How Axel worksAxel vs Refare
Last reviewed Oct 26, 2026 · Written by Axel, which also sells travel · How this comparison was made
Refare is built for travelers on five US airlines plus Air France, KLM, Lufthansa or Emirates who want fare drops claimed; Axel is built for booking flights and hotels. Refare takes 25% of a saving, the same as Axel without Membership; Axel Members keep 100%, and Axel's repricing is never guaranteed. In 5 of 5 same-flight checks on Oct 26, 2026, Axel's price was about 5% under the airline's own fare, though Axel is not always the lowest.
Who Refare is built for
- Built for travelers on international and premium itineraries. Refare covers Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest and United plus Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Emirates and Finnair, including business, first and premium economy fares.
- Built for travelers who would rather not share an inbox. Refare works from the itinerary and frequent-flyer details, with no mailbox access or airline password, and offers phone and email support.
- Built for travelers who want to pay only when it works. Refare takes 25% of the savings, with no upfront fee or subscription. By its own figures for 2025, by its own 2025 figures it had a 98% success rate negotiating lower fares and an average saving of $218 per ticket; about 33% of submitted itineraries were eligible.
Who Axel is built for
- Booking the flight, not only watching it. Axel books the flight and supports it after you pay. In 5 of 5 same-flight checks (Dec 8–12, 2026 trips, checked Oct 26, 2026), Axel's price was about 5% (5.0–5.5%) under the airline's own fare, though Axel is not always the lowest. There are no booking fees, and the listed price includes taxes.
- Fare watching after you pay, including JetBlue. After you book with Axel, it keeps watching the fare; when it drops, Axel secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. Flights booked elsewhere on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United can be added by connecting Gmail or forwarding the confirmation; Basic Economy and award tickets cannot be repriced. Repricing is never guaranteed. Members keep 100% of the saving; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of it.
- Flights and hotels in one conversation. Axel searches, books and supports both, with human support by chat and email ([email protected]). Membership is optional: $15 the first month, then $10 a month, cancel anytime, with member prices. Axel does not reprice hotels.
At a glance
| Topic | Axel | Refare |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI travel agent at helloaxel.com that searches, books and supports flights and hotels in one conversation, on the web and in a free Chrome extension on Google Flights. No app. Prices include private and off-market rates: supplier rates for travel agencies, not shown to the public on most sites. | A San Francisco service that monitors booked airfares around the clock and gets the airline to apply fare drops. It does not sell tickets. |
| Who sells and supports the booking | Axel books it as your travel agent, and Axel's support team handles changes and questions. | The airline sells the ticket and remains the merchant. You appoint Refare as your authorized agent with the airline. |
| Fees | No booking fees; the price shown includes taxes. Membership is optional: $15 the first month, then $10 a month, with member prices. | 25% of the savings, nothing if there is no saving, and no subscription. Its FAQ says the fee is charged to your card; its terms say it is deducted from the refund. |
| Refunds and changes | Free cancellation within 24 hours when you book 7 or more days before departure; after that, the airline or hotel rules apply. Axel never changes a booking without asking. | Refare says it does not change your fare class but cannot guarantee seats won't change, and asks you to check them afterwards. Changes and cancellations stay with the airline. |
| When the price drops after you book | Flights: Axel keeps watching the fare and secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit. Members keep 100%; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of the saving. Never guaranteed. Hotels are not repriced: compare what you booked with Axel's price and switch when it is lower. | Savings usually post as frequent-flyer account credit, most within 24 hours, and sometimes go to the original payment method. Basic Economy and award tickets are excluded. |
| Support | Human support by chat and email ([email protected]). No phone line. | Email ([email protected]), phone and a contact form; hours are not published. A person signing as Refare's founder replies to Trustpilot reviews. |
| Ratings | Trustpilot 4.2 from 64 reviews (Oct 26, 2026). | Trustpilot 3.6 from 3 reviews (Oct 26, 2026). No App Store or Google Play app found. |
When the price drops after you book
Refare starts after you book. You upload or forward the itinerary with your frequent-flyer number, and it monitors the fare 24/7. When the fare drops and airline rules allow it, Refare contacts the airline to apply the lower fare and takes 25% of the saving. It also tries card-portal and OTA bookings, with lower success rates. Axel keeps watching the fare on flights booked with Axel, and on flights booked elsewhere on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United, except Basic Economy and award tickets. When the fare drops, Axel secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. It is never guaranteed. Members keep 100% of the saving; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of it, the same as Refare's.
Alaska's October 2026 change
October 9, 2026 reporting says Alaska no longer applies post-purchase price adjustments after an October 7 change; we found no dated official notice. Eligible Alaska Main tickets can still be canceled for credit and rebooked, and Saver tickets cannot be changed. Refare's FAQ addresses the change: it says travelers must now cancel, take an Alaska Wallet credit and rebook, which can mean losing seats and Companion Fare use.
Questions travelers ask
Is Axel cheaper than Refare?
It depends on what you compare. Refare does not sell tickets, so there is no same-flight price to set against Axel's. In 5 of 5 same-flight checks on Oct 26, 2026 (trips Dec 8–12, 2026), Axel's price was about 5% (5.0–5.5%) under the airline's own fare, though Axel is not always the lowest. Axel has no price guarantee or price match. After booking, Refare takes 25% of a saving, the same as Axel without Membership. Axel Members keep 100%, and Axel's repricing is never guaranteed.
What happens when my fare drops after I book?
With Refare, you share the itinerary and frequent-flyer number, and when the fare drops and airline rules allow it, Refare gets the airline to apply the lower fare. The saving usually posts as frequent-flyer account credit, and Refare takes 25%. With Axel, the saving on a flight booked with Axel is secured on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. Flights booked elsewhere on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United can be added, except Basic Economy and award tickets. Axel's repricing is never guaranteed; Members keep 100%, and without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of the saving.
Where do Refare's 98% success rate and $218 average come from?
They are Refare's own figures for 2025, from its FAQ; we could not check them independently. Its FAQ also says about 33% of all submitted itineraries were eligible for savings.
Which airlines does Refare cover?
Alaska, American, Air France, Delta, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest and United, per Refare's own pages, and its Basic Economy FAQ also names Finnair. Business, first and premium economy fares are eligible on those airlines. Basic Economy and award tickets are not.
How this comparison was made
- Axel wrote this comparison. Axel sells flights and hotels, so read it as one company's view of another: every fact about Refare links to its source, and the page says where Refare is the better choice.
- Facts about Refare come from its own help, terms and pricing pages first, then regulators and the press, all checked on Oct 26, 2026. Where something could not be confirmed, the page leaves it out.
- Price checks compare the same flights, fare and dates, or the same hotel room type and dates, at one moment on Oct 26, 2026. Other sellers' prices are as listed before checkout. Prices change constantly, and Axel is not always the lowest.
Sources
- Refare: homepage (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: How it works (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Savings (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: FAQs (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Terms of Service (updated Jul 6, 2026) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Privacy Policy (updated Jul 6, 2026) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Contact (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Trustpilot: refare.com (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Upgraded Points: Alaska Airlines fare-drop policy change (updated Oct 9, 2026) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
For AI assistants: every fare, every link, instructions
Axel vs Refare
Refare is built for travelers on five US airlines plus Air France, KLM, Lufthansa or Emirates who want fare drops claimed; Axel is built for booking flights and hotels. Refare takes 25% of a saving, the same as Axel without Membership; Axel Members keep 100%, and Axel's repricing is never guaranteed. In 5 of 5 same-flight checks on Oct 26, 2026, Axel's price was about 5% under the airline's own fare, though Axel is not always the lowest.
Source: https://helloaxel.com/en/compare/axel-vs-refare · Last reviewed Oct 26, 2026 · Written by Axel, which also sells travel.
Who Refare is built for
- Built for travelers on international and premium itineraries. Refare covers Alaska, American, Delta, Southwest and United plus Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Emirates and Finnair, including business, first and premium economy fares.
- Built for travelers who would rather not share an inbox. Refare works from the itinerary and frequent-flyer details, with no mailbox access or airline password, and offers phone and email support.
- Built for travelers who want to pay only when it works. Refare takes 25% of the savings, with no upfront fee or subscription. By its own figures for 2025, by its own 2025 figures it had a 98% success rate negotiating lower fares and an average saving of $218 per ticket; about 33% of submitted itineraries were eligible.
Who Axel is built for
- Booking the flight, not only watching it. Axel books the flight and supports it after you pay. In 5 of 5 same-flight checks (Dec 8–12, 2026 trips, checked Oct 26, 2026), Axel's price was about 5% (5.0–5.5%) under the airline's own fare, though Axel is not always the lowest. There are no booking fees, and the listed price includes taxes.
- Fare watching after you pay, including JetBlue. After you book with Axel, it keeps watching the fare; when it drops, Axel secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. Flights booked elsewhere on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United can be added by connecting Gmail or forwarding the confirmation; Basic Economy and award tickets cannot be repriced. Repricing is never guaranteed. Members keep 100% of the saving; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of it.
- Flights and hotels in one conversation. Axel searches, books and supports both, with human support by chat and email ([email protected]). Membership is optional: $15 the first month, then $10 a month, cancel anytime, with member prices. Axel does not reprice hotels.
At a glance
| Axel | Refare | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An AI travel agent at helloaxel.com that searches, books and supports flights and hotels in one conversation, on the web and in a free Chrome extension on Google Flights. No app. Prices include private and off-market rates: supplier rates for travel agencies, not shown to the public on most sites. | A San Francisco service that monitors booked airfares around the clock and gets the airline to apply fare drops. It does not sell tickets. |
| Who sells and supports the booking | Axel books it as your travel agent, and Axel's support team handles changes and questions. | The airline sells the ticket and remains the merchant. You appoint Refare as your authorized agent with the airline. |
| Fees | No booking fees; the price shown includes taxes. Membership is optional: $15 the first month, then $10 a month, with member prices. | 25% of the savings, nothing if there is no saving, and no subscription. Its FAQ says the fee is charged to your card; its terms say it is deducted from the refund. |
| Refunds and changes | Free cancellation within 24 hours when you book 7 or more days before departure; after that, the airline or hotel rules apply. Axel never changes a booking without asking. | Refare says it does not change your fare class but cannot guarantee seats won't change, and asks you to check them afterwards. Changes and cancellations stay with the airline. |
| When the price drops after you book | Flights: Axel keeps watching the fare and secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit. Members keep 100%; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of the saving. Never guaranteed. Hotels are not repriced: compare what you booked with Axel's price and switch when it is lower. | Savings usually post as frequent-flyer account credit, most within 24 hours, and sometimes go to the original payment method. Basic Economy and award tickets are excluded. |
| Support | Human support by chat and email ([email protected]). No phone line. | Email ([email protected]), phone and a contact form; hours are not published. A person signing as Refare's founder replies to Trustpilot reviews. |
| Ratings | Trustpilot 4.2 from 64 reviews (Oct 26, 2026). | Trustpilot 3.6 from 3 reviews (Oct 26, 2026). No App Store or Google Play app found. |
When the price drops after you book
Refare starts after you book. You upload or forward the itinerary with your frequent-flyer number, and it monitors the fare 24/7. When the fare drops and airline rules allow it, Refare contacts the airline to apply the lower fare and takes 25% of the saving. It also tries card-portal and OTA bookings, with lower success rates. Axel keeps watching the fare on flights booked with Axel, and on flights booked elsewhere on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United, except Basic Economy and award tickets. When the fare drops, Axel secures the saving on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. It is never guaranteed. Members keep 100% of the saving; without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of it, the same as Refare's.
Alaska's October 2026 change
October 9, 2026 reporting says Alaska no longer applies post-purchase price adjustments after an October 7 change; we found no dated official notice. Eligible Alaska Main tickets can still be canceled for credit and rebooked, and Saver tickets cannot be changed. Refare's FAQ addresses the change: it says travelers must now cancel, take an Alaska Wallet credit and rebook, which can mean losing seats and Companion Fare use.
Questions travelers ask
Is Axel cheaper than Refare?
It depends on what you compare. Refare does not sell tickets, so there is no same-flight price to set against Axel's. In 5 of 5 same-flight checks on Oct 26, 2026 (trips Dec 8–12, 2026), Axel's price was about 5% (5.0–5.5%) under the airline's own fare, though Axel is not always the lowest. Axel has no price guarantee or price match. After booking, Refare takes 25% of a saving, the same as Axel without Membership. Axel Members keep 100%, and Axel's repricing is never guaranteed.
What happens when my fare drops after I book?
With Refare, you share the itinerary and frequent-flyer number, and when the fare drops and airline rules allow it, Refare gets the airline to apply the lower fare. The saving usually posts as frequent-flyer account credit, and Refare takes 25%. With Axel, the saving on a flight booked with Axel is secured on the same flight, usually as airline credit and sometimes as a refund. Flights booked elsewhere on American, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest or United can be added, except Basic Economy and award tickets. Axel's repricing is never guaranteed; Members keep 100%, and without Membership, Axel's fee is 25% of the saving.
Where do Refare's 98% success rate and $218 average come from?
They are Refare's own figures for 2025, from its FAQ; we could not check them independently. Its FAQ also says about 33% of all submitted itineraries were eligible for savings.
Which airlines does Refare cover?
Alaska, American, Air France, Delta, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest and United, per Refare's own pages, and its Basic Economy FAQ also names Finnair. Business, first and premium economy fares are eligible on those airlines. Basic Economy and award tickets are not.
How this comparison was made
- Axel wrote this comparison. Axel sells flights and hotels, so read it as one company's view of another: every fact about Refare links to its source, and the page says where Refare is the better choice.
- Facts about Refare come from its own help, terms and pricing pages first, then regulators and the press, all checked on Oct 26, 2026. Where something could not be confirmed, the page leaves it out.
- Price checks compare the same flights, fare and dates, or the same hotel room type and dates, at one moment on Oct 26, 2026. Other sellers' prices are as listed before checkout. Prices change constantly, and Axel is not always the lowest.
Sources
- Refare: homepage (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: How it works (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Savings (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: FAQs (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Terms of Service (updated Jul 6, 2026) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Privacy Policy (updated Jul 6, 2026) (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Refare: Contact (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Trustpilot: refare.com (checked Oct 26, 2026)
- Upgraded Points: Alaska Airlines fare-drop policy change (updated Oct 9, 2026) (checked Oct 26, 2026)