Expedia refunds depend on the rate type you booked and the cancellation deadline — most bookings can be cancelled free up to a set date, but the money goes back to your original payment method, not automatically to your account.

When you cancel a hotel, flight, or car rental through Expedia, whether you get money back comes down to two things: what kind of rate you chose when you booked, and how close you are to your travel date. Expedia itself does not hold the money — the hotel, airline, or rental company does — so Expedia processes the cancellation request but the refund decision belongs to the actual provider. You need to know what rate type you have before you cancel, because that determines whether a refund is even possible.

Key Takeaways

  • Refundable rates allow cancellation up to a specific date (usually 1 to 14 days before arrival) with money returned to your original payment method.
  • Non-refundable rates cannot be cancelled for a refund, though you may be able to change the booking to a different date for a fee.
  • The refund comes from the hotel, airline, or rental company, not from Expedia, so timing depends on their processing — typically 5 to 10 business days.
  • Expedia charges a cancellation fee only if you cancel a refundable booking after the deadline has passed.
  • You can check your rate type and cancellation deadline in your Expedia itinerary before you cancel.

How to find your rate type and cancellation deadline

Open your Expedia account and go to "My trips" or "Manage my booking". Find the reservation you want to cancel and click into it. Near the price breakdown, you will see language that says either "Refundable" or "Non-refundable" — this is the rate type you chose. Below that, Expedia shows the cancellation deadline: a specific date and time by which you must cancel to receive a refund.

If the deadline has not passed, you can cancel and expect money back. If the deadline has already passed, the booking is locked in and Expedia will not process a refund, even if the rate was originally refundable. Some bookings show "Free cancellation until [date]" in the listing — that is the same deadline. Write down the exact date and time before you proceed, because cancelling after that point means no refund.

Refundable bookings: what to expect when you cancel

If your rate is refundable and you cancel before the deadline, Expedia submits the cancellation to the hotel, airline, or rental company. That provider then processes the refund and sends the money back to the payment method you used when you booked — usually a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account. Expedia does not hold the funds, so the refund does not appear in an Expedia wallet or account balance.

The refund timeline varies. Most credit and debit card refunds show up within 5 to 10 business days, though some take up to two weeks depending on your bank. If you paid with PayPal, the money typically returns to your PayPal account within a few days, and you can then transfer it to your bank. Check your original payment method first before contacting Expedia, because the refund may already be processing.

Non-refundable bookings and your limited options

Non-refundable rates are cheaper because you give up the right to cancel for a refund. If you booked a non-refundable hotel, flight, or car rental and want to cancel, Expedia will not return your money. However, you may have other options depending on what you booked and why you need to cancel.

For hotels, you can sometimes change your reservation to a different date without losing the money — Expedia allows this on many non-refundable bookings, though you may pay a change fee. For flights, non-refundable tickets usually cannot be changed or cancelled, but some airlines allow you to use the ticket value as a credit toward a future flight. For car rentals, policies vary by company. Contact Expedia's customer service with your confirmation number to ask whether a change or credit is possible for your specific booking.

What happens if you cancel after the deadline

If your rate was refundable but you cancel after the deadline has passed, Expedia may charge a cancellation fee — typically the cost of one night (for hotels) or a percentage of the total booking. This fee comes out of your refund, so you get back less money than you paid. Some providers charge the full booking amount as a cancellation fee, meaning no refund at all.

Before you cancel after the deadline, contact Expedia customer service to ask what the fee will be. Sometimes the fee is small enough that a partial refund still makes sense; other times it is not worth cancelling. Expedia's phone line and chat support can tell you the exact amount before you proceed.

Refunds for packages and bundled bookings

If you booked a package through Expedia — for example, a hotel plus flight together — the cancellation policy applies to each component separately. The hotel may be refundable while the flight is non-refundable, or vice versa. When you cancel, Expedia processes each piece according to its own rate type and deadline. You may get a partial refund for the hotel portion but nothing for the flight, depending on what you booked.

Check the itinerary details for each part of your package to see which pieces are refundable. If you only want to cancel one part (say, the hotel but keep the flight), Expedia can usually split the booking, though this may trigger additional fees or change the total price.

Disputing a refund that did not arrive

If you cancelled within the deadline, the refund was supposed to process, but the money has not shown up after two weeks, contact Expedia with your confirmation number. Expedia can check whether the provider actually processed the refund or whether it is still pending. If the provider sent the money but your bank has not received it, your bank's customer service can trace the transaction.

If Expedia or the provider made an error and the refund was not sent, Expedia can request it again. Keep your cancellation confirmation email, which shows the date you cancelled and the refund amount. This is your proof that you cancelled within the deadline and are may have access to to the money back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel an Expedia booking and get the money as an Expedia credit instead of a refund?

Not automatically. Expedia refunds go back to your original payment method. However, during certain promotions or if you contact customer service and explain your situation, Expedia may offer you a travel credit as an alternative — but this is not may provide and depends on the specific booking and circumstances.

What if I booked a flight and the airline cancelled, not me?

If the airline cancels the flight, you are may have access to to a refund or rebooking regardless of whether your rate was refundable. Expedia will contact you with options, or you can reach out to Expedia customer service with your confirmation number. The airline's cancellation policy, not Expedia's, applies in this case.

Do I have to cancel through Expedia, or can I cancel directly with the hotel or airline?

You can cancel directly with the provider, but Expedia recommends cancelling through the Expedia website or app to keep a record. If you cancel directly with the hotel or airline, Expedia may not have documentation of the cancellation, which can cause problems if you need to dispute a refund later.

How long does Expedia take to process a cancellation?

Expedia submits the cancellation to the provider within hours, but the provider then decides how fast to process the refund. Most refunds appear within 5 to 10 business days. If more than two weeks have passed, contact Expedia to check the status.

Can I cancel a booking if I am already at the hotel or during my trip?

You can cancel, but you will not receive a refund for nights you have already stayed. If you cancel mid-stay, the refund applies only to future nights, and only if your rate was refundable and you are still within the cancellation window.