Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy

Whether it’s a sudden change in schedule, an unexpected event, or a personal emergency, we may find ourselves needing to cancel or modify our flights. That’s where Delta Airlines cancellation policy comes into the picture, which helps you guide all the aspects of cancellation and determine what policies apply to your situation.

What are the Delta Airlines flight Cancellation Rules?

Below is the overview of Delta flight cancellations according to the fares offered by the airlines – 

What is Delta 24 hour cancellation policy?

Delta 24 hour cancellation policy allows passengers to cancel the reservation within 24 hours from the date of purchase provided – 

• The date of scheduled departure must fall 7 or more days at the time of Delta trip cancellation
• Delta 24-hour cancellation would be applicable on all fare types, regardless of the class of service booked
• Delta 24 hour cancellation policy would not be applicable to the tickets from the SkyMiles reward account.
• Delta ticket cancellation within 24 hours would not be applicable on a booking that includes more than 9 passengers.
• Delta cancels within 24 hours policy would be applicable for all flights originating to and from the US, and Canada
• Delta cancels flight 24-hour policy would not be applicable to the flights that rescheduled or have already redeemed the travel credit. 
• Delta Airlines 24-hour cancellation policy is exempted for the tickets purchased using e-certificates. 
• Delta refund requests under 24-hour cancellation would be processed back to the original form of payment within 7-10 working days. 

What is Delta Flight cancellations for award tickets?

Delta Airlines allows passengers to cancel Delta SkyMiles award tickets for domestic travel within the U.S. without incurring any fees, regardless of the departure date.

For award tickets originating outside the U.S., it is required to cancel them at least 72 hours prior to the departure. A flat fee of 150 USD would be charged to void the tickets.

Please Note – According to the Delta Airlines cancellation policy, if you hold a SkyMiles Platinum or Diamond Medallion membership, this fee is waived.

Upon canceling your ticket and paying the applicable cancellation fee, all the miles used for the booking will be refunded and deposited into your Delta SkyMiles account.

What is Delta no show policy?

As per Delta Airlines cancellation policy, the airline requires passengers to notify prior to the scheduled departure if they have a sudden change in the travel plans, in order to retain the value of the fare. 

Delta no show policy applies to the following itineraries – 

• All Delta non-refundable fares.
• The most restrictive fare rule will apply for flight booking with Delta Refundable Ticket/Non-Refundable fare combinations.
• Only applicable on the itineraries operated and marketed by Delta Airlines.
• Applicable on wholly unused or partially flown Delta Airlines flight segments.

How much is the Delta cancellation fee?

Delta flight cancellation fee would be assessed per passenger per booking and is only applicable on the flights operated by Delta Airlines. 

Passengers are allowed to request flight cancellation if the reservation is booked through delta.com, through Delta customer service number, or through the Delta ticket cancellation counter at the airport.

Here’s the overview of the Delta Airlines cancellation fee if you cancelled Delta flight – 

Please Note: The above-mentioned Delta Airlines cancellation fee would be applicable on the refundable or non-restricted fares only, regardless of the class of service booked. 

How to cancel a flight on Delta Airlines?

Passengers have the option to cancel their Delta flights via three following methods according to Delta Airlines cancellation policy – 

How to cancel Delta flight online?

Follow these steps to request Delta flight cancellation online – 

• Visit delta.com and navigate to the ‘My Trip’ section.
• Enter the “Confirmation Number” with the first name & last name of the passenger to retrieve the booking
• Once you have located your flight booking on the ‘My Trip’ page, click the ‘Cancel Flight’ button. Choose the flight that you would like to cancel, and you would be taken through the Delta flight cancellations process
• As per Delta Airlines cancellation policy, passengers are liable to pay a fee to request cancellation on their existing booking. 
• You would be issued a Delta ticket cancellation refund either as a Delta Airlines flight credit or to the original form of payment depending on the ticket type and the circumstances of flight cancellation. 
• Passengers may receive a Delta flight ticket refund in the original form of payment in 7-10 business days. 

How to cancel Delta flight over the phone?

If you’re holding a restricted fare that does not allow the flight cancellation online or struggle to navigate through the Delta Airlines cancellation process online, feel free to reach our Delta flight executive.

• Keep your Delta flight confirmation number handy while you get connected to the reservation executive at the Delta Airlines helpdesk
• Provide a choice to the Delta representative on the flight itinerary/segment that you need to cancel. 
• As per Delta cancellation policy, passengers can claim a refund or travel credit on the unused portion of their ticket.
• You would be issued a Delta ticket cancellation refund either as a Delta Airlines flight credit or to the original form of payment.
• In case of a restricted fare, you would be issued a travel credit. Delta Airlines flight tickets are valid for one year from the date of issuance. 

Cancel a Delta flight at the airport

Passengers can also cancel their existing Delta booking up to 3 hours prior to the scheduled departure. All you need to do is – 

• Head to the departure airport and approach the Delta ticket booking counter
• Provide your flight confirmation number/PNR to the available Delta flight representative
• Provide a choice to the Delta representative on the flight itinerary/segment that you need to cancel. 
• Passengers would be asked to pay an upfront Delta cancellation fee to complete the request. 
• In case of non-restricted or refundable fare, the said refund value would be credited back to the original method of payment in 7-10 business days. 

What is Delta policy on canceled or delayed flights?

If Delta cancels or delays the flight, you can request a refund on the affected flights provided – 

• The delay must be 5 hours or more.
• The flight was overbooked and the passenger was denied boarding.
• Your flight is canceled

Cancellation of Delta Flights

If your flight is canceled, you have the option –

• To rebook the flight to the same destination under the same class of service as booked on the existing reservation.
• Rebook the flights to a later date, subject to the availability of seats.
• Refund on the unused portion of the ticket

Passengers are also entitled to the following care –

• Free meals and refreshments
• Hotel accommodation if the alternate flight is scheduled for the next day
• Free airport transfer

In addition, passengers are entitled to compensation if they are informed of the cancellation less than 2 weeks before the scheduled departure. Passengers are not entitled to compensation if – 

Compensation for flight cancelation

The compensation amount is as follows – 

Delta Airlines flight delays

If Delta Airlines delays a flight by –

• For 2 hours if the flight distance is less than 1500 km
• For 3 hours if the flight distance is between 1500 km and 3500 km
• For 4 hours if the flight does not fall in the above two category

If all the above conditions you met, you’re entitled to –

• meals and refreshments in relation to your waiting time
• Free accommodation
• Free internet access, 2 free international calls

Plus, you have the option to –

• To rebook the flight to the same destination under the same class of service as booked on the existing reservation.
• Rebook the flights to a later date, subject to the availability of seats.
• Refund on the unused portion of the ticket

Passengers are also entitled to compensation –

Denied boarding

If passengers are denied boarding on a confirmed flight ticket, you’re entitled to – 

• Same rebooking and refund options
• Same entitlements under the Right To Care as above.

Passengers are also entitled to compensation for denied boarding – 

What is Delta Airlines Refund Policy?

Here’s the complete overview of the Delta Airlines ticket cancellation refund policy – 

• Delta Flight 24 Hours Cancellation – Delta offers a risk-free cancellation policy within 24 hours of purchasing a ticket through Delta. If the scheduled departure is at least one week away, passengers may qualify for a waiver of cancellation fees and receive a full refund.
• Delta Free Cancellation –Basic Economy fares are not eligible for flight changes but can be canceled for free within 24 hours of purchase.
• Region-Specific Delta Refund Policy – Different cancellation and refund policies apply based on the passenger’s billing address. Specific policies exist for certain regions, including the Middle East, Colombia, Argentina, South Korea, and Taiwan.
• Full Refund for Delta-Canceled Flights – If a flight disruption is within Delta’s control, passengers are eligible for a full refund of the booking value without paying any cancellation fees.
• Delta Airlines Refund Credit – Delta flight tickets are valid for one year from the date of issuance. Passengers must complete their travel within 12 months of the validity period.
• Refund Request for Eligible Fares – Passengers can request refunds for fares that allow refunds, but Delta flight cancellation fees may apply depending on the fare rules. Most fares are non-refundable and not eligible for voluntary refunds.
• Delta Airlines Refund Processing Time – As per Delta Airlines cancellation policy, refunds for Delta flight reservations made with a credit card are processed within 7 business days. Refunds for bookings made with other payment methods are processed within 20 business days. Refunds are credited back to the original form of payment.

How do I request a refund on a Delta flight?

As per Delta Airlines cancellation policy, passengers who have booked Flex/Refundable fares or request a cancelation within 24 hours of purchase, can follow these steps –

• Visit Delta’s official website and navigate to the My Trip section.
• Choose the flight segment that you need to cancel. Click on the Cancel button to proceed.
• Follow the on-screen prompts and submit Delta refund requests.

Delta Airlines cancellation policy aims to provide flexibility and convenience to its passengers. Understanding the specific terms and conditions of the policy is crucial for travelers to make informed decisions regarding their flights.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs