Carriers Waive Some Change Penalties In Wake Of Attacks

Brussels Airport while landing on runway. Photo: Lucash

North American carriers serving Western Europe have waived some cancellation/change penalties in the wake of the suicide bomber attacks in Brussels. 

Brussels Airport said it will remain closed through March 23 and will evaluate whether to reopen on March 24. 

Delta Air Lines said passengers booked on canceled flights are entitled to a refund. Passengers booked on flights departing March 22 to March 31 for Brussels, Amsterdam or Paris may make a one-time change without penalty. Tickets must be reissued on or before March 27, and rebooked travel must begin no later than March 31. 

When rescheduled travel occurs beyond March 31, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Final travel must be completed by end of ticket validity, one year from date of original issue. 

If travel cannot be rescheduled within these guidelines, customers may cancel their reservations and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original ticket issuance. Change fees and fare differences will apply. 

American Airlines said passengers booked on flights on American, British Airways, or Iberia may make a one-time change without penalty if the ticket was purchased before March 22 for travel March 22 to 29 to, through, or from Brussels. The passenger must have the flexibility to travel between March 22 and April 12.  

Origin, destination, and stopover changes are also allowed for Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, London, and Paris (CDG or ORY). 

Passengers who cannot reschedule may receive a refund. 

United Airlines will waive change fees and any difference in fares for new flights to Brussels departing on or before April 1, as long as travel is rescheduled in the same cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed. 

For wholly rescheduled travel departing after April 1, or for a change in departure or destination city, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply.  

Rescheduled travel must be completed within one year from the date when the ticket was issued. 

Air Canada said passengers who purchased an Air Canada ticket no later than March 22and whose itinerary includes a flight to, from or through Brussels Airport between March 22 and 28 may change their flights to another date up to April 30 without penalty. 

Changing to a date beyond April 30 may incur a fare difference.