Airline Change Fees

In an ever-changing world, airline policies are also ever-changing. The good news is that some of the more recent changes allow you more flexibility and reassurance while making your future travel plans. Many major U.S. airlines have updated or eliminated their change fees, giving travelers the ability to alter their plans if something comes up. The following airlines have recently updated their change policies so be sure to visit their websites for further details: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, United Airlines, and more. Since each airline has its own restrictions and rules in place, the airline’s direct website is the best resource for all the details, especially as things continue to change.
Let's start with some definitions.

This blog post is about Airline Change Fees. But what exactly does that mean?

  • Change Fee: This is a fee the airline charges to make a change to a reservation, typically to rebook on a different flight.

  • Cancellation (Refund) Fee: This is a fee the airline charges to cancel a reservation and process a refund. Certain fares have the option to be refunded minus a refund fee if you don’t wish to use an airfare credit at a later date.

Here are a couple questions to ask yourself while reviewing each airline's policy:

  • Does my route qualify?  Some airlines’ change fee waiver only applies to specific routes, so if the waiver only covers domestic flights, your flight to Mexico may still incur a fee to change.

  • Do my travel dates qualify?  Some airlines are only waiving fees for specific travel windows, so make sure your travel dates fall within the specified range, if there is one.

Quick links to popular airlines:
Also, keep in mind that when changing your flights, you may be responsible for any increase in price. So if your new flight is more expensive, you should expect to pay an additional amount. Please also remember that unused credits do have an expiration date, so make sure you’re keeping that in mind. When you’re ready to make changes or use your air credit, call Costco Travel so we can help with your travel needs.

For any questions about cancellations, please call us at 1-866-921-7925.
Once You Are Ready to Travel, Costco Travel Can Help
In a year filled with many uncertainties, these newly implemented changes will give you one less thing to stress over. Now, you can begin dreaming of your next vacation and book with more peace of mind.
About the Author: The above piece was written by Brittany Wong, Assistant Buyer at Costco Travel.