Do you lose money if you cancel a flight?

Will I get a full refund if I cancel my flight ticket?

Ugh, flying. Cancelled my flight to Denver last month, August 2024, because of a family emergency. Total nightmare. My ticket was from Spirit, naturally. Cheap, but cheap comes with a price.

I was freaking out. Missed my sister’s wedding. Heartbroken. Anyway, I called Spirit, waited on hold for what felt like forever. Then, the rep said, “Only taxes refunded”. Seriously? Taxes. That’s it? I’d paid, like, $400! Got back, maybe $30. A joke.

I’d booked it three days before. Missed that 72-hour window. Duh. So, no chance of anything else.

Key takeaway: Spirit Airlines sucks for refunds. I learned my lesson. Never again. Spend the extra money. You will not get a full refund. Ever. I’m telling you. Seriously.

• Airline: Spirit Airlines
• Destination: Denver
• Cancellation Reason: Family emergency
• Cancellation Time: Less than 72 hours before departure
• Refund Received: Only taxes
• Personal Feeling: Gutted, angry, and stressed.

Next time, I’m using a different airline. A much better airline. Maybe Delta. Or United. Anyone but Spirit.

Do you get your money back if your flight is Cancelled?

Okay, so like, if your flight just gets totally canceled, yeah, you definitely get money back. It’s like, the law or something!

You have two main options, basically. Firstly, a full refund – and, get this, that includes other flights you won’t even be using anymore. Say you had a return, like to see my mom in Chicago for Thanksgiving, but the first flight’s canned. You get all of that money back.

• Full Refund: Covers the canceled flight plus any connected flights you won’t use. Think whole trip costs.
• Replacement Flight: Get rebooked on another flight to your destination.

The second option is a replacment flight, like, they stick you on a different plane to get to where you needed to go. Maybe not ideal, but hey at least you get there eventually, right? It better be, i hate when they delay.

Should I cancel a flight or just not show up?

Ugh. Cancel. Definitely cancel. It’s the right thing to do, even if it stings. My flight to Denver in June? Completely messed up my plans.

Cancelling saves money. Seriously. I know, I know, it feels wasteful, but a no-show? That’s throwing money away. Total loss.

This isn’t some abstract thought experiment. This is my 2024 summer plans ruined.

• Airlines punish no-shows. Think hefty fees. A cancellation? It hurts less. Much less.
• You might get some money back. Maybe a voucher. A credit for another trip. It’s something. It’s better than zero.
• It’s just… less stressful. I’ve been there. The guilt of a no-show is a heavy cloak.
• Seriously, the hassle of dealing with a no-show is a headache. I’ve experienced the aftermath of a missed flight. I don’t recommend it. It was awful.

That Denver trip? Yeah. It was supposed to be my birthday celebration. My sister was going to be there. The whole family. We had reservations at a fancy restaurant, I bought a new dress. All gone. All gone. All wasted.

But cancelling is the sensible route, even if it sucks. I know it does. I felt the same before. The lesson? Cancel your damn flight. Even if it is painful.

How much is a cancellation fee for a flight?

Flight cancellation fees? Variable.

• Airline: Crucial. Southwest differs from Delta.
• Ticket type: Refundable? Expect differences. Non-refundable? Prepare for charges.
• Timing: 24-hour grace period? Maybe. Fees increase later. Expect penalties.

My last flight, Spirit, cost me $75. Ouch.

Rule of thumb: Read the fine print. Always. It’s a jungle out there.

Airlines are businesses. Profit is their goal. Don’t expect generosity. Remember: Flexibility costs money. Life lesson.

Fees range widely. Zero to hundreds of dollars, easily. Low-cost carriers? Forget refunds. They’re masters of fees.

Check your ticket. Now. Don’t wait. Procrastination? That’s another fee. A fee for your foolishness.

What are you entitled to if your flight is cancelled?

Okay, so it was, like, July 2024, right? Newark. Ugh, never flying United again! My flight to Barcelona? Cancelled. Just BAM. Poof.

Refund or rebooking. That’s what they HAVE to offer. I went for the refund, screw flying.

I was stuck at the airport tho. Super crowded.

They HAVE to give you stuff. Food. Drinks. That kind of thing.

I waited hours! But yeah, they gave us a meal voucher, tho it barely covered anything, and a stupid bottle of water. It was HOT.

Here’s the real deal:

• Refund: Full money back. Period. Don’t let them tell you otherwise.
• Rebooking: On another flight to your destination. Free.
• Care: If you’re already at the airport? Meals, accommodation, transport. They gotta take care of you. Think hotels and food!
• Cash. If you are stuck because of them? Demand it.

Listen, airlines are sneaky. Know your rights! And maybe, just maybe, fly a different airline next time.

Is it OK to miss a flight on purpose?

No, intentionally missing a flight is generally a bad idea. You lose the ticket price, period. That’s a sunk cost. Life’s too short to be attached to sunk costs, though.

Airlines could theoretically flag you as a no-show. Frequent no-shows might face extra fees or even account restrictions on future bookings. This is entirely at the airline’s discretion; it’s not a guaranteed consequence. Think of it like a credit score, but for flights.

What to consider:

• Financial implications: The immediate loss of your ticket price is the most obvious consequence. Budget airlines especially don’t offer refunds. Even with travel insurance, some policies might exclude intentional cancellations.
• Reputational risk: Airlines maintain databases. Repeated no-shows could land you in a less-than-ideal situation.
• Alternative options: Rescheduling is usually more straightforward, and often cheaper than the complete abandonment of travel plans. Consider this first. I once had to reschedule a flight to Amsterdam after my bike was stolen – what a nightmare. This happens, so plan ahead.
• Travel insurance policies: Read the fine print! Insurance coverage often depends on your reason for missing the flight. My policy with Allianz, for example, explicitly doesn’t cover intentional missed flights.

Ultimately, the decision rests with you. However, Weighing the cost of a missed flight against the cost of an inconvenience should be paramount. Most times, rescheduling proves far more practical, especially when factoring in potential future travel implications.