Airlines Issue Additional Waivers as U.S. Ramps Up COVID-19 Response

The global travel industry is still reeling from the ongoing impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The U.S. is continuing its efforts to curb the spread of the outbreak, and major U.S. airlines have been quick to alter their policies to encourage customers to keep their bookings.

American Airlines is extending its offer to waive change fees for tickets purchased by March 1 for travel through May 31. Now, American customers have until Dec. 31 to rebook travel for future flights, and any ticket purchased prior to March 1 will not incur change fees.

The updated policy also allows customers to change their origin and destination cities.

United Airlines is allowing customers who purchase tickets between March 3 and March 31 to change their bookings for free over the next 12 months. The carrier will also be waiving change fees for all tickets issued on or before March 2, on domestic or international routes, for through April 30.

Delta Air Lines previously announced it would allow customers who purchased tickets in March to adjust their travel as many times as they need without a change fee for an entire year, as well as letting them cancel their ticket in return for an eCredit for future travel. Delta is also waiving change fees for all U.S. domestic and international travel departing in March, April or May 2020, as well as all tickets purchased in March 2020.

Additionally, Delta is extending the expiration date on tickets for travel in March or April. Any ticket for travel in March or April that is set to expire before June 30, 2020 has been extended to permit travel until Dec. 31, 2020. Customers can rebook and fly with these tickets until the end of this year.