When planning a vacation, it's sometimes easier -- and cheaper -- to book a flight through a travel agency, as travel agencies often have access to deals that aren't available to the general public. However, should you book a trip through a travel agency and find you've got a conflict in your schedule, all isn't lost as far as your airfare. Follow a few steps, and it may be possible to get your money back.

Look over your travel itinerary and plane ticket for your travel agency's refund policy. Certain agencies have a refund policy that will cover you even if you didn't book travel insurance, while others may require you to have purchased coverage to be eligible for a refund. If you can't find it written in your paperwork, you may be able to find such information on the travel agency's website. You'll also want to research your airline's policy for refunds, as you may incur fees from both the airline and the agency when you ask for a refund.

Speak with your travel agent. If you have found via your research that you do qualify for a refund, have your information ready, and explain your situation. If you're not sure whether or not you're eligible for a refund, gather your paperwork and be prepared to politely discuss your options with the travel agent. If you booked your flight using a credit card, you may need to provide the credit card information to the agent.

Follow up on your refund situation. It can take days or weeks to fully process a refund transaction, so be prepared for a wait. If you don't hear back from the agency, and don't see money credited back to your account, call the agency and inquire about the status of your refund.

Things You Will Need

  • Ticket

  • Itinerary

  • Credit card (if used to book your flight)

Tip

The sooner you request a refund, the better. It may be more difficult to get a refund the closer it gets to your departure date.

In some cases, you may be offered an exchange rather than a full refund.

You can contact the airline directly, but most major airlines state on their websites that if you purchase a ticket through a travel agency, you'll need to deal with the agency to get your refund. In some cases, the airline can make the change or refund for you, but it will cost extra.

Many online travel agencies have similar refund policies to brick-and-mortar travel agencies.