Use This 24-Hour Rule To Change Your Flight Bookings Without Paying Fees

Finding just the right plane ticket at the perfect price can be a little complicated. You could go with online travel agencies (OTAs) like Priceline or Travelocity so you can compare prices with different airlines all in one place. You can go directly through an airline if you have one you prefer traveling with. (If it's because they serve those craveable Biscoff cookies, we're not judging you.) You may do research on the best day to book tickets, or try to find a red-eye flight so you can get to your destination as the day begins. However, if you book something on, say, a United Airlines site, and then you find something from JetBlue that's cheaper, you probably assume you're out of luck once you've paid. Thankfully, there is a federal regulation that might be able to help you out.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, for flights purchased at least seven days before a scheduled departure, an airline has to either provide you with a full refund with no penalties if you decide to cancel your reservation within 24 hours of booking it, or allow you to reserve a ticket at the price listed without paying for 24 hours. This goes for all airlines, including international ones, but only for flights to, from, or within the United States. That means you can't get these options if you're flying from, say, Rome to Budapest. However, there are a number of very important caveats regarding this rule, and you should know them before you try to reserve or cancel your flight. Otherwise, you could be out of luck.

The first major caveat to this hold/cancellation rule is that it applies only when you book through the airline directly. That means if you choose to book through an OTA, you don't have this federal protection, whereas, if you go through, say, Alaska Airlines' website, you do. The same goes for tickets booked through a travel agency. In addition, as we mentioned before, airlines can choose which one of these rules to use. They can either offer 24-hour holds with no payment or allow you to cancel within 24 hours after you paid with no penalties. Most airlines have chosen the refund after payment, so make sure you know their specific rules before you book.

So, if you booked and paid for a ticket directly through an airline, but you find something that's cheaper, more suitable for your schedule, or that has better flight amenities, you can cancel within 24 hours and get a full refund. However, if you're switching to a different flight on the same airline, you may have to pay for things like price changes for a different date, or to make a name spelling change. You just won't get a penalty for cancellation, and you'll get back what you paid. Again, make sure to check each airline's policy before you book anything.

One thing you have to keep in mind is that a refund from the airline isn't going to be immediate. The carrier has up to seven business days to get your money back to you if you paid with a credit card. If you paid by check or with cash, the airline has up to 20 business days. Make sure you have enough money in your account before you book a second flight, as the money from the first one isn't going to be back for a bit. It's also important to remember that the flights must be booked at least seven days before departure. The 24-hour rule isn't something you can use for a last-minute trip that's leaving in two days.

Since many people book through OTAs so they can compare prices, the news that they don't have to give you one of these options may be disappointing. However, it doesn't mean that these websites don't have some protections. Some sites may still adhere to this rule for many flights. For instance, at the time of this writing, Expedia's rules say that, on select flights, you can cancel up to 24 hours before the first leg of your trip and get a refund for the whole flight booking, including bags and seats if you added them. Your best bet is to be very clear about each site's policies if you think you may have to cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking it. Look at all the fine print so you know the up-to-date info before you shell out any money. Finally, once you have your date locked in, make sure to check out travel pro Samantha Brown's tips on securing the best plane seat possible.