You've done your homework on plane fares, but, when seeing the cost begin to climb, panic and purchase. Two hours later, the price is back down again even lower than before. I feel your pain, but don't slam your keyboard and give up. Do something about it.
That's right, you can actually save on airfare after booking [1]. Both Expedia and Travelocity have 24-hour windows on their low-fare guarantees, and Orbitz's Price Assurance only applies if someone buys that fare at a lower price. But booking directly with the airline can allow even more changes after the fact.
While I wouldn't recommend torturing yourself with fare checks everyday from purchase to takeoff, it makes sense to monitor the price 24–48 hours after you book, just in case. To see a chart of fees and refund amounts by airline, .
| Airline | Low-Fare Policy | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Refund fare difference, $100 discount code, same day as booking | $0 | |
| American | Refund fare difference, $50 promo code, same day as booking | $150 | |
| Continental | Refund fare difference, $100 travel certificate, same day as booking | $150 | |
| Delta | Refund fare difference, $100 travel voucher, same day as booking | $150 | |
| JetBlue | Refund fare difference into a JetBlue travel voucher | $100 | |
| Southwest | Refund fare difference into Southwest travel credit; no same day restriction | $0 | |
| United | Refund and $100 travel certificate same day as booking | $150 | |
| US Airways | Refund minus $150 change fee; no same day restriction | $150 |