How to Cancel Points and Miles Flights: Airline Cancellation Policy Guide

Book A Points And Miles Flight Without Cancellation Policy Fears!

Most airline loyalty programs allow you to cancel points/miles bookings until just before departure, for generally a modest fee of points, miles or cash. This ability to cancel at virtually any time for a little fee makes booking award/reward seats with points and miles even more appealing and provides the flexibility needed when trying to find and book suitable award/reward seats.

With most airline loyalty programs you can easily and cheaply cancel a flight booking if a better flight becomes available or if you need to cancel for other reasons. Better to book a flight you're undecided on that can be easily and cheaply cancelled if you decide not to take that flight, rather than have no flight at all. Similarly, it is better to book a flight that is imperfect that can be easily and cheaply cancelled if a better flight becomes available, rather than have no flight at all. The moral of the story is: book flights when you see them and cancel later if need be.

So don’t let cancellation policy fears hold you back from making that exciting award/reward flight booking! Book now!

Here are the cancellation policies of 19 leading airline loyalty programs. Just 2 come with a word of caution, as you will see.

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles), except any call centre booking fees or partner award booking fees, for no fee; otherwise, no refund.

Check out Pointr #9174 for our detailed guide on Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

American Airlines Aadvantage

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for no fee; otherwise, no refund.

Check out Pointr #9175 for our detailed guide on American Airlines advantage cancellation policies. It's essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

British Airways Executive Club

You can cancel anytime at least 24hrs before scheduled departure for a full refund (excluding expired Avios) for a fee of GBP 35 or USD 55 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9176 for our detailed guide on British Airways Executive Club cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Cathay Pacific Cathay

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired Asia Miles) for a fee of USD 120 or 17,000 miles per person, per booking. You can cancel within 24hrs of making a booking online with Cathay Pacific for no fee. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9177 for our detailed guide on Cathay Pacific Cathay cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Malaysia Airlines Enrich

You can cancel anytime for no refund.

Check out Pointr #9178 for our detailed guide on Malaysia Airlines Enrich cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired Qantas Points) for a fee of 6,000 points per person, per booking. You can cancel anytime within 24hrs of making an eligible flight booking for no fee. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9179 for our detailed guide on Qantas Frequent Flyer cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

You can cancel anytime at least more than 24hrs before scheduled departure for a full refund (excluding expired Avios) for a fee of USD 25 per person, per booking (free for Gold and Platinum members). You can cancel anytime at least more than 3hrs before scheduled departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of USD 100 per person, per booking (free for Gold and Platinum members); otherwise, no refund except for eligible taxes, fees  and surcharges. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9180 for our detailed guide on Qatar Airways Privilege Club cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Air Canada Aeroplan

You can cancel anytime at least 2hrs before scheduled departure for a full refund (excluding expired points) for a fee of CAD 150 (online) or CAD 175 (call centre) per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9181 for our detailed guide on Air Canada Aeroplan cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

ANA Mileage Club

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of 3,000 miles per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9182 for our detailed guide on ANA Mileage Club cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Avianca Airlines LifeMiles

You can cancel anytime at least 24hrs before scheduled departure or at least 24hrs after scheduled departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of up to USD 200 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9183 for our detailed guide on Avianca Airlines LifeMiles cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of USD 70 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9184 for our detailed guide on Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of USD 50 or USD 75 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9185 for our detailed guide on Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

United Airlines MileagePlus

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for no fee; otherwise, no refund.

Check out Pointr #9186 for our detailed guide on United Airlines MileagePlus cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

You can cancel anytime before check-in deadline for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of EUR 70 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9187 for our detailed guide on Air France-KLM Flying Blue cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Delta SkyMiles

For bookings for travel wholly within the US and for international travel originating in the US and Canada, that are not a basic economy award fare, you can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for no fee; otherwise, no refund.

For bookings for travel wholly within the US that are a basic economy award fare, you can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of 9,900 miles per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. For bookings for international travel originating in the US and Canada that are a basic economy award fare, you can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of 19,900 miles per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund.

For all other bookings you can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of up to USD 250, GBP 250 or EUR 250 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9188 for our detailed guide on Delta SkyMiles cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

You can cancel anytime at least 24hrs before scheduled departure for a full refund (excluding expired Virgin Points) for a fee of GBP 30 or USD 50 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9189 for our detailed guide on Virgin Atlantic Flying Club cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Emirates Skywards

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired miles) for a fee of USD 75 per person, per booking; otherwise, no refund. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9190 for our detailed guide on Emirates Skywards cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Etihad Airways Etihad Guest

You can cancel more than 21 days before scheduled departure and you will be charged 25% of the miles fare (plus any expired miles). You can cancel 8-21 days before scheduled departure and you will be charged 50% of the miles fare (plus any expired miles). You can cancel 2-7 days before scheduled departure and you will be charged 75% of the miles fare (plus any expired miles).

You can cancel 1 day or less before scheduled departure and you will be charged 100% of the miles fare. If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9191 for our detailed guide on Etihad Airways Etihad Guest cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer

You can cancel anytime before actual departure for a full refund (excluding expired Velocity Points) for a fee of AUD 35 or 4,500 points (Virgin Australia domestic bookings) or AUD 60 or 7,500 points (all other bookings). If you cancel within 24hrs of making a booking to, from or via the United States, that is made at least 7 days prior to scheduled departure there is no cancellation fee.

Check out Pointr #9192 for our detailed guide on Virgin Australia Velocity Frequent Flyer cancellation policies. It’s essential to read both before you book and if you need to cancel your flight.

Refer to each Pointr for regularly updated and current cancellation policies, which do change over time.