Flight Price Drop After Booking? Here's How to Get a Free Refund [Full Guide]

When is the best time to book a flight? It feels like timing the stock market. You book today, and tomorrow the price can go up or drop by $200.

Fortunately, there's a better way. Ever since U.S. airlines eliminated change fees during COVID, most tickets can be repriced to 'price-match' lower fares after booking. You keep your same reservation, same seats, same confirmation code — just at the new, lower price.

This isn't about canceling and rebooking, though you could do that too. Airlines actually prefer you reprice existing reservations. It keeps things cleaner in their systems.

With this ability, your strategy should be: book when the flights work for your schedule, then reprice if prices drop. Lock in your seats and upgrades now. Capture savings later.

What is Repricing?

Repricing means reissuing your ticket at a lower fare while keeping the same flights and reservation.

This is different from canceling and rebooking. With repricing, your reservation stays intact. Your seat assignments, meal preferences, and upgrade requests all transfer to the new (cheaper) ticket.

The fare difference comes back to you. If you bought a refundable ticket, you get a refund to your original payment method. If you bought a non-refundable ticket, you typically get an airline credit for future travel.

The technical term for what you're doing is "voluntary reissue to a lower fare." Airlines explicitly acknowledge this in their contracts of carriage.

What Tickets Are Eligible

Most Main Cabin fares and above on U.S. carriers can be repriced. This includes tickets on American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.

Most airlines don't allow changes to Basic fares at all, except during the 24-hour window. If you book Basic, generally speaking, you're locked in (though there are some loopholes we'll discuss below).

If the first flight on your reservation originates outside the U.S., Mexico, or the Caribbean, you might still face change fees even on carriers that waive fees for domestic travel.

Tickets booked through third-party sites like Expedia or Priceline add complexity. The OTA controls the ticket, and you'll likely need to work through them to reprice. Some airlines will help, but American charges a $50 external reservation handling fee to service OTA-issued tickets.

Partner airline bookings can be repriced depending on the airline and operating partner. Your ticket number tells you who issued the ticket and therefore who can reprice it.

How to Reprice

While airlines allow repricing, it's on you to ask for it. Savvy travelers who understand that this is possible can get the best deal on the plane, while those that don't reprice their tickets will likely end up paying more.

You have two paths: set it and forget it, or track prices & contact the airline yourself.

Autopilot: Set It and Forget It

Autopilot offers a product called Lowest Fare Guarantee. Forward your flight confirmations, and they track prices automatically. If fares drop, they handle the repricing on your behalf.

The model is simple. Autopilot tracks your flights free of charge. They only charge a commission when they actually save you money — typically 25% of what they save.

For example, if they save you $100, you'd pay $25. If they don't save you anything, you pay nothing. You know you got the best deal on the plane without doing any work.

This works for tickets issued by major U.S. carriers on Main Cabin (non-Basic) fares and above. Basic Economy and OTA bookings can be imported, but won't be tracked for savings.

Monitor Yourself: The DIY Approach

If you want to track prices yourself, you need a reliable way to monitor fares daily.

The most accurate method is checking the airline's website directly. Depending on how many flights you're tracking, this can take up to 30 minutes per day. Since airlines often change the price intra-day, for best result, you're going to want to check multiple times daily.

Another option is to set Google Flight alerts. Google Flights price alerts seem convenient, but they have limitations. They only alert for the primary cabin (Main Cabin, not Economy Plus), so the data isn't entirely accurate. If the price selling through an OTA is lower, the alert fires even though the airline can't match third-party pricing.

Once you identify a lower fare, call the airline and ask the representative to process a price adjustment. Depending on call volume, you might wait on hold. I've spent 2-hours on the phone before, only to be told that the lower fare I saw was taken by another passenger.

Alternatively, you could change your flight online to a different itinerary, then back to your original reservation. Most airlines don't allow direct online repricing, so this workaround forces the system to recalculate.

But be careful. When you switch inventory around, you might increase the price of your original flight. Better to reprice by calling.

How the Call Works

When you call, be specific. Say: "I'd like to reprice my reservation to the same flights at today's lower published fare."

That exact language helps. It signals you understand the process and aren't asking for a favor.

Have your confirmation code ready. The agent will look up your booking, check current pricing, and reissue your ticket if a lower fare exists.

For refundable fares like Main Plus or Main Select, explicitly tell the agent you want to keep that specific upgraded fare. They'll often inadvertently downgrade you to regular Main Cabin if you don't mention it.

After repricing, verify your seat assignments. Some airline systems automatically remove seat assignments when processing lower fares. You'll need to manually reassign them in the app.

Airline-by-Airline Rules

Every carrier handles repricing differently. Here's what you need to know for each major U.S. airline.

American Airlines

American offers lower-fare price matching on all fares booked directly via AA.com or the AA mobile app, so long as it's marketed as Main Cabin or above. Your ticket number must begin with "001" to qualify.

American calls this a "rollover/reprice", and you can find their official policy on their website. They're fine with you repricing to lower fares.

Call American and ask the agent to "reprice" your reservation because you see the price went down. If there's a lower fare available, they'll process it and issue the difference.

The difference comes back as a Trip Credit. Trip Credits can be used by anyone. They last 12 months for AAdvantage members or six months for non-members.

Having an AAdvantage account is free and extends expiration by six months, so sign up if you haven't already. The 12-month expiration applies to all AAdvantage members, not just those with elite status.

If the repriced fare changes your fare letter code (the letter associated with your reservation, like Y or B for economy), American's system automatically removes seat assignments. You'll need to manually reassign seats in the AA app.

Basic Economy on American can't be changed after 24 hours. Some routes and AAdvantage members may be able to cancel Basic fares for a Trip Credit with a fee, but rules vary.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska offers a price guarantee. If the fare drops after you book, they'll refund the difference. You have to request it, but they've codified this policy.

Alaska's change process works similarly to other majors. Non-Basic fares can be changed online, and you'll get the difference back as a credit.

Alaska tickets start with 027.

Delta Air Lines

Delta offers lower-fare price matching on all fares booked directly on Delta.com or the Fly Delta mobile app, so long as it's marketed as Main Classic and above. Main Basic fares are not eligible.

Your ticket number must begin with "006" to qualify. This means Delta issued the ticket, even if you're flying on a partner airline like Virgin Atlantic or Air France.

Call Delta and ask them to reprice your reservation because you see a lower fare. If a lower fare is available, they'll process it.

Delta's Contract of Carriage states: "For nonrefundable fares: If the value of the new ticket is lower than the ticket being reissued, the difference in ticket price will be provided to the passenger in the form of a non-refundable Delta travel voucher at the time of reissue. For refundable fares: any difference in fare will be refunded to the original form of payment."

Delta issues eCredits for nonrefundable fares. These credits are tied to the traveler they were issued to and are valid for bookings made one year from the original ticketing date (the day you purchased the original flight).

If you have a SkyMiles account, eCredits should show up automatically. Delta also issues five-year credits when they owe refunds for significant disruptions, but standard voluntary repricing uses one-year credits.

Delta's Global Ticketing Support will allow you to reprice a reservation while keeping an elite upgrade, which is unique among major carriers. Frontline agents, and even supervisors don't have this ability, so you'll need to make sure you ask to speak to Global Ticketing Support.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue offers lower-fare price matching on all fares booked directly on JetBlue.com or the JetBlue mobile app, so long as it's marketed as a Blue fare and above. Blue Basic fares are not eligible.

Your ticket number must begin with "279" to qualify.

JetBlue won't let you call support to reprice like other airlines. If you reach out to JetBlue support, they'll tell you to cancel for a TravelBank Credit and rebook.

But there's a better way. Go to "change" your flight online and select your current flight. If a lower fare is available, you'll see an option to keep the current flight for a refund of the difference.

JetBlue issues nonrefundable fare credits as TravelBank credit. These can be used by any passenger and are valid for reservations booked within 12 months from the date of issuance. You just need to book by the expiration; you don't need to fly by then.

Blue Basic can't be changed. If you need to cancel a Blue Basic fare, expect a $100 fee for domestic flights or $200 for transatlantic. The remaining value becomes a credit.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest offers lower-fare price matching on all fares booked directly on Southwest.com or the Southwest mobile app, so long as it's marketed as Wanna Get Away Plus and above. Basic doesn't qualify.

Your ticket number must begin with "526" to qualify. Southwest doesn't use standard airline ticket formats, but this prefix identifies their tickets.

Southwest still lets you self-service reprice. Open your trip and select "Change," then choose the same flight. If the fare is lower, the system automatically calculates the difference.

Wanna Get Away fares return the difference as a Transferable Flight Credit that anyone can use. Anytime and Business Select fares get refunds back to your original payment method.

Southwest launched Basic fares in 2025. These cannot be changed unless you first upgrade the fare type.

You can also call Southwest or message support representatives to reprice your reservation if you prefer not to do it yourself.

United Airlines

United offers lower-fare price matching on all fares booked directly on United.com or the United mobile app, so long as it's marketed as United Economy and above. Basic Economy fares are excluded.

Your ticket number must begin with "016" to qualify.

Call United or message support representatives online to do a "Lower Fare Check." If there's a lower fare available, they'll quickly reissue the ticket and issue a United Future Flight Credit.

From United's Flexible Reservations policy: "If your new flight costs less, you will receive a travel credit for the fare difference."

Future Flight Credits must be used by the traveler they're issued to. They're valid for one year from the date of issuance. This is a "Travel By" date, meaning the first segment of your trip must begin on or before this date.

Basic Economy on United can't be changed, period. You get the 24-hour window, then you're committed.

Tips to Maximize Your Refund

The 24-Hour Guarantee

The Department of Transportation requires airlines to offer either a 24-hour hold or a 24-hour refund for tickets booked at least seven days before departure.

Most U.S. carriers chose the refund option. This creates an immediate repricing opportunity.

If you book a flight and the price drops within 24 hours, book the new lower fare first. Then immediately cancel your old reservation.

Booking first locks in the new rate before you change your travel plans. But don't forget to cancel immediately. Airlines often automatically cancel duplicate bookings, but you usually have a few minutes to cancel the old one before that engine kicks in.

You'll get a full refund to your original form of payment within 5-10 business days.

Some airlines, like United, will offer a refund to the original form of payment (even for a non-refundable booking) if you reprice an existing reservation within 24 hours of ticketing. However, the official DOT policy only requires airlines to offer this for cancelled reservations, not necessarily changes like repricing.

Best practice within 24 hours: rebook and cancel the old reservation.

This works regardless of fare type. Even non-refundable tickets get full refunds during the 24-hour window.

Repricing Basic Economy

Repricing Basic Economy is tricky. Officially, most airlines don't allow it.

If the price drops on your Basic Economy ticket, you'll likely need to pay a change fee to reprice it. Since all Basic Economy tickets are non-refundable, you'll get savings as a travel credit.

The math gets complicated. If the price drops $100 and you need to pay a $150 change fee, you'll get $100 in future flight credits but pay $150 in cash. That's a net "loss" of $50.

Even if the price drops $200 and you pay the $150 change fee, you'd technically be net positive with a $200 future flight credit. But that required $150 out of pocket, which isn't always worth it.

Some airlines don't allow changes to Basic Economy at all. In those cases, you'd need to cancel and rebook. Some carriers force you to forfeit the entire ticket value when you cancel Basic Economy.

The best move for Basic Economy: use the 24-hour window aggressively. Check prices multiple times during those first 24 hours and rebook if you find anything lower.

After that, you're generally locked in.

What Most Guides Don't Tell You

Will I keep my elite upgrades? What about seats?

Repricing sometimes resets upgrade priority or drops seat assignments entirely. This happens because the new ticket goes through the inventory system as a fresh reissue.

Before ending the call or closing the chat, verify your seat assignments are still there. If you had an upgrade request pending, make sure it's reattached to the new ticket.

Most airlines require you to remove confirmed elite upgrades before repricing. If you have a confirmed upgrade, you'll need to remove it to process the repricing transaction. Getting it back afterward is space-available and not guaranteed.

Waitlisted elite upgrades face the same issue. Most airlines make you remove the upgrade instrument before repricing. You can add it back later, but your priority might change.

Delta's Global Ticketing Support is the exception. They'll let you reprice while keeping an elite upgrade.

Splitting the Reservation

When traveling with others, you don't have to reprice everyone if only one person's fare dropped.

For example, if there's only one seat at the lower price, you can get one person at the lower price, and keep the other passenger at the originally booked fare.

Ask the airline to split the reservation. Then reprice the traveler whose fare decreased.

This is common when booking multiple tickets that were priced independently but placed in the same reservation.

Note, that if you're anticipating companion elite benefits, being on different reservations won't necissarily give the other passengers the ability to share in the elite perks.

Award Tickets

Most award ticket bookings using points from U.S. airlines are fully flexible. You can reprice them too.

Delta, United, and American all let you reissue award tickets when the mileage price drops. You'll get the mile difference back, though you may pay a redeposit fee depending on your elite status and fare type.

Southwest Rapid Rewards works differently. Since Southwest's points act like cash, repricing a Wanna Get Away Plus or higher fare returns the difference as points automatically. Wanna Get Away (the lowest tier) returns points as a credit.

Some restrictions apply to Basic Economy awards that some airlines sell. Those revert to the Basic Economy rules above.

When you find a lower award price, you can usually cancel and rebook. Direct repricing typically isn't possible with major U.S. carriers for award tickets, but the cancel-and-rebook process is straightforward and penalty-free for most award types.

FAQs

What happens if I book through a third party?

When booking through a third party, you'll usually need to contact them to reprice existing reservations.

Various OTAs like Capital One Travel and American Express Travel have lower fare repricing policies. However, they often issue credits that can only be used within their travel portal. A "Capital One Delta Travel Credit" is credit for Delta that works only in the Capital One Travel portal, making it more restrictive than Delta-issued eCredits.

American Airlines may charge a $50 external reservation handling fee to take over an OTA-issued ticket. Other airlines often redirect you back to the booking agency.

If you plan to monitor and reprice, book directly with the airline.

Am I still eligible to earn elite status and points?

Yes. Repricing a ticket doesn't make you ineligible to earn redeemable airline miles or loyalty points.

However, programs that earn points based on amount spent will credit you based on the lower fare that's on the repriced ticket.

For example, if your flight was originally $500 and the price drops $100, you reprice and end up with a $100 travel credit and a $400 ticket. You'll earn elite status points on the $400 fare, not the $500 original price.

When you use that $100 credit on a future flight, you'll earn elite status qualifying points on that booking too.

Will I lose any elite upgrades?

Likely not, but it's complicated.

Most airlines will not let you reprice a reservation with a confirmed elite upgrade. If you have a confirmed upgrade, you'll need to remove it to process the repricing transaction. Getting it back is fully space-available and not guaranteed.

Waitlisted elite upgrades face the same issue. Most airlines make you remove the upgrade instrument before repricing. You can add it back later.

Delta is the exception. If you reach out to their Global Ticketing Support, they'll allow you to reprice while keeping an elite upgrade.

What about refundable vs. non-refundable tickets?

Refundable fares get refunds back to your original payment method. This includes changes where the new flights cost less. The airline processes the refund like any other — expect 7-14 days for it to appear. Repricing a refundable ticket, inherently will keep your new ticket refundable -- however if you're repricing yourself, you probably want to confirm with the agent who's processing your request.

Non-refundable fares return the difference as an airline credit with an expiration date. This credit lives in your airline account or gets issued with a specific reference number.

How do I track when my credits expire?

Each airline calls credits something different. American has Trip Credits and Flight Credits. Delta has eCredits. United issues Future Flight Credits. JetBlue calls it Travel Bank.

Check your airline account dashboard. Most carriers now display credits with clear expiration dates.

For American Trip Credits: 12 months for AAdvantage members, six months for non-members. For American Flight Credits: travel must begin within one year of the original ticket date.

For Delta eCredits: typically one year from original ticket date (five years for disruption-related refunds).

For United Future Flight Credits: travel must begin by the expiration date (one year from issuance).

For JetBlue TravelBank: book within 12 months of issuance.

Can I combine credits from multiple repricing events?

It depends on the airline and credit type.

Southwest Transferable Flight Credits can be combined and used by anyone. Delta eCredits tied to the same traveler can often be combined on a single booking (maximum of 5 eCredits can be used for a given reservation). United Future Flight Credits must be used separately unless they're from the same original ticket.

Check each airline's specific policies. Some let you stack credits; others require separate bookings.

What if prices go up after I book?

You're locked in at your original price, assuming you're not changing flights. Repricing only works in your favor when fares drop.

If you want to change to different flights and prices have increased, you'll pay the difference. But if you're keeping the same flights, your original price stands regardless of how high current fares climb.

Does this work for international flights?

It depends on where your ticket originates.

U.S.-origin tickets to international destinations typically follow U.S. repricing rules. A New York to London ticket purchased in the U.S. usually qualifies for no-change-fee repricing.

International-origin tickets face different rules. A London to New York ticket purchased in London might still carry change fees, even on U.S. carriers.

The Bottom Line

Stop trying to time the perfect booking window. Book when you find flights that work for your schedule, then reprice if fares drop.

The major U.S. carriers all support this, either through self-service tools or by calling. The difference comes back as a credit or refund depending on your ticket type.

Basic Economy blocks most repricing opportunities. Third-party bookings add friction. International origins complicate rules. But for standard Main Cabin and above bookings purchased directly from U.S. carriers, repricing works smoothly.

Whether you track prices yourself or use a service like Autopilot, the core principle remains: book when the flights work for you, not when some algorithm says prices are lowest. Lock in your seats and schedule. Then let repricing handle the rest.

The real win isn't saving $50 here and there. It's the freedom to book early, secure the flights and seats you actually want, and know you won't overpay if prices drop. That peace of mind beats watching fare calendars any day.