PRACTICAL TRAVELER; When 'Nonrefundable' Air Tickets Are Refundable (Published 1990) (2024)

On the face of it, the phrase appears to be self-explanatory and irrevocable: nonrefundable tickets are tickets for which the purchaser cannot obtain a refund.

But the major airlines do give refunds, even on tickets sold as completely nonrefundable, provided you have a reason they find acceptable and the documentation to back it up.

That's not to say the airlines intend to give your money back because you've decided to go sunning in Hawaii instead of skiing in Utah. Neither will many of them return your money because Aunt Millie broke her leg and you've decided to stay home with her. But all the major carriers are willing to refund money in case of illness or death in the immediate family - generally defined as parents, spouses, siblings and children - although in some cases, the family member must be hospitalized.

And many airlines will make some accommodation - frequently a travel credit - when the circ*mstances, like weather, mechanical problems or heavy air traffic, are beyond the control of a passenger.

Where it gets stickier is with the unpredictable events that attend our personal and professional lives, like a job transfer announced after you buy your ticket. Whether you get your money back depends largely on the policies of the airline and the compassion of the official you approach for a refund. When in doubt, it is worth your time to ask.

The discounted fares on nonrefundable tickets represent significant savings. For example, using figures provided in late July by American Airlines, a nonrefundable off-peak round-trip ticket between New York and Dallas bought 14 days in advance costs $343. A ticket bought seven days in advance, which carries a 50 percent penalty for changes, costs $426. The full coach fare is $986. In return for those savings, however, the airlines expect you to fly when you say you will.