How to Cancel a Singapore Airlines Flight

So you’ve made your plans and booked your airfare — but now those plans have changed. Whether you’re sick at home or stuck at work, you find yourself needing to cancel your ticket. Different airlines have different cancellation policies for the tickets that you book, and depending on the fare type you select, some may not be refundable at all.

Let’s take a look at Singapore Airlines’ cancellation policy and the options you have should this happen to you.

Singapore Airlines’ cancellation policy

Which tickets can be canceled and when?

Singapore Airlines cancellations can be complicated, especially since there are so many different fare types. Depending on what type of ticket you buy, you may be able to cancel your ticket for a full refund or a refund on just the taxes.

Canceling tickets within 24 hours of booking

If your flight is to or from the United States, you may be able to get a complete refund on your ticket if you cancel it within 24 hours of booking — as long as the flight was booked more than seven days in advance. This is true for all fare types.

Canceling more than 24 hours after booking

More than 24 hours after booking, cancellation rules vary depending on the ticket type purchased.

Lite tickets can be purchased in every class but first. These tickets are nonrefundable but you can get back the taxes and fees that you’ve paid.

» Learn more: Are plane tickets refundable?

Is it better to cancel a flight or change it?

In many cases, it can be better to change your flight rather than do a Singapore Airlines cancellation.

Note that if you have booked an award ticket with Singapore Airlines, you’ll be charged different fees.

» Learn more: How to recover points and miles if you cancel your trip

How to cancel your Singapore Airlines flight

If you’d like to cancel your Singapore Airlines ticket, you can easily do so online — as long as the fare was purchase at singaporeair.com or from a Singapore Airlines office. You can also contact Singapore Airlines using other methods via its contact page.

Once you’ve canceled your ticket, your refund will be sent back to the credit or debit card you used to complete your purchase.

Note that if you’ve booked your ticket via an online travel agency or another third-party service, you won’t be able to cancel on Singapore’s site. Instead, you’ll need to contact the third party to sort out your refund.

» Learn more: How to get a refund from a travel agency

Singapore Airlines refund policy

Singapore’s refund policy is fairly strict. Even the most expensive fare types are subject to cancellation fees. If your plans change, opting to change your flight rather than cancel it outright may be the better option.

There are some situations in which Singapore Airlines may owe you a complete refund. The first, as we discussed above, is if you cancel your booking within 24 hours and your flight is more than seven days away.

Another situation in which you’d be entitled to a full refund would be if Singapore Airlines cancels your original flight. If it’s canceled, no matter the reason, you can choose not to fly — even if the airline has rebooked you on a separate itinerary. If this is the case, you’ll get a complete refund with no fees assessed.

» Learn more: Can you get a refund on a nonrefundable airline ticket?

Other options for getting your money back

Even if you’ve purchased a nonrefundable ticket, you may be able to get your money back if you need to cancel your flight. Depending on why you need to cancel, travel insurance may kick in and reimburse you for your expenses.

Many different travel credit cards offer complimentary travel insurance. All you need to do is book your flight using your card; coverage then kicks in automatically. For example, the travel insurance offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® covers you if you need to cancel your trip due to a qualifying illness or injury, there’s severe weather, jury duty, quarantine and more.

It’s also possible to purchase travel insurance to ensure you’re covered for your vacation. Depending on the policy you buy, you may have similar limitations as you’d find with the insurance provided by your credit card.

However, if you’re not certain of your travel plans, you can also buy something called Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance. As the name suggests, CFAR allows you to cancel your bookings and receive money back, no matter why you’ve opted not to travel.

» Learn more: Will credit card travel insurance cover you on your next trip?

Final thoughts on Singapore Airlines flight cancellations

Singapore Airlines has some pretty restrictive policies when it comes to flight cancellations. Although much of the time you’ll be able to cancel your flight and receive a refund, you’ll always be on the hook for fees.

Even if you’ve booked a nonrefundable fare, take a look at which credit card you used to book the ticket — the right credit card can reimburse you for lost expenses if you need to cancel for a covered reason.