Does the 24 airline ticket cancellation rule allow refunds even after “check in”?
Most tickets have a 24 hour no fee cancellation policy. What if I book a ticket let’s say with American Airlines right now (ticket will be say 10 hours from now). I go to the airport, check in, get a boarding pass…find my gate….and then change my mind and do not board the plane. May I get a refund in this case? 24 hours didn’t pass. Or does the fact that I “checked in” disallow ticket cancellation?
Best Answer
The answer will vary depending on the airline, and potentially the country of purchase.
Given your mentioned American Airlines, I'm going to presume you're purchasing the ticket in the US. The US Department of Transportation requires all carriers to allow you to cancel a ticket within 24 hours of purchase, presuming that the ticket was booked at least 7 days before departure. Thus as a general rule you couldn't cancel the ticket on the day of flight as you've suggested, as the 24 hour cancel rule wouldn't apply. (The DOT rules also allow airlines to let you delay payment for 24 hours instead of allowing cancelation, but the 7 day part still applies so it doesn't change the answer)
Some airlines follow the DOT regulations, however some are less strict about the "7 days" requirement. American Airlines allows free cancelations within 24 hours when the ticket was booked more than 2 days before departure - still too long to allow cancelation after check-in.
United Airlines official policy also requires the ticket to be booked at least 7 days beforehand, however in practice they allow cancelation within 24 hours, regardless of when the ticket is booked. So in this case it is indeed possible to book a last-minute ticket, and then cancel it right up until the time of departure. In order to cancel the ticket you will need to be NOT checked in - however it is possible for an agent to "un-check" you in, so it is possible to cancel the ticket even if you have already gone through the check-in process, it just takes an extra step or two.
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Can you cancel refundable ticket after check in?
Yes. You can cancel your flight after check-in or at any time before the flight. However, unless you have a refundable airline ticket, it's unlikely that you'll get any money back.What happens if flight Cancelled after check in?
If your flight is cancelled. You have the legal right to either: a full refund - including other flights from the airline that you won't use in the same booking such as onward or return flights. a replacement flight to get you to your destination.Can I cancel my flight and get a refund due to Covid?
In most cases, when you voluntarily change or cancel a flight or cruise, you'll receive a credit for future use with the company \u2014 not a refund. However, if the company ends up canceling your flight or cruise or making a schedule change, then you are entitled to your money back.Can you cancel or change a flight after checking in?
Can I make changes to my flight after I've already checked in for my flight? Yes, you can make changes to your flight up until 10 minutes before scheduled departure time, even if you've already checked in. If you're changing to a flight within 24 hours, be sure to check in for your new flight after you make the change.Airline Refunds - Flight Cancelled? Know Your Rights!
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Answer 2
https://www.aa.com/i18n/customer-service/faqs/customer-service-faqs.jsp#canceltrip
You have up to 24 hours from the time of ticket purchase for a refund if you booked at least 2 days prior to departure.
So your hypothetical ticket purchased 10 hours ahead was never eligible for a 24-hour refund in the first place, regardless of whether you checked in or not.
In fact, assuming the "2 days" here means "48 hours", then since you can only check in 24 hours ahead, any time that you can check in is already too late to cancel for free.
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