Flight Refunds: An Expert Guide on How to Get Money Back from Airlines
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Get Your Money BackWhen Can You Get a Full Ticket Refund?
The specific passenger rights regulations vary in different parts of the world, and different airlines have their own policies. But in most cases, you can expect to get a full ticket refund in the following situations.
- The airline cancels your flight, and you do not accept any alternate flights.
- Your flight schedule has changed significantly.
- Your flight is delayed for 5 hours or more and you choose not to continue on your journey.
- You cancel your flight within 24-hours of booking.
- You’re involuntarily denied boarding, and you do not accept a rebooking.
- You purchased a refundable ticket.
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How Are Refunds Issued?
Generally, when you’re owed a refund from an airline, you will receive it in the same method you used to purchase it. So, if you used a credit card, your refund will be issued to that card.
If you used cash or some other form of payment, then you will get your refund as a bank transfer, a bank order, or cheque depending on the country/region. So, let’s take a closer look at different areas and your rights when it comes to airline refunds.
How to Get a Flight Refund in the UK and Europe
Passenger rights in the United Kingdom are outlined in Regulation UK 261 which mirrors the passenger rights regulations EU 261 in the European Union. Because they are basically identical, we have grouped them together in this section.
You’re protected by these air passenger rights regulations anytime you’re flying with an EU or UK airline OR any time you’re departing from an EU or UK airport on any airline.
In the UK and EU, you can get a flight refund when:
- Your flight is cancelled, AND
- You’re notified less than 2 weeks before departure, AND
- You’ve had a delay of more than 5 hours OR
- You were denied boarding (or bumped) because the airline overbooked the flight.
Should You Accept Vouchers?
Airlines must issue the full refund to you within 7 days of your flight. But in some situations, you might be offered a voucher in lieu of a cash refund. Be especially careful if this happens, ask questions, and review all the details of the voucher before accepting it.
Vouchers can be full of blackout dates and restrictions, whereas if you get a cash refund, you have more freedom to spend the money when and how you please. Plus, some vouchers may forfeit your right to airline compensation, so be sure you understand the fine print.
Can You Cancel a Flight and Get a Refund in the UK?
There is no law in the UK about flight refunds when you cancel your own flight. However, some airlines are still generous enough to offer their passengers a chance to change their plans.
Some UK airlines like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways do give passengers the opportunity to cancel their flight within 24 hours of booking and get their money back.
How to Get a Flight Refund in the United States as a British Traveller
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that, since the beginning of 2020, almost $4 billion in airline refunds have been issued to passengers. US passengers are protected by the U.S. DOT, and when it comes to airline refunds, passengers can enjoy more protections thanks to the new rules.
You’re entitled to a full ticket refund if:
- The airline cancels your flight
- Your flight is delayed for a ‘significant amount of time’
- Your flight is significantly changed
The refund amount you receive should include taxes as well as the fees for any unused services like Wi-Fi, checked-in luggage, etc.
If you cancel your flight, then you won’t be entitled to a refund unless you purchased a refundable ticket or you booked one that allowed you to cancel within 24-hours. More specifically, if you buy a ticket within 7 days of departure, the airline must give you the option of cancelling it within 24 hours and getting the full refund.
When Will You Get the Refund Money?
You can expect to get your refund within 7 business days for tickets paid with a credit card and 20 days if you purchased your ticket with cash or a check.
How to Get an Airline Refund in Canada travelling with a British Passport
The Canada Transportation Agency protects air passenger rights for travellers flying to Canada on a Canadian airline or departing from Canada on any airline. The law stipulates that you can receive a full refund if the airline:
- Cancels your flight and the alternate flight doesn’t meet your needs.
- If you’ve had a delay of 3 or more hours
- If your flight was overbooked and you were denied boarding, and you decide not to travel OR if the alternate travel arrangements offered cause you to be delayed by at least 3 hours.
You should receive your refund within 30 days whether you paid for your flight with a credit card or other forms of payment. Also, if you’re offered a voucher in Canada, it won’t expire but you should always make sure you understand all the details of what you’re accepting.
Steps to Take to Get a Flight Refund
If your flight qualifies, you should be issued a refund automatically. However, if you don’t get refunded right away, here’s what you should do:
- Organise all your flight documents including boarding pass, booking receipt, and info to confirm the flight was disrupted and eligible for a refund.
- Next, write to the airline explaining your situation and include all the information about your trip including where you were travelling, when, what happened, and why you expect to be refunded.
Some airlines will respond quickly, but this isn’t always the case. So, if you’re concerned about asking for a refund or if the airline hasn’t responded, you can let AirAdvisor handle the refund and compensation claim for you!
How to Get a Cancelled Flight Refund and Compensation. What Is the Difference?
First, flight refunds and compensation are completely different.
A refund is what you get back from the airline when your flight is cancelled, severely delayed, or otherwise disrupted and you choose not to continue with your journey. The amount of your flight refund is always the cost of the ticket.
Compensation, on the other hand, is payment from the airline to make up for the inconvenience caused by the flight disruption. The amount of your compensation depends majorly on the travel distance of your flight. In the case of a replacement flight, it also depends on the flight time.
In the EU, UK, and Canada, you can get a refund AND compensation, but a few conditions have to be met in order for you to get both.
You can get airline compensation in addition to a refund when:
- You arrive 3 or more hours late to your final destination, OR
- You were given less than 2 weeks notice of the cancellation by the airline, OR
- You were bumped from your flight because of overbooking AND
- The airline could have controlled, avoided, or prevented the flight disruption. In other words, it was not caused by extraordinary circumstances.
How Much Compensation Can You Get?
The amount of compensation you can get in addition to a refund depends on where you’re travelling, how many hours you’re late at your final destination, and the distance of your flight.
- In the EU and UK, you could get up to £520 (€600) per passenger in compensation.
- The United States, airlines are not required by law to provide compensation to passengers.
- In Canada, you could get as much as $1,000 (CAD) in compensation depending on how long you were delayed.
Why Trust AirAdvisor
If you’re not sure about whether you’re owed a refund or if you need help with a compensation claim, let our team of legal professionals help!
- We’re been protecting passenger rights since 2017
- AirAdvisor’s prices have often been 5% lower than competitors
- We have a 98% win rate
- Our services are offered on a no-win, no-fee basis
- It's stress- and risk-free for you
Claim with AirAdvisor and get up to €600 compensation. Find out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight
Tools to Help You Out
Resources & Additional Reading
- Received Flight Cancellation Notice? Here's what to do
- Should I Accept Cash or Vouchers for a Cancelled Flight?
- Business Trip Flight Cancellation
- How to Claim Hotel Costs for Cancelled Flights
Flight Cancellations by Issue
- Flight Cancellation due to Weather
- Flight Cancellation due to Technical Problems
- Flight Cancellation due to Air Traffic Control Issues
People Also Ask
Can you get a flight refund if you discover that you’re pregnant and want to cancel your travel plans?
Unfortunately, no. Airlines are not obliged to refund passengers who want to cancel their plans because of being pregnant. However, if you have travel insurance, the provider may cover the cost depending on your policy. In most cases, this is only valid in situations when your doctor has advised you against flying.
Can you get a ticket refund if you missed your flight?
It depends. If you miss your flight because you didn’t check in on time then you would be able to get a refund. But if you missed a connecting flight because the initial flight was cancelled or delayed and you decide not to continue on with your journey, you can get a refund.
If the airline offers you a rebooking because of missing your connection, then you will not be able to get a refund.
Can you get a refund if the flight is delayed?
You are entitled to a refund on flight delays if your flight was delayed more than 5 hours and you no longer wish to wait for the flight. You can get a flight refund for the whole booking if you are about to travel and the flight was disrupted, or you could get a partial refund for the unused parts of your itinerary if you’ve already taken the first part of your trip.
Can you get a refund for a return flight?
You are entitled to a refund for all unused parts of your ticket.
Let’s say you purchased a flight from London to New York.
- If your flight from London to New York is cancelled, you can get a refund for both the outbound and return flights.
- If your return flight to New York is cancelled, and you’ve already made the first part of your trip (London to New York), then you will only get a refund for the return flight.
Can you cancel your flight last minute and get refund?
If you want to cancel your flight voluntarily, you will need to purchase a flexible ticket. However, first check the terms and conditions of each airline. Some might not allow refunds with less than 24 hours before departure.
Can you get full refund if flight is rescheduled?
You can get a refund only if there is a significant change. If the airline informed you that the departure time is only a few hours later or sooner than the initial time, you cannot ask for a refund.
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