How to cancel or change a Delta Air Lines flight?

Adam Rozsa

In this guide, we’ll run through how to cancel a Delta flight, or amend it if this suits your needs better. This includes whether you can get a refund, and if you’ll have to pay a cancellation fee.

We’ll even show you a handy solution for travel spending, for when you do eventually take to the skies. The Wise card can be used for spending and ATM withdrawals in 170+ countries worldwide, including in the airport. It automatically converts your money to the local currency at the mid-market exchange rate, helping your travel money go further - more on this, later.

Order a Wise card today


How to cancel a Delta flight - a step-by-step guide

The easiest way to cancel a Delta Air flight is online. Visit delta.com and make sure you have your booking confirmation number to hand. You’ll find this on the email entitled ‘Your Flight Receipt’ sent to you after booking. Then, follow these steps¹:

  1. Go to My Trips on the Delta website
  2. To locate your trip - enter your name, confirmation number, credit/debit card number, or your ticket number
  3. Click ‘Need to Cancel?’ on the Trip Details page
  4. Select ‘Start Flight Cancellation’ and follow the steps to complete the cancellation process.

Is it possible to cancel a Delta Air flight and get a refund?

Delta Air does offer refunds for cancellation, but only in particular circumstances. Whether you can get your money back can depend on when you booked and what type of ticket you have.

Cancel within the first 24 hours²

Delta has a 24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Policy in place. This gives you the right to a full refund with no fees if you cancel your flight within the first 24 hours after booking. It gives you a chance to change your mind, which is useful if your plans change suddenly, or you’ve made a mistake with your booking.

To get your refund, you’ll need to have a qualifying eTicket. This is one purchased through the Delta website, or at an official Delta ticket office or airport ticket counter.

Go through the same process as above to cancel your booking on the Delta website. You should receive a full refund automatically issued to the original payment method.

Cancel a refundable ticket²

If you bought a refundable ticket, you’ll simply need to cancel your upcoming flight at delta.com.

Then, still in the My Trips area of the website, request a refund. The payment will be issued to your original payment method. You should also be able to see the status of any refund requests here.

Cancel a non-refundable ticket²

Have a non-refundable ticket? Unfortunately, if you cancel, you won’t be able to receive a refund sent back to your original payment method.

But there is some good news. You can still redeem some of the value of your ticket, minus cancellation fees (we’ll look at these in more detail next). You’ll get an eCredit which you can put towards a future flight booking with Delta.

Does Delta charge cancellation fees?

Delta Air does charge cancellation fees for certain non-refundable tickets. These start from $99² depending on the itinerary for your booking. This will be deducted from any eCredit you receive after cancelling your flight.

However, there are some exceptions to this policy. You won’t be charged a cancellation fee if²:

  • You buy a Delta Main Cabin or above ticket for travel within the US, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands
  • You buy a Delta Main Cabin or above ticket for flights taking off from the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa or the Caribbean to anywhere in the world.

How to amend a Delta Air flight

If you don’t want to cancel your flight altogether, you can amend it instead. This can also be a good option for people with non-refundable tickets, who want to swerve the cancellation fee.

Delta no longer charges change fees for flights originating from the US, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Caribbean³. You may still have to pay the difference in price, if any.

However, you may pay fees to amend your booking if your flight originates anywhere outside these named regions. If you make changes during the 24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation Period, you’ll only have to pay any difference in price³.

Now, here’s how to make a change to your Delta flight¹:

  1. Head to My Trips on the Delta website
  2. Enter your confirmation number to locate your trip
  3. On the Trip Details page, select ‘Change or Add Flights’
  4. View and select new flight options
  5. You’ll be shown any difference in price along with applicable change fees. If the new flight costs less, you may be issued with a Delta eCredit.
  6. Pay any additional costs and confirm the change.

How to contact Delta customer services

Need help cancelling your booking or have a question about refunds? Here’s how to get in touch with Delta’s customer services team⁴:

  • Call 800-221-1212 (800-323-2323 for SkyMiles Members)
  • Send a message on the Delta website.

Get travel spending sorted with the Wise card

When the time comes for you to take your flight, make sure you take the Wise card with you in your carry-on.

This clever card automatically converts your US dollars to the local currency wherever you are. It does this at the mid-market rate, giving you the best deal. There’s only a small conversion fee to pay, or it’s free if you already have the currency in your Wise account⁵.

Key features of the Wise card include:
  • Spend in 175 countries,
  • Fee-free ATM withdrawal 2 times a month for a total of 100 USD,
  • Your USD is automatically converted using the mid-market rate to the local currency when spending
  • Only a one-time fee of $9⁵,
  • Dedicated 24/7 customer support in 14 languages.

Sign up for a Wise Account online and order your own Wise card for a one-time fee of just $9⁵. That’s travel spending sorted.

Get a Wise card


Sources used for this article:

  1. Delta - How to cancel or change your flight
  2. Delta - Cancel flight
  3. Delta - Change or cancel overview
  4. Delta - Help Center
  5. Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing: Only Pay for What You Use for the most up-to-date pricing and fee information.

Sources checked on 12-Jan-2023.


*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.

Money without borders

Find out more

Tips, news and updates for your location