Your Trusted Flight Booking Specialists
Last Updated: January 1, 2025 | TravelsSouth.com
Airlines offer a range of fare types, each with distinct refundability conditions. Understanding which fare type you purchased is the first step in determining your refund options:
| Fare Type | Refund to Original Payment | Travel Credit Option | Change Permitted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Economy | No (except DOT 24-hr rule) | No | No |
| Non-Refundable Economy | No (except DOT 24-hr rule) | Yes (airline credit, if eligible) | Yes (fee applies) |
| Flexible Economy | Yes (cancellation fee may apply) | Yes | Yes (fee may be waived) |
| Business / First Class (Refundable) | Yes (cancellation fee may apply) | Yes | Yes (typically no fee) |
Your agent will confirm the fare type conditions applicable to your specific ticket before processing any cancellation.
Under United States Department of Transportation regulations, airlines are required to allow passengers to cancel a flight booking for a full refund — without penalty — within 24 hours of purchase, provided the booking was made at least 7 days before the scheduled departure date. This applies to all fare types, including non-refundable and Basic Economy fares. If you have recently booked and need to cancel, call us immediately at (855) 767-1486 to take advantage of this rule before the 24-hour window closes.
For refundable fares cancelled outside of the 24-hour window, airlines typically apply cancellation penalties that increase as the departure date approaches. The following table provides a general guide; exact fees depend on the airline and fare basis:
| Time Before Departure | Typical Airline Cancellation Fee | Our Service Fee |
|---|---|---|
| More than 30 days | Low or none (fare-dependent) | Non-refundable |
| 8–30 days | Moderate (typically 10–25% of fare) | Non-refundable |
| 3–7 days | Higher (typically 25–50% of fare) | Non-refundable |
| Less than 72 hours | Highest (up to 100% of fare) | Non-refundable |
| After departure / no-show | Full forfeiture | Non-refundable |
Our service fee is charged at the time of booking and is non-refundable in all circumstances, including cancellations made within the DOT 24-hour window. This fee compensates for our agents' time and expertise in sourcing, booking, and administering your reservation.
When a non-refundable ticket is cancelled and a monetary refund is not available, the residual value may be retained as a future travel credit with the operating airline, subject to that airline's credit policy. Travel credits typically carry an expiry date (commonly 12 months from the original travel date), may be restricted to the same passenger, and may attract a reissuance fee when used to book a new flight. We document all credit details at the time of cancellation and advise you on how to use the credit when rebooking.
Government-imposed taxes and passenger facility charges that form part of your ticket price may be refundable even when the base airfare is not. We identify any recoverable tax components on non-refundable cancellations and submit the appropriate claim to the airline. These refunds, where applicable, are typically processed within 4–8 weeks and returned to the original payment method.
Once a refund-eligible cancellation is confirmed and the refund has been approved by the airline, the timeline for funds to reach your account typically follows this pattern: the airline processes the refund within 7–21 business days; your card issuer then posts the credit within a further 1–5 business days. We have no control over airline or bank processing timelines. If your refund has not appeared within 30 calendar days of the cancellation, contact us and we will follow up with the airline on your behalf.
When multiple passengers are included in a single booking, cancellation and refund conditions apply to each passenger's ticket individually, based on the fare class and conditions of each ticket. In some bookings, different passengers may hold different fare classes — particularly in group bookings or when passengers were added to an itinerary at a later stage. Your agent will confirm the conditions applicable to each passenger before processing any cancellation.
If you purchased independent travel insurance and your cancellation reason qualifies under your policy (such as illness, injury, or bereavement), your insurer may be able to reimburse costs that the airline does not refund. We are not involved in travel insurance claims, but we can provide booking records and documentation to support your claim when requested.
All refund requests must be submitted before the scheduled departure date. To request a cancellation and refund, contact us by phone or email using the details below. Please have your booking reference number (PNR), passenger names, and travel dates available. We will review your fare conditions, confirm what is available, and — with your authorisation — process the cancellation and initiate any applicable refund.