What do you do if an airline refuses to refund your money?

Assumingly, you booked a flight with a concerned airline and canceled it for an unavoidable reason. It is extremely rare to get in a situation where the airline does not refund your canceled flight, especially if you are eligible for a refund. Here are some ways to seek the airline's redress if they are not refunding you. But before that, the first crucial step is to learn about the refund policy for the airlines you are flying with. Read ahead to find more in this regard.

Are you aware of the refund policy for the respective airlines?

Most flyers lack knowledge about the airline's refund policy, which creates confusion about whether they are eligible for a refund. All airlines have different policies for their passengers; however, there are a few that are common in the majority of airlines. Refer to the points below to discover most airlines' general refund policies. This decides your eligibility for a refund, so go through them meticulously.

• Most airlines follow a 24-hour refund policy for the ease and convenience of the passengers.
• According to this policy, you are eligible for a refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of ticket purchase.
• However, this 24-hour refund policy only applies if your booked flight is made seven days before departure.
• After one day, you are no longer eligible for a refund, and you may receive no refund or a few award miles for compensation.

Contact the respective airlines' customer service.

If you are eligible for a refund and the concerned airline is not providing the refund within a few business days or does not accept your refund request, here are some ways to approach their technical team to request a refund. One efficient, conventional, and effective way is to dial the customer service number of the respective airlines. You can have a word with their officials and ask them about their refund eligibility criteria, why you are not getting the refund, etc.

File a DOT complaint against the concerned airlines.

If you pass the airline's refund eligibility criteria, you can also file a complaint against the airline at the DOT (Department of Transportation) to seek redressal for your canceled flight. Here's how to submit a DOT complaint: Send your application to the DOT Mail Address: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE, Washington, DC 20590. Their technical team will acknowledge and respond to your mail within a few business days.

How do I request a refund from the given airline? 

If you are eligible to request a refund, you should know the correct medium to approach the customer service of the respective airlines. The most convenient way to reach their technical team is to visit the airlines' official website and go to the "Help Center" or "My Trips" tab. Fill in your travel details/flight information and fetch your canceled reservations. Go to the "Edit" section, and you will find an option to "Ask for a refund." You can press that button and follow the prompts appearing on your screen to initiate the refund request processing.