---
title: "What is Free cancellation window? | Benefit Systems"
description: "A free cancellation window is a short period after booking during which a flight ticket can be cancelled without fee and refunded in full."
source: "aus dem gebauten HTML abgeleitet"
---
# What is Free cancellation window?

A free cancellation window is a short period after booking during which a flight ticket can be cancelled without fee and refunded in full.

Also called: 24-hour rule.

## How it works #

In the United States such a window is required by regulation, provided the booking is made sufficiently far ahead of departure. Europe has no general right of withdrawal for flight bookings; there the fare rules decide whether any window exists. Anyone using it checks first whether the airline refunds or only issues a credit, and whether agency fees remain payable.

## Not to be confused with #

A free cancellation window is not the same as consumer withdrawal rights for online purchases: in the EU those rights explicitly exclude transport contracts.

## In German #

The German term is Kostenfreie Stornofrist. [German version of this term](/de/glossar/kostenfreie-stornofrist)

## Related terms #

- [Fare rules](/en/glossary/fare-rules): Fare rules are the conditions attached to a specific airfare covering changes, refunds, validity, stopovers and mileage earning.
- [Error fare](/en/glossary/error-fare): An error fare is a fare published by mistake far below normal levels, typically through a keying error or a currency mix-up.
- [Refund](/en/glossary/refund): A refund is the repayment of the fare when a flight is cancelled or the passenger no longer wants to travel after a disruption.

## Articles that use this term #

- [Can you cancel a booking for free?](/en/knowledge/free-cancellation)
- [What is an error fare, and can the airline cancel it?](/en/knowledge/error-fares)
- [When do you get money back for a flight you didn’t take?](/en/knowledge/refunds-for-unused-flights)