Airline change fees and cancellation coronavirus

Read this post to know all about airline change fees and cancellation during Coronavirus.

If you have tried booking your tickets for an official, personal or leisure travel during these times, you may have notice that airlines are playing their part in being flexible to change in dates and destinations both. It is commendable especially in the light of the fact that many airline personnel have taken upto 50% pay cuts.

Airlines change fees and cancellation charges – regular flights
Most of the airlines allow a change in destination or dates without any additional fee upto 6 – 12hrs from the time of booking, if you book it on their call center. Otherwise, when booked online, any cancellation or change will require a fee.

Given the current circumstances of limited travel globally as well as uncertainty in terms of closure of countries, most of the airlines are giving credit notes or date change options within the same sector without charging any airline change fees and cancellation charges. The difference in fare continues to be charged.

Its best to check with each airline directly to confirm as the rules may be different from airline to airline. I have listed the links where you can find all about change fees and cancellation charges policy for some of the prominent airlines:

Emirates: If you have an existing or new booking done before 30 Sep 2020, for travle before 30 Nov 2020, you can either just keep the ticket for travel in the future (till 24 months from your ticket date) or request for travel vouchers of equivalent amount as originally paid for the ticket, which will be valid for 12 months from date of travel. In the first option there will be no fees and change in fare differences to be paid.
Etihad: Etihad is allowing unlimited changes for both dates and destinations on all new bookings, done before 31 October 2020. You will be eligible for Etihad credit if you’re unable to travel for any reason.
Lufthansa: All flights booked on or after 16 May can be moved to a later date (date of travel upto 31 Dec 2021 and choosing this option upto 31 Jan 2021) with no additional fares charged.
British Airways: For all flights booked between 3 Mar 2020 to 30 September 2020 for journeys that are due to have been completed by 31 August 2021 – No change fees will be charged for a change in dates and destination of your booking, although you will need to pay any difference in price. On cancellation a voucher of the same value for a future booking, will be issued no cancellation charges will be levied.
Singapore Airlines: For tickets issued after 15 Mar 2020 and travel before 30 Nov 2020, unlimited travel date changes are allowed uptil 31 Oct 2020 without any far change charges while after 31 Oct 2020, one time complimentary change in dates will be allowed.
United: All change fee is waived till 31 Dec 2020 for all itineraries
American Airlines: All change fee is waived till 31 Dec 2020 for all fare types and itineraries.

Check out this post to know more about the Coronavirus Test requirements before boarding the flight as well as precautions the airlines are taking for coronavirus.