Delta Airlines Cancellation Policy: Everything You Need to Know

Plans for travel can be changed at a moment’s notice. Whether someone was called into work unexpectedly, faced a personal emergency, or just decided against traveling, having a flexible cancellation policy from the airline is important. Delta Air Lines, one of the largest and most respected carriers in the United States, has a fairly traveler-friendly cancellation policy that works with many travel scenarios.

In this article, we go over Delta Airlines cancellation policy in detail, including your rights and options in the event that you need to alter or cancel a booking, and whether you’ll face any fees in doing so.

24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy

All Delta tickets feature a 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy. If you buy your ticket directly from Delta (on the carrier’s website or the Fly Delta app), you can cancel your flight within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund, with no fare class exceptions.

Key Points:

Applies to every ticket type (Basic Economy, Main Cabin, First Class, etc.)
Must be canceled within 24 hours of making the reservation
Refund issued back to original for of payment
Of course, this is not applicable for those who bought tickets with eCredits or gift cards.

Basic Economy Ticket Cancellation

Delta’s most restrictive fares are its Basic Economy fares. Generally, these tickets cannot be modified or canceled after the initial 24-hour risk-free period — unless Delta has changed or canceled your schedule.

Exceptions (in some cases):

During travel disruptions (e.g., COVID-19 waivers, extreme weather), Delta may provide flexibility on Basic Economy fares, too.
Flight cancellation by Delta (you might be able to get a refund or rebook for free)

Non-Refundable Tickets

Most travelers choose non-refundable tickets that are cheaper. If you cancel a non-refundable Delta ticket after the 24-hour grace period:

You won’t get a cash refund.
You will receive instead an eCredit for the amount of the ticket (less any applicable cancellation fees).
You could apply eCredits to a future flight.

The good news is that in 2021, Delta removed all change and cancellation fees on most domestic and international flights (with the exception of Basic Economy), so you can cancel and rebook without any penalties in many cases.

Destinations covered:

U.S. domestic flights
Flights Connecting U.S. to Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean
The majority of international American departures

Refundable Tickets

Delta does offer refundable fares for maximum flexibility. Those tickets can be canceled at any time and you’re entitled to a full refund — no questions asked.

To request a refund:

The official site for Delta Airlines
Use the “My Trips” feature
Choose your booking and click on “Cancel”
Claim for a refund if your ticket was refundable

In case of credit card payments all refunds are initiated and should be processed within 7 business days.

Award Ticket Cancellation (SkyMiles)

If you booked your flight with SkyMiles (frequent flyer miles):

Most award tickets can be canceled risk-free.
The miles will be reaccredited to your account.
Any taxes or fees that were paid in cash will be refunded to the original payment method.

Note: Changes or cancellations are not allowed on Basic Economy award tickets unless covered by a travel waiver or other Delta-initiated change.

Same-Day Cancellations & Changes

For example, Delta ad same-day travel changes for a fee, or free depending on fare type and Medallion status. Though this isn’t a cancellation in the conventional sense, it does allow you to change to another flight of the same day of travel if plans change late in the game.

Eligibility:

Applies to U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands Flights
Request must be made no later than 24 hours after the original flight’s departure
You are not qualified with Basic Economy fares

Delta Flight Cancellations by the Airline

If Delta cancels your flight for any reason (weather, operational problems, etc — some of which are beyond its control), you’re entitled to one of the following:

Free rebooking on the next available Delta flight
B) A full refund on any type of ticket
In some situations, extra compensation (vouchers, miles, hotel accommodations)

In such situations, always monitor your email and notifications from the Delta app to see whether you need to rebook or are eligible for a refund.

How to Cancel a Delta Flight

Here’s how to cancel your Delta reservation:

Online:

Click on “My Trips”
Input your confirmation number and last name
Choose the trip, and tap “Modify” > “Cancel Flight

Mobile App:

Open the Fly Delta app
Log in and access your trip
Follow the prompts to cancel

By Phone:

Call Delta’s reservations line
This can help you for complex itineraries or special cases

Refund & eCredit Processing Time

Credit cards refunds: 5–7 working days
Debit card or alternative payment options: 10–20 days
Generally, eCredits will show up in your Delta profile within 24 hours following cancellation.

Log into your SkyMiles accounr to view and use your eCredits.