How to book a new flight with free change/cancellation during the COVID-19 outbreak?

In response to the ever-changing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, airlines have begun making rapid updates to their change and cancellation policies. Policy changes vary by airline and can range from free flight vouchers or waived change fees on new itineraries to full refunds on existing bookings.

To help you make the best possible travel decisions and book future travels with confidence, we’ve compiled a list of how major airlines are adjusting their current cancellation and change policies to reflect the COVID-19 situation. Of course, things can change rapidly. So we’ll be updating this page as soon as we hear of policy changes or updates. 

 

AeroMexico

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Any

What else you need to know: The rescheduled trip must take place before February 28, 2021

Read AeroMexico’s full policy here

 

Air Canada

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Any

What else you need to know: All travel must be completed by December 31, 2020.

Read Air Canada’s full policy here

 

Alaska Airlines

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: through February 28, 2021

What else you need to know: New travel must be completed by February 28, 2021.

Read Alaska Airlines full policy here

 

American Airlines

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: March 1, 2020 - January 30, 2021

What else you need to know: Original travel must occur by January 30, 2021 and must be completed within 1 year of original ticket issue date.

Read American Airlines full policy here

 

British Airways

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Through December 31, 2021

What else you need to know: Your voucher will be valid for travel within 12 months from your original departure date.

Read British Airways full policy here

 

Delta Air Lines

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: April 30, 202

Applicable travel dates: Through May 31, 2020 for most destinations

What else you need to know: Rescheduled travel on new tickets must begin no later than December 31, 2020.

Read Delta Air Lines full policy here

 

Icelandair

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: April 1, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Through January 1, 2021

What else you need to know: New travel period must be completed by January 1, 2021.

Read Icelandair's full policy here

 

JetBlue

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Through September 8, 2020

What else you need to know: If you need to cancel your travel plans, JetBlue will credit the amount in the form of a travel credit that’s valid for one year.

Read JetBlue's full policy here

 

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Through May 31, 2020

What else you need to know: If you change to a higher fare type, you will need to pay the fare difference.

Read KLM's full policy here

 

Lufthansa

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: April 30, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Any

What else you need to know: Passengers can rebook to a new travel date until December 31, 2020 without rebooking fees. If the original fare is no longer available, the corresponding difference must be paid, but you will receive a €50 discount on this amount.

Read Lufthansa's full policy here

 

Qatar Airways

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: June 30, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Any

What else you need to know: In addition to being able to alter the travel dates of their booking free of charge, travelers can exchange their ticket for a travel voucher valid for one year. Both changes apply up to three days prior to departure.

Read Qatar Airway's full policy here

 

Southwest Airlines

What you need to know: Southwest never charges fees to change or cancel flights. Customers that are scheduled to travel before April 30 may change their travel up to 60 days from the original flight date. If you are unsure of your future travel plans, the funds used to pay for your trip will be available for the customer named on the ticket to use and fly for up to 12 months from the original date of purchase.

Read Southwest's full policy here

 

SWISS Airlines

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: through April 30, 2020

What else you need to know: Flights booked before and up to March 31 may be subject to fare differences upon rebooking.

Read SWISS Airlines' full policy here

 

United Airlines

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Any

What else you need to know: New tickets must be reissued on/before December 31, 2020 or 12 months from original ticket date, whichever is earlier. Travel must commence within 12 months from the original ticket issue date.

Read United Airlines full policy here

 

Virgin Atlantic

At this time, Virgin has announced they’ll be grounding up to 85% of their fleet.

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 30, 2020

Applicable travel dates: through April 30, 2021

What else you need to know: No change fee or fare difference if you complete travel by June 30, 2020. Rebooked flights will be subject to availability and any difference in fare if your new travel dates are on or after July 1, 2020.

Read Virgin Atlantic's full policy here

 

WestJet

Change fee waived for tickets booked through: March 31, 2020

Applicable travel dates: Any

What else you need to know: Tickets purchased before March 31, 2020 will be allowed a one-time change fee waiver. The one-time fee waiver is available for any itinerary change or cancellation made more than 24 hours from departure.

Read WestJet's full policy here

 

Other Airlines COVID-19 Waiver and Cancellation Policies

Air France COVID-19 Policy

Cathay Pacific COVID-19 Policy

Frontier COVID-19 Policy

Iberia COVID-19 Policy

Norwegian COVID-19 Policy

Singapore Airlines COVID-19 Policy

Qantas COVID-19 Policy

TAP Air Portugal COVID-19 Policy

 

Want to get our flight deals as soon as they’re published? Follow Dollar Flight Club on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and join to get email alerts from our deals feed.

 


 

BY: JESSE NEUGARTEN, CEO & FOUNDER

Jesse originally founded Dollar Flight Club in 2016 to harness his flight finding skills for friends and family. Years later, Jesse and the Dollar Flight Club team parse through the data to deliver the best flight deals to their more than 1,000,000 members. His favorite recent destinations of choice have been Greece, Mexico, France, and Sweden.

 


 

Find us on social:

Get alerts for the world's cheapest flight deals, for free.

 

START FREE TRIAL