U.S. airlines comply with all federal laws and regulations. The Department of Transportation’s website addresses important questions regarding airline refund requirements, including:
- Am I entitled to a refund?
- What if I purchased or reserved my ticket through a travel agent or online travel agency?
- How quickly is an airline, travel agent, or online travel agency required to process a refund?
U.S. carriers are committed to making accommodations that are responsive to travelers’ needs during this unprecedented time and have worked since the early stages of this pandemic to respond to customers and update travel policies to offer increased flexibility.
Please check with your carrier for the most up-to-date policies.
American Airlines
American Airlines has eliminated change fees for all domestic and short-haul international flying on Premium Cabin, Premium Economy and Main Cabin fares. Basic Economy fares are non-refundable and non-changeable.
Click here to learn more.
Alaska Airlines
If your flight is affected by a schedule change, Alaska will move you to the next available flight.
If your new flight schedule was changed by more than one hour, you have some options:
- Change your flight online to one that better suits your schedule — up to 1 day earlier or later.
- Cancel your trip online and receive future travel credit.
- Contact Alaska Airlines to cancel your trip and receive a refund to your original form of payment.
If your flight was canceled, Alaska will move you to the next available. If your plans change at any time, there are no fees to change or cancel Main and First-Class fares. A fare difference may apply.
Otherwise, you have some options:
- Change your flight online to one that better suits your schedule — up to 7 days earlier or later.
- Cancel your trip online and receive future travel credit.
- Contact Alaska Airlines to cancel your trip and receive a refund to your original form of payment.
If your plans change at any time, there are no fees to change or cancel Main and First Class fares. A fare difference may apply.
Note: To qualify for a refund to your original form of payment, you must have an active reservation on the impacted flight. If you voluntarily canceled your trip and received a future travel credit before the flight cancellation, you are not eligible for a refund.
Click here to learn more.
Delta Air Lines
There are NO change fees for:
- Delta tickets purchased for travel with the U.S., Puerto Rico and the USVI.
- Delta tickets purchased for travel originating in North America to anywhere in the world, including flights operated by joint venture and code share partners.
- Travel between the Caribbean and the U.S. and Mexico
Basic Economy tickets are nonrefundable and non-changeable. Learn more about Basic Economy cancellation flexibility and how Basic Economy tickets may be canceled for a partial eCredit.
Delta continues to provide full refunds to passengers requesting them when the company has cancelled a flight or made a significant schedule change.
Click here to learn more.
Hawaiian Airlines
There is no change fee for Main Cabin and Business Class tickets, but any fare difference may apply.
Click here to learn more.
JetBlue
No change or cancellation fees for Blue, Blue Plus and Mint fares on all routes. Difference in fare applies.
Same-day switches can be made for $75 (or free for Mosaic members), without paying a fare difference. No change or cancellation fees (difference in fare applies), and free same-day switches, for Blue Extra fares.
Blue Basic fares can be changed or cancelled for a fee, based on route.
Click here to learn more.
Southwest
Nonrefundable tickets (Wanna Get Away fares) not flown on the travel date, but canceled in accordance with Southwest’s No Show Policy, it is converted into a flight credit that can be used for a future trip.
Business Select®, Anytime, and Wanna Get Away Plus™ fares are eligible for a Transferable Flight Credit™. Transferable Flight Credit allows you to transfer your flight credit to someone else.
Refundable tickets not flown on the travel date can also be applied to future travel. Southwest does not charge fees to change or cancel flights, although applicable fare differences may apply.
Click here to learn more.
United
If your trip is coming up, and you’re more than a day away from departure, you may be able to change your reservation with no change fees. You can adjust your travel plans without any change fees — including for award tickets — for flights within the U.S., or for international travel originating in the U.S. This applies to most United Economy and all premium cabin tickets. You’ll just pay the fare difference if your new flight is more expensive.
Click here to learn more.