How to Get a Price Drop Refund on Thanksgiving Flights

If your Thanksgiving fare drops, cancel within 24 hours of booking and rebook the same flight at the lower price for cash back. That fast cash option applies only to tickets bought at least seven days before departure. A price-drop refund means you pay the new lower fare and keep the difference.

Within one day you can cancel for a full penalty-free refund. After that day your options depend on your fare type.

Verification note: Program terms and availability can change. This page was checked against linked sources on November 05, 2026.

Use the 24-hour window

The U.S. Department of Transportation sets the early rule. For tickets bought at least seven days before departure, airlines must offer a penalty-free 24-hour choice, described in the DOT ticket buying guidance.

You can cancel for a full refund or hold the fare without payment. If you see a lower price during that day, move fast. Check the time stamp on your confirmation.

The window runs from booking, not from departure.

• Cancel the original ticket inside the 24-hour window.
• Ask for a full refund.
• Rebook the same Thanksgiving flight at the new lower fare.

How do Delta and Southwest handle a lower fare?

Delta turns a cheaper new flight into credit. The rule applies when the new flight costs less than the original minus fees. Delta says the leftover value becomes an eCredit for future travel, as detailed in Delta's change and cancel guide.

An eCredit is a dollar value for future flights, not cash. Southwest also avoids change fees and returns savings as reusable value. A lower rebooked fare returns as a refund to the original payment or Transferable Flight Credit on refundable fares and as flight credit on nonrefundable fares, with Basic fares requiring cancel-and-rebook, as explained in Southwest's lower-fare help page.

Keep the confirmation so you can apply that credit to another trip.

Why does Basic Economy block most refunds?

American Airlines draws a hard line on Basic Economy. Basic Economy tickets can be changed or canceled for a refund only within 24 hours, as stated in American's Basic Economy details. That option requires booking at least seven days before departure.

After that, American allows no changes or refunds to original payment. For Thanksgiving, check the fare label before you hope for savings. If your confirmation says Basic Economy, expect no second chance after day one.

What should you check before you rebook?

Pull up your confirmation before you change anything. Note your fare type, fees, and credit deadline. Use this quick check: Save screenshots of the old and new prices and the credit email.

Check your confirmation for Basic Economy before you count on a second chance at a lower fare.

• Start where you booked the ticket.
• Note whether your fare is Basic Economy.
• Compare the new fare plus any fees to your original price.