Refund Policy

Last updated: 1 January 2026

This Refund Policy explains how refunds are handled for airline tickets and related services booked through Worlds Travel LLC. Refunds are complex because they depend almost entirely on the airline’s fare rules — not on our own preferences or wishes. Our role is to explain those rules clearly, process the cancellation, and track the refund through to completion.

1. Who sets the refund rules

The airline sets the fare rules for every ticket at the moment it is issued. These rules determine:

• Whether the fare is refundable, partially refundable, or non-refundable;
• The amount of the airline’s cancellation or “no-show” fee;
• Whether the airline will issue a cash refund to your card or a travel credit/voucher;
• The timeframe within which the airline will process the refund.

Worlds Travel LLC does not set, modify, or override airline fare rules.

2. Before you cancel — what the agent will tell you

Before processing any cancellation, our agent will:

1. Retrieve your fare rules from the airline.
2. Calculate the refund you will receive (airline fare minus any airline cancellation fee, plus any government taxes that are legally refundable).
3. Quote the Worlds Travel service fee (if any) for processing the cancellation.
4. Give you the net refund amount you should expect from the airline.

You can then decide whether to proceed. No cancellation is processed without your explicit authorisation.

3. Common refund scenarios

Fully refundable fare

Typically flexible Business, First, or refundable Economy fares. You receive the full fare back, sometimes minus a small airline administration fee. Service fees charged by Worlds Travel are separate (see Section 5).

Partially refundable fare

A large portion of restricted Economy fares fall in this category. The airline deducts a cancellation fee (often £50–£300 depending on route, carrier, and fare class) and refunds the remainder.

Non-refundable fare

The airline retains the base fare. However, the following may still be refundable:

• Unused government taxes and airport fees (the airline is legally required to refund these in most jurisdictions);
• Unused carrier-imposed surcharges (varies by airline);
• Some airlines offer a travel credit/voucher valid for 12–24 months, usable on a future booking.

Airline-initiated cancellation (involuntary)

If the airline cancels your flight or makes a significant schedule change, you are generally entitled — under the airline’s own policy and applicable consumer law — to either a full refund or a rebooking on an alternative flight at no additional cost, regardless of fare type. Worlds Travel will coordinate this with the airline on your behalf.

4. Refund timeframes

Once the airline has approved and processed the refund, the funds are returned to the original form of payment. Typical timeframes:

• UK & European airlines: typically 7–21 business days.
• North American airlines: typically 7–20 business days.
• Middle Eastern and Asian airlines: can take 21–60 business days depending on carrier.
• Credit card posting: your card issuer may take a further 1–3 business days to post the refund to your statement after the airline releases it.

If the refund is not received within the expected window, contact us and we will follow up with the airline on your behalf.

5. Worlds Travel service fees

Worlds Travel may charge a service fee for processing a cancellation and refund request. This service fee is:

• Separate from and in addition to any airline-imposed cancellation fee;
• Disclosed to you verbally before you authorise the cancellation;
• Non-refundable once the cancellation and refund-request work has been performed.

You may always decline to proceed with a cancellation if the total fees are not acceptable — no service fee is charged if we do not perform the cancellation.

6. Refunds on upgrades and ancillaries

Paid upgrades, paid seat selections, pre-paid baggage, and other ancillary products follow the airline’s rules for each product. Some are refundable alongside the main fare; others are treated separately.

7. Chargebacks and disputes

If you dispute a refund or believe we have not handled your case fairly, please contact us first at contact@worldstravel.co.uk or 0808 501 0080 so we can try to resolve the issue. Initiating a credit-card chargeback without first contacting us may delay the refund, and in cases where an airline refund is already en route, a chargeback can complicate the process significantly.

8. Travel insurance

If your cancellation reason is covered by travel insurance (illness, bereavement, natural disaster, etc.), your insurer may reimburse amounts not refunded by the airline. We can provide the documentation you need to support an insurance claim.

9. Contact us