[Updated With AA Basic Economy Waiver] AA, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, And United Extend Their Window To Book Tickets Without Change Fees Through July 31st

53
DDMS IconNever Miss Another Deal - Follow DansDeals on Facebook

Update, 7/14: American is now including basic economy tickets in their change fee waiver for new tickets, regardless of when you fly. Previously they were only waiving change fees on basic economy tickets if you were flying by 9/30.

Update, 7/1: American has finally extended through 7/31 as well, however they exclude award tickets and basic economy from that policy unless you complete travel by 9/30.

Update, 6/30: [Now live on United’s site] United media relations has informed me that they will also extend their free change policy through 7/31 as well. You will be able to book tickets in July for travel on any date with free changes and if you bought tickets before March 3 for travel in 2020 you can make free changes on those through 7/31. 

Update, 6/30: Delta and JetBlue have now extended through 7/31 as well.


Alaska has blinked first and updated their free change policy to include new bookings through 7/31. This post will be updated when other airlines match that policy, but as it stands now, June 30th is the last day to book AA awards and have free cancellations, it’s the last day to book Delta, JetBlue, and United tickets with free changes, and it’s the last day to make free changes on previously purchased United tickets for travel through the end of the year.

If your flight is cancelled or is significantly changed, you can receive a cash refund per DoT regulations.

That’s why I don’t recommend cancelling a flight before it’s close to the time of departure. 

However, assuming your flight is operating, these are the cancellation options on major domestic airlines:

  • Alaska:
    • All tickets purchased on or before 2/26 for travel through 12/31 can be changed free of charge for travel or funds can be redeposited into your Alaska wallet for future travel. Award tickets will be refunded free of charge. The difference in fare will still apply.
    • All tickets purchased between 2/27-7/31 can be changed free of charge or funds can be redeposited into your Alaska wallet for future travel. Award tickets will be refunded free of charge. The difference in fare will still apply.
  • American:
    • All tickets for travel through 9/30 can be changed one time free of charge. The difference in fare will still apply. This policy does apply to award tickets and basic economy tickets. Awards can also be redeposited for free.
    • All tickets purchased between 3/1 through 5/31 can be changed one time free of charge. This policy does apply to award tickets and basic economy tickets. Awards can also be redeposited for free. The difference in fare will still apply.
    • Tickets purchased between 6/1-6/30 can be changed free of charge, but this does not apply to basic economy tickets. Awards can be redeposited for free. The difference in fare will still apply. You may be able to call American to request an exception for basic economy tickets.
    • Tickets purchased between 7/1-7/13 can be changed free of charge, but this does not apply to basic economy or award tickets. The difference in fare will still apply. You may be able to call American to request an exception for basic economy tickets.
    • Tickets purchased between 7/14-7/31 can be changed free of charge, but this does not apply to award tickets. The difference in fare will still apply.
    • Awards booked on or before 6/30 for travel anytime can be redeposited for free. The new fee schedule that eliminates free date changes goes into effect for award tickets booked as of 7/1.
  • Delta:
    • All tickets purchased between 3/1-7/31 can be changed one time free of charge for travel for one year. The difference in fare will still apply. Awards can be redeposited for free.
  • JetBlue:
    • All tickets purchased between 2/27-7/31 can receive a refund to your JetBlue travel bank for use by anyone within 2 years of the redeposit date. Awards can be redeposited for free.
  • Southwest:
    • Southwest always allows for free flight changes. The difference in fare will still apply, though exceptions are occasionally available online. Travel funds for cancellations from 3/1/20-9/7/20 or funds that would have expired in that timeframe will be valid through 9/7/22. Alternatively, you can refund tickets into points at the same rate it would cost to buy your flights. Points never expire and have no cancellation fees. Awards can always be redeposited for free.
  • United:
    • All tickets purchased between 4/1-7/31 can be changed free of charge for travel within 1 year. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given under this waiver. The difference in fare will still apply. Alternatively, United.com will also allow you to request a voucher valid for 2 years.
    • All award travel for travel through 12/31 can be redeposited for free as long as they’re cancelled at least 30 days before travel.
    • If you purchased a ticket on or before 3/2 for travel by 12/31/20, you can cancel for free by 7/31 and use the funds within 2 years.
    • All tickets purchased between 3/3-3/31 can be changed free of charge for travel within 2 years. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given under this waiver. The difference in fare will still apply. You can also request a voucher valid for 2 years.
    • See more here about United flight credit vs. an electronic travel certificate.
    • Click to cancel an itinerary to have the option between future flight credit or an electronic travel certificate valid for 24 months:
  • You can discuss coronavirus and how it’s affecting your life on the dedicated COVID-19 board on DDF here.

Leave a Reply

53 Comments On "[Updated With AA Basic Economy Waiver] AA, Alaska, Delta, JetBlue, And United Extend Their Window To Book Tickets Without Change Fees Through July 31st"

All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.

chaim

on delta can award tickets be redeposited for free even if i book flights a year from now

chail

on delta can you get free redeposit of awards even if you book a award ticket to fly on a partner carrier?

i know on american you cannot but what about delta

Thanks

yossi

united states that you must cancel your award ticket 30 days before a flight. you can also change the award ticket .It does not say a 30 day restriction for changing a award ticket. Does that mean that i can change a award ticket for more then 30 days out and then cancel it for free effectively removing the 30 day limitation for astute consumers

Stephen

I just did this the other day and it worked. I changed it for free to be more than 30 days out then cancelled the award and it showed fee being waived.

Yochai

What’s BAs policy for Avios bookings?

Dave

Full refund minus taxes and fees. (All year round)

Yochai

I know that. I was asking if there’s a covid waiver to refund the taxes (some are more then 5.60$).

Dave

Also officially not. It would be a shame to lose a $100 on a flight to London. But sometimes you can call and they might help.

Stephen

I just checked JetBlue’s website and they have updated to be through July as well.

David

Any word on United extending their cancellation policy beyond June 30?

Jeff B

Here’s the thing that is going to make this so complicated in the future. Once they reinstate change fees people who are sick are more likely to just fly and infect others rather than have to pay 250-450 to change a flight, on the other hand, if they allow people who are sick to cancel people will just say that they are sick in order to be able to change for free. It’s a no win situation for he airlines, not that I have much sympathy for them.

TC610

For AA, does the “redeposit award for free” also apply to their “Web Specials” award tickets which usually have more restrictions? Their site isn’t clear, other than to say:

Trips that include a Web Special award cannot be changed once ticketed. You can cancel your trip and reinstate miles, but fees may apply.*

Nati

The redeposit on United Award ticket is also applied on Partners Airlines?

David

Can you post the updated cancellation policy link from United when available? I’m relying on the July 31 extension and would love to see it in writing.

Ninjaleh

Same situation- we just called united and the agent confirmed that the deadline has been extended and that they were just informed ten mins ago!

Dov

What about flying blue can I book an award ticket for next year and cancel for free?

ari

You write that with United tickets booked 4/1-7/31 you can request a travel voucher for 2 years. Is that a mistake? It seems to be 12 months from the original ticket.

Benji

I am considering booking a ticket to Israel using my Delta sky miles. Its a connecting flight with Air France or Alitalia being the carrier for the 2nd leg. If I book today when do I have to cancel by? Does the cancellation need to be because of Corona?

Joe

Hey Dan, what’s your take on air canada saying that any Dot requirement to refund tickets is just a suggestion and does not have any legal standing nor does the airline have to follow instructions?

AG

Just to make sure-awards booked with AA after July 1 for travel before October 1 are NOT subject to the new rules? And can be changed/cancelled within 60 days with no fee?

joel

can you stil cancel for free 30 days out on united ?

mendel

if I book AA award flight now for travel before 9/30 and cancel it within 24 hours and get my miles back will that extend my 18 month expiration, or only if I cancel after 24 hours?

Joel2

Waiting for AA to extend the waiver on award

Danfan5773

can you summarize a little clearer, as with all these updates i am ever more confused. For example if i book a basic economy ticket for travel in October can i cancel or change for free?

ah giten

I have a travel voucher (non transferable) from United from a pre-Covid flight, that’s due to expire in Sep. What are my options in converting it to an electronic travel cert?
Thanks

JS

Why does it say that Delta can be changed only one time without fees? I don’t see that restriction on the Delta website.

Moshe

Does the AA policy apply to tickets purchased tickets?
I booked two “cheap” (basic economy) myrtle beach tickets cuz wasn’t sure what day worked for me. Now that I can change the date I no longer meed two tickets . Anyway to get a refund on one?

sfried

if i book untied with the return after july 31 will i still get free change?

Thomas

I booked ticket for JetBlue from New York to La a couple of weeks ago for July 19th. Can I cancel it and get full refund?

J

Dan,
I want to change a United flight to an earlier date. The price to buy on the new date is identical to what I paid originally. But when I try to change (both on the website and on the phone), they tell me there is an extra $51 fee per person. This is despite the fact that you are only supposed to pay for a difference in fares. They are claiming that the price to buy new on the website is a discounted fare, but to change to that flight has a $51 higher fare per person. Does that make any sense? Any way to circumvent that?
Thanks

Melech

Hey dan I was looking at United award tickets and whe;I filter just nonstop tickets there is much less availability than without the filter for nonstop flights. Makes sense?

Melech

Meaning for the lower mileage amount, there is much more available without the filter than with – I do a regular search, then click on a given day and the nonstop flight shows up.

wpDiscuz