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Delta Air Lines vs United Airlines Refund Process
Side-by-side comparison of refund processs, conditions, and refund timelines.·Last updated: 2026-03-19
Refund Conditions
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.
United Airlines
- Ticket purchased within the last 24 hours (qualifies for 24-hour booking policy).
- Flight change or cancellation.
- Baggage delayed over 12 hours on a domestic flight.
- Baggage delayed over 15 hours on an international flight (less than 12 hours duration).
- Baggage delayed over 30 hours on an international flight (longer than 12 hours duration).
Refund Steps
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.
United Airlines
- Visit the Help Center for FAQs and information on refunds.
- Submit a request using the online Refund form for tickets, baggage fees, or other items.
- Submit a request through the Customer Care form for reimbursement or compensation for flight disruption.
- Manage reservations and trips via My Trips.
Refund Methods
Delta Air Lines
- Original form of payment
- eCredit
United Airlines
- Original form of payment
- Travel credit
Partial Refunds
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.
United Airlines
Not available
Additional Notes
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.
United Airlines
- The refund amount will vary depending on the situation.
- Tickets purchased within the last 24 hours may qualify for the 24-hour booking policy for refunds.