Delta Air Lines change and cancellation policy (2026)

Policy checked against Delta Air Lines's own pages on November 1, 2026 by the Fos Travel Deals travel desk. Sources are listed at the end.

We are not Delta Air Lines. Fos Travel Deals is an independent travel agency. We can change only tickets we issued; for a ticket you bought from Delta or another website, use Delta's My Trips or contact the seller. We can book you a new flight.

Main, Comfort and First vs Delta Basic

Delta sells each cabin as a Basic, Classic or Extra experience, and the experience decides your flexibility. Classic and Extra tickets in Delta Main and above have no change fee on travel within the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and on trips that originate in the U.S. or Canada to anywhere in the world.

Delta Basic is the exception. Basic and Classic tickets are both non-refundable, but Basic does not get the fee waiver: a change means the fare difference plus the change fee for your route, and a cancellation fee is taken out of the ticket value before the rest becomes an eCredit. Outside the U.S. and Canada, Delta lists change fees from $0 to $500 depending on where the trip starts and the fare.

How to change a Delta flight

Find your trip in My Trips on delta.com or the Fly Delta app, select the flight, choose Change or Add Flights, pick the new flights and pay any difference. A Reservation Specialist can help if the online flow won't work for your itinerary.

Change or cancel before departure. Delta is explicit that a ticket not changed or cancelled before the flight leaves has no remaining value. Your experience level (Basic, Classic or Extra) carries over to the new ticket, and travel on a reissued domestic ticket must be completed within one year of the original purchase.

Same-Day Confirmed and Same-Day Standby

Within 24 hours of your original departure you can move to an earlier flight on the same calendar day. Same-Day Confirmed gives you a guaranteed seat if your original fare class (in Main) or cabin (in Comfort and premium cabins) is available. It costs $75 for general SkyMiles members, Silver Medallions and non-members, and is free for Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallions and for Extra and refundable tickets.

Same-Day Standby is free and is offered only when a confirmed change isn't available; your original seat stays confirmed until you clear. Both options are limited to Delta and Delta Connection flights in the U.S. (Same-Day Confirmed also covers Canada), keep the same origin and destination, and exclude Delta Basic. Paid seats and Medallion upgrades don't move to the new flight.

Cancelling within 24 hours

Delta's Customer Service Plan includes Risk-Free Cancellation: you can cancel a reservation without penalty for 24 hours after you make it. If you are on the fence about a Basic fare, that 24-hour window is the one time it is fully flexible.

eCredits and refunds

Cancel a non-refundable ticket in My Trips under Need to Cancel? and the value comes back as an eCredit, minus any cancellation fee. Delta says the eCredit expires one year from the purchase date unless your ticket terms say otherwise.

Refunds to your card are for Extra and refundable tickets, and for trips Delta cancels or changes significantly: departure or arrival moved by 3 hours or more on a domestic trip, or 6 hours or more internationally. Delta first tries to rebook you. If you can't be rebooked and you take no action within 24 hours, Delta refunds the original form of payment automatically.

Your refund rights if Delta cancels or changes your flight

Whatever the airline's own policy says, U.S. Department of Transportation rules give you a refund, not just a credit, when the airline cancels your flight or makes a significant change and you choose not to travel. A significant change includes departing 3 or more hours earlier or arriving 3 or more hours later on a domestic trip (6 hours internationally), a different origin or destination airport, more connections, or a downgrade to a lower class.

If you bought directly from the airline, the refund is automatic once you decline the rebooking or credit: within 7 business days for card purchases and 20 business days for cash.

The DOT 24-hour rule applies to tickets bought at least seven days before departure: the airline must either let you cancel for a full refund within 24 hours or let you hold the fare for 24 hours without paying.

Bought your ticket from a travel agency or website?

For tickets Delta didn't issue, such as those from an online travel agency, a traditional agency or another airline, Delta notes additional handling charges may apply. Its $50 external ticket handling charge is waived when the change is made in My Trips on delta.com.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Delta: Change your flight
• Delta: Cancellations and refunds
• Delta: Same-day flight changes
• U.S. DOT: Refunds

Other airline policy guides

Last checked November 1, 2026. Airlines change these rules without notice; Delta's own website is the final word for a ticket it issued.