Airlines Don't Want You To Know...

[DanielChamberlain]

If you have to cancel a plane ticket that is non-refundable, but you have to cancel your trip, a significant portion of the cost of that ticket is tax.
If you don't ask, they won't tell you.
You can demand that portion be refunded.

In our case a few years ago, it was greater than 50% of the cost of the ticket.

[NuttyNed]

Thanks

[shotgunshooter3]

A huge reason I fly with Southwest for domestic flights is because you can cancel or change a flight for any reason up to 5 minutes before boarding and retain the full cost as a credit for a future flight.

[Admin]

A huge reason I fly with Southwest for domestic flights is because you can cancel or change a flight for any reason up to 5 minutes before boarding and retain the full cost as a credit for a future flight.

Same here. No matter how well you plan the biz trip, no matter how many times you confirm the meeting, there is always someone that ends up canceling the day before.

Plus, free checked bag.

[Wambli Ska]

Non-refundable does not mean you don't get your money back. It means you can't get a cash refund. If you ask strongly enough they have to give you a full credit minus a small "fee" that you can use at a later date. They can't just simply confiscate your money because you had to change your plans.