Buying a Ticket
U.S. Department of Transportation · checked 2026-10-04
The app uses the figures and rules named on that page. It does not replace the page.
travel · official figure · reviewed 2026-10-04
Test the Airline 24-Hour Cancellation Rule
If you buy an airline ticket at least seven days before departure, the airline must allow a 24-hour hold or a penalty-free cancellation within 24 hours.
What this guide helps you do
Test the seven-day and 24-hour conditions on the DOT buying-a-ticket page.
The figure that changes the result
The airline must offer a hold or a refund. It does not have to offer both. An agent sale is outside this rule.
Comparing booking and departure times against the fare rules takes about 15 minutes, and agent sales are often treated as airline sales.
Who this is for
A person who just booked a flight with an airline and needs to know whether the DOT clock still runs.
Steps
Step 1
Confirm the seller. An online travel agency is not the airline for this rule.
Step 2
Check that departure is at least seven days after booking.
Step 3
Cancel within 24 hours of booking if you want the penalty-free path.
Step 4
Ask for a hold or a refund. The airline chooses which one it offers.
Step 5
Do not expect a free date change. That is a different request.
Worked example
A ticket booked with the airline on October 1 at 10:00, for an October 20 departure, and canceled the same day at 20:00, meets both clocks.
Both clocks are met. The airline must hold the fare for 24 hours or refund a penalty-free cancellation.
- At least seven days before departure: yes.
- Cancellation within 24 hours of booking: yes.
- Seller: airline.
The reservation is at least seven days before departure, and the cancellation is within 24 hours of booking.
Where this goes wrong
A ticket bought six days before departure does not get this rule. A cancellation at 24 hours and one minute does not get it. A third-party sale is outside the airline duty on this page.
What the source says
Limits
A credit-card refund, when due, must be issued within seven business days. Cash or check has 20 business days.
The tool uses 168 hours for seven days and 24 hours on the clock.
Fare rules can be more generous. They cannot replace this minimum when it applies.
This tool gives general information. It is not legal advice. Laws differ by state and change. Check the result with a licensed attorney or a legal aid office before you act.
Use the current instruction from the agency named above. This guide is a planning aid, not an official decision.
Free companion app
Test the seven-day and 24-hour conditions on the DOT buying-a-ticket page.
Open Test the 24-Hour and 7-Day Conditions
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This guide uses short, direct instructions as an ASD-STE100-style writing target. It is not a formal certification.