Language 
No results found
No fuel? No problem. Best refundable airline tickets to avoid cancelled flight costs
Learn how refundable airline tickets work, which airlines offer free cancellation flights, and how to book a flexible flight.
With the head of the International Energy Agency warning of “maybe six weeks or so” or remaining jet fuel, you may be having second thoughts when booking future flights. One thing you can do to protect your money and avoid major travel inconveniences is to purchase refundable airline tickets, or “flex tickets”.
Most major airlines serving the UK, US, and Europe offer flex tickets, including British Airways, American Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, and Emirates. We’ll discuss airline ticket types, which airlines offer flex tickets, and how you can book one.
Along with avoiding travel disruptions, staying connected in times of uncertainty is as crucial as ever; Holafly’s travel eSIM offers unlimited data in over 200 destinations.
An eSIM you can rely on
Join over 10 million Holafly customers and get connected with our trusted, global services.
Before diving into the cancellation policies, here’s an overview of some major international and budget airlines that offer refundable tickets:
| UK airlines | USA airlines | Europe | Middle East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major airlines | |||
| British Airways | American Airlines | Lufthansa | Qatar Airways |
| Virgin Atlantic | Delta Air Lines | Air France | Etihad Airways |
| United Airlines | KLM | Emirates | |
| Iberia | Oman Air | ||
| Turkish Airlines | |||
| Budget airlines | |||
| easyJet | JetBlue | Vueling | Air Arabia |
| WizzAir | Spirit Airlines | Eurowings | Jazeera Airways |
| Ryanair | Frontier Airlines | ||
| Jet2 | Alaska Airlines | ||
| TUI Airways | |||
Airline ticket types: Refundable vs non-refundable flights
Before we get into which airlines offer refundable flight tickets, it’s important to understand the main ticket types. Your ticket type directly affects whether you can cancel your flight, request a refund, or make changes to your travel plans.
Regular/basic fares
These tickets do not include any complimentary flight changes. You can still make changes, but you’ll have to pay a fee and any fare difference.
You can receive flight credit instead of a cash refund (valid for 1 year from the date you purchased your original flight). If you cancel your flight, you might lose all or part of your ticket cost.
In most cases, you won’t get a full refund unless the airline cancels the flight or there are exceptional circumstances (such as serious illness or death, supported by valid documents).
Cancel a flight within 24 hours
Most airlines allow you to cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking and receive a full refund, even if you have a basic ticket. This may only be applicable, however, if you’ve booked directly with the airline and not through a third-party company.
Refundable flight tickets or flex tickets
These are designed for flexibility and allow you to:
- Cancel your flight and receive a full refund to your original payment method
- Make changes to travel dates with little to no extra cost
- Avoid losing money on a non-refundable ticket
Many airlines also offer partially refundable tickets, which may offer a partial refund depending on the rules.
Airlines with free cancellation tickets
The good news is that most airlines today offer flex tickets. Refundable flight tickets cost more than basic fares, but with the ongoing disruption in global travel, the extra cost can be worth it.
With fuel price volatility, fuel shortages, and frequent flight cancellations worldwide, having a flex ticket offers peace of mind, avoiding complicated refund processes, flight credit, or partial refunds.
Want extra peace of mind? Stay connected abroad with Holafly’s travel eSIM, available in over 200 destinations. Get unlimited data as soon as you land for real-time flight updates.
The table below provides a quick overview of refundable flight/cancellation policies offered by major and budget airlines.
| Airlines | Refundable ticket policies |
|---|---|
| British Airways | Permits changes and refunds without penalty fees. Booking classes Y, B, and H for economy and J, C, D, R for Business. |
| Virgin Atlantic | Flex Fare offers unlimited flight date changes, rebooking within 331 days, and competitive cancellation charges. Available for Economy Classic, Economy Delight, Premium, and Upper Class. |
| easyJet | Free date/time changes (with restrictions) and route changes (fare difference may apply) within one day of your booking. No refunds/credit vouchers available, even if unused. |
| WizzAir | Wizz Flex offers an online flight change without a fee or a refund to your Wizz account in case of reservation cancellation. Refunded credits are valid for 90 days. |
| Ryanair | With Flexi Plus, you can change your booked flight the day of travel (free of charge) to a flight on the same route as your original flight (if a seat is available). Other changes may include paying fare differences. |
| TUI Airways | With TUI Flex, you can make one fee-free change to your holiday destination/hotel up to 4 weeks before you fly, change passenger names once (28 days before travel), or change your departure date once 28 days before travel. |
| American Airlines | With a Fully Flexible ticket, you won’t have to pay any flight change fees on American-operated flights, but the difference in fare still applies. You can also change to/standby for a flight the same day with the same origin/destination and stops; however, fees may apply. |
| Delta Air Lines | For Delta Classic, Extra, or Refundable experience tickets, no change fees for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands or travel from the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean to anywhere in the world. These tickets are refundable, in most cases. |
| United Airlines | With Economy, Economy Plus, or premium cabin tickets, you won’t have to pay a change fee for certain flights. You can cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking for a full refund, but there are some rules. |
| JetBlue | With Blue Extra tickets, there are no change or cancellation fees, plus same-day switches and standby without paying the fare differences. Refundable fares are also available, with funds credited back to the original form of payment. |
| Spirit Airlines | With Premium Economy and Spirit First, there are no change or cancellation fees, but fare differences may apply. |
| Frontier Airlines | The Flight Flexibility add-on allows a one-time change to flight date or time for free, 24 hours before your departure. Any difference in fare must be paid. Tickets are generally non-refundable. |
| Alaska Airlines | If travel is less than 24 hours from the time of purchase, fare rules may apply. Non-refundable Main, Premium, Business, and First Class fares can be canceled for future travel credit. |
| Lufthansa | With Economy Flex, you can rebook your ticket and receive a refund, subject to a fee. With Economy Class, you can rebook your ticket for a fee. |
| KLM | With a Flex ticket, you can cancel your flight and get a refund without any cancellation fees. You can also change your flight without any change fees, but you might have to pay a possible fare difference. |
| Iberia | Three versions of the Flex ticket: one that offers a voucher refund, one that offers one free flight change, and one that keeps both these options open. Once you’ve booked a Flex ticket, you have up to 15 days before the flight to use its features. |
| Turkish Airlines | The Economy Flexible and Business Flexible tickets offer date/route changes free of charge. Cancellations and refunds are subject to specified deductions. |
| Vueling | With Flex Pack, you can cancel your booking up to 2 hours before departure and receive a credit for the amount. You can also change your flight up to 2 hours before departure without paying a change fee, only the fare difference, if any. |
| Qatar Airways | Economy Classic, Convenience, and Business Lite, Classic, and Comfort offer date and route changes and refunds to the original form of payment, but with a fee. Economy, Comfort, and Business Elite offer both of these complimentary. |
| Etihad Airways | With Economy Deluxe and Business Deluxe, changes to your booking and flight cancellations are free. You can also change your flight/cancel it on other tickets, but fees apply. |
| Emirates | Specific fare rules aren’t mentioned explicitly on the website. Contact Emirates directly for more information on refundable airline tickets. |
| Oman Air | With Economy Super Saver, you won’t be able to cancel your flight. You may change it for a fee. Economy Comfort and Business Comfort offer both flight cancellation and changes to bookings for a fee. With Economy Flex and Business Flex, both options are free. |
| Air Arabia | With Ultimate ticket types, you’re entitled to changes in booking and refunds in cash and credit. However, some fees and rules may still apply. |
| Jazeera Airways | For all ticket types (Economy Light, Value and Extra), you’ll have to pay between KWD 17-24 to change or cancel your flight. Flight cancellation is not available 8-24 hours before your flight. Flight cancellation is also not possible for Economy Light tickets. |
Did Emirates or Qatar cancel your flight to Asia? Check out our guide on the best alternative flights to Asia.
How to get refundable airline tickets
Booking a refundable flight ticket is the same as booking any other ticket, but the key is to pay close attention during the booking process.
- Start your flight search: Once you’re satisfied with your route and travel date, select that flight.
- Choose the right fare type: Airlines show multiple fare types for each flight, including basic, standard, and flex. Some airlines, such as British Airways, offer flexible tickets for both Economy and Business Class flights.
- Read the fare rules carefully: Always check:
- Whether you’ll receive a full refund to your original payment method
- If cancellations result in a cash refund, flight credit, or travel voucher
- Any change fees or fare difference for rebooking
- Deadlines tied to the scheduled departure time
- Look for added flexibility or cancellation protection: Some airlines offer add-ons while booking, such as cancellation protection, flexible date changes, and refund guarantees, even for unexpected circumstances.
Top tips for booking a refundable airline ticket
- Book with the airlines directly. This is the better choice if flexibility matters because it’s easier to manage your refund request.
- Book travel insurance and ensure it covers you for travel disruption.
- Take advantage of the 24-hour full refund if you’re still finalizing your travel plans and expect changes.
- Start the refund process early if you expect your flight may be canceled or your travel plans may change.
What if you’ve already booked a non-refundable ticket?
If you’ve already purchased a non-refundable airline ticket, you’re past the 24-hour refund window, and you’re worried your plans might be disrupted by the fuel crisis, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost your money.
Even with a non-refundable ticket, you may be able to change your flight to a new date (for a small fee) or even cancel your booking and receive a travel voucher or flight credit. Contact the airline’s customer service team and ask about your specific ticket type and fare rules.
Important: If the airline cancels or delays your flight, especially if you’ve completed the layover flight, you’re entitled to a full refund or rebooking, even if you booked a non-refundable flight. However, airlines are currently seeking greater clarity on whether issues such as fuel shortages linked to global conflicts fall under these exceptions, which can affect your eligibility for compensation.
Navigate airline cancellations with Holafly’s unlimited data
Having flexibility in your travel plans makes a huge difference. A flexible travel eSIM like Holafly ensures you stay connected at every stage, especially when plans change.
If your flight is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled, having unlimited, reliable mobile data means you can:
- Contact your airline’s customer service team quickly
- Start the refund process or submit a refund request
- Rebook a new flight or check alternative routes
- Access your booking details, boarding passes, and updates in real time
Even after you land, disruptions can continue, including missed connections, last-minute changes, or updated travel dates. With a flexible eSIM, you have:
- Access to unlimited data for the entirety of your trip and the option of adding days to your plan (a matter of a few clicks on the Holafly app)
- 24/7 customer support so you’re never stranded
- Daily hotspot allowance to connect other devices and help fellow stranded travellers
All Holafly eSIMs also include “Always On”, a feature that provides working internet, even after your main plan has expired. You can use 1 GB of backup data to help you stay connected at every moment.
For extended travels, consider using Holafly Plans instead. This monthly eSIM subscription will keep you connected in over 170 destinations, all on one plan.
Connect to the fastest networks
International eSIMs, local networks. Enjoy the best of both worlds with Holafly.
FAQs about refundable airline tickets
Yes, but it depends on your ticket type. With flexible tickets, you can cancel and receive a full refund to your original payment method. Many airlines also offer full refunds for basic tickets if you cancel within 24 hours of booking.
Most major airlines offer refundable plane tickets or flexible fares, such as American Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Air France, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and more.
Refundable airline tickets cost more and offer full refunds with little to no cancellation fees. Non-refundable airline tickets have a lower upfront price but have limited or no refund options. Some airlines, like Qatar Airways, offer a travel voucher or charge fees to change.
Plans that may interest you
Born and raised in Queens, New York, I'm a Psychology graduate with a passion for writing that I've been nurturing since 2019. Over the years, I've enjoyed creating meaningful content across various niches, including sports, hospitality, and career development. At Holafly, I focus on crafting useful and inspiring pieces to make your adventures more effortless. One of the best perks of this role? Creating travel content always seems to inspire my next vacation destination!
