Airline Cancellation Policies Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Everything You Need to Know

As the whole world deals with the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, you may wonder what to do about your upcoming flights.

While travel isn’t effectively off-limits as it was in 2020, border restrictions are constantly changing along with the state of the pandemic, and thus you may need to cancel or change a flight. The good news is that many airlines offer flexible policies that allow you to make the changes you need without any fees.

This post outlines the COVID-19 change and cancellation policies for many major airlines. For each airline, we’ve included a direct link to its specific policy, if there is one, so you can stay up to date on any changes.

Airline COVID-19 Cancellation Policies

Air Canada

All reservations can be changed as much as needed through January 31, 2022. After that date, reservations can be changed once without a fee.

If you need to cancel your flight, the full value of your ticket can be transferred to an Air Canada Travel Voucher that doesn’t have an expiration date, or you can opt for Aeroplan points with a 65% bonus.

If you booked directly with Air Canada or through Kayak, Skyscanner, or Google Flights, you’ll be able to cancel online in the My Bookings section of the website. If you booked through a different online travel agent, contact them for assistance.

To change or cancel an award flight, go to your online Aeroplan account.

To read Air Canada’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Air France

You can change any Air France flight without a fee.

If you’d prefer a refund, you can request one any time before your departure for any flight purchased before February 1, 2022, and scheduled on or before June 30, 2022. If your ticket is marked as “non-refundable,” you’ll receive a travel voucher valid for 1 year. This voucher can then be redeemed any time during that year.

If you booked directly with Air France, fill out this form online. You’ll receive a travel voucher valid for 1 year on all Air France, KLM, Delta, Virgin Atlantic, and Kenya Airways flights. If you booked with a travel agent and would like to cancel your flight, contact the agent directly.

To read Air France’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Alaska Airlines

For tickets purchased by April 30, 2021, for travel by March 31, 2022, the Peace of Mind waivers will apply. This means change and cancellation fees will be waived. If you want to make a change, your new flight needs to be completed within 1 year. If you choose to cancel your Alaska Airlines flight, your funds will be held as a credit that can be used towards a new flight. Saver fares can’t be changed — they can only be canceled for future travel credit.

As of May 1, 2021, all change fees have been eliminated for main cabin and first class tickets.

To read Alaska Airlines’ full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Allegiant

As of May 1, 2021, all Allegiant flights can be canceled or changed with a reduced fee of $25 per person per segment.

Changes or cancellations can be made from the Manage Travel section of the website.

To read Allegiant’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

American Airlines

Tickets purchased by March 31, 2021, including basic economy and award tickets, can be changed once without a fee.

In addition, American has eliminated all change fees for first, business, premium economy, and main cabin seats (except basic economy) on domestic or short-haul international flights issued on or after August 31, 2020. Short-haul international flights are those between the U.S. and Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Fees are also waived for all long-haul international flights that originate in North or South America in first, business, premium economy, and main cabin seats (except basic economy) issued on or after November 19, 2020.

If you booked through American Airlines, you can cancel your trip online. If you booked through a travel agent, contact your agent..

British Airways

All pre-COVID-19 cancellation policies are back in place.

To change or cancel your flight, click here.

To read British Airways’ full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Hot Tip: If you’ve got hotel reservations, take a peek at our guide to hotel cancellation policies due to COVID-19.

Cathay Pacific

All tickets purchased between March 23, 2020, and March 31, 2022, can be changed without a fee prior to March 31, 2022, for travel by March 31, 2023.

If you booked directly, you can make changes to your reservation online. If you booked with a travel agent, contact the agent to adjust your reservation.

To read Cathay Pacific’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Delta Air Lines

All tickets purchased between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, can be changed without a fee for up to 1 year from the date of purchase.

In addition, all change fees and award redeposit fees are permanently waived for travel originating in North America on tickets purchased after April 30, 2021 (excluding basic economy fares).

If you choose to cancel your flight, you’ll get the value you paid as a voucher to put toward future travel.

To change or cancel an upcoming Delta flight, visit the My Trips section on its website.

To read Delta’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Emirates

Tickets issued after April 1, 2021, for travel on or before May 31, 2022, can be changed without a fee and are valid for an additional 24 months from the original travel dates. You can also request a refund without a fee.

If you booked through Emirates, use this form to request a travel voucher. If you booked through a travel agent, contact the booking agent.

To read Emirates’ full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Hot Tip: Curious about travel insurance? Educate yourself on the basics of travel insurance and whether or not insurance will cover COVID-19 related claims.

Etihad

You can change or cancel your Etihad flight online, though you may incur a fee depending on the conditions of your ticket. However, most fares can be changed without a fee if you rebook by May 31, 2022.

You can also request a refund in situations where your flight has been canceled or you test positive for COVID-19.

To read Etihad’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Frontier Airlines

Any flight can be changed or canceled without a fee 60 or more days prior to departure. If you make a change 7 to 59 days prior to departure, the change fee is $49. Any changes made 6 days or less before departure will incur a $79 fee.

Visit the My Trips section of the website to make adjustments to your reservations.

To read Frontier’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

JetBlue Airways

You can change or cancel any JetBlue flight booked on or before May 31, 2021, without a fee. You can rebook your trip within 1 year in the Manage Trips section of your online account (a fare difference may apply).

As of June 1, 2021, there are no change or cancellation fees for Blue, Blue Plus, and Mint fares, but there is a $75 charge for same-day confirmed changes. Blue Extra fares can be changed or canceled (including same-day confirmed changes) without a fee.

Change fees are also waived for Blue Basic bookings made between August 25, 2021, and October 31, 2021, and all flights scheduled to depart between December 28, 2021, and January 31, 2022.

If you cancel your flight, you’ll receive a JetBlue Travel Bank Credit valid for 12 months.

To read JetBlue’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

KLM

Flights that depart after January 1, 2022, can be changed without a fee or you can request a refund in the form of a travel voucher, but refunds aren’t available for flights scheduled to depart after June 30, 2022.

Changes can be made online in the My Trips section of the website.

To read KLM’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Lufthansa

You can change your travel dates without a fee on many flights. Refer to your specific fare conditions for details about your flight.

To read Lufthansa’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Qantas

You can change your travel dates without a fee for the following Qantas-operated flights:

• Domestic Australian flights purchased between May 21, 2020, and April 30, 2022, for travel between June 12, 2020, and April 30, 2022
• Trans-Tasman flights booked between October 15, 2020, and June 30, 2022, for travel between October 16, 2020, and December 31, 2022
• International flights purchased between February 25, 2021, and June 30, 2022, for travel between November 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022

Finally, Classic Flight Rewards (using Qantas points) made before April 30, 2022, for Australian domestic flights can be changed or canceled without a fee through April 30, 2023. Classic Flight Rewards for Trans-Tasman or international flights booked by June 30, 2022, can be changed or canceled without a fee through December 31, 2022.

To change or cancel a Qantas flight, use the My Booking section of your online account.

To read Qantas’ full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Qatar Airways

All flights through September 30, 2022, can be changed or canceled at no cost. You can also request a refund for the amount you originally paid.

To change or cancel your Qatar Airways flight, click here.

If you booked through a travel agent, contact the booking agent to arrange changes to your ticket.

To read Qatar’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Southwest Airlines

You can cancel your Southwest flight up to 10 minutes before departure. If you purchased a Wanna Get Away fare, you’ll receive travel funds for the amount you paid that can be used for a new flight. Business Select and Anytime fares are fully refundable.

As of September 8, 2020, any travel funds created from a Wanna Get Away fare can be used for up to 1 year from the purchase date.

You can change your Southwest flight here.

To read Southwest’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Hot Tip: Have a cruise coming up? You’ll find all the information you need in our guide to cruise cancellations due to COVID-19.

Spirit Airlines

Flight changes can be made without fees 60 or more days in advance. Changes made 7 to 59 days before departure will incur a $49 fee, 3 to 6 days prior incur a $79 fee, and 0 to 2 days from departure incur a $99 fee.

To change or cancel your reservation, click here.

To read Spirit’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

United Airlines

United has permanently removed change fees for economy (excluding Basic Economy), Economy Plus, first, business, and Premium Plus seats on the following types of flights:

• Flights within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)
• Flights between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean
• International flights originating in the U.S.

Change fees will also be waived on all other standard economy and premium cabin tickets through January 31, 2022.

You can change your flight online in the My Trips section of the website.

To request a refund, go to united.com/refunds.

To read United’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Virgin Atlantic

For bookings made for travel through April 30, 2022, change fees (unlimited date changes and 1 name change) will be waived. Your new travel dates must be on or before April 30, 2023.

To change or cancel a flight that was booked directly with Virgin Atlantic, use this form. If you booked through a travel agent, contact the agent directly.

To read Virgin Atlantic’s full policy regarding COVID-19, click here.

Additional Airlines Impacted

Final Thoughts

The ongoing pandemic has changed everyone’s life and challenged the travel industry in ways no one could have expected. However, there’s a silver lining in that airlines are being more flexible than any time before in recent memory. Most recognize they need to be more flexible than ever before and are now allowing ticket changes and cancellations without fees.

If you decide to cancel or postpone a flight, be sure to read through your airline’s policy so you know when you’ll need to reschedule your flight or use your travel credit, as these can be different for each carrier.

Having to cancel an upcoming flight is never fun, but airline flexibility can take some of the sting off of changing your travel plans.