Getting a Refund When Airline Tickets Fall

As droves of holiday shoppers head to stores for refunds, many fliers are unaware they can get one when their non-refundable airline ticket drops in price.

Many fliers are unaware they can get one when their non-refundable airline ticket drops in price. Most airlines provide a refund if it is requested before a flier's scheduled flight.

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Most airlines provide a refund if it is requested before a flier's scheduled flight. Depending on an airline's policy, the request can be made on the phone or at the carrier's website.

Only Southwest Airlines luvallows fliers to rebook their flight at a lower fare and refunds the difference on a credit card.

Most other airlines make up the difference with a voucher for a future flight. A change fee — ranging from $75 to $150 for a domestic flight — may apply.

Southwest's refund policy is the most consumer friendly, a USA TODAY survey of airline policies shows. Besides giving fliers money back, the airline has no change fee.

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United, ualJetBlue jbluand Alaska alkalso do not charge a change fee but reimburse with a voucher that can be used up to one year from the issue date. Continental, cal Delta, dalUS Airways lccand Northwest issue vouchers but charge a change fee.

Frequent flier Rich Szulewski, of Memphis, says the refund policy benefited him and his family last year, when, "on a whim," he checked the price of a Memphis-Orlando ticket on Northwest a week before departure. The price had dropped $175 below what he had paid for each of three non-refundable tickets.

Szulewski exchanged the tickets, minus a $50 change fee for each, on the reservations page of Northwest's website. He received three $125 vouchers, which he used for a later trip.

Southwest passengers can receive a refund at the airline's website or by calling the airline. The refund is processed immediately but can take up to two weeks to appear in a flier's credit card account, says Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz.

United, JetBlue and Alaska passengers must call the airline for a refund.

American Airlines amr passengers booked on domestic flights can get a travel voucher for the fare difference, minus a $150 change fee, on the airline's website.