Qatar Airways Deducting Fees Due to Using Voucher Despite DOT 24-Hour Refund Rule – Are They Right?

Hi everyone,

I’m dealing with an issue with Qatar Airways and could use some advice. I booked a flight with them from Boston (BOS) using a combination of a $150 voucher (total cost: ~$1,000). I canceled the ticket within 24 hours of booking, believing I was entitled to a full refund under the DOT’s 24-hour refund rule (14 CFR § 259.5(b)(4)).

Instead, Qatar Airways deducted over $300 in fees. They claim their internal policy exempts tickets purchased with vouchers from the 24-hour refund rule. Specifically, they referred me to this clause in their travel voucher terms:
"A refund or change fee may apply when requesting a refund or changing a booking paid for using a voucher, depending on the fare rules of the purchased ticket."

What’s frustrating is that they applied the fees entirely to the cash portion of the payment, not the voucher, leaving a significant amount unrecovered.

As far as I understand, the DOT’s 24-hour refund rule applies to all tickets for flights to/from the U.S., regardless of the payment method. Does Qatar Airways’ policy actually override this federal regulation? Has anyone else encountered this issue, and what did you do to resolve it?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!