How close in can you cancel a Delta backup flight?
May 23, 2022, 7:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 709
How close in can you cancel a Delta backup flight?
I need to book a back up flight from Denver to LAX on Delta. My current flight on American leaves at 4 PM. There is a Delta flight that leaves at 6 PM or 630, I forget, but because of extenuating circumstances I need to be able to get back to LA that night. If the Delta flight is only two hours after the American flight, can I still cancel the Delta flight if the American flight leaves relatively on time? I think I would book cash refundable because then I would not have to speculatively transfer American Express points to Delta to cover the backup flight
May 23, 2022, 7:43 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,251
If it's a fully refundable fare, you can cancel at any time, even after the flight has been completed. (Technically you don't need to cancel the reservation, that will happen automatically when you no-show, so you can just request the ticket refund at any time afterward).
If it's non-refundable, I believe the fare rules technically require you to cancel the reservation prior to the departure of the flight in order to get a credit for the value, but I believe Delta is not enforcing that because of long hold times to speak to reservations (as not all itineraries can be canceled online).
If it's non-refundable, I believe the fare rules technically require you to cancel the reservation prior to the departure of the flight in order to get a credit for the value, but I believe Delta is not enforcing that because of long hold times to speak to reservations (as not all itineraries can be canceled online).
May 23, 2022, 8:40 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 709
If it's a fully refundable fare, you can cancel at any time, even after the flight has been completed. (Technically you don't need to cancel the reservation, that will happen automatically when you no-show, so you can just request the ticket refund at any time afterward).
If it's non-refundable, I believe the fare rules technically require you to cancel the reservation prior to the departure of the flight in order to get a credit for the value, but I believe Delta is not enforcing that because of long hold times to speak to reservations (as not all itineraries can be canceled online).
If it's non-refundable, I believe the fare rules technically require you to cancel the reservation prior to the departure of the flight in order to get a credit for the value, but I believe Delta is not enforcing that because of long hold times to speak to reservations (as not all itineraries can be canceled online).
How long does the refund take?
May 27, 2022, 2:29 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 709
Would this backup delta flight still be refundable if I checked in? It’s 2 hours after my original flight so I wouldn’t have much time to check in if I needed to take the backup delta flight.
May 27, 2022, 3:25 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,097
Yes. Also note it doesn't need be a refundable fare. Unlike AA, DL grants 24hr (technically midnight day after purchase so up to 48hrs) free cancel for all tickets.
May 27, 2022, 6:01 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 709
But if I check in and do not take the flight and do not cancel before it takes off, it is no longer refundable.
May 27, 2022, 8:01 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL DM & 5MM, WN
Posts: 1,451
Last week I abandoned a flight ATL-TPA when it became three hours late. I also booked a backup flight myself while I waited. It also started to show delays (past a midnight departure). So I left. Tried to stop at the ticket counter as I left the airport to cancel. Jammed. Called while driving home to cancel both trips. When they called back at 1AM, they told me both had been automatically cancelled and already refunded. So they are still being lenient.
May 30, 2022, 9:34 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,251
oh ok. I bought it Wednesday for a Monday flight. So I'm beyond the 24 hours. I read somewhere else that, if I check in and then need to cancel, it's fully refundable until the flight takes off.
But if I check in and do not take the flight and do not cancel before it takes off, it is no longer refundable.
But if I check in and do not take the flight and do not cancel before it takes off, it is no longer refundable.
It is true for nonrefundable tickets but has even waived given the difficulty in speaking to an agent to cancel.
Whether or not you checked in is irrelevant. If you haven’t, the reservation will be auto cancelled at the checkin deadline (T-45/60m). If you have checked in it will be canceled at the boarding deadline (T-10 or 15m).
May 30, 2022, 9:46 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,097
oh ok. I bought it Wednesday for a Monday flight. So I'm beyond the 24 hours. I read somewhere else that, if I check in and then need to cancel, it's fully refundable until the flight takes off.
But if I check in and do not take the flight and do not cancel before it takes off, it is no longer refundable.
But if I check in and do not take the flight and do not cancel before it takes off, it is no longer refundable.
DL hasn't imposed no-show penalties since before CV19 hit. Too long wait times on phones being reason. When you don't board the reservation will auto cancel.
If it's refundable, you just need request a refund. (Either on phone or website) Can be done at anytime if refundable fare. Request needs to be put in online by midnight day after purchase for the "24 hour free cancelation" refund.
May 30, 2022, 5:54 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: Marriott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 709
Turns out I didn't need the flight so I called to cancel. I have no status with Delta. I was greeted with "Your wait time is approximately 0 minutes". I thought for sure that meant the wait was so long it broke the system lol. Sure enough, 2 seconds later I'm talking to the rep and getting my flight refunded. I was in shock!
May 30, 2022, 6:46 pm
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
This has never been true for fully refundable tickets (where fare rules “penalties” section says “Changes/Cancellations Permitted”).
It is true for nonrefundable tickets but has even waived given the difficulty in speaking to an agent to cancel.
Whether or not you checked in is irrelevant. If you haven’t, the reservation will be auto cancelled at the checkin deadline (T-45/60m). If you have checked in it will be canceled at the boarding deadline (T-10 or 15m).
It is true for nonrefundable tickets but has even waived given the difficulty in speaking to an agent to cancel.
Whether or not you checked in is irrelevant. If you haven’t, the reservation will be auto cancelled at the checkin deadline (T-45/60m). If you have checked in it will be canceled at the boarding deadline (T-10 or 15m).
May 31, 2022, 9:31 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,251