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American Airlines vs Delta Air Lines Refund Process
Side-by-side comparison of refund processs, conditions, and refund timelines.·Last updated: 2026-10-12
Refund Conditions
American Airlines
- Cancellation within 24 hours of purchase, for tickets booked at least 7 days before departure.
- Refunds not allowed for non-refundable fares after 24 hours; if you cancel before departure you get a travel credit instead of cash.
- Eligible taxes can be refunded on request: destination-specific taxes not imposed by American may be eligible; taxes American must pay whether or not you travel are not.
- Voluntary changes to paid seats are not refundable.
- Fees paid for checked bags or seats at the airport are non-refundable upon flight cancellation.
Delta Air Lines
- Cancellation within 24 hours of booking for a full refund (risk-free cancellation).
- Flight canceled or impacted by a significant delay (3+ hours domestic, 6+ hours international) or significant schedule change, and customer is not satisfied with rebooked flight or no rebooking is possible.
- For tickets issued before Oct 28, 2024, with travel on or after Oct 28, 2024, if departure/arrival time impacted by significant schedule change or delay of more than 120 minutes.
- Refundable ticket type purchased.
- If no portion of the ticket has been used, Delta will refund the total fare and all taxes, fees or charges paid.
- Taxes, fees or charges on nonrefundable international tickets are refundable if required by law or collected in error, with evidence of exemption.
Refund Steps
American Airlines
- Visit the American Airlines refunds site to request a refund.
- To cancel, find your trip using your confirmation code or log in to your AAdvantage® account.
- Click 'Cancel trip' in the menu and confirm.
- Check email for trip cancellation information.
Delta Air Lines
- Cancel or manage your trip online via Fly Delta app or My Trips.
- Request a refund through the available options on the Delta website.
- Complete the Travel Resolution Form for specific refund or eCredit requests.
- Submit unused flight coupons/paper tickets by mail to Delta Passenger Refunds Department.
- Check your refund status online after submission.
Refund Methods
American Airlines
- Original form of payment
- Travel credit (non-refundable tickets canceled before departure)
Delta Air Lines
- Original form of payment
- eCredit
Partial Refunds
American Airlines
- Refundable tickets that are partly used: the value of the unused travel is refunded.
- Destination-specific taxes not imposed by American may be eligible for a refund.
Delta Air Lines
- Unflown portion of the ticket.
- Pre-paid seat upgrade or Preferred Seat fees.
- Checked bag fees.
- Residual value and associated taxes/fees for partially used tickets.
- Refundable fare segment and associated taxes for domestic travel with mixed refundable/nonrefundable fares.
Additional Notes
American Airlines
- Keep the cancellation email if you’re issued a travel credit, as it contains the ticket number and original confirmation code for rebooking.
- If you cancel your flight, any fees you paid for checked bags or seats at the airport are non-refundable.
- Voluntary changes to paid seats are not refundable.
Delta Air Lines
- eCredit will not be issued if the cancellation fee exceeds the ticket value.
- Cancellation fees apply in most cases, unless a refundable ticket type is purchased or due to a significant schedule change/delay/cancellation.
- Tickets not changed or canceled prior to departure will have no remaining value.
- For domestic travel combining refundable and nonrefundable segments, only the refundable fare segment and associated taxes are refunded.