Airline Discounts, Waivers and Covid-19 Refund Policies

Review the latest updates from airlines including American, Delta, United, Jetblue, Southwest and Alaska. This post is regularly updated.

With the continuous uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus in the U.S., many airline carriers are changing their ticket policies to be more accommodating to passengers when considering upcoming travel. Changes to these policies include more flexible flight cancellations and even completely waiving change fees.

Additionally, several airlines are currently offering big discounts to incentivize domestic travel to several destinations. We have compiled the latest discounts and changes in policies across the major U.S. airline carriers so you can book a trip and have peace of mind incase your plans have to change.

American Airlines

The latest updates from American Airlines are stated below.

For travel this summer

American Airlines is extending their offer to waive change fees on existing and new tickets for summer travel through September 30, 2020. This offer includes Basic Economy and AAdvantage^® award tickets.

Keep in mind:

• You may owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
• You’re allowed to change your origin and destination cities as part of this offer.
• If you rebook, travel must be completed by December 31, 2021.

Plus, if you have a ticket that is expiring between March 1 and September 30, 2020, the value of your unused ticket can be used for travel through December 31, 2021.

For new travel booked by July 31, 2020

For new tickets booked between now and July 31, 2020, we’re expanding our offer to waive change fees for travel October 1, 2020, and later. This offer does not include Basic Economy or AAdvantage^® award tickets.

Keep in mind:

• You may owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.
• You’re allowed to change your origin and destination cities as part of this offer.

Changing your trip

You’re allowed to make a change to your trip once, and the change fee will be waived. You can cancel your trip online and call later when you’re ready to rebook, including Basic Economy tickets for travel on or before September 30, 2020.

Keep in mind, you may owe any difference in ticket price when you rebook your trip.

Visit the American Airlines Travel Alerts page for information about rebooking as waivers are based on destination and dates of purchase.

Current Discount Offers

2020 Summer Vacation Package – Use promo code BEACH250 to save $250 in Mexico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean [See Details]

American Airlines Citi Platinum Card – Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening [See Details]

Delta Airlines

Making space for travel this summer

Delta is extending their commitment to make more space for travel by blocking the selection of middle seats and capping seating in every cabin through September 30th. Seating is capped at: 50% in First Class and domestic Delta One; 60% in Main Cabin, Delta Comfort+, and Delta Premium Select; and 75% in international Delta One.

Changing your trip

Delta is extending their change fee waiver for flights purchased through July 31, 2020

Delta is waiving change fees and Award redeposit fees providing greater flexibility to travel using eCredits through September 30, 2022, for customers who:

• have upcoming travel already booked for March through September 30, 2020 as of April 17, 2020
• have existing eCredits or canceled travel from flights in March through September 30, 2020

Tickets purchased between March 1 and July 31, 2020, can be changed without a change fee or Award redeposit fees for a year from the date you purchased it.

Visit the Delta Travel Update Center for more information

Current Discount Offers

Up to $350 OFF Worldwide Vacation Packages – Use code SMDISCOVER [See Details]

United Airlines

For upcoming travel

For tickets issued March 3 through March 31, 2020, customers will be permitted to change without paying a change fee to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 24 months from the original ticket issue date. For tickets issued between April 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020, customers will be permitted to change without paying a change fee to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.

If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no change fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change without paying a change fee but no residual value will be given.

Changes or Cancellations

If the customer decides to change or cancel the flight they booked between March 3, 2020 and March 31, 2020, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without a change fee for travel up to 24 months from the original ticket issue date. If the customer decides to change or cancel the flight they booked between April 1, 2020, and July 31, 2020, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without a change fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. Any changes or cancellation must occur prior to ticketed travel date.

Jetblue

Jetblue has consolidated operations in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco and Washington D.C. and temporarily suspended service in other cities. Jetblue has stated “these temporary changes allow us to reduce excess flying during a time with less demand. In addition, we continue to adjust our international schedule as we monitor rapidly evolving government restrictions on international travel.”

Changes or Cancellations

Jetblue is waiving change/cancel fees for customers with existing bookings made through July 31. If you choose to rebook, you can do so on any flight through the end of our schedule. Fare difference may apply.

For voluntary cancellations, funds will be issued as a JetBlue Travel Bank Credit.

For more information, please visit Jetblue Travel Alerts

Southwest

Changes or Cancellations

If you decide not to travel, as long as you cancel your flight at least 10 minutes before its scheduled departure, the funds used to pay for a nonrefundable ticket (Wanna Get Away® fares) are normally valid for one year from the date of purchase.

However, in recognition of the current travel environment, Southwest is extending the expiration date of some travel funds:

• Customers’ funds that have expired or will expire between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020, will now expire September 7, 2022.
• Any travel funds created because you cancel a flight between March 1 – September 7, 2020, will expire September 7, 2022.

It’s important to note, while these unused travel funds will be available until September 7, 2022, once the funds are used to make a purchase, the expiration date of the travel funds will then follow our normal ticketing rules and will expire 12 months from the date of purchase.

They have also added a new benefit for our valued Rapid Rewards Members. Those Members who have travel funds that are set to expire or funds that are created between March 1, 2020 and September 7, 2020 will have the option to convert those travel funds into Rapid Rewards points at the same rate you would be able to purchase a ticket with points today. We hope this provides our Members ultimate flexibility as Rapid Rewards points never expire, never have cancel or change fees (fare difference may apply), and you can redeem your points for anyone you choose.