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How long does it take for airlines to refund miles and taxes?
Andrew Kunesh
Contributor
Andrew is a former senior editor at The Points Guy. He's been a miles and points fanatic since 2014 and previously wrote for Upgraded Points and Credit Karma. Outside of the travel world, Andrew is a technology enthusiast, craft coffee aficionado and — despite now living in NYC — a Chicagoan at heart.
Aug. 03, 2021
•
6 min read
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If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us anything about award travel, it's that travel plans are never set in stone. And while actually canceling your ticket is relatively easy, it can sometimes take a while to get airline miles reinstated and award taxes and fees back in your bank account.
Here at TPG, our staff has canceled countless numbers of tickets over the past year-and-a-half. Some airlines refunded points immediately, while others took a few days (or in some cases, months) to give us our points back. This can be a stressful experience — especially if you have a lot of miles locked up in a ticket.
In this article, we'll show you how long it takes to get get your miles back with some of the major airline loyalty programs. You'll find data points for all the major U.S. carriers and some of the major transfer partners. We've also listed special notes you should be aware of when requesting a refund from more difficult programs.
How long does it take for an airline to refund miles and taxes?
Here, you'll see how long it takes for each major airline loyalty program to refund miles and taxes. Do note that the time it takes to get taxes refunded to your credit card varies based on your bank. These times were sourced by TPG's editorial staff and TPG readers in the TPG Lounge Facebook group.
| Program | Mileage refund time | Tax and fees refund time |
|---|---|---|
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
7 days | 7 days | |
2-7 days | 90+ days in some cases | |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Up to 45 days | Up to 45 days | |
Frontier Airlines | Instant | Instant as flight credit |
Iberia Plus | Varies (see next section) | Varies (see next section) |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Singapore Airlines Krisflyer | Instant | 10 days |
Instant | 2-3 days | |
Instant | 2-3 days |
Related: Airline coronavirus change and cancellation policies: A complete list of major carriers
Special considerations
As you can see, most major airlines are great about refunding miles and fees. But, some programs have special quirks you should be aware of when requesting a refund — let's take a closer look.
Avianca LifeMiles
Avianca LifeMiles is a mixed bag when it comes to refunds. Sometimes miles are reinstated instantly; sometimes, it takes a few weeks. One consistency, however, is how long it takes to have taxes and fees refunded. Some TPG Lounge members said it took 4+ months to have their taxes and fees refunded. If this happens to you, you may want to consider filing a chargeback with your credit card.
British Airways Executive Club
TPG Points and Miles intern Ryan Patterson recently booked a British Airways award ticket for a friend. Strangely, he had to call British Airways to get his Avios refunded after he canceled the ticket online. This is because, at first, the airline refunded the Avios to the passenger, even though Ryan booked the flights with his points.
Iberia Plus
Iberia Plus is notoriously difficult to get a refund from. Sometimes you get your points back in a week; other times, you get them back months later. The important thing to do is call the airline and (respectfully) push for a faster refund. Otherwise, it may not come at all. You may have to call the airline multiple times to move the needle.
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Related: Why you should wait to change or cancel your flight if you want your money back
Bottom line
Travel plans may be less predictable these days, but airlines made their change and cancellation policies more flexible in response. That said, some airlines take longer than others to refund award ticket taxes and fees. Use this article as a reference guide the next time you have to cancel an award ticket.
Feature photo by Thiago B Trevisan/Shutterstock.com
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants
TPG Editor‘s Rating
Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.