Interjet Airlines (ABC Aerolíneas, S.A. de C.V.) ceased operations in December 2020 and entered bankruptcy in April 2021. As of April 2023, a federal court ordered the liquidation of the company, meaning Interjet is no longer operating and will not resume flights. The airline’s website is inactive, and customer service is largely unresponsive. The following information reflects Interjet’s cancellation policy as it existed before its closure, based on available data, but it is no longer applicable for new bookings or active travel. For those seeking refunds or compensation for past Interjet flights, further guidance is provided below.
Interjet Cancellation Policy (Historical, Pre-Closure)
24-Hour Cancellation Policy:
- Interjet allowed cancellations within 24 hours of booking for a full refund without penalty, provided the flight was booked at least 7 days before departure. This applied to all fare types (refundable and non-refundable) and was mandatory for flights to/from the U.S. under U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
- This policy was valid only for bookings made directly with Interjet. Third-party bookings (e.g., travel agencies) were subject to the agency’s terms.
- Booking fees were sometimes non-refunded, though this practice may have violated DOT rules for U.S.-bound flights.
Involuntary Cancellations (Interjet-initiated):
- If Interjet canceled a flight, passengers were entitled to:
- A full refund to the original payment method.
- Rebooking on an alternative Interjet flight or, if unavailable, another airline.
- Accommodation and meals if stranded, subject to airline discretion.
- For flights departing from an EU airport, under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, passengers could claim compensation of €250–€600 if:
- The cancellation was notified less than 14 days before departure.
- The airline was responsible (e.g., not due to extraordinary circumstances like weather or air traffic control strikes).
- The replacement flight didn’t arrive at a similar time to the original.
- EU-bound flights from non-EU airports (e.g., Mexico) were not covered by EC 261.
- In practice, Interjet often refused refunds for cancellations, even when they were at fault, leading to customer complaints.
Voluntary Cancellations (Passenger-initiated):
- Refundable Fares: Rare and expensive, these allowed full refunds minus a service fee if canceled before departure.
- Non-Refundable Fares (e.g., Ultra Light, Light, Optima):
- After the 24-hour window, no refunds were issued except for unused taxes.
- Cancellation fees ranged from $100–$500 USD, depending on fare type, route, and timing
- Passengers could change the flight date, time, or route for a fee (e.g., $35–$59 USD per segment for international routes, $599–$799 MXN for domestic Mexico routes). Name changes were also allowed, enabling ticket transfers to another person for a fee.
- Cancellation Protection Add-On: If purchased at booking, this allowed refunds (minus fees) for specific reasons like sudden illness or death of an immediate family member, with proof (e.g., medical certificate or death certificate).
- No-shows without prior cancellation forfeited the entire ticket value, with no refund or credit.
- Special cases (e.g., military orders, death of a ticketed passenger, or missed connections due to Interjet delays) could qualify for refunds, but documentation was required.
How to Cancel (When Operational):
- Phone: Contact Interjet’s call center (e.g., +1-877-240-6770). Long wait times were common.
- Refund Form: A refund request form on the website was used to claim eligible refunds, processed within 7–10 business days.
- Third-party bookings required cancellation through the agency.
- Refunds, if approved, were credited to the original payment method or issued as vouchers (valid 12 months).
Special Circumstances:
- COVID-19 Impact: In 2020, Interjet offered vouchers (valid 12 months) or rescheduling without fees for cancellations due to the pandemic. Refunds were rarely issued, even when promised
- Illness or Bereavement: Free cancellations were possible with proof of sudden illness or family death, but Interjet often required extensive documentation.
- Weather or Uncontrollable Events: No compensation or refunds were owed for cancellations due to extraordinary circumstances, though Interjet was supposed to offer alternative flights or accommodations
Final Notes
Interjet’s cancellation policy was flexible within 24 hours for U.S. routes and offered limited refund options for specific cases, but its non-refunded fares and high fees were restrictive. Since the airline’s collapse, recovering funds is difficult, and passengers face significant hurdles. For the best chance of recourse, act quickly with chargebacks, contact PROFECO, or pursue EU compensation if applicable. Always retain documentation and avoid unofficial channels claiming to represent Interjet.
