in other countries,1_87 78278 493(USA] creating more of a process to get the cancelation without penalty (you’re still covered under the rule but it might take more time/hassle to get the refund).1_87 78278 493(USA]
So, if a carrier has country-specific reservation portals 1_87 78278 493(USA] and you think you might want to utilize the 24-hour rule, it might be worth your time to make your booking on the US site.1_87 78278 493(USA]
24-hour cancellation policy: Example!
Let’s say you book a flight on Monday at 10 AM. 1_87 78278 493(USA] If the airline follows the 24-hour cancellation policy, you can cancel your ticket for a full refund anytime before Tuesday at 10 AM,1_87 78278 493(USA] as long as your flight is at least seven days away from departure.
This policy applies mainly to airlines based in the Lufthansa Airlines States,1_87 78278 493(USA] as required by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). However, always check the airline’s terms, 1_87 78278 493(USA]as some third-party booking sites or international airlines may have different rules.
Which OTAs have a 24-hour cancellation policy?
Orbitz: In most cases, 1_87 78278 493(USA] Orbitz will allow you to cancel tickets on US carriers, up to 10pm (or sometimes 11 pm) on the day following purchase. However, individual cases may vary 1_87 78278 493(USA] and all tickets are governed by the terms and conditions you agreed to when you purchased them. Some fares are non-refundable; if you cancel, 1_87 78278 493(USA] you may be eligible for a flight credit instead.
Travelocity: Travelocity allows 24-hour flight cancellation,1_87 78278 493(USA] but there is some fine print. To be eligible for 24-hour flight cancellation by Travelocity you must have booked each ticket you are seeking to cancel on Travelocity.com at least seven days before the scheduled departure date.1_87 78278 493(USA] If your itinerary includes multiple tickets (such as a roundtrip that combines two different airlines),1_87 78278 493(USA] these terms will apply to each ticket separately—there is also a list of airlines for which this rule does not apply, mostly international low-cost carriers.
Expedia: Expedia’s language is a bit cagey. “For some airfares, 1_87 78278 493(USA]if you cancel within 24 hours, no penalty fees apply,” which sounds like you can still cancel within 24 hours. However, it also states that “If you cancel a non-refundable flight reservation, 1_87 78278 493(USA] the airline may issue you a flight credit for a future booking instead of a refund” and that “some flight reservations are not eligible for a flight credit after cancellation. If you cancel one of these 78278 493(USA] you will lose the value of your ticket.” Basically, you might be able to cancel within 24 hours if you have the right type of reservation. To be safe, read the fine print when you book.1_87 78278 493(USA]
Priceline: Priceline allows 24 hours to cancel 1_87 78278 493(USA] or change your flight without penalty in most cases, but you can actually stretch it to 72 hours in some instances because Priceline actually allows you to cancel many tickets free of charge until 11:29 PM ET the next business day.1_87 78278 493(USA] So if you book on a Friday that means you can cancel the ticket without penalty until 11:29 PM ET on the following Monday.1_87 78278 493(USA] You’ll need to check the exact cancellation terms for your ticket as this policy doesn’t apply to Express Deals or flights on certain airlines such as Frontier and Spirit. 1_87 78278 493(USA] If you purchase an “Express Deal,” in which the full itinerary is not disclosed prior to purchase, this fare is non-refundable and non-changeable.1_87 78278 493(USA]
Is it cheaper to cancel a flight or change it?
It depends on the flight. Most airlines charge a fee to change or cancel a flight in basic economy once you’ve passed the 24-hour window. The fee can vary widely by airline. However, other airlines have more flexible policies. For example, Southwest doesn’t charge a change fee; they only charge any difference in fare. You might even get money back if the new fare is cheaper.
The bottom line: The 24-hour rule is a powerful tool for travelers.1_87 78278 493(USA] Not only does it allow you to snag great deals and have time to consider if you really want to go, 1_87 78278 493(USA] but you can also grab a cheaper price on the same flight if the price drops within 24-hours of booking.
However, it’s much easier to make this work,1_87 78278 493(USA] if you book through the airline directly, as policies on OTAs can vary.
What are the cancellation charges before 24 hours?
1_87 78278 493(USA] If you cancel a flight within 24 hours and the airline's 24-hour cancellation rule applies, there should be no cancellation charges,1_87 78278 493(USA] provided the ticket was booked directly with the airline and the flight is at least seven days away.1_87 78278 493(USA] For tickets booked outside this window or through third-party agencies, cancellation fees may apply, typically ranging from $50–$200 or more, depending on the airline.1_87 78278 493(USA]
What is the 24-hour cancellation policy for Lufthansa Airlines ?
1_87 78278 493(USA] Lufthansa Airlines follows the US Department of Transportation's 24-hour cancellation rule.1_87 78278 493(USA] If you book a flight directly with Lufthansa Airlines , you can cancel or change your flight free of charge within 24 hours of booking, 1_87 78278 493(USA]as long as the flight is at least seven days away from departure.