Startups use AI to recover savings when airfares fall after booking

Startups JetBack, Junova and Refare are using artificial intelligence to track ticket prices after purchase and pursue refunds or airline credits when fares decline, offering passengers a counterweight to carriers’ increasingly sophisticated pricing tools.

The services rely on policies adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many US carriers removed fees for changing most non-refundable tickets. Those policies can allow passengers to recover a subsequent price reduction without paying an additional charge, although the rules differ by airline.

JetBack says it has obtained $2.4 million in refunds and credits since its early 2025 launch. Junova said it tracked 10,000 flights between September 2025 and July 2026, finding that about 22% had a fare reduction. Among that group, about 40% recorded multiple declines.

The companies charge differently: JetBack has a $100 annual fee, while Junova takes 20% of recovered savings and Refare takes 25%. The latter two charge only when they successfully recover money.

Airline policy changes pose a risk to the model. Alaska Airlines ended customer-service adjustments for falling fares in early October, requiring passengers instead to cancel their booking and purchase another ticket under the relevant fare conditions. Refare founder Justin Dombrow said he feared other carriers could adopt similar restrictions.

Alaska said cancellation carries no fee for main and first-class fares. For basic economy, passengers can receive a credit worth 50% of their ticket if they cancel at least 14 days before departure.

The startups’ expansion comes as lawmakers question whether airlines could use AI and consumer information to set individualized fares. Carriers already use the technology to track competitors’ prices and are testing pricing and operational applications. Many adjustments on non-refundable bookings provide airline credits rather than cash, keeping the spending with the carrier.