

For example, many chains require that you cancel a reservation at least seven days before your scheduled arrival, and a few will charge a full night’s fee or a two-night penalty if you cancel within a week of your stay. Similar to canceling flights booked with miles or points, the timing may matter for canceling your hotel plans.

“This depends on the brand, but, as a general rule, the hotel will likely refund you your points,” says travel writer Katherine Fan. But many are currently offering expanded cancellation and rebooking policies. Under normal, non-pandemic circumstances, advance or prepaid rates may be nonrefundable under the program’s cancellation policy. You can cancel hotel stays, but be sure to ask what happens to your points if you do so. Can you cancel a hotel stay booked with points? “Many airlines will try to keep your custom and may even offer prices for future travel at a discounted rate,” says Will Hatton, founder of the travel site The Broke Backpacker. The upside of canceling is that you may be able to rebook later for less, allowing you to stretch miles or points farther. But avoiding a fee may hinge on when you booked and your travel dates. If you booked your flight with miles and cancel, miles can be returned to you. Most airlines do not charge a cancellation fee if you cancel a flight that was purchased using miles. Travel expert Mark Jackson says travelers should always check the airline’s most up-to-date policy for cancellations and flight changes. The short answer is yes, though it’s up to the airline to determine which award fares are eligible for cancellation. Can you cancel or change a flight booked with miles? If you fall ill or a destination you’re planning to visit tightens its travel rules, these tips can help you better understand your options if you must change your travel plans. The world has largely reopened as COVID cases have fallen and become less severe, though travel still isn’t quite where it was prior to the pandemic - which isn’t quite over yet. For example, can you get those miles or points back if you have to cancel or change your trip? And will you have to pay a fee to do so? If COVID-19 continues to affect your travel plans, you may wonder what happens next if you used points or miles to book your trip.
