How to Get a Refund From Expedia in 2026 (Flights and Hotels)

To get a refund from Expedia, sign in, open My Trips, select the booking, and click Change or cancel. Expedia shows you a refund summary before you confirm, so you see exactly what comes back. How much you get depends entirely on the fare or rate you bought: a refundable booking refunds in full, a non-refundable one often gives you nothing or only an airline credit.

Short answer: Cancel inside My Trips and read the refund summary first. The money often comes from the airline or hotel, not Expedia, which is why a "refund" can post as an airline credit instead of cash. If a valid refund stalls or gets denied, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer.

The catch nobody points out: the famous 24-hour free cancellation rule is a US Department of Transportation rule that applies to flights booked directly with an airline, not to tickets booked through an online travel agency like Expedia. Expedia usually offers a similar 24-hour window as a courtesy, but it is policy, not federal law. Always confirm the exact cancellation terms on your specific booking before you count on it.

Last updated: June 2026. Verify current terms on Expedia's site (terms change). Karen is not affiliated with Expedia.

Can you actually get a refund from Expedia?

It depends on what you booked, not on how nicely you ask. Expedia is the middleman. The airline or hotel sets the rules, and Expedia passes their decision (and their fees) straight to you. Here is the plain version.

• Refundable fare or "Fully Refundable" rate: Cancel within the stated window and you get your money back to your original payment method.
• Partially refundable fare: You get part of it back. The airline keeps the rest as a penalty.
• Non-refundable fare: No cash refund. Some airlines instead give you an airline credit for future travel, minus any fees. Read the terms.
• Non-refundable hotel rate: Usually nothing back if you cancel. The room was cheaper for that reason.
• Free-cancellation hotel rate: Cancel before the property's deadline (often a set number of hours before check-in) and you get a full refund.

Expedia itself does not charge a cancellation fee in most cases. The fee you see is the airline's or hotel's, passed through. The label on your booking is what matters. Find it before you do anything else.

What is the exact way to cancel an Expedia booking and request a refund?

The path is the same for flights, hotels, cars, and activities. The refund summary at the end is the part to read carefully.

1. Go to expedia.com or open the Expedia app and sign in to the account you booked on.
2. Open Trips (also shown as My Trips) and select the booking you want to cancel.
3. Click Change or cancel and follow the prompts. Expedia will show the policy, any restrictions, and any fees before you commit.
4. Read the refund summary. This is where you see the actual refund amount, including any non-refundable fees or deposits that are being kept.
5. Confirm the cancellation. You should get a confirmation email. Save it.

If your booking has no Change or cancel option, the fare or rate is locked (a common sign you bought non-refundable). In that case your move is to contact Expedia support by phone or chat and ask whether the airline or hotel will allow a credit or a waiver.

How does the 24-hour cancellation rule work on Expedia?

This is the most misunderstood part of booking a flight. The US Department of Transportation requires airlines to let you cancel for a full refund within 24 hours of booking, as long as you booked at least seven days before departure. That rule covers tickets bought directly from the airline.

Tickets booked through Expedia and other online travel agencies are not covered by that federal rule. The good news: Expedia generally extends a similar 24-hour free-cancellation courtesy on flights. The important news: because it is policy and not law, the exact terms can vary by fare and by airline. So:

• Cancel fast. If you booked the wrong date or made a mistake, act within 24 hours of booking and you stand the best chance of a clean, full refund.
• Confirm the window on your booking. Check the cancellation terms shown at checkout and in My Trips, not just what a blog says.
• Hotels too. Many hotel bookings are also cancellable for free within the first 24 hours, but each property sets its own deadline. Check the property's policy on the booking.

When does the refund come from the airline or hotel instead of Expedia?

Almost always, the money traces back to the travel provider, and that is why refunds get slow or weird. Expedia collected the payment, but the airline or hotel holds the funds and decides the terms.

• Flights: The airline decides whether your fare refunds in cash, refunds in part, or only converts to an airline credit. Expedia processes what the airline approves. A non-refundable ticket that becomes a "credit" is the airline's call, not Expedia's.
• Hotels: The property's cancellation policy controls the refund. Expedia displays that policy at booking and applies it.
• Cancelled or significantly changed flights: When an airline cancels your flight or makes a significant schedule change, DOT rules entitle you to a refund to your original form of payment rather than a voucher. You may need to request it, and through an OTA booking you often start that request with Expedia.

The practical takeaway: if Expedia tells you the airline or hotel controls the refund, that is usually true. Your leverage is the written cancellation policy you agreed to plus, for cancelled or heavily changed flights, your DOT refund right.

How long do Expedia refunds take?

Longer than you would like, and in stages. Expedia generally processes a refund quickly on its end, but the money moves through the provider and your bank before it lands.

• Processing: Expedia often processes refunds within about 24 hours, and flight refunds commonly take around 5 to 10 business days once the airline approves them. Some airlines take longer.
• Posting to your card: Your payment provider can take up to 7 business days to add the credit to your account.
• Showing on your statement: It can take up to two billing cycles for the credit to actually appear on your statement.

If a refund Expedia confirmed has not shown up after a couple of weeks, that is the point to start chasing in writing.

How do you escalate when an Expedia refund stalls or gets denied?

When a valid refund goes quiet, you escalate in order. Build a paper trail at every step.

1. Pin down the policy. In My Trips, screenshot the booking's cancellation terms and your cancellation confirmation. Your case rests on what you were promised.
2. Contact Expedia in writing. Use chat or email through the Help Center so you have a record. State the booking number, that you cancelled within the policy (or that the airline cancelled the flight), and the refund amount you are owed. Ask for a written response and a timeline.
3. Ask who is holding it. If Expedia says the airline or hotel must approve, get that in writing and ask Expedia to push the request. Note the date.
4. Dispute the charge with your card issuer. If Expedia or the provider refuses a refund you are clearly owed, or simply never delivers it, you can dispute the charge. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act you generally have 60 days from the date of the statement with the charge to dispute it in writing for goods or services not delivered as agreed.
5. Send your evidence. Give the bank your booking confirmation, the cancellation policy, your cancellation confirmation, and any refusal from Expedia. The issuer must acknowledge the dispute, generally within 30 days, and resolve it, usually within two billing cycles.

A chargeback is a last resort, not a first move. Banks expect you to try the merchant first, which is exactly why the written request and the saved refusal matter. For the full play, see how to dispute a credit card charge, and if you are stuck more broadly, what to do when a company won't refund you.

Illustrative example. Say a non-refundable hotel night cost $214 and you cancelled 30 minutes after booking, well inside the property's 24-hour window, but the refund never posts and chat keeps citing "non-refundable." You paid by credit card 3 weeks ago, so you are inside the 60-day window. You dispute the charge for "services not delivered as agreed," attaching the booking's free-cancellation policy and your cancellation email. Illustrative example. Results vary and are not guaranteed.

Which methods actually work for an Expedia refund?

What are the deadlines and gotchas to watch?

• The 24-hour window. Mistake on a flight or hotel? Cancel within 24 hours of booking for your best shot at a full refund.
• Read the rate label before you book. "Non-refundable" means non-refundable. The cheaper price is the trade.
• Hotel deadlines vary by property. Free cancellation often ends a set number of hours before check-in. Confirm it on the booking, not in general.
• "Refund" can mean airline credit. Non-refundable flights often convert to a credit with conditions, not cash.
• The 60-day card window counts from the statement date, not the booking date. It moves fast.
• Travel insurance is separate. If you bought protection at checkout, that claim goes through the insurer, not Expedia.

Common questions

Does Expedia give refunds if I just change my mind?

Only if your fare or rate is refundable, or you are inside the 24-hour-after-booking window many bookings offer. Non-refundable bookings generally do not refund for a change of mind. Check the booking's policy in My Trips before you cancel.

Does Expedia charge a cancellation fee?

Expedia itself usually does not charge a cancellation fee. The fee you see on a cancellation is typically the airline's or hotel's penalty, which Expedia passes through to you. The refund summary shows what is being kept.

How long does an Expedia refund take to show up?

Expedia often processes refunds within about 24 hours, and flight refunds commonly take around 5 to 10 business days once the airline approves. Your payment provider can take up to 7 business days more, and it may take up to two billing cycles to appear on your statement.

Why did I get an airline credit instead of money back?

Because your ticket was non-refundable. Many airlines convert a non-refundable fare to a credit for future travel, minus fees, rather than refunding cash. That is the airline's policy, applied through Expedia.

Can I use the 24-hour rule on an Expedia flight?

The federal DOT 24-hour refund rule applies to flights booked directly with an airline, not through Expedia. Expedia usually offers a similar 24-hour free-cancellation courtesy, but confirm the exact terms on your booking, since it is policy rather than law.

Can I dispute an Expedia charge with my bank?

Yes, as a fallback when a valid refund is refused or never arrives. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act you generally have about 60 days from the statement date to dispute a charge in writing for services not delivered as agreed. Try Expedia first and keep the records.

Karen is not affiliated with Expedia. Company names are used for factual reference only. Verify current terms on Expedia's site (terms change). Karen is a self-help tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.

More from Karen: all refund guides, how to get a refund from Ticketmaster, how to get a DoorDash refund, and how to dispute a credit card charge.