Worried about booking due to the Coronavirus - Airlines Waiving Change Fees

There is fine print, of course. The biggest, in all the change-fee waivers to date: you can’t buy a nonrefundable ticket under this policy and request a refund if your plans change or you don’t want to travel. You can change or cancel the ticket for free. If you cancel, you’ll receive credit for a future flight.

An airline-by-airline look:

American Airlines: American’s waiver allows travelers who purchase tickets between March 1 and March 16 to change or cancel them without paying fees that start at $200 per person. The new policy covers tickets purchased for travel through late January 2021.

On American, the fee will be waived for changes made up to 14 days prior to travel. So if you buy a ticket for a summer trip and need to change it for lingering coronavirus concerns or any reason, you just have to change it at least two weeks before departure to avoid the fee.

Fare differences will apply: If you book a $150 round-trip ticket from Chicago to Orlando and the going rate is $300 when you change the ticket to another date, you’ll pay an extra $150.

Delta Air Lines: Delta’s waiver covers travelers who buy tickets between March 1 and March 31 for international travel, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Flights within the U.S are not covered. Tickets can be purchased for travel as far out as February 2021. Fare differences apply to changed tickets.

United Airlines: United’s waiver covers travelers who buy tickets between March 3 and March 31 for travel to any destination. Travelers can change their ticket to another flight (fare differences apply) or cancel the trip and receive a credit that is good for a year from the date the ticket was purchased.

JetBlue Airways: JetBlue’s temporary change fee waiver, which applies to tickets purchased between Feb. 27 and March 11, covers travel through June 1. Travelers will receive credit for a future flight. Fare differences will apply on the new tickets.

Alaska Airlines: Alaska’s waiver covers tickets purchased Feb. 27 through March 12 for travel through June 1. Fare differences will be applied to any changes.

British Airways: British Airways’ “Book with Confidence″ policy covers tickets purchased between March 3 and March 16. Changes can be made any time before departure, but any fare difference will apply.