One of the most common (and understandable) concerns when booking flights is whether your tickets are refundable - what if something changes last minute?
Understanding Trip.com’s refund policies and options can help travellers make informed decisions, as well as minimise any financial risk and give them peace of mind before the journey. In this article, we will explain how to determine if your flight tickets are refundable and provide a step-by-step guide to managing refunds through the platform.
How to tell if my flight tickets are refundable
Whether a flight ticket is refundable depends on the specific airline's policies and the type of fare you select. Refundable tickets typically cost more upfront but offer flexibility in case your travel plans change.
On Trip.com, the refundability of a ticket is clearly indicated during the booking process. Once you have decided on a travel time and then click the ‘Select’ button, you will typically be presented with a number of ticket types which will make clear whether your ticket is refundable.
However, if you’re still struggling to ascertain whether your ticket is refundable, you can use the customer service tools to help identify this and manage any refund if needed.
Step-by-step guide: Checking refund policies
1. Check refundability before booking
There are many clear indicators as to whether the tickets you’re purchasing are eligible for a refund. When browsing flights, be sure to keep an eye out for the following:
- Look for fare details during the search process.
- Refundable tickets are usually labelled as 'Refundable' or 'Flexible' under individual ticket descriptions. Non-refundable tickets will be marked as 'Non-Refundable' or include restrictions in the fare rules.
2. Purchase travel insurance (to be extra safe!)
For additional protection, we typically offer travel insurance during checkout. Although it isn’t necessary, adding this can provide coverage for cancellations due to unforeseen circumstances, even for non-refundable tickets.
3. Access your booking after purchase
If you need to verify refund eligibility after booking for peace of mind, you can always check by following these steps:
- Log in to your Trip.com account.
- Go to 'My Bookings.'
- Select the flight and review the terms under 'Booking Details.'
Step-by-step guide: How to request a flight refund
If your ticket is refundable and you need to cancel, follow these steps below:
- Navigate to the 'My Bookings' of the site or app and select the relevant flight.
- Click 'Cancel Flight' or 'Request Refund,' depending on the options available. Follow the prompts to confirm your request. You may be required to pay a cancellation fee, depending on the airline’s policy. Note: If you’re unable to cancel online, you can contact Trip.com’s customer service for assistance.
- Now, simply wait for the refund to process. Refundable tickets typically take 7–30 business days to process, though the exact duration depends on the airline and payment provider.
Why are refundable tickets a good idea?
- Flexibility for changing plans: Refundable tickets allow you to recover most, if not all, of your fare if plans change. This can save significant costs compared to rebooking a non-refundable ticket.
- Reduced stress with insurance: Adding Trip.com’s travel insurance can turn non-refundable tickets into partially or fully refundable ones under certain conditions, such as illness or emergencies.
- Minimal cancellation fees: Refundable tickets generally come with lower cancellation fees, preserving more of your travel budget in case of changes.
When are tickets non-refundable?
Some tickets on Trip.com are strictly non-refundable, including:
- Discounted fares or promotional tickets.
- Basic economy fares, depending on the airline.
In such cases, travellers can only claim refunds in specific situations, such as flight cancellations initiated by the airline.