American Airlines
American Airlines waived their change fees for tickets purchased before April 7, 2020 for travel through September 30, 2020. American Airlines is also waiving change fees for new trips booked between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2020. Additionally, tickets expiring between March 1 and September 30, 2020 will now be valid through December 31, 2021. They’re also enhancing the AAdvantage program, extending travelers’ elite status through early 2022.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines waived their change fees for tickets purchased on or before February 26, 2020 for original travel dates between March 9 and May 31, 2020. Travelers are able to use their tickets for flights between March 9,2020 and February 28, 2021. Additionally, they also waived their change fees for flights booked between February 27 and April 30, 2020 for original travel dates between February 27, 2020 and February 28, 2021.
Customers who purchased Saver fare or a nonrefundable First Class, main, or award ticket between February 27 and May 31, 2020 can also cancel their trip without a fee and deposit the funds into My Account Wallet or receive a credit certificate for future travel.
Unaccompanied child fliers will only be allowed on nonstop flights through May 31, 2020.
Delta
Delta is waiving their change fees and offering greater flexibility through September 30, 2022 for customers who have upcoming travel already booked March through September 30, 2020. Delta expanded the ability to re-book travel without change fees for travel scheduled through June 30, 2020.
In order to promote social distancing, Delta is also boarding by row now, starting from the rear of the aircraft and moving forward.
They’ve also extended benefits and 2020 Medallion Status will be extended for an additional year through January 31, 2022.
Frontier
Frontier is allowing customers who booked tickets prior to March 10 with travel through April 30, 2020 to make a one-time change to their itinerary without a change/cancel fee. Customers are also able to make a one-time change to their itinerary without a change/cancel fee for tickets issued March 10 through April 15, 2020.
JetBlue
JetBlue waived change/cancel fees for customers traveling through May 31, 2020. Customers can rebook their flights for travel through January 4, 2021.
JetBlue has temporarily suspended service to some airports that have alternative airports nearby in order to consolidate service in metro areas from April 15 to June 10, 2020. Service is temporarily suspended to Providence, RI (PVD), New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Westchester (HPN), Newburgh (SWF), Hollywood/Burbank (BUR), Ontario (ONT), San Jose, CA (SJC), and Baltimore, MD (BWI).
Southwest
Southwest allows travelers to cancel their flights without change fees up to ten minutes before the scheduled departure and the funds used to pay for a nonrefundable ticket are typically only valid for one year after the date of purchase. However, due to the COVID-19 crisis, customers’ funds that have expired or will expire between March 1 and September 7, 2020 will now expire on September 7, 2022. Additionally, any funds created due to canceled flights between March 1 and September 7, 2020 will expire on September 7, 2022.
United Airlines
United Airlines has waived all change fees for tickets issued on or before March 2, 2020 for travel dates between March 13 and May 31, 2020. New tickets must be purchased within two years from the original ticket date and rebooked travel must commence within two years of the original ticket date. Additionally, all change fees are waived for tickets issued on or before June 1 and December 31, 2020. New tickets must be booked within two years of the original ticket date and cancellations and changes must be made on or before April 30, 2020. There are no change fees for new bookings now through April 30, 2020.
