It’s not the end of overpriced airline tickets, but it’s a step in the right direction! It will come as a surprise to many that airlines have policies which will help put money back in your pocket, rather than siphoning it out!

If you’ve purchased a non-refundable ticket and the price drops before your departure, your airline may actually refund, or at least provide you with travel vouchers, in the amount of the difference! Depending on your flight and ticketing procedures, a change fee of up to $150 may apply, but in many instances it is more than appropriate to at least inquire about such policies.

Southwest, for example, offers a cash refund without a change fee! On the other hand, companies like AirTran, Frontier, and Virgin America don’t offer any sort of refund or vouchers. Alaska, American, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Northwest, Midwest, United, and US Airways all provide vouchers, although some deduct change fees. Some airlines,  however, allow you to cancel your reservation within a certain timeframe and rebook at the lower rate!

We all loathe air-travel, but this is one thing to restore a little confidence in customer service! If you’re intrigued, there’s even more details in a recent USA Today article.