Airline Change and Cancellation Fees for Cash Tickets — And How To Avoid Them!

Changing or canceling flights is probably not your idea of a good time. Who wants to cancel a flight, especially if it’s taking you on vacation?! But when plans change, it’s key to know your options for updating flight plans.

To make flight changes a little easier for you, we’ve outlined vital information about changing or canceling flights with some of the most popular airlines for cash tickets. We’ve also written about award flight cancellation and change fees, too.

Airline Change and Cancellation Fees (Cash Tickets)

The vast majority of airlines require you to pay to change or cancel flights, even when you have paid for your ticket. And each airline has its own rules, so it’s easy to get confused about what you’ll pay.

What Are Change and Cancellation Fees?

Most airline tickets are non-refundable, especially if you’re taking a vacation.

Refundable tickets are much more common for business travelers whose schedules change more often; they also pay a premium for these tickets.

If you have to change a flight because of an unforeseen event, you’re in luck — many airlines have adjusted their change policies as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cancellation charge likely applies if you need to cancel a trip. These fees vary by airline, so we’ll discuss the specifics below.

Quick Tips To Avoid Cancellation or Change Fees

1. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to allow customers to cancel or change a ticket at no cost within 24 hours of purchase if the ticket is purchased at least 7 days prior to departure.
2. Under some special circumstances, you can get change and cancellation fees waived. If you experience the death of an immediate family member or your travel companion or have jury duty, you might qualify for a fee waiver.
3. Use schedule changes to your advantage. Make sure you know the schedule change policy of the airline you are flying. If your departure or arrival time is changed, you might be eligible for a free change or cancellation. With the chance of a schedule change, you should consider waiting to cancel until the deadline to do so. Just remember to cancel before the deadline!
4. Know which airlines will allow you to fly standby on the day of your flight so you don’t end up paying to change flights.
5. Sometimes it’s better to dump your reservation and book a new flight rather than paying the fee to change the original ticket.

Bottom Line: When trying to change or cancel a flight, there are lots of pitfalls. Make sure you know your options before booking!

Which Credit Cards Have Trip Cancellation Insurance?

Cards such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card have trip cancellation insurance that can help recoup the cost of airfare if you or a family member become ill.

If you’re interested in a card with trip cancellation insurance, you may also consider the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® and Ink Business Preferred^® Credit Card.

Change and Cancellation Policies and Fees by Airline

The following are change and cancellation fees and policies by airline. Note that these can be subject to change, and agents have the ability to waive some fees in certain situations (so always be nice to your customer service agent!).

This list does not cover baggage fees, which are covered in a separate series. You may also be responsible for the difference in fare in many cases.

Hot Tip: Following the ever-changing change and cancellation policies due to COVID-19? Check out Airline Cancellation Policies Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Everything You Need to Know.

Aeromexico

Change Fee:

	National	U.S. and Canada	Central America and the Caribbean	Europe	South America	Asia
Basic	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
Classic	$33	First change free	First change free	First change free	First change free	First change free
Flexible	Free	–	Unlimited changes free	–	–	–
Comfort	–	First change free	–	First change free	First change free	First change free
AM+	$33	First change free	First change free	First change free	First change free	First change free
Premier	Free	Unlimited changes free	Unlimited changes cost-free for fare classes J and C First change cost-free for fare classes I and D	Unlimited changes free	Unlimited changes free	Unlimited changes free

Cancellation Fee: 

	National	U.S. and Canada	Central America and the Caribbean	Europe	South America	Asia
Basic	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
Classic	Non-refundable	Fare dependent	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
Flexible	Free	–	Refundable	–	–	–
Comfort	–	Non-refundable	–	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
AM+	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable	Non-refundable
Premier	Free	Fare dependent	Refundable	Refundable	Refundable	Refundable

• Exclusions/Waivers: Tickets booked on or after January 11, 2021:
  • Voluntary Changes/Cancellations: Classic Fare, AM Plus, Flexible Fare, Comfort, and Clase Premier passengers may change the route/date free of charge or may cancel their ticket for a cash refund or a voucher worth 100% of the value of the ticket. This does not apply to Basic fare tickets or to flights within Mexico.
  • Involuntary Changes/Cancellations (Canceled Flights or Government Restrictions): All fares may change the route/date free of charge and without a fare difference in some circumstances. Passengers may also cancel their ticket for a cash refund or a voucher worth 100% of the value of the ticket.
  • Fare difference is applicable for flights February 4 to 7, 2022, March 18 to 21, 2022, April 8 to 25, 2022, and June 24, 2022, to August 15, 2022.

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Air Canada

Tickets issued on or before April 13, 2021:

• Change Fee: All fares are eligible for 1 free change or a travel voucher (with no expiry) up to 2 hours before departure. Credit can be issued in Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus.

Tickets issued April 14, 2021, onwards:

• Anytime Change:
  • Basic fare: 1 free change
  • Standard fare: 1 free change
  • Flex fare: 1 free change
  • Comfort fare: Fare difference only
  • Latitude: Fare difference only
  • Premium Economy: Flexible (fare difference only), lowest (1 f free change)
  • Business Class: Flexible (fare difference only), lowest (1 f free change)
• Same-day Change (At the Airport):
  • Standard fare: CA$150 (~$118) (CA$100 (~$79) for routes between Toronto Pearson and JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark airports)
  • Flex fare: CA$75 (~$59)
  • Comfort fare: Included
  • Latitude: Included
  • Premium Economy: Flexible (included), lowest (CA$75 (~$59))
• Cancellation Fee:
  • Basic fare: No refund
  • Standard fare: Future travel credit
  • Flex fare: Future travel credit
  • Comfort fare: Refundable
  • Latitude: Refundable
  • Premium Economy: Flexible (refundable), lowest (future travel credit)
  • Business Class: Flexible (refundable), lowest (future travel credit)

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Air New Zealand

• Change Fee:
  • Value fares: $100 change fee per adult and child applies. Infant fares can be changed free of charge.
  • Economy and Premium Economy fares: $34 booking change fee for each one-way journey per person (infants excluded) plus fees based on the individual fare type and journey
  • Business Premier fare: $67 booking change fee for each one-way journey per person (infants excluded) plus fees based on the individual fare type and journey
• Cancellation Fee: 
  • Value fares: Non-refundable
  • Economy fare: $103 cancellation fee per adult and child; infant fares are fully refundable. Fare is non-refundable once travel has commenced, but credit can be used against a future Air New Zealand fare of equal or greater value.
  • Premium Economy fare: $300 cancellation fee per adult and child; infant fares are fully refundable. Fare is non-refundable once travel has commenced, but credit can be used against a future Air New Zealand fare of equal or greater value.
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • You can cancel within 24 hours after your purchase and receive a full refund with no fees, provided the reservation is made 1 week or more prior to the scheduled departure.
  • Passengers may request a travel credit for international flights departing before June 30, 2022, for travel within 12 months of the booking date. Credit issued before January 31, 2022, is valid for use until January 31, 2023. Credit issued from February 1, 2022, is valid for 12 months.

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Alaska Airlines

• Change/Cancellation Fee:
  • All fares excluding Saver tickets: Free
  • Saver tickets: Changes not permitted
• Same-day Change Fee: $50 ($25 for travel within California and on shuttle flights between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Spokane and Seattle, and Portland and Seattle)
  • MVP Gold or 75K members receive complimentary same-day changes
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Saver fares purchased on or before April 30, 2021, can be canceled and exchanged for future travel credit.
  • The same-day change fee is waived for passengers booked in first class (J) or coach (Y), MVP Gold Mileage Plan members and American AAdvantage ConciergeKey, Executive Platinum, and Platinum Pro members (and companions on the same reservation).
  • Guests traveling on a vacation package booking are not eligible for same-day confirmed changes. If this change is necessary, the passenger must call 844-762-0087.

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Allegiant Airlines

• Change Fee: $75 per person, per segment, plus any applicable airfare increase. Changes must be made at least 7 days before departure.
• Cancellation Fee: $75 (must be made at least 7 days before departure)
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Allegiant has temporarily changed its change/cancellation fee to $25 per flight segment.
  • For canceled flights, passengers may change the date of their flight or request a travel credit valid for 2 years after the date of the initial booking.

Hot Tip:If you purchase Allegiant’s TripFlex at the time of your booking, change fees and cancellation fees are waived for amendments made up to 1 hour before departure.

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American Airlines

• Change Fee:
  • Domestic Change Fee: Free
  • International Change Fee:
    • Free for short-haul international flights and select long-haul international flights departing from North or South America. This excludes basic economy fares. Fees are up to $750 for ineligible flights.
    • Free for international flights originating outside of North or South America purchased on or after April 1, 2021. This includes Basic Economy fares for international locations excluding Asia.
• Same-day Change Fee: $75 to $150 (economy); free (business/first class)
  • Same-day standby is complimentary for Gold, Platinum, Platinum Pro, and Executive Platinum members
  • Same-day flight change is complimentary for Platinum Pro and Executive Platinum members
• Cancellation Fee: If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you can apply the unused value of the ticket toward a future trip (no later than 1 year from the date your original ticket was issued).

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All Nippon Airways (ANA)

• Change/Cancellation Fee: Fees vary based on the fare and may be up to $500. Check your ticket’s terms and conditions.
• Exclusions/Waivers: Unlimited changes can be made for:
  • Flights to Japan booked between June 22, 2020, and March 31, 2022.
  • Flights to North America, Caribbean, or Central/South America booked between April 15, 2021, and March 31, 2022.

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Asiana Airlines

• Change Fee: Check your terms and conditions at the time of booking.
• Cancellation Fee: Check your terms and conditions at the time of booking.
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • There are no standard change and cancellation fees. Fees will depend on the fare type and the journey taken. Refunds for Preferred Seating, Economy Smartium, and Royal Business tickets can be refunded up to 48 hours before the scheduled flight departure.
  • 1 free change is permitted for flights booked on or after April 1, 2021.

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Avianca Airlines (TACA)

• Change/Cancellation Fees: Route and fare dependent
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Change fees will be waived 1 time for bookings made between September 1, 2021, and October 19, 2021. Tickets purchased before this period can make up to 3 changes.
  • Flights canceled due to COVID-19 may request a travel credit.

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British Airways

• Change/Cancellation Fee: Free (online); $25 (phone); $35 (at an airport ticket office)
• Same-day Change Fee: Free for domestic short-haul; international ticket fees depend on the situation and fare class
• Cancellation Fee: Some fares are non-refundable. Check your fare details. Admin fees apply: $10 (online); $25 (phone); $35 (at an airport ticket office).
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Notice of 1 hour is required to make a same-day change.
  • Free same-day changes are not available if your itinerary has a connection or is a long-haul flight.

Hot Tip: If you need to cancel or change a British Airways flight, do it online. Admin fees for changes online are free and cancellations are $10. Bear in mind that there may also be other charges depending on your fare type. 

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Cathay Pacific

• Change Fee: 
  • Date/Time: $50 (Standard Economy); $150 (Promotional, Economy Save, Premium Economy Standard, and Business Save)
  • Rerouting: $150
• Cancellation Fee:
  • $150 (Unused and some partially used)
  • $200 (Expired)
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • Tickets purchased from March 9, 2020, to March 31, 2022, can make unlimited free changes until March 31, 2022, for travel until March 31, 2023.

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China Southern Airlines

Change Fee:

Voluntary Changes	Fare Type	At Least 168 Hours Before the Flight Departure	At Least 48 Hours Before the Flight Departure	At Least 4 Hours Before the Flight Departure	Within 4 Hours Before the Flight Departure
First Class	F	Free	5%	5%	10%
Business Class	J
	C	5%	10%	10%	15%
	D	5%	10%	15%	20%
	I
Premium Economy	W	Free	5%	5%	10%
	S1	5%	10%	20%	30%
	S2	5%	20%	30%	40%
	S3	10%	30%	50%	70%
Economy	Y	Free	5%	5%	10%
	B	5%	10%	20%	30%
	M
	H
	U	5%	20%	30%	40%
	A
	L
	E	10%	30%	50%	70%
	V
	Z
	T
	N
	R

Cancellation Fee:

Voluntary Refund	Fare Type	At Least 168 Hours Before the Flight Departure	At Least 48 Hours Before the Flight Departure	At Least 4 Hours Before the Flight Departure	Within 4 Hours Before the Flight Departure
First Class	F	5%	5%	5%	10%
Business Class	J
	C	5%	10%	20%	25%
	D	5%	15%	25%	30%
	I
Premium Economy	W	5%	5%	10%	20%
	S1	10%	15%	30%	40%
	S2	10%	25%	40%	50%
	S3	20%	40%	70%	90%
Economy	Y	5%	5%	10%	20%
	B	10%	15%	30%	40%
	M
	H
	U	10%	25%	40%	50%
	A
	L
	E	20%	40%	70%	90%
	V
	Z
	T
	N
	R

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Delta Air Lines

• Domestic Change Fee: Free (excluding Basic Economy tickets which are not changeable)
• International Change Fee: Up to $500 for other routes or Basic Economy tickets
• Same-day Change Fee: $75
  • Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallion members are not charged for same-day changes
• Cancellation Fee: If you cancel an itinerary and receive e-credit, it must be rebooked on or before December 31, 2022
• Exclusions/Waivers: Free changes for Basic Economy fares originating in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India for bookings and travel before January 31, 2022

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easyJet

• Change Fee: 
  • More than 14 days before the flight: Free (online), $8 (customer service team)
  • Less than 14 days before the flight: $65 (online), $75 (customer service team)
• Cancellation Fee:
  • Within 24 hours of booking: $65 (online), $75 (customer service team)
  • After 24 hours of booking: Non-refundable
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Flight changes are free until March 31, 2022

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EL AL

• Change Fee: 
  • Lite: $200
  • Classic: $160
  • Flex: No fee
  • Passengers will also be charged a $50 admin fee per passenger for making a change via the Customer Service Center
• Cancellation Fee:
  • Lite: Non-refundable
  • Classic: $260
  • Flex: No fee
  • Other booking classes: $50
• Exclusions/Waivers: Tickets booked until February 28, 2022, can be changed or frozen for free until December 31, 2023. Alternatively, the ticket can be canceled to receive a credit voucher.

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Emirates

• Change/Cancellation Fee: Fare type and route dependent. Crowdsourced web feedback quotes prices anywhere from $50 to $1,000+.
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • Tickets booked on or after October 12, 2021, with a travel date on or before August 31, 2022, can extend the validity for 24 months from the original date of booking. Tickets can be changed to another flight (same destination and booking class) with no extra fees.
  • Tickets booked between April 1, 2021, and October 11, 2021, with a travel date on or before August 31, 2022, can extend the validity for 24 months from the original date of booking. Tickets can be changed to another flight within the same region and in any booking class with no extra fees.

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Etihad Airways

• Change/Cancellation Fee: Fare type and route dependent. Crowdsourced web feedback quotes prices anywhere from $75 to $200+.
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • If changing a flight using a customer service agent, a fee of $20 to $30 (differs per country and where the fee was booked) may be added on top of the change fees.
  • Passengers may rebook a flight, without penalty, before May 31, 2022. Alternatively, passengers may cancel and request travel credit for use within 2 years.
  • Passengers with canceled flights can request a refund if:
    • Purchased directly through Etihad
    • Purchased through a travel agency in Australia, Canada, or the U.S.
    • The ticket originates in the EU (including Switzerland and the U.K.)

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EVA Air

• Change/Cancellation Fee: Fare type and route dependent. Check your ticket for rules.
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Free changes and refunds are only permitted when a flight is canceled or rescheduled.

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Frontier Airlines

• Change/Cancellation Fee:
  • $0 at 60+ days before departure
  • $49 at 59 to 7 days before departure
  • $79 within 6 days before departure
• Same-day Change Fee: $79
• Exclusions/Waivers: Change and cancellation fees are waived for passengers that purchase the WORKS bundle. This includes Elite 100K members that receive the WORKS bundle as an elite benefit.

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Garuda Indonesia

Change and cancellation are not disclosed by the airline. Check your ticket information or contact the airline for details on the policy.

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Hainan Airlines

Approximate fees are below for a flight between China and the U.S. Check your ticket as fees are route dependent.

• Change Fee:
  • Economy: $200
  • Business: $250
• Cancellation Fee:
  • Economy: $450
  • Business: $400

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Hawaiian Airlines

• Change Fee: Free (for fares excluding Main Cabin Basic)
• Restricted Refundable Fare Change Fee (No Refunds Are Permitted):
  • Neighbor Island: $25
  • North America: $100
  • International: $100
• Exclusions/Waivers: Main Cabin Basic tickets purchased between August 17, 2021, and October 31, 2021, for travel on or after August 17, 2021, may change to a new date without incurring a change fee.

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Iberia Airlines

• Change Fee:
  • Economy Basic: €180 to €200 (~$217 to $241)
  • Economy Optimal: First change free up to 15 days before departure. Subsequent changes €180 to €200 (~$217 to $241)
  • Economy Flexible: Free
  • Premium Economy Promotional: €150 to €200 (~$181 to $241)
  • Premium Economy Flexible: Free
  • Business Promotional: First change free up to 15 days before departure; subsequent changes €300 (~$361)
  • Business Flexible: Free
• Cancellation Fee:
  • Basic Fare: Non-refundable
  • Optimal Fare: Non-refundable
  • Flexible: Free
  • Premium Economy Promotional: Non-refundable
  • Premium Economy Flexible: Free
  • Business Promotional: Non-refundable
  • Business Flexible: Free
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • Passengers with flights affected by COVID-19 can change the date of the flight free of charge or request a credit to be used within 14 months. Changes can be made 15 days or less before the flight departure and apply under the following circumstances:
    • Entry restrictions at your destination
    • Lockdown or quarantine measures at your destination
    • Lockdown or quarantine measures at your place of origin
    • You test positive for COVID-19

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Japan Airlines

Change Fee:

• Economy Special Saver: Changeable with a fee (check your ticket)
• Special Fare (Economy, Premium, Business): Changeable without a fee
• Flex Fare (Economy, Premium, Business): Changeable without a fee

Cancellation Fee:

• Economy Special Saver: Refundable with a fee (check your ticket)
• Special Fare (Economy, Premium, Business): Refundable with a fee (check your ticket)
• Flex Fare (Economy, Premium, Business): Refundable without a fee

A $50 admin fee also applies to changes and cancellations (admin fees depend on the country of booking).

Exclusions/Waivers:

• Due to COVID-19, passengers may change their flight without penalty under the following conditions:
  • Flights From Europe, the Middle East, or Africa: Booked from June 11, 2020, to August 31, 2022
  • Flights From Other Origins: Booked from June 11, 2020, to January 31, 2022

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JetBlue Airways

• Change/Cancellation Fee:
  • Blue, Blue Plus, Blue Extra, and Mint: Free (fare difference applies)
  • Blue Basic
    • Routes in the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean, and Central America: $100
    • All other routes: $200
• Same-day Change Fee: $75
  • Same-day change fee is waived for Mosaic members and Blue Extra fares
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Change and cancellation fees are waived for all fares ticketed from August 25, 2021, to October 31, 2021, and prior to June 7, 2021.
  • Admin Fee: $25 for changing or canceling with a JetBlue customer support agent. No admin fee applies online.

Hot Tip: If you are a TrueBlue Mosaic member and traveling with others, you can change or cancel flights for everyone on the booking for free.

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Korean Air

• Change Fee: 
  • $50 to $100 (Economy fares)
  • $50 to $150 (First/Prestige fares)
• Cancellation Fee:
  • International Flights:
    • $30 service charge is applicable on top of refund penalty
    • Refund Penalty 91+ days: Free
    • Refund Penalty 61 to 90 days: ₩30,000 (~$27)
    • Refund Penalty 15 to 60 days: ₩50,000 to ₩300,000 (~$45 to $267)
    • Refund Penalty 4 to 14 days: ₩60,000 to ₩360,000 (~$53 to $320)
    • Refund Penalty within 3 days: ₩80,000 to ₩450,000 (~$71 t0 $401)
    • No-Show/Partial Refund: ₩50,000 to ₩300,000 (~$45 to $267)
  • Domestic Flights:
    • Prestige Class/Economy Flex: ₩3,000 (~$3)
    • Economy Standard: ₩5,000 t0 ₩7,000 (~$4 to $6)
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • Fees depend on the specific fare type, so be sure to check your fare’s terms and conditions.
  • Refunds processed 91+ days from departure and originating in Korea are exempt from refund fees.
  • Passengers with tickets for an international flight departing before June 30, 2022, can be changed once for free

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Norwegian Air

• Change Fee:
  • LowFare and LowFare+: €65 (~$73)
  • Flex: Free
  • Changes made by phone or at the airport cost $30 per person, each way. Changes can be made up to 30 minutes before departure.
• Cancellation Fee:
  • LowFare and LowFare+: Not permitted
  • Flex: Free
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Norwegian is currently offering 1 free change for LowFare and LowFare+ tickets booked on or before February 28, 2022, where travel must be completed by October 29, 2022. The change must be made at least 7 days before departure.
  • If the above conditions are not met, Norwegian is currently offering a reduced change fee of €30 (~$34) for changes made before February 28, 2022.

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Qantas

• Date/Destination Change Fee: 
  • Flights between the U.S. and Africa: $100 to $400
  • Flights between the U.S. and Australia, New Zealand, Asia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, or Vanuatu: $125 to $400
  • Flights between the U.S. and Fiji: $100 to $200
  • Flights between the U.S. and French Polynesia: $125 to $300
  • A service fee of $40 will be charged for passengers changing international flight bookings
• Cancellations:
  • Flights between the U.S. and Africa: Sale fares are non-refundable. Other fares are $100 to $300.
  • Flights between the U.S. and Australia, New Zealand, Asia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, or Vanuatu: $250 to $600
  • Flights between the U.S. and Fiji: $200 to $800
  • Flights between the U.S. and French Polynesia: $250 to $600
• Exclusions/Waivers: Unlimited changes are offered under the following conditions:
  • International flights booked between February 25, 2021, and June 30, 2022, for travel between November 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022
  • Trans-Tasman flights booked between October 15, 2020, and June 30, 2022, for travel between October 16, 2021, and December 31, 2022
  • Domestic flights booked between May 21, 2020, and April 30, 2022, for travel between June 12, 2020, and April 30, 2022

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Qatar Airways

• Cancellation Fees: $90 to $217 (fees depend on the fare type and the cabin class and are displayed online during the booking process)
• Change Fees: $66 to $168
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Unlimited changes and fee-free refunds are available for tickets booked before June 30,  2021, for travel up to May 31, 2022. Tickets can also be exchanged for a travel voucher with an additional 10% of the value when booked via qatarairways.com.
  • Tickets canceled or amended through the call center, at an airport ticket desk, or at a Qatar Airways ticket office are subject to a non-refundable service fee of $25.

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Ryanair

• Flight Change Fee: €45 to €60 (~$51 to $67)
• Name Change Fee: 
  • Online: €115 (~$160)
  • Phone: €160 (~$223)
• Cancellation Fee: Non-refundable
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Tickets booked from December 26, 2021, to January 31, 2022, can be changed without fees until September 30, 2022. Changes must be requested at least 7 days before departure.
  • Fees are waived if made within 24 hours of the booking.

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Singapore Airlines

• Change Fee:
  • A $50 service charge may apply on top of a change fee per your purchased fare; check your fares terms and conditions.
• Cancellation Fee:
  • Cancellations may only be made on refundable fares; if you cancel a non-refundable fare, only taxes will be refunded.
  • In some cases, a cancellation fee may apply.
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Unlimited changes are permitted for travel before June 30, 2022. For travel after this date, 1 free change is permitted. The date change must be within 1 year of the ticket’s date of issue.

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Southwest Airlines

• Change/Cancellation Fee: Free
• Same-day Change Fee: Only permitted on Anytime or Business Select tickets.
• Exclusions/Waivers: Non-refundable fares can be canceled and exchanged for future credit without incurring any fees.

Bottom Line: Southwest Airlines makes changing and canceling flights easier than just about any other airline. When you cancel a flight, you will receive a credit to your account. Keep in mind, this credit can only be used by the holder of the original ticket.

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Spirit Airlines

• Change/Cancellation Fees:
  • Standard or Award Ticket
    • 0 to 2 Days From Departure — $99
    • 3 to 6 Days From Departure — $79
    • 7 to 59 Days From Departure — $49
    • 60+ Days From Departure — Free
  • Flight Flex
    • Up to 24 Hours Before Departure — Free
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Changes can be made up to an hour before the flight departure

Hot Tip: If you purchase Spirit’s Flight Flex at the time of your booking, you’ll be allowed 1 flight modification at no extra cost if done more than 24 hours prior to your flight.

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Thai Airways

• Change/Cancellation Fees: Fare type dependent. Check your fare details when booking. Any changes also incur a $23 service fee.
• Exclusions/Waivers: 
  • After travel commences, no refund will be issued. Changes must be made before ticket expiration to the same booking class and within the same seasonality of travel. Any fare changes will also be chargeable. Refunds must be requested no later than 90 days of ticket expiry.

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Turkish Airlines

• Change Fees:
  • Economy Promotion/Restricted Fare: Route-dependent
  • Economy Flexible Fare: Free
  • Business Promotions Fare: Route-dependent
  • Business Restricted Fare: Route-dependent
  • Business Flexible Fare: Free
• Cancellation Fees:
  • Economy Promotion Fare: Non-refundable
  • Economy Restricted Fare: Permitted before the flight, subject to defined deductions. After the flight, the refunded amount is the cost of the flight taken deducted from the total cost.
  • Economy Flexible Fare: Permitted before the flight, subject to defined deductions. After the flight, the refunded amount is the cost of the flight taken deducted from the total cost.
  • Business Promotions: Non-refundable
  • Business Restricted/Flexible Fare: Permitted before the flight, subject to defined deductions. After the flight, the refunded amount is the cost of the flight taken deducted from the total cost.
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Tickets booked on or before March 31, 2022, can change unlimited times for free for travel until May 31, 2022.

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United Airlines

• Change Fee:
  • Economy, Economy Plus, and premium cabins: Free changes for flights within the U.S., or between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean, and for international flights originating in the U.S.
  • Basic Economy: Route dependent
• Same-day Change Fee: Route dependent
  • Waived for Gold, Platinum, and 1K members
• Cancellation Fee: If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you may return to the reservation up to a year after the date of the issue. Change fees may apply.
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • If your departure or arrival time is altered by more than 30 minutes because of a schedule change, you may change your flight at no extra cost or request a refund.
  • Change fees are waived for all international flights (excluding basic economy) booked through January 31, 2022.

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Virgin Atlantic

• Change Fee: Minimum of $210
• Cancellation Fee: Fare dependent and a $42 admin fee will be payable.
• Exclusions/Waivers:
  • Flights booked on or after December 23, 2021, for travel any time up to December 31, 2022, are permitted to make unlimited date changes. Travel must be completed by December 31, 2023.

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WestJet

Change/Cancellation Fee:

• More Than 60 Days Before the Flight:
  • Flights Within Canada:
    • Econo, Premium: CA$50 to CA$59 (~$40 to $47)
    • Econo Flex: Free
    • Business: CA$100 to CA$118 (~$79 to $93)
  • All Other Routes (Excluding Europe):
    • Econo, Premium: CA$50 to CA$59 (~$40 to $47)
    • Econo Flex: CA$25 to CA$30 (~$20 to $24)
    • Business: CA$100 to CA$118 (~$79 to $93)
  • Flights Between Canada and Europe:
    • Econo, Econo Flex, Premium: CA$100 to CA$118 (~$79 to $93)
    • Business: Change CA$400 to CA$472 (~$316 to $373), Cancellation CA$600 to CA$708 (~$474 to $560)
• 60 Days or Less Before the Flight:
  • Flights Within Canada:
    • Econo, Premium, Business: CA$100 to CA$118 (~$79 to $93)
    • Econo Flex: Free
  • All Other Routes (Excluding Europe):
    • Econo, Econo Flex, Premium, Business: CA$100 to CA$118 (~$79 to $93)
  • Flights Between Canada and Europe:
    • Change Fee:
      • Econo, Econo Flex, Premium: CA$250 to CA$295 (~$197 to $233)
      • Business: CA$400 to CA$472 (~$316 to $373)
    • Cancellation Fee:
      • Econo, Econo Flex, Premium: CA$250 to CA$295 (~$197 to $233)
      • Business: CA$600 to CA$708 (~$474 to $560)
• Exclusions/Waivers: Tickets booked on or before January 31, 2022, can change the date for free or cancel and request a travel voucher valid for 24 months from the date of issue.
  • Changes or cancellations must be made at least 24 hours prior to departure.

Change and Cancellation Policy by Online Travel Agency (OTA)

If you’re booking through an online travel agent, be aware of their change and cancellation policies.

Orbitz

If you book a nonrefundable ticket through Orbitz, you have 24 hours to cancel it without a fee. However, you won’t receive a refund of the Orbitz service fee (if you were charged one).

Once you have passed the 24-hour cancellation window, airline change and cancellation fees will apply. Additionally, you will be responsible for a $30 fee paid to Orbitz.

As you will see above, many airlines waive change and cancellation fees that would also apply to your flights booked through Orbitz.

To change or cancel a booking with a low-cost carrier, you will have to contact the airline.

Low-Cost Carriers
AirAsia	Frontier	Spirit
easyJet	Interjet	VivaAerobus
Eurowings	Jetstar	Volaris
Firefly	Norwegian

Priceline

You have 24 hours to cancel bookings without a fee, but Express Deals are not changeable or refundable.

Beyond 24 hours, all applicable airline change and cancellation fees apply, plus a service fee will be charged by Priceline (fee amount depends on the flight booked).

Bottom Line: When booking with online travel agents such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline, remember there’s a service fee on top of the airline’s change or cancellation fee if you need to make a change.

Final Thoughts

You can see how vastly different these carrier change and cancellation policies can be. Some are easy, like Southwest Airlines, while others (such as Spirit Airlines) are much more strict.

Hopefully, once you have booked a non-refundable ticket, you won’t need to make any changes. Your life will be much easier that way!

If for some reason you do need to make a change, you now have all the info you need to prepare.

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