Delta Flight Changes: Navigating Insurance Options For Stress-Free Travel Adjustments

If you need to change your Delta flight, the first thing to do is check that your ticket is eligible for modifications. Most Delta tickets are now changeable without a fee, but Basic Economy tickets are non-changeable in most cases. If you are changing your flight because of an unexpected event, you may be covered by your insurance, so it is worth checking your policy documents.

Once you have confirmed that your ticket is eligible for changes, you can modify your reservation by phone, online, or via the Delta app. If you booked through a third party, you will need to contact that company directly.

Delta's 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy

Delta Air Lines offers a 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy, which allows you to cancel your booking without penalty for any reason within 24 hours of booking. This policy applies to all flight fares, including refundable, non-refundable, and basic economy tickets. Upon cancelling your flight, you will receive a full refund issued to your original payment method.

How to cancel your flight

To cancel your flight, visit the "My Trips" section on Delta's website or the Fly Delta app. From there, select the flight you need to cancel and click on the "Need to Cancel?" button, followed by "Start Flight Cancellation." Follow the steps through the cancellation process, and you will have the opportunity to review your flight details and confirm the cancellation before finalising it.

Please note that basic economy tickets are generally non-refundable and non-changeable. However, if you cancel a basic economy ticket within the 24-hour risk-free cancellation period, you can receive a full refund with no change or cancellation fees. After this period, you may still cancel your basic economy ticket before departure, but a cancellation fee will be deducted from the original value, and the remaining value will be issued as an eCredit for future Delta travel.

Refund processing times

The time it takes to process your refund request and receive your money back depends on your original payment method. Credit or debit card purchases are typically processed within 7 business days and may take up to 2 billing cycles to appear on your statement. Cash or check purchases are usually processed within 20 business days and will be refunded by check.

International refunds

International refunds may take longer due to local banking procedures. Additionally, some banks or credit card issuers may place a hold on funds, so it is recommended to contact your card issuer for their specific policies.

Cancelling a non-refundable ticket

If you cancel a non-refundable ticket for travel originating in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, you will get the remaining value of your fare as an eCredit for future travel. This excludes basic economy tickets, which are non-refundable and non-changeable.

If you cancel a non-refundable ticket for travel originating outside of the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean, you will get the remaining value of your fare, minus the cancellation fee, as an eCredit for future travel. The cancellation fee depends on your location and itinerary.

If you cancel a non-refundable ticket within 24 hours of booking, you will get a full refund with no cancellation fee.

If you cancel a non-refundable ticket after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation period, you will get the remaining value of your fare, minus the cancellation fee, as an eCredit for future travel. The cancellation fee depends on your location and itinerary.

If you cancel a non-refundable ticket for award travel, you will get a refund of your miles, minus a cancellation fee. The cancellation fee for domestic flights is 9,900 miles, and for international flights, it is 19,900 miles.

To cancel a non-refundable ticket online, log in to your Delta SkyMiles account, go to "My Trips," select the trip you want to cancel, and click the "Modify flight" button.

To cancel a non-refundable ticket by phone, call Delta Reservations at 800-221-1212.

To cancel a non-refundable ticket in person, go to the Delta Air Lines ticket counter at your local airport and speak to a customer service agent.

Cancelling a refundable ticket

If you have a refundable ticket and your plans change, you can apply for a refund. You must cancel your ticket before departure. To cancel your refundable ticket, follow these steps:

• Log in to your SkyMiles account and go to 'My Trips'.
• Select the flight you need to cancel.
• Click on the 'Need to Cancel?' button.
• Select 'Start Flight Cancellation' and follow the steps.

Your refund will be issued to your original payment method. Please note that refunds for cash or check purchases are typically processed within 20 business days and will be refunded by check. Refunds for credit/debit card purchases are typically processed within 7 business days and may take up to 2 billing cycles to appear on your statement.

If you are unable to cancel your ticket online, you can call Delta Reservation Sales at 800-847-0578 within the U.S. or Canada. For all other countries, see worldwide reservation numbers to locate a number in your area.

You can also submit your unused flight coupons/paper tickets by mail to the Delta Passenger Refunds Department at the following addresses:

• Via U.S. Postal Service: Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds, P.O. Box 20537 Atlanta, GA 30320-2537
• Via Courier Service: Delta Air Lines, Inc. Passenger Refunds, 4th Floor 700 South Central Avenue Hapeville, GA 30354

Delta's eCredit system

How to Get eCredits

ECredits are issued when a customer cancels a ticket. They can also be issued as compensation for denied boarding on an oversold flight or as a voucher for compensation for a service issue.

How to Use eCredits

ECredits can be redeemed in two ways:

• Via your SkyMiles account: Log in to your SkyMiles account and go to your profile. Click on "Certificates, eCredits & Vouchers" on the left side. Select the voucher you want to apply to your new reservation and continue to book your flight.
• Book as normal and pay with eCredits: Make a booking as you normally would and select "Use eCredits" when selecting a payment method. Once your active credits appear, select the one(s) you want to redeem and finish your booking.

Rules and Expirations

ECredits usually expire one year from the date of the original ticket's purchase. To avoid losing your eCredits, make sure to keep a good record of all your cancelled trips. eCredits cannot be used to book travel for someone who was not on the original ticket.

Where to Find Your eCredits

To locate your eCredits, create a Delta SkyMiles account and head to www.delta.com/redeem. You can look up certificates and eCredits by entering your contact information, SkyMiles account info, credit card, or certificate or eCredit number.

Yes, eCredits can be used for seat upgrades on flights booked with cash. Use the "Modify Flight" tool in your SkyMiles account, select your same flight in a higher cabin, and then pay the fare difference with your eCredit.

ECredits can only be applied toward the cost of a revenue ticket, including for travel on partner airlines, as long as you're booking through Delta. They cannot be used for ticket upgrades or to pay taxes and fees on award tickets.

ECredits are non-transferable and must be used by the person who they were initially assigned to. The only exception is that if the original ticket had multiple people on it, any of the people who were part of that group could apply the eCredit value toward their ticket.

Changing your flight online, over the phone or via the app

If your Delta ticket is in the main cabin or above (including Comfort Plus, Premium Select, first class or Delta One cabins) and originates in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean, you won't pay a fee to change your flight. However, if your ticket originates outside of these regions, change and cancellation fees may apply depending on your origin location and type of ticket.

Basic Economy tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable in most cases. If you have a Basic Economy ticket, you may be able to cancel it for a fee and then use the remaining value as a partial credit to book a new ticket.

You can change the date, time and destination of your flight, but you must do it before the flight's departure. If you don't change or cancel your ticket before departure, it will have no remaining value.

Changing your flight online

To change your flight online, log in to your SkyMiles account at Delta.com and navigate to "My Trips." If no trips are listed, enter your first and last name and the six-digit flight confirmation number and click on "Find my trip." Once you locate the flight you intend to change, click on "Change or add flights." Make sure the flight you want to change is selected, then search for the new flight you want and follow the steps to change it. The value of the original ticket will go toward the cost of the new ticket, and you'll be presented with the option to pay for the difference if the new ticket is more expensive.

Changing your flight via the app

The same process applies to changing your Delta flight in the Fly Delta app. Locate the flight you want to change through the "My Trips" tab. After clicking on the flight, you'll see the option to select seats, cancel your flight or change it. Select the "Change or Add Flights" box, then confirm that you want to change it and select the "Find New Flights" box to choose your new flights. Once you've found the new flight you want, complete the process and enjoy your new flight.

Changing your flight over the phone

To change your Delta ticket over the phone, dial 800-221-1212. Delta Medallion members have access to a dedicated phone line, which can be found by logging into your SkyMiles account and going to the Contact Us section of the menu.

Frequently asked questions