An error on the departure dates spotted just after confirming the purchase.
Cheaper flights found a few hours after booking yours... So many situations that can make you regret having bought your plane tickets too quickly.
Fortunately, it is possible to rectify the situation thanks to the “24 hour rule”.
Most airlines allow you to cancel a reservation free of charge and without having to provide a reason if the request is made less than 24 hours after purchase.
To discover
Tailor-made trips: discover the offers from our partners
This policy applies to all ticket types, including those that do not typically offer flexibility.
However, only those purchased on the airlines' official website confer this right, unlike those purchased from a physical or online agency.
The refund is then made to the bank card used for payment, carriers not having the right to refund in the form of a voucher or travel credit.
If the canceled flight takes off in too short a period of time, the rule does not apply.
A rule little put forward in Europe
It remains to be seen whether the airline we were planning to take offers this grace period... And this is where everything gets complicated.
In the United States, it's simple: Department of Transportation regulations require all operators flying to and from American territory, including foreign companies, to offer a free refund within 24 hours.
The law allows them to instead offer to block a rate for 24 hours;
if the customer makes payment during this period, he is guaranteed to keep the indicated price.
In Colombia, this period is even extended to five days.
In Europe, no common regulations exist, so the grace period is left to the discretion of each company.
While many of them offer this possibility, some prefer not to communicate about it, probably to avoid abuse.
Thus, Air France confirms to Le
Figaro
that cancellation is possible within 24 hours for purchases from direct sales channels (airport counters, airfrance.fr site, etc.), without however making any mention of it on its site.
Conversely, KLM, LOT Polish Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) display a detailed page on their 24-hour cancellation policy.
Not surprisingly, low-cost airlines seem less willing to play the game. easyJet allows cancellation within 24 hours but applies a fee of €59.
Ryanair indicates in its frequently asked questions that only minor errors (date, direction of route, etc.) can be corrected free of charge within 24 hours, but cancellation is not permitted.
After 24 hours, changes free of charge under certain conditions
The International Air Transport Association (Iata), which represents 300 airlines providing more than 80% of global traffic, is taking a position against this “
right of repentance
”.
“
While a well-intentioned policy, this right may make travel more expensive
and less convenient for the consumers it is intended to protect
,” Iata points out.
Generalizing this right would create a competitive disadvantage given that other modes of transport (train, bus, boats, etc.) are not subject to such a rule.
The organization also emphasizes that the 24-hour rule is not relevant given the “
variety of products that exist on the market today, ranging from non-refundable rates to more flexible options
”.
What to do if you cancel your ticket after 24 hours?
It all depends on the conditions of the chosen tariff.
If you have opted for the most flexible (which is also the most expensive), you can generally modify or cancel the reservation up to the day before or a few hours before departure.
If the ticket is not flexible, you can get at least a refund of part of the ticket corresponding to certain taxes.
Another solution: turn to your travel insurance, provided that the reason for the cancellation (illness or death of a loved one, natural disaster, etc.) is covered by the contract.
Finally, if you spot a typo in the passenger names, there is no need to cancel the reservation: companies generally allow a change free of charge.
ON VIDEO
- Why do some travelers put plastic film around their suitcase before boarding a plane?