[Updated 3/5] AS and DL have relaxed their policies. AS extended the eligible period, and DL now applies to all routes.
JetBlue was the first airline to announce a Change & Cancel Fees Waiver for domestic U.S. flights. Alaska followed almost immediately.
UA/AA/DL each followed a few days later. Their terms are all a bit different, though they do feel somewhat reluctant (as if pushed into it by competitors).
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B6 - JetBlue
Official link: Travel Waiver
Booking date: Must be between February 27, 2020 and March 11, 2020 (inclusive)
Travel date: February 27, 2020 - June 1, 2020 (inclusive)
Fare/class: The official page does not show restrictions, so it should apply to all tickets operated by B6, with ticket numbers beginning with 【297】
Changes: Free (fare difference applies)
Cancellation: Free
The refunded amount will be deposited into the passenger’s Travel Bank and is valid for one year.
Eligible booking channels: The website lists jetblue.com and jetbluevacations.com, but OTA bookings should likely still be handled by contacting customer service.
For JetBlue Vacation bookings, the airline officially recommends contacting customer service.
Other restrictions: Existing bookings made before February 27, 2020 are not eligible.
For travel between March 12 and June 1, only the first change or cancellation is eligible.
If B6 is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Changes must be made before the original flight departs.
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
AS - Alaska
Official link: Travel Waiver
Booking date: Must be between February 27, 2020 and March 31, 2020 (inclusive)
Travel date: February 27, 2020 - February 28, 2021 (inclusive)
Fare/class: All AS tickets with numbers beginning with 【027】, with the following differences
Changes: Saver fares cannot be changed; for non-Saver fares, the first change is free (fare difference applies)
Can be changed no later than December 31, 2020.
Cancellation: Free
The refunded amount will be deposited into the passenger’s Travel Bank and is valid for one year.
Eligible booking channels: Official website; for third-party bookings, contact the booking channel’s customer service.
Other restrictions: Existing bookings made before February 27, 2020 are not eligible.
If AS is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Changes must be made before the original flight departs.
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
DL - Delta
Official link: Travel Waiver
Booking date: Must be between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 (inclusive)
Travel date: On or before February 25, 2021 (inclusive)
Fare/class: All DL routes, ticket numbers beginning with 【006】
Changes: First change is free (fare difference applies)
Can be changed no later than February 25, 2021.
Cancellation: Not available
Eligible booking channels: Official website; for third-party bookings, contact the booking channel’s customer service.
Other restrictions: Existing bookings made before March 1, 2020 are not eligible.
If DL is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Must be handled before departure.
If the new ticket costs more, you pay the difference; if it costs less, you do not get a refund (of course).
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
AA - American
Official link: Travel Waiver
Booking date: Must be between March 1, 2020 16: 30 and March 16, 2020 23: 59 Central Time (CT) pretty stingy
Travel date: On or before January 26, 2021 (inclusive)
Fare/class: All AA flight tickets with numbers beginning with 【001】; award tickets are not eligible
Changes: First change is free (fare difference applies)
Can be changed no later than February 25, 2021.
Cancellation: Not available
Eligible booking channels: Official website; third-party bookings may be handled through the booking channel’s customer service.
Other restrictions: Existing bookings made before March 1, 2020 are not eligible.
If AA is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Must be handled at least 14 days before departure.
If the new ticket costs more, you pay the difference; if it costs less, you do not get a refund (of course).
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
UA - United
Official link: Travel Waiver
Booking date: Must be between March 3, 2020 and March 31, 2020 (inclusive)
Travel date: Any date currently available for sale on UA’s website
Fare/class: All UA flight tickets with numbers beginning with 【016】
Changes: Free (fare difference applies)
Can be changed within one year of the booking date.
Cancellation: Not available
Eligible booking channels: Official website; third-party bookings may be handled through the booking channel’s customer service.
Other restrictions: Existing bookings made before March 3, 2020 are not eligible.
If UA is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Must be handled before departure.
If the new ticket costs more, you pay the difference; if it costs less, you do not get a refund (of course).
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
Frontier - F9
Booking date: Any
Travel date: March 3, 2020 - March 16, 2020 (inclusive)
Fare/class: All tickets operated by F9 are eligible
Changes: First change is free (fare difference applies)
Can be changed no later than June 1, 2020.
Airport changes are allowed.
Cancellation: Free
The refunded amount will become the passenger’s credit, valid for 90 days.
Eligible booking channels: Official website; for third-party bookings, please contact customer service.
Other restrictions: If F9 is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Changes must be made before the original flight departs.
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
Hawaiian - HA
Official link: Travel Waiver
Booking date: March 1, 2020 - March 16, 2020 (inclusive)
Travel date: Any
Fare/class: All tickets operated by HA are eligible
Changes: First change is free (fare difference applies)
Airport changes are allowed.
Cancellation: Not available
Eligible booking channels: Official website; for third-party bookings, please contact customer service.
Other restrictions: If HA is only one of the operating carriers on an itinerary, this does not apply.
Changes must be made at least 24 hours before the original flight departs.
The standard 24-hour free cancellation policy still applies.
Comments:
These are obviously positive policies. If you already have a real travel need, this can be helpful. But if you do not actually need to travel, do not force a speculative booking—after all, you do not know which airline will be cheapest when you eventually need to use that credit.
Personally, I think AA has the worst policy here: lots of restrictions and a short window. In terms of overall scale, UA looks the best. Still, credit goes to B6 and AS for setting the right example first. Appreciate the days when smaller airlines can still remain independent.
Everyone should also try to avoid unnecessary travel, since there is already a risk of infection in the U.S. as well.