Airline Refund Denied: How to Respond

A denial is easier to challenge when the airline states the exact rule and facts it used.

Start here

Ask whether the decision rests on fare conditions, accepted rerouting, seller responsibility or another reason.

1. Find the ticket receipt and the seller’s name.
2. Mark the flight segments you didn’t use.
3. Save the change notice and any credit or replacement offer before responding.

What the rights mean

Getting the ticket price back is one question; a separate payment for a disruption is another. The seller, payment method, unused segments, and any alternative you accepted can change the refund route.

Your next step

Ask for an itemized decision and a case number. If the answer points you to another company, use the carrier directory to verify that path before sending sensitive details.

Official sources

• Refunds — U.S. DOT; checked 2026-10-31