Delta Airlines’ cancellation policy is designed to offer flexibility depending on the type of ticket you purchase and the timing of your cancellation. For all ticket types, Delta provides a 24-hour risk-free cancellation window: if you cancel your ticket within 24 hours of booking, you will receive a full refund to your original payment method, with no cancellation fees, as long as you booked directly through Delta and the cancellation is requested by midnight of the day after purchase or before the first flight departs, whichever comes first. After this 24-hour period, the rules differ based on your ticket type. Refundable tickets can be canceled at any time before departure for a full refund, with no cancellation fees, and the refund is processed back to your original payment method. Non-refundable tickets, which include most economy fares, can still be canceled before departure, but you will not receive a cash refund; instead, you will get an e Credit for the remaining value of your ticket after deducting any applicable cancellation fee, which typically ranges from $99 to $199 depending on the route and fare rules. This e Credit can be used toward future Delta flights and is generally valid for one year from the original ticket purchase date. If you do not cancel your non-refundable ticket before departure, the ticket loses all value and cannot be used for future travel.

Basic Economy tickets, known as Delta Main Basic, are the most restrictive. After the 24-hour risk-free period, these tickets are generally non-changeable and non-refundable, meaning you cannot cancel or change your flight and receive any value back, except in certain cases where Delta issues a waiver or if your fare rules specifically allow for a cancellation charge to be deducted from the value of your ticket, with the remainder issued as an e Credit. However, if no cancellation charge is listed in your fare rules, then no changes or cancellations are allowed for Basic Economy tickets in that market. Award tickets booked with SkyMiles follow similar rules: Basic Economy award tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable after the risk-free period, but you may cancel for a fee in miles, with the remaining miles redeposited into your SkyMiles account.

For all ticket types, the cancellation process can be completed online by logging in to your Delta account, navigating to “My Trips,” selecting the trip you wish to cancel, and following the prompts to complete the cancellation. If Delta cancels your flight or there is a significant schedule change or delay, you are entitled to request a refund even for non-refundable tickets, and you can submit this request through Delta’s online refund form or customer support. In cases of death of an immediate family member, travel companion, or the passenger, Delta may make exceptions to the standard cancellation policy, and you should contact Delta directly for assistance.

To summarize, Delta’s cancellation policy offers a full refund for all tickets canceled within 24 hours of purchase. Refundable tickets can be canceled at any time for a full refund, while non-refundable tickets can be canceled for an e Credit minus a fee, provided you cancel before departure. Basic Economy tickets are usually non-refundable and non-changeable after the risk-free period, except in limited circumstances. Always check the specific fare rules for your ticket and complete any cancellations before your scheduled departure to retain any value from your booking.