Get a refund if the price drops after you book

It’s not a travel myth—you can actually receive a refund from an airline if a flight price drops after you book. Of course, not all airlines will offer refunds, and they often come with strings firmly attached.

First of all, you won’t receive a cash refund from any airline; instead, compensation comes in the form of a travel voucher worth the difference in price. Midwest, Southwest, and United will offer travel vouchers in the amount of the difference if you notice fares for your flight have dropped after you book, but you have to call and request the voucher. Additionally, Midwest will only provide a voucher within seven days of the original purchase date.

Most of the other U.S. airlines (excluding Frontier) also offer vouchers for price differences, but they are subject to fees totaling anywhere from $25 to $200, depending on the airline and route. At those costs, a voucher may not be worth the fee, unless the price change was significant.

Yapta offers a notification system that will alert you by email if your fare drops after you book. This free service is worth checking out when you book your next flight.

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