Volotea, a Spanish low-cost airline, has a cancellation policy that varies based on fare type, booking method, and add-ons like the Flex plan. Below is a concise overview based on the latest information from Volotea’s official website
24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation:
- You can cancel any Volotea flight within 24 hours of booking for a full refund without fees, provided the flight departs at least 7 days later (168 hours). This applies to all fare types, including non-refundable tickets, and is supported by the Volotea Reporting Corporation (ARC) for U.S.-origin bookings. Refunds are processed to the original payment method within 7–10 business days.
- Third-party bookings (e.g., through travel agencies or platforms like Omio) must be canceled via the agent, and the 24-hour policy may not apply unless enforced by the agent.
Cancellations After 24 Hours:
- Standard Fares: Volotea tickets are generally non-refundable after the 24-hour window. No cash refunds are provided, but you may recover unused taxes and fees, minus a processing fee (typically €30–€50 per person, per segment; doubled for return flights).
- Flex Plan: Available as an add-on at booking (not after), the Flex plan allows cancellations up to 4 hours before departure with a refund issued as Volotea credit (valid for future bookings). The Flex fee and any credit card payment fees are non-refundable. The refund amount excludes fare differences if applicable.
- Cancellation Fees: Without the Flex plan, cancellations after 24 hours incur fees of €30–€100 per person, per segment, depending on the fare type, route, and timing (up to 1 hour before departure).
- Name Changes as an Alternative: Instead of canceling, you can change the passenger name for a fee (€40–€80 per person, per segment, plus any fare difference), allowing ticket transfer via platforms like SpareFare. Name changes after the outbound journey or post-check-in require contacting the Customer Service Center.
- Megavolotea Subscriptions: Megavolotea or Megavolotea Plus tickets do not allow cancellations. Benefits like free 10kg cabin baggage are revoked if the subscription is canceled, even for already-issued boarding passes, potentially leading to additional fees (e.g., €29 at check-in for baggage).
Airline-Initiated Cancellations:
- For EU departures, if cancellation occurs with less than 14 days’ notice and is within Volotea’s control (e.g., technical issues, not weather or strikes), you may claim €250–€600 ($260–$650 USD) per person under EU Regulation EC 261/2004, depending on flight distance (e.g., €250 for ≤1500 km, €400 for 1500–3500 km, €600 for >3500 km). No compensation is owed if notified more than 14 days in advance or if a comparable alternative flight is provided. Claims must be filed within 5 years (Spain’s statute of limitations).
- Recent data shows Volotea had 2 cancellations in a 24-hour period, with 0.00% of domestic and international flights canceled, indicating low cancellation rates.
No-Show Policy:
- Failure to cancel at least 1 hour before departure results in a no-show, forfeiting the ticket value. No refunds are available, including for taxes/fees, and subsequent itinerary segments may be canceled.
Special Circumstances:
- Full refunds without fees are available for cancellations due to the death of the passenger or an immediate family member, or a positive COVID-19 RT-PCR test, with documentation submitted to customer service.
- During COVID-19 disruptions (e.g., 2020), Volotea offered vouchers valid for 12 months, but passengers could request refunds 3 days before departure if vouchers were unsuitable. Some report difficulties securing cash refunds.
Refund Process:
- Refunds for eligible cancellations (within 24 hours, airline-initiated, or Flex plan) are processed within 7–10 business days to the original payment method or as Volotea credit (Flex plan). Non-refunded items include Flex fees and credit card charges.
- Refund requests require submitting a form on Volotea’s website with ticket ID, passenger name, and bank details.
- Passengers report significant delays (up to months) and issues with voucher-only offers during COVID-19. Persistent follow-up or credit card chargebacks may be needed.
