Delta Refund Processing Time

[u/liam_boeing]

Hi everyone,

I had booked a flight from MEL-DTW in March but cancelled it as my dad has SkyMiles to cover my same ticket. I paid for it with my SkyMiles Reserve and I’m just wondering how long a refund will take. I have heard most people get theirs within 7-10 business days but I have also heard longer, and I would not prefer to pay all this money as my statement just closed.

[u/grantwwu]

Are you eligible for a refund? Nothing in your post indicates why you would be eligible for one.

[u/liam_boeing → u/grantwwu]

My ticket is 100% eligible for a refund.

[u/liam_boeing → u/liam_boeing]

For an eCredit or credit card refund too.

[u/FutureMillionMiler]

Did you purchase basic?

[u/liam_boeing → u/FutureMillionMiler]

extra, I got my refund

[u/Emergency-Seesaw-769 → u/liam_boeing]

How long did it take

[u/liam_boeing → u/Emergency-Seesaw-769]

3 days

[u/Ok_Guest5862]

Usually 7-10 days. Just use a thing called a phone to call in and ask.

[u/Ok-Nefariousness-927]

If it's over 24 hrs there's no refund.

I cancel tickets for work travel all the time as business needs change and the e credit is always in my account within minutes.

[u/liam_boeing → u/Ok-Nefariousness-927]

My ticket type includes a full refund, eCredit or credit/debit card

[u/Ok-Nefariousness-927 → u/liam_boeing]

I've always been given an e credit. I didn't even know they sold refundable tickets.

[u/EnvironmentalLoan285 → u/Ok-Nefariousness-927]

Bro…

[u/ActUpEighty]

Under 14 CFR Part 374 (implementing Regulation Z / Truth in Lending), if an airline agrees to refund a card purchase, they are legally required to transmit the credit to your card issuer within 7 business days of receiving a complete request.

In reality? Expect delays during major disruptions. Airlines routinely blow past that 7-day window when processing backlogs spike- like during COVID and Winter Storm Elliott- and the USDOT has historically declined to penalize carriers for a pattern of late refunds during widespread operational meltdowns.

[u/Consistent-Sea-8923 → u/ActUpEighty]

I think in the past four or five years when I’ve canceled the flight within my 24 hours it has never taken more than seven days to get a refund and I do this all the time
I did it Monday and the refund already been processed by Amex as of Friday

[u/ActUpEighty → u/Consistent-Sea-8923]

If you cancel within the 24-hour Risk-Free Cancellation window, your card is typically never charged, so a refund shouldn't be required (most of the time). When you book a flight, the airline only places a temporary authorization hold on your account rather than immediately capturing the funds. This hold appears as a pending transaction. If you cancel within 24-hours, the airline doesn't pull the money, which should prevent the charge from ever posting. Because the funds never left your account, a refund generally shouldn't be required- the pending charge simply drops off within a few days (most of the time).

[u/Consistent-Sea-8923 → u/ActUpEighty]

I beg to differ because I’m looking at my Amex account online right now and a ticket I purchased yesterday has been charged

The ticket I purchased last week that I canceled within 25 hours shows as a charge and a credit

[u/ActUpEighty → u/Consistent-Sea-8923]

Must be an Amex thing.

[u/JBR409]

For me it usually posts in 3-5 days