What happens if I don't cancel my Delta flight before departure

If you do not cancel your Delta flight before departure and also do not show up for the flight, Delta’s no-show policy applies:

• You forfeit the entire value of your ticket. The airline cancels all remaining flights on your itinerary, including return or connecting flights.

• This means you lose any refund or travel credit associated with the ticket.

• Even if you hold a refundable ticket, failure to cancel prior to departure usually results in your itinerary being canceled and potential loss of ticket value, with penalties or fees for rebooking.

• Basic Economy tickets are particularly inflexible and non-changeable; missing the flight generally results in total forfeiture.

To avoid losing your ticket value and being penalized, it’s critical to cancel or change your flight with Delta before the scheduled departure time. If you realize you will miss the flight, contact Delta immediately — sometimes options like same-day confirmed changes or standby may be available for a fee (waived for elite SkyMiles members).

If you miss your flight due to unavoidable delays or emergencies, communicate with Delta as soon as possible to discuss rebooking or credit options.

In short: Not canceling your Delta flight before departure typically results in losing your entire ticket fare and cancelation of remaining itinerary segments. Always cancel or adjust your booking promptly to preserve value.

For further help with cancellations and no-show policies, you can call Delta or AirHelpLive experts at +1-844-498-7378.