Does Delta refund the difference if the price drops?
Usually, yes — but as credit, not cash, and you have to ask for it. On most Delta tickets other than Basic Economy you can rebook the exact same flights at today’s lower fare, and Delta issues the difference back to you as an eCredit for a future trip. Delta does not watch the price for you and will not contact you when it falls, so a drop you never notice is a drop you never get.
How to claim it
Open My Trips on delta.com, choose "Modify flight", and rebook the same flights at the lower fare. The difference is issued as an eCredit automatically.
- You get back
- eCredit
- Does not apply to
- Basic Economy tickets
- Phone
- +1 800 221 1212
Farewatch is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Delta Air Lines.
Common questions
Is the difference paid back in cash?
No. Delta issues it as an eCredit, which you can put toward a future Delta booking. It is not refunded to your card. That is the normal outcome across the US majors, not something specific to Delta.
Does it work on Basic Economy?
No. Basic Economy tickets are excluded — they generally cannot be changed at all, which is what this relies on. If you are not sure which fare you bought, your confirmation email names the fare brand.
Will a change fee eat the saving?
That depends on your specific ticket’s fare rules, which vary by route, fare brand and where the trip starts. Delta shows any fee in the change flow before you confirm, so you can see the net result and back out if it is not worth it.
How long do I have to claim it?
Only while the lower fare is actually on sale — fares move constantly, and a drop can disappear within hours. The eCredit you receive then has its own expiry, typically around a year from the original ticket’s issue date, so check the expiry date Delta gives you.
What if I booked through a travel agent or an online travel agency?
Then the booking is held by whoever sold it, and you usually have to go back to them rather than to Delta directly. Their own change rules and service fees apply on top of the airline’s fare rules.
How would I know the fare has dropped?
By checking the price of your own flights, repeatedly, until you travel. Nothing in the booking process tells you. This is the part Farewatch automates: we re-price the exact flights you booked every day and tell you the moment the drop is big enough to be worth claiming.