Ever buy an airline ticket and the price later fell? Get a refund

ByABC News
December 26, 2008, 3:49 PM

— -- 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.

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.

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.

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.