holocker

Is the 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy applicable when booking a Basic Economy Ticket?

DCATraveler

Nothing called out in their policy regarding Basic Economy being excluded. Just as long as you purchase >7 days out from departure.

https://www.delta.com/content/www/en...cellation.html

ethernal

Correct. The 24 hour cancellation is an FAADoT requirement so it cannot be changed by fare class restrictions.

flyerCO

DL has no such 7 day requirement. Got rid of it two or so years ago.

Often1

It is actually a DOT requirement.

DL's policy is significantly more expansive than the DOT rule, so it does matter a great deal.

DL's policy applies to all tickets, no matter how close in.

jdrtravel

I don't ever recall DL enforcing the 7 day rule.

Zorak

The fact that DL's risk-free cancellation policy is more generous than strictly required by the DOT almost bit me recently -- on another airline! I called in to do a RFC and they said "Unfortunately your ticket is not eligible for RFC" but it's US origin, and within 24 hours. The agent clarified, "While you are within 24 hours of booking, it is less than 7 days before travel" the agent correctly interpreted my stunned silence as being blindsided by this, put me on hold of their own accord to check with a supervisor, then said there was nothing they could do at that hour but (not in so many words) advised me to HUCA during daytime business hours and maybe they'd be able to make an exception (it was only just under 7 days, not that that matters -- by rights they had me). Luckily the second agent gave zero pushback when I asked about RFC and cheerfully put it into the refund queue.

Haven't seen the actual credit back to my account yet, but fingers crossed...

flyerCO

Don't remember if they enforced it, but know it officially went out the window then. Same time they made it possible to request a refund online for basically all tickets.

Often1

The DL policy is not only more expansive than the DOT rules requirement because it permits cancellations insider 7 days, but it is also potentially for greater than 24 hours as the request may be made until midnight of the day following the purchase. If one purchases at 00:01 on Day 1, one would have until 23:59 on Day 2 or just short of 48 hours:

Tickets/Cancellation:
Cancellation request must be made by midnight of the day after the eTicket is purchased or midnight of the departure date of the first flight, whichever comes first. Available only for eTickets purchased at the time of reservation through Delta ticket offices and airport ticket counters, Reservation Sales, or at delta.com.

MSPeconomist

AntonS

FYI. Expedia has ever more relaxed 24-hour cancellation policy, which extends until end of next business day PST. I often buy tickets on Friday and have the whole weekend and Monday to sort out hotels etc. There are some disadvantages of buying though OTA, but as an Elite Plus member on Expedia I get great service and many hotel-related wavers and favors. In worse case scenario there is $50 fee if I need DL to take control over the ticket (often waved for return flight because for some reason DL often already has control after outbound), but given how many refunds and changes I got on non-refundable hotels from Expedia, it's just a minor nuisance. I also was refunded for flights that already departed -- my friend mixed up departure time and basically did not show up, but because booking was still within 24 hour rule, Expedia refunded with no questions asked.