What To Do If Flight Price Goes Down After Booking?

Posted on 29th Sep, 2023 by Heena Ganotra , Updated 9 months ago

Out of all the world’s great questions, why airline ticket price drop after purchase is the greatest puzzle! You booked a flight to your favorite destination at $150, and imagine you search for it again a day later, dropping the price to $120. A little disappointment may hit right away! Several factors contribute to the increase or decrease in flight prices and sometimes flight price decrease after booking. Typically, flight prices tend to drop closer to the date of the actual flight. This is because airlines are more likely to offer discounts and deals to fill up any remaining seats on the plane.

So, if you’re worried about flight prices going down after booking, it’s often best to wait until closer to your desired travel time before booking your flights. Of course, this isn’t always possible or practical, that is why it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on flight prices and jump on a deal when you see one.

Reasons Why Airline Ticket Price Drop After Purchase

Are you constantly wondering about the airfare drop after booking? Well, there are clearly certain reasons why flight prices might decrease after you’ve booked your flight ticket. The primary reason is that airlines sometimes have sales or promotions that result in lower prices for certain routes. If the price of your flight drops below what you paid, the airline may refund the difference.

Additionally, airlines sometimes release more seats at a lower price as the departure date approaches and there are still empty seats left on the plane. Or, if by any chance there’s a bad weather forecast for your travel dates, airlines may lower their prices in hopes of filling up the plane.

When it comes to air travel, the early bird really does get the worm-or at least a lower price on their flight. In general, fares tend to go up as the departure date nears. If you’ve already booked your ticket but see that prices have dropped since you made your purchase, don’t despair. 

How To Get A Refund If I Found A Cheaper Flight After Booking?

There are a few things you can do to potentially get a refund or credit for the difference in price.

• Firstly, it’s essential to know that airlines have different policies when it comes to post-purchase price drops. Some airlines will automatically issue a refund or credit if the price of your flight decreases after you book it, while others will not. So instead of worrying if I book a flight and the price drops, one must make sure to go through the airline’s policy you are flying with. 
• If your airline does not issue refunds or credits automatically, you can still try to claim the difference in price. Many airlines will refund or credit you the difference if you contact them within a certain time frame after the price drop occurs. It’s always best to act quickly, as the longer you wait, the less likely it is that you’ll be successful in getting a refund or credit.
• When contacting your airline to enquire about flight prices decrease after booking, be sure to have all of your booking information handy, as well as the new, lower price you found. You may also want to mention any changes in travel plans that would make it difficult or impossible for you to take advantage of the lower fare (for example, if your travel dates are no longer flexible).

Airlines Policy On Fare Dropping After 24 Hours

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably been in a situation where you’ve found great airfare, but you’re not sure whether to buy it right away or wait to see if the price might drop. Well, there’s no need to agonize over your decision any longer! We’ve got the scoop on what major airlines’ policies are regarding fare drops after 24 hours.

Here’s what you need to know about airlines if airfare drops after purchase: 

• American Airlines: If flight price goes down after booking, American Airlines may refund the difference in the form of a travel voucher that can be further used for future travel. There can be validity to the voucher from the date of issuance for example one year.
• United Airlines: United does not have an official policy regarding airline ticket price drops after purchase, but they have been known to refund the difference in price if you call customer service and request it. It never hurts to ask and make sure you are eligible as per United’s 24-hour flexible booking policy. 
• Delta Airlines: Thinking “Will Delta refund if price drops”? The answer is clearly no as per Delta Airlines. The airline does not offer refunds on airfare drops even if you request it within 24 hours of booking your flight. Your economy flight tickets with Delta cannot be changed or canceled. 
• Southwest Airlines: The airlines clearly neglect any type of refund request if you buy a plane ticket and the price drops. However, if you are traveling in First Class or Business Class, you get in touch with the airline’s customer support to enquire about a refund. They might credit you in the airline’s wallet which can be further used for future travel on Southwest.
• Alaska Airlines: If flight prices decrease after booking in the case of Alaska Airlines then one can expect a money return on the difference. One must ensure to reach out to the airline within the 24-hour window or you won’t be eligible for the refund after that even on request. However, flight tickets booked under saver fares or economy cannot be changed or canceled. 

Why Do Airline Ticket Prices Vary? | How Do Airlines Set Them?

The price of an airline ticket can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including the time of year, the specific route being flown, and the availability of discounts or promotions. Generally, airlines use a system known as “yield management” to set prices for their tickets. Yield management is a dynamic pricing strategy that takes into account a number of different factors in order to maximize revenue for the airline.

Yield management systems are constantly monitoring booking patterns and adjusting prices accordingly. For example, if an airline sees that a particular flight is regularly booked solid well in advance, they may raise prices for last-minute bookings in order to increase revenue. Similarly, if a flight has plenty of empty seats closer to the departure date, the airline may lower prices in order to fill those seats.

Airlines also use yield management to price tickets for different types of travelers. For instance, business travelers are typically willing to pay more for their tickets than leisure travelers because they often have to book at the last minute and are less flexible with their travel dates. As a result, airlines will typically charge higher prices for business travelers.

If you ever find yourself in a situation to book last-minute flight tickets, check the top packing tips for last-minute travel here and travel efficiently.

How Often Does Airfare Drop?

Experiencing flight prices decrease after booking is constant. Prices for flights can change several times a day, and sometimes even more frequently. This can make it difficult to know when is the best time to buy a ticket.

There are a few factors that can affect how often flight prices change. One is the time of year. Prices tend to be higher during peak travel times, such as summer and holidays. They also fluctuate based on demand. If there are more people searching for tickets, prices will usually go up.

Another factor that can influence ticket prices is the airline itself. Some airlines change their prices more frequently than others. And, some airlines offer sales or discounts at certain times of the year. Passengers who are flexible with their travel dates are more likely to find a better flight deal. And it’s always a good idea to check flight prices with a reliable airline ticket company such as MyIndiaFlight to check monthly flight deals. 

FAQs

Q: How many days before can I get the best airfare?

Flight prices can fluctuate for a variety of reasons – from changes in demand to special offers from airlines. However, generally speaking, you’ll usually get the best price if you book your flight at least 21 days in advance. Of course, this isn’t always possible (especially if you’re booking last minute), but it’s definitely worth bearing in mind.

Q: Does Delta refund if flight price goes down after booking?

Delta Airlines does not allow any type of refund in case you found a cheaper flight after booking. The airline does not accept any request for a refund on the difference if flight prices increase after 24 hours.

Q: What is the thumb rule to find the best price on your next flight?

A general guide to finding a cheaper price for your upcoming travel is to get your flight tickets booked in advance. You can also contact our travel company and who knows with a bit of luck, you snag yourself the biggest airfare bargain.

Q: How to get money back if flight price drops?

Getting a refund on airfare drop truly varies from airline to airline. Some may help you with a refund if you reach out to them within 24 hours and some may not. When it comes to booking flights, the best is to do your research beforehand or simply ask a reliable travel agency like us to book your flight tickets.

So, there you have it! We hope now you know what to do if your flight prices decrease after booking.

If you find a great airfare but aren’t sure whether to buy it right away or wait for a possible airfare drop, we suggest you leave this upon us. We, at MyIndiaFlight, are a well-established flight-booking company that believes in making travel cheaper and better for our customers. We deal in offering the cheapest flights from USA to India (back) and flights from Australia to India (back). Our airfare deals can ensure that you have the best travel.

Stop worrying about airline ticket price drop after purchase instead get in touch with our team of experts. We are just a call away or you can join our live chat too!