How Do Flight Cancellations And Refunds Work?
By Axel Editorial Team · Updated
Flights booked with Axel can be cancelled free within 24 hours of booking when your first departure is at least 7 days away. When both conditions are met, Axel refunds you instantly and handles the airline cancellation.
The Two Conditions For An Instant Refund
- You cancel within 24 hours of booking.
- Your first departure is at least 7 days away when you book.
Both conditions come from the US Department of Transportation's 24-hour reservation rule, which requires free cancellation within 24 hours only for bookings made at least 7 days before departure.
What If My Departure Is Less Than 7 Days Away?
You can still cancel from your bookings page. Instead of an instant refund, the Axel team reviews your fare with the airline. Whether a refund is possible depends on the airline and your fare class — some fares are refundable, some qualify for an airline credit, and some are non-refundable. Refunds are not guaranteed, and you'll hear back by email, typically within 24-48 hours.
What If I Cancel More Than 24 Hours After Booking?
The free-cancellation window has passed. You can still cancel, and you can ask Axel to review whether your fare qualifies for a refund or an airline credit.
How To Cancel
Go to helloaxel.com/bookings, open the trip, and choose Cancel this booking. The cancellation sheet shows your refund eligibility before you confirm. The full policy also lives in the Axel Help Center at help.helloaxel.com.
Do all Axel flights have free 24-hour cancellation?
Only when departure is at least 7 days away at booking. Closer departures can still be cancelled, but refunds depend on the airline and fare and are reviewed manually.
Is my refund guaranteed if my flight leaves within 7 days?
No. Axel requests a review with the airline, and the outcome depends on your fare rules. You'll receive the result by email, typically within 24-48 hours.
How fast is the instant refund?
Axel issues the refund to your original payment method right away; your bank may take a few business days to post it.