Airline ticket refund: how much money the airline will return

Plans change, and a trip falls through. Illness, being called back from vacation, a flight cancellation by the carrier: the ticket is paid for, but you cannot fly. You will not get everything back, but you do not have to lose the full price.

Two factors decide everything: the fare type and who canceled the trip. With a non-refundable fare, the airline keeps the cost of carriage. It refunds taxes and fees. If the carrier itself canceled the flight, you are entitled to the full amount or to fly on another flight.

Below we break down the refund process step by step, from checking the fare to filing a complaint with an arbitration service. Deadlines and rules are verified against official sources as of 09/2026.

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What depends on the fare

💡 In short:

• Check the fare type: with a non-refundable fare, only taxes and fees are refunded.
• Keep the receipt and correspondence with the carrier.
• If the flight is canceled, choose money or a new flight and check your right to compensation.
• Refund terms and deadlines: 09/2026, verified on the official European Commission website.

The ticket price includes carriage, airport charges, fuel surcharge, and government taxes. Carriage on a non-refundable fare is not refunded. Charges and taxes, however, relate to services you did not use. According to the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (as of 09/2026), the carrier is required to refund such amounts under the contract of carriage.

The full price is rarely refunded. You can count on it with flexible fares, business class tickets, and open-date tickets. The logic is simple. The cheaper the fare, the less you get back.

The fare type is stated in the e-ticket and in the carrier's rules. Look at the "Refund conditions" section in the booking email. The cancellation fee is also stated there. If you do not have the document, request the terms from the seller in writing.

© Joybot · CC BY-SAPhoto: Joybot, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0), Wikimedia Commons

Steps and documents

Apply as soon as you realize you will not fly. The earlier you cancel the flight, the more money you get back under most fares.

• Step 1. Find the booking and check the fare, deadlines, and refund fee.
• Step 2. Submit a request to the carrier: booking number, departure date, reason for cancellation.
• Step 3. Attach your passport, payment receipt, and, if canceling due to illness, a doctor's note.
• Step 4. Save the request number and written confirmation from the company.

© Jacek Rużyczka · CC BY-SAPhoto: Jacek Rużyczka, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons

Where to apply depends on where you bought the ticket. At an airport ticket office, the request is accepted by a representative of the carrier whose flight you booked. Bring your passport and be ready to explain the reason for cancellation. If you bought through an agent, the request goes to the agent. If the agent refuses, write directly to the carrier.

A refund on your own initiative follows the fare rules. The carrier will refund either the price minus a penalty or part of the price, if the fare allows it. Some companies charge no penalty at all. That is their decision, not your right.

Refunding a ticket bought online

Buying online does not make refunds easier. The amount depends on the fare and on who canceled the flight. The money will arrive on the card you paid with.

Buy the ticket on the carrier's own website. Then the request goes directly, without an intermediary, and the dispute is resolved faster. Aggregators forward the request. The process takes longer.

A full refund on a non-refundable fare is possible only as a goodwill gesture. A valid reason with documents improves your chances. A doctor's note for illness is the strongest argument here. But you have no right to such a refund.

If the flight was canceled or delayed

Here the EU regulation on air passenger rights applies. If a flight is canceled, the carrier must refund the money within 7 days or offer another flight. You can also claim compensation: from €250 for short routes to €600 for long ones (as of 09/2026, Air Passenger Rights). If you were informed of the cancellation at least 14 days before departure or the cause was extraordinary circumstances, no compensation is paid. The ticket price is still refunded. Full conditions are collected in the text of the regulation (as of 09/2026).

If the carrier refuses, an arbitration service resolves the dispute. The proceedings are free, and the request is filed online. In 2025, Schlichtungsstelle Reise & Verkehr closed more than 46,000 cases. Over 85% of them ended in a settlement (as of 09/2026).

It is convenient to check your right to compensation in advance. A specialized service helps assess your chances, where you can check your right to compensation for a canceled flight.

Rebooking and exchange instead of a refund

The airline may not refund the money but credit the amount toward another ticket. That is how rebooking (exchange) works. The value of the unused ticket is transferred to a new date or route. This is convenient if the trip shifts by a couple of weeks.

Sometimes a voucher or points are offered instead of money. Remember: if the flight is canceled, the choice is yours. Money is due in cash or by transfer, not only in points.

Check the exchange terms before you agree. A voucher may have an expiration date and a destination restriction. If the terms do not suit you, demand a refund in money.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Can I get a refund on a non-refundable ticket?

Yes, but only part of the price. You will not get the cost of carriage back. Taxes and fees will be refunded. Check the terms in the booking email and request the refund in writing from the carrier.

How many days before departure should I cancel the ticket?

The earlier, the better. Many fares are tied to the cancellation deadline. A week before, you get more back than a day before departure. After departure, a refund is usually closed. Cancel as soon as you learn you will not fly.

How long does the money take after a refund?

The deadline depends on the reason. If the carrier cancels the flight, the money is transferred within 7 days, under EU rules. If you cancel, the fare determines the deadline. The wait can stretch for weeks. The amount arrives on the card you paid with.

What if the airline refused the refund?

Send a written claim and ask for a written response. With a refusal, go to Schlichtungsstelle Reise & Verkehr. In parallel, check your right to compensation.

Does insurance cover a non-refundable ticket?

Sometimes yes. Some policies cover trip cancellation due to illness or another valid reason. The list of covered cases varies by company. Read the contract terms and check whether trip cancellation is included in the coverage. Keep the doctor's note: without the document, the insurer will not pay.

In short: what is worth booking

The logic of refunds is short: the more flexible the fare, the more expensive the ticket and the cheaper the cancellation. If your plans change often, take a fare with exchange or refund options. Then a canceled trip will not turn into lost money.

If the carrier canceled the flight, choose money or a new flight and check your right to compensation. If the trip falls through due to illness, keep the medical documents and request a refund of taxes and fees. If your plans are unstable, try finding a ticket with a flexible fare on Kiwi.com.