Traveler guides / Tickets
Refund, void or change? What happens to your airline ticket
When plans change, your ticket can be voided, refunded or changed. Which one is possible, and what it costs, depends on the fare rules you accepted and on when you ask.
Void: cancelling straight after purchase
A void cancels a ticket very soon after it is issued, before it is reported for settlement. Many sellers allow it only within a short window, often the same day, and some charge a fee. If you spot a mistake in a name or date, contact the seller immediately: a void is usually the cheapest fix.
Refund: getting money back
How much comes back depends on the fare. Some fares are fully refundable, some refundable with a fee, and some not refundable at all. Even on a non-refundable fare, unused government taxes and airport charges are usually refundable. Under Malaysia’s Aviation Consumer Protection Code, airlines must refund these for flights the Code covers. Seller service fees may not be refundable.
Change: reissuing the ticket
A date or route change usually means the ticket is reissued. You typically pay any fare difference, plus a change fee if the fare rules include one, plus any seller fee. Name changes are usually not allowed. A misspelling may be correctable, but ask before you travel.
When the airline changes your flight
If the airline cancels or significantly reschedules your flight, different rules apply and you may be owed a refund or free rebooking. See Flight delayed or cancelled in Malaysia?
Before you pay, ask three questions
- Is this fare refundable, and what is the fee?
- Can I change the date, and what does it cost apart from any fare difference?
- Who do I contact if plans change: the seller or the airline?
From the ticketing desk: whoever issued your ticket controls the refund or change. Start there, with your booking reference and e-ticket number ready.