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## 1. What is the 24‑Hour Cancellation Policy?

To cancel your Hawaiian Airlines ticket, call **1‑833‑341‑3894** within 24 hours of booking (if flight is ≥7 days away) for a full refund. Otherwise, standard fare rules and fees apply.

The **24‑hour cancellation policy** allows passengers to cancel flights for a full refund if they do so **within 24 hours of booking**, provided certain eligibility criteria are met. Airlines responding to this rule may allow cancellation outright or permit a 24‑hour hold of the fare.

This right to a full refund hinges on two main conditions:
- Booking the ticket **at least 7 days before departure**.
- Canceling the booking **within 24 hours of purchase**.

These refund claims are backed by federal law and are distinct from other fare-specific rules.  
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## 2. Why It Exists: Department of Transportation (DOT) Rule

Since 2020, the **U.S. Department of Transportation** has enforced a regulation requiring U.S. airlines (and carriers operating to/from the U.S.) to refund tickets if canceled within 24 hours of purchase, as long as the flight is at least seven days away. This ensures a consumer safety net for booking errors or quick-change-of-heart scenarios.  
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Airlines can either allow a hold for 24 hours or issue a full refund during that window, but they are *not required* to do both.  
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## 3. How Hawaiian Airlines Implements It

Hawaiian Airlines clearly follows the DOT rule. According to their Fare Rules Terms & Conditions:  

> “Tickets purchased directly from Hawaiian Airlines may be cancelled within 24 hours of purchase for a full refund with no fees, for any bookings made at least seven days in advance of the flight’s scheduled departure time.”  
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Their Customer Service Plan echoes this:

> “Allow guests to cancel reservations made 7 or more days prior to departure without penalty if requested within 24 hours of purchase.”  
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A travel site like NerdWallet confirms:

> “All Hawaiian flights can be canceled within 24 hours of booking (assuming the booking was made at least seven days in advance) for a full refund to the original form of payment.”  
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So Hawaiian’s implementation aligns fully with U.S. regulations.

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## 4. Eligibility & Requirements

To qualify for the 24‑hour full refund:

1. **Booked directly** with Hawaiian Airlines—not via third-party sites.
2. **Flight departure** must be **7 or more days away** when booking.
3. **Cancellation** initiated **within 24 hours** of ticket purchase.
4. Policy applies to **all fare types** (including Basic Economy, nonrefundable) if above conditions are met.  
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Reddit confirms:

> “Yes! Almost every airline … will be issuing you a full refund back to your credit card if you cancel within 24 hours, because this is a new U.S. DOT rule since 2020! It doesn't matter that it's basic economy, non-refundable, etc.”  
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## 5. Cancelling Within 24 Hours: Step‑by‑Step

Here’s how to navigate the 24‑hour cancellation correctly with Hawaiian:

1. **Book flight** directly on hawaiianairlines.com, mobile app, or by phone, ensuring departure is ≥ 7 days away.
2. **Track your booking time**—Hawaiian provides a timestamped confirmation email.
3. **Initiate cancellation** anytime before the 24-hour window ends.
   - You can use the “Manage Trips” section, call Reservations, or contact Customer Service.
4. **Request a full refund** to your original payment method.
5. **Refund timeline**:
   - Credit card: within 7 business days.
   - Cash/check: within 20 business days.  
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Pro tip: **Document timestamps** of booking and cancellation, particularly via screen captures, to support your case if there’s any dispute.

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## 6. Beyond 24 Hours: Fare‑Specific Rules

After the 24‑hour window closes, the airline's standard fare rules apply. These depend heavily on fare type.

### Main Cabin Basic Fares
- **Non-changeable, nonrefundable**.
- Exception: If canceled **≥7 days before departure** and **within 24 hours**, no penalty. But after that period, no refunds or changes allowed.  
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### Standard Main Cabin / First Class
- **Changes**: permitted with no fee; must pay any fare difference.
- **If refundable ticket purchased**: Full refund (minus fees).
- **Otherwise**: nonrefundable, but changes allowed.  
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### Refundable Fares
- **Fully refundable anytime** before departure (subject to service fees).
- **Refund request** must go through Reservations.  
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## 7. Refund Processing: Timeline & Fees

According to Hawaiian’s Rule 24 and Customer Service Plan:

- **Cash/Card refunds**: within 7 business days (card); 20 business days (cash/check).  
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- **Service fees** may apply if outside 24‑hour window:
  - $25 for travel within Hawaii.
  - $100 within continental U.S. or Hawaii–U.S. mainland.  
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- You can choose travel credits (1-year validity) to avoid these fees.  
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## 8. Exceptions, Edge Cases & Cancellations

### Booking Under 7 Days Before Departure
- DOT rule does **not apply** if flight departs in under 7 days. No 24‑hour full refund guarantee.  
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### Booking via Travel Agency or Third Party
- DOT rule covers **direct bookings only**. Third-party bookings rely on that vendor’s policy.  
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### Fare Holds
- Hawaiian offers a **Fare Hold**, but not for Basic/First/Business classes.
- **Hold fee** does not guarantee refund eligibility.
- If hold is used instead of cancellation, credit card refund does not apply.  
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### COVID-19 and Travel Waivers
- Past waivers suspended expiration dates and extended cancel/change flexibility.
- As of June 2025, these are no longer active.  
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## 9. Special Fare Types & Their Impact

### Main Cabin Basic
- Most restrictive—non-refundable and non-changeable beyond 24‑hour rule.  
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### Standard Main Cabin
- Flexible: can change itinerary, but nonrefundable unless fare type says so.
- Might pay fare difference for date changes.  
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### First Class
- Like Standard Main Cabin: changeable, but refundable only if refundable fare purchased.

### Refundable Fare
- Highest flexibility—fully refundable anytime before departure, via Reservations.  
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## 10. Practical Tips & Advice

1. **Always cancel within 24 hours**: No need to select “refundable” to cancel in time.
2. **Check departure timeframe**: Book ≥ 7 days before departure to enable 24‑hour full refund.
3. **Book direct**: Through hawaiianairlines.com, app, or phone.
4. **Act fast**: Keep track of booking timestamp and cancel immediately if needed.
5. **Document everything**: Screenshots and reference numbers help.
6. **Manage holds cautiously**: They are not refundable and may block the 24‑hour window.
7. **Know your fare type**: Basic Economy is harsh. Refundable fare minimizes risk.
8. **Refund mode flexibility**: Consider travel credit to avoid service fees.
9. **If denied refund**, escalate to DOT with your purchase details.

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## 11. Common Myths & Misunderstandings

- **“All tickets are refundable if canceled within 24 hours”**: True if booking ≥7 days before and direct.
- **“I booked basic economy, so I can’t cancel”**: False—DOT override applies.
- **“If I book within 7 days, I still get the window”**: False—the rule doesn’t apply.
- **“Use a fare hold instead of buying—same benefit”**: No—hold doesn’t guarantee refund.

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## 12. Escalations: DOT and No‑Show Policy

- **DOT complaints**: File if airline refuses legitimate DOT refund. Can recover denied refunds.  
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- As of **May 15, 2025**, Hawaiian’s “no‑show” policy cancels entire itinerary if passenger doesn’t board, with no refund or credit.  
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## 13. Final Summary & Best Practices

### Key Takeaways:
- The 24‑hour rule is **real, federally mandated**, and well‑implemented by Hawaiian.
- It applies **to all fare types**, but only for bookings made **≥7 days** in advance **directly** through the airline.
- Cancellation **within 24 hours** guarantees a **full refund**—no fees.
- Beyond 24 hours, your **fare type matters**: Basic Economy is locked-in, while refundable fares offer full flexibility.
- **Refunds** are issued within **7–20 business days**, depending on payment method.
- Booking strategy:
  1. Ensure departure date ≥ 7 days out.
  2. Book directly and timestamp immediately.
  3. Cancel within 24 hours if unsure.
  4. Otherwise, know your fare’s change/refund terms and proceed accordingly.

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## ✅ Final Verdict

Yes—**Hawaiian Airlines does offer a 24‑hour cancellation policy**, in full compliance with U.S. regulations. As long as you book directly at least seven days before departure and cancel within 24 hours, you’re entitled to a **full refund**, regardless of fare type. For anything beyond that window, **fare rules apply**, so choose wisely and manage your booking strategically.

If you’d like, I can also outline step-by-step cancellation walkthroughs for different fare types, or explain how to escalate refund issues through DOT or Hawaiian’s channels—just say the word!