Airline Change & Cancellation Policies for Coronavirus

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, airlines have been scrambling to deal with changes, cancellations, re-booking, and waiving fees.

Most airlines have greatly modified their standard policies in this extreme circumstance, and continue to do so as things play out.

Update 6/30/2020: Many companies had a “purchase by” date of June 30th, 2020 for their flexible cancel/re-book policies. As the pandemic continues and many travel restrictions are still in place, most have adjusted that date to July 31st, 2020. I would expect them to do so again if things do not improve dramatically.

US AIRLINES

Allegiant

Allegiant is allowing customers a one-time change to their travel plans without incurring change or cancellation fees. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. The value of the ticket is only good for one year from the purchase date. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Full Allegiant policy here.

Alaska

Any tickets purchased through July 31, 2020, for travel through June 30, 2021 can be canceled or changed without any fees. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. New travel must take within a year of the original itinerary. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Full Alaska policy here.

American

Any tickets purchased for travel through Sept. 30, 2020, can be canceled or changed without any fees. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Full American policy here.

Delta

Any tickets purchased through July 31, 2020, can be canceled or changed for up to a year from the date of purchase without any fees. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Full Delta policy here.

Frontier

Frontier is not offering any protection for trips booked after April 15. However, the airline’s general policy allows for free itinerary changes, so long as the modifications are made 60 days or more from the original departure date. A $79 change fee will be applied 59-14 days before departure, and will go up to $119 for changes 13 days before departure or less, including same-day modifications. Full Frontier policy here.

Hawaiian

Any tickets purchased through July 31, 2020, can be changed for up to two years from the original purchase date without any fees. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Full Hawaiian policy here.

JetBlue

Customers can change or cancel tickets booked through July 31, 2020, for no fee. If passengers rebook flights, they may have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Cancellations and changes to lower-fare tickets will result in the issuance of a travel credit valid for 24 months from the date it is issued. Full JetBlue policy here.

Southwest

Any new credits issued for changed or canceled itineraries between March 1 and Sept. 7, 2020 will remain valid through Sept. 7, 2022. New bookings for travel through the end of April can be changed for up to 60 days from the original travel date and no fare difference will be applied.  Full Southwest policy here.

United

Any tickets purchased through July 31, 2020, can be canceled or changed without any fees. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price, and they will not be issued a credit or refund if the new itinerary costs less than the original booking. Credits on cancellations are valid for 12 months from the original ticket date. Full United policy here. 

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES

Air Canada

New bookings made through July 31, 2020, for travel through June 31, 2021, can be canceled or changed without any fees and will receive a credit valid for 24 months from the cancellation date. Passengers cannot get a cash refund. If passengers rebook flights, they will have to pay the difference in fare between the original ticket and the new price. Full Air Canada policy here.

Air France

Flights booked on or after April 22 can be changed or rebooked for no fee, but Air France requests that passengers make changes or voucher requests before their original departure date. As with existing bookings, those who choose to cancel their travel will receive a voucher, valid for one year from the date of issue. Unlike with existing bookings, the voucher will be refundable after one year if it goes unused. Full policy can be found here.  

British Airways

Any tickets purchased on or before July 31 for travel set to depart on or before Dec. 31, 2020, can be canceled or changed for no fee. Those who choose to cancel their tickets will receive a voucher, which will remain valid through April 30, 2022. Full waiver policies can be found here.

Cathay Pacific

Allows free, unlimited changes for new travel booked through July 31, 2020. Travel must be completed within one year of the ticket issuance date. Full policy list can be found here.

Emirates

Emirates is offering fee-free vouchers for travelers who book a trip on or before July 31, 2020, with a departure date on or before Nov. 30, 2020. Full list of COVID-19 policies can be found here.  

KLM

Flights booked on or after April 22 can be changed or rebooked for no fee, but KLM requests that passengers make changes or voucher requests before their original departure date. As with existing bookings, those who choose to cancel their travel will receive a voucher, valid for one year from the date of issue. Unlike with existing bookings, the voucher will be refundable after one year if it goes unused. Full policy can be found here.  

Lufthansa

Bookings on or before June 30, 2020, can change their itinerary for no fee, so long as the changes are made by Aug. 31 and the new departure is set to occur on or before Jan 31, 2021. Those who choose to travel with their new itinerary on or before Dec. 31, 2021, will receive a 50€ discount. Full policy here. 

Qantas

Any new tickets for travel through Oct. 31, 2020, can be canceled and travelers will receive a voucher for their ticket. The voucher must be spent, and the new itinerary must occur by Dec. 31, 2021. Passengers will need to pay change fees and any fare difference when making the new booking, but will not be charged a cancellation fee for the original trip. For new bookings for travel after Oct. 31, passengers can also receive a voucher, which must be used within 12 months. Full policy here. 

Singapore Airlines

Change fees will be waived for all new Singapore Airlines and SilkAir tickets for travel through Aug. 31, 2020. Any rebooking fees will be waived, although a fare difference may apply. Full policy can be found here.

Virgin Australia

Bookings made on or after April 11, any new travel booked with a departure date on or before June 30 can be changed or canceled for no fee, though fare differences will still apply. For international itineraries, the new travel must take place on or before March 1, 2021, and for domestic itineraries, the new travel must take place on or before Sept. 30, 2020. Full policies here.

Virgin Atlantic

Bookings made after March 20, any new travel purchased on or before Aug. 31, 2020, scheduled to depart between Oct. 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021, can be changed once for no fee. Full policies here. 

WestJet

All new flight bookings made on or before July 31, 2020, can be canceled or changed one time for no fee 24 hours or more after booking. Passengers who choose to cancel will receive a travel credit valid for 24 months from the date of issue. There is no fee to cancel and refund tickets within the first 24 hours after booking. Full details here.