Priceline refunds depend on what you booked and which refund policy was attached to it at purchase
Priceline itself does not hold your money or issue refunds directly. When you book a flight, hotel, or car through Priceline, you are buying from the airline, hotel chain, or rental company—Priceline is the intermediary. The refund policy that applies is the one from that supplier, not from Priceline. Priceline's role is to pass your refund request to the supplier and hold the money while the supplier processes it.
The timeline and conditions for a refund depend entirely on what you booked. A non-refundable hotel rate will not become refundable because you booked it through Priceline. A refundable airline ticket will remain refundable. Priceline cannot override the supplier's policy, though they can sometimes negotiate on your behalf if you have a legitimate complaint about their service.
The fastest way to get a refund is to contact the supplier directly—the airline, hotel, or car rental company—rather than going through Priceline. They control the refund. If you cannot reach the supplier or believe Priceline made an error in the booking, then contact Priceline to escalate.
Key Takeaways
- The supplier (airline, hotel, or rental company) issues the refund, not Priceline, and the refund policy you agreed to at purchase determines whether you get one.
- Contacting the supplier directly is usually faster than going through Priceline, because the supplier controls the refund decision and timeline.
- Priceline's customer service can help if the booking itself contains an error or if you need documentation to send to the supplier.
- Refunds from suppliers typically take 5 to 30 days to reach your original payment method after approval, depending on the supplier and your bank.
- If you booked a "Name Your Own Price" or opaque rate, you cannot cancel or change it—those rates are non-refundable by design.
Contacting the supplier directly for a refund
Start by finding the confirmation email Priceline sent you. It contains the booking reference, the supplier's name, and often a direct link to the supplier's website or customer service. Open that link or go to the supplier's main website and search for your booking using your confirmation number and last name.
Once you locate your booking with the supplier, check the cancellation or refund policy displayed there. This is the policy that actually governs your refund—not Priceline's terms. If the policy says the booking is refundable, you can request a refund directly. If it says non-refundable, the supplier will decline unless you have a legitimate reason (death in the family, medical emergency, or a change in the supplier's cancellation policy after you booked).
Call or use the supplier's online chat to request the refund. Have your confirmation number ready. The supplier will process it and send the money back to the payment method you used. This usually takes 5 to 30 days depending on the supplier and your bank's processing speed.
When to contact Priceline instead of the supplier
Contact Priceline if the booking confirmation contains an error—wrong dates, wrong property, wrong passenger name—or if you believe Priceline charged you incorrectly. Priceline can sometimes cancel the booking on your behalf and reissue a refund to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days.
You should also contact Priceline if you cannot reach the supplier or if the supplier's website does not show your booking. This sometimes happens with older bookings or with smaller properties. Priceline has a record of every transaction and can contact the supplier for you.
Priceline's customer service is available by phone, email, and chat through their website. Phone is usually fastest for urgent issues. Have your confirmation number and the email address associated with your account ready when you contact them.
Refunds for "Name Your Own Price" and opaque bookings
Name Your Own Price and similar opaque rate bookings are non-refundable and non-changeable by design. You do not know the specific property or airline until after you complete the purchase. In exchange, you get a lower price. Priceline cannot refund these bookings except in cases of fraud or a system error on Priceline's side.
If you booked an opaque rate and want to cancel, your only option is to contact Priceline and explain why you believe the booking should not have gone through—for example, if you were charged twice, or if the confirmation shows a different property than what was described during the booking process. Priceline will review the case, but they will likely decline unless there is clear evidence of an error.
What happens if the supplier goes out of business
If the airline, hotel, or rental company closes before your trip, you have lost the money unless you had travel insurance. Priceline does not refund bookings when a supplier fails. Your only recourse is to file a dispute with your credit card company or bank if you paid by card, or to contact your travel insurance provider if you purchased coverage.
This is rare but has happened during economic downturns or with smaller carriers. If you are concerned about a supplier's stability, check recent news before booking, or purchase a refundable rate instead of a discounted non-refundable one.
Disputing a charge with your bank or credit card company
If Priceline charged you but never completed the booking, or if you were charged twice, contact your bank or credit card company to dispute the charge. You will need your confirmation number, the charge date, and the amount. The bank will investigate and may reverse the charge while they look into it.
This process usually takes 30 to 60 days. During that time, the bank will contact Priceline to ask for proof that the charge was legitimate. If Priceline cannot provide it, the bank will refund you. If Priceline can prove the charge was correct, the bank will close the dispute and you will owe the money again.
Do not dispute a charge as a way to cancel a refundable booking—contact the supplier or Priceline first. Disputing a legitimate charge can damage your relationship with Priceline and may result in your account being flagged or closed.
Timeline for receiving your refund
Once the supplier approves your refund, the money goes back to Priceline, and Priceline sends it to your original payment method. The timeline varies:
- Credit or debit card: 5 to 10 business days from approval, though your bank may take an additional 3 to 5 days to post it.
- PayPal or digital wallet: 3 to 7 business days.
- Bank transfer or check: 10 to 30 days depending on the supplier and your bank.
If you do not see the refund within the stated timeframe, contact Priceline with your confirmation number and ask for the refund status. They can tell you whether the supplier has approved it and when it was sent to your payment method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I booked a non-refundable rate?
No, unless the supplier's cancellation policy has changed since you booked, or unless you have a documented emergency like a death in the family or serious illness. Contact the supplier directly to explain your situation. Some suppliers will make exceptions, but most will not refund a non-refundable rate.
How long does a Priceline refund take?
If the supplier approves the refund, Priceline typically sends it to your original payment method within 5 to 10 business days. Your bank may take an additional 3 to 5 days to post it. The total time from approval to your account is usually 7 to 15 days.
What if Priceline charged me but the booking never went through?
Contact Priceline when ready with your confirmation number. If the booking failed on their end, they will refund you within 5 to 10 business days. If you cannot reach them or they refuse, dispute the charge with your bank or credit card company.
Can I change my booking instead of canceling it?
That depends on the supplier and the rate you booked. Some refundable bookings allow free changes; others charge a change fee. Contact the supplier directly to see what options are available. Non-refundable and opaque rates usually cannot be changed.
What if the supplier refunded me but Priceline did not pass it through?
Contact Priceline with proof that the supplier issued the refund—a confirmation email from the supplier or a bank statement showing the refund. Priceline will investigate and send the money to you if they received it from the supplier but did not forward it.