Tips on How to Cancel Flight Tickets

There are times when you just have to cancel a plane ticket due to unforeseen circumstances. You may have booked the wrong flight or became too sick to travel. Whatever the reason, canceling a flight ticket does not have to mean that you lose all of your hard earned money.

Gather Your Info before Calling
Have your credit card and e-ticket or airplane ticket in hand when you call the airline or travel agency. It will help you get through the whole process a lot quicker instead of having to search for it while on the phone. You can also send an online refund request and it helps to have this information on hand so you can reference it in your email.

Rebook Your Flight
Many travelers who can't make a flight just don't show up and automatically think they lost out on their money. This isn't always the case and doing nothing just leads to wasted money. Contact a representative and rebook your flight. Be sure to note that tickets bought from third party websites usually don't offer full refunds and some sales are final.

Read the Fine Print
Check the airlines' contract. If you cancel your flight ticket and try to rebook, be sure to find out if you are required to make a new reservation immediately or if you are allowed to rebook within a specific time period. You may be able to save the credit for holiday travel or transfer the airline ticket to another person if you bought a refundable fare. Budget Travel has a list of links to most airlines' contracts here.

Call Your Credit Card Company
Try to buy all of your plane tickets with a credit card. In the event that the airline goes bankrupt and closes, you will be covered under the Fair Billing Act. Call your credit card company and get the charges reversed.

Depending on your credit card company, you may be able to get a refund even if the airline doesn't go under just by disputing the charge. Check the terms and conditions of your credit card and ask to speak with a manager if the customer service representative does not seem to be of much help.

Travel Insurance
Be prepared to pay a cancellation fee if you did not buy travel insurance from the airline or a travel insurance company. When buying your next airline ticket several months in advance, it may be ideal to purchase insurance. With travel insurance, you can cancel your flight ticket without any hassles.

Sources
"10 Tips to Cancellation, Change, and Refund Policies," Budget Travel