Flight tips
Flight ticket refunds and changes: what each fare actually allows
On the same flight, the price gap between two tickets is often not about the seat but about flexibility. If your plans might change, knowing which fare to buy costs less than the penalty later.
Prepared by the FlyVentis editorial team and regularly reviewed for travel and event accuracy.
What decides your refund and change rights is not the airline's name but the fare bundle you bought. The difference between the cheapest and the flexible fare on the same flight is usually not baggage or a meal; it is how much money you lose when your plans change. This guide covers what to check before you buy and the order to follow when plans change. If you're flying for a concert or match, start with the event-based travel planning guide.
A refund and a change are not the same thing
- Refund: cancelling the ticket entirely and getting money (or part of it) back.
- Change: moving the same ticket to another date or time; changing the passenger name is not part of this.
- Change fee: a fixed charge the airline takes for the transaction; it can be zero on flexible fares.
- Fare difference: what you pay if the new flight currently costs more than the old one. You usually pay it even when the change fee is zero.
Fare bundles: same seat, different rules
| Fare | Change | Refund | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest (Light / Basic / Promo) | Usually not allowed or expensive | No; only some taxes and fees | Travellers with fixed dates |
| Standard (Classic / Standard) | Fee + difference | Partial or none | Dates that probably won't change |
| Flexible (Flex / Plus) | Free or low fee + difference | Partial or full | Events, business or uncertain plans |
Bundle names vary by airline, and a bundle with the same name can have different rules on different routes. The "fare rules" or "ticket conditions" link on the booking screen is the only reliable source; take a screenshot and keep it. Work out each bundle's real cost including bags and seats with the hidden flight costs guide.
Money you can recover even on a non-refundable ticket
"Non-refundable" usually means the airline's own fare is not returned. Airport taxes and some fees inside the ticket are often only owed if you actually fly, so in many cases you can claim them back. The amount may look small, but on short, cheap tickets it can be a meaningful share of the total.
- After the scheduled departure, use the airline's refund form or contact customer service.
- State clearly that you are requesting a refund of taxes and fees for an unused ticket.
- Some airlines deduct a service fee; if it is larger than the refund, the claim may not be worth it.
- If you booked through an online travel agency, start the request with that agency first.
The no-show rule: miss the outbound and the return may go too
On a single return or connecting ticket, flight segments are expected to be used in order. If you don't board the outbound flight (a no-show), the airline will often cancel the return on the same ticket automatically. If you know you will miss the outbound, call the airline before departure and say you want to keep the return; sometimes that saves the ticket. For a last-minute miss at the airport, see the first steps in the missed flight guide.
When the airline cancels, everything changes
Everything above applies when you are the one changing plans. If the airline cancels the flight or significantly changes its time, you are usually entitled to a free change or a full refund whatever fare you bought. On flights departing the European Union, or arriving in the EU on an EU airline, compensation under Regulation 261/2004 may also apply. See the flight cancellation and delay rights guide for details, or the overbooking rights guide if you were denied boarding.
The 24-hour rule on US flights
For flights to or from the United States, tickets bought sufficiently far ahead of departure come with a rule allowing cancellation without penalty, or a free hold, within 24 hours of purchase. The exact conditions are on the airline's website; if you notice a price drop or a wrong date right after booking, those first 24 hours are the cheapest window to fix it.
The right order when plans change
- Open the ticket conditions: fare name, change fee, refund rule.
- Check whether the airline changed the flight; if it did, you may have free rights.
- If changing, don't confirm before you see the new fare and the fare difference.
- For a ticket you won't use, request the taxes and fees refund after departure.
- If you booked through an agency, handle everything there; changes made directly with the airline can break the booking.
- If the change fee is high, compare flights on FlyVentis; a new one-way ticket is sometimes cheaper.
- If your plans change often, look at cancellation cover in the travel insurance guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you get any money back on a non-refundable flight ticket?
The airline's own fare is usually not refunded, but airport taxes and some fees on a ticket you didn't use can often be claimed. The airline may deduct a service fee.
If the change fee is zero, can I change the date for free?
Not always. Even with no change fee, you pay the fare difference if the new flight costs more.
Is my return ticket still valid if I miss the outbound flight?
On a single ticket it often isn't; the airline cancels the return automatically. If you know you'll miss the outbound, tell the airline before departure.
Do I get a refund on the cheapest fare if the airline cancels?
Usually yes. When the airline cancels or significantly changes the schedule, you are entitled to a refund or free change regardless of the fare bundle.
