Flights Cancellation & Airline Policies Amid the Ongoing Outbreak of COVID-19 (Last Updated on 22nd June 2020)

June 29, 2020 - Trip.com

American Airlines COVID-19 cancellation policy

· No change fee for tickets purchased on or before June 30, 2020, for travel through September 20, 2020.

· The value of unused tickets for travel between March 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020, can be used for travel through December 31, 2021.

· Customers may change their origin and destination cities.

Texas-based American Airlines Group recently signaled it will fly approximately 55% of its US-domestic schedule and 20% of its international flights in July as compared to 2019. This comes on the heels of stronger-than-expected demand during May, 2020. Additionally, in an effort to incentivize travel, the carrier has announced it intends of offer a suite of promotions and deals this summer.
 

Delta Air Lines COVID-19 cancellation policy

● No fee to change / cancel certain tickets (restrictions apply)

● Tickets purchased between March 1 and June 30, 2020, can be changed without a change fee or Award redeposit fee for up to a year from the date of purchase.

Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines anticipates it will add rough 1,000 flights back to its lineup between July and August, 2020. Despite this, the carrier foresees only operating at between 55-60% of last year’s domestic capacity. Fortunately, Delta has managed to trim costs and projects it will have adequate liquidity on hand as travel numbers start to slowly rebound.
 

Southwest Airlines COVID-19 cancellation policy

● No fees charged for cancellation or changes prior to departure

● Nonrefundable tickets returned as airline credits for use on future travel

During the COVID-19 outbreak, Texas-based Southwest Airlines is continuing the company’s standard practice of not charging fees for cancelation or changes provided any cancelation or change is done at least 10 minutes prior to scheduled departure. Travelers who elect to cancel “nonrefundable” tickets will be issued a credit towards a future Southwest flight valid for one year from the original ticket purchase date. New tickets must be booked using the same passenger name as on the original ticket. A number of destinations served by Southwest are currently experiencing travel disruptions due to COVID-19. Travelers should make sure to check the latest local information when booking.
 

United Airlines COVID-19 cancellation policy

● Customers have until June 30, 2020, to make changes to, or cancel, any travel they have booked through the end of 2020 without incurring a fee.

● Customers who cancel tickets can receive an electronic voucher in the same amount valid for 2 years towards another United Airlines flight.

Chicago-based United Airlines recently announced the resumption of flights to 150 destinations in the United States and Canada. Capacity in July is projected to reach only 30% of that from 2019. Among the destinations to see service resumptions are New York, Boston, Seattle, and Philadelphia. United Airlines plans to resume service along 140 nonstop routes, thereby easing the burden on travelers and providing more direct options. The carrier’s international lineup will likewise rebound slightly with services to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Seoul resuming in part.
 

Ryanair COVID-19 cancellation policy

● Change fees waved for all customers who book travel in July and August.

● Travel dates can be changed without a fee until December 31, 2020.

● Carrier projects operating over 1,000 daily flights from July 1, 2020.

The Dublin-based European budget carrier is trying to attract customers by waving travel fees on tickets scheduled for July and August, 2020. Travel dates along the same route can be changed until December 31, 2020, at no charge. Route changes are not allowed and trips must be completed before the end of 2020.

Lufthansa Group COVID-19 cancellation policy

● No rebooking fee on tickets booked up to June 30, 2020.

● “FlightVoucher” allows customers to utilize their full and unused ticket value for a new booking until August 31, 2020.

The Lufthansa Group airlines Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Air Dolomiti are now offering flexible rebooking options. For tickets booked prior to May 15, 2020, customers can rebook their flight once free of charge, regardless of the terms and conditions of the originally purchased ticket. Travel must occur before December 31, 2020, and the rebooking must be complete prior to the original date of travel. Customer who booked flights between May 15 and June 30, 2020 for travel on or before April 30, 2021 will not incur a rebooking fee should they desire to change their travel dates. Again, travel must occur before December 31, 2020, and the rebooking must be complete prior to the original date of travel.

Air France-KLM COVID-19 cancellation policy

● Ticket purchased on or after April 22, 2020, may be changed at no charge as long as the same cabin / fare is available.

● Tickets purchased before April 21, 2020, for flights departing prior to August 31, 2020, may be postponed at no change.

Air France-KLM has announced that travelers who have purchased a ticket before April 21, 2020, for a flight departing before August 31, 2020, can postpone their departure date without any change fee, subject to availability in the same travel cabin. Any changes must be completed prior to the original scheduled departure and travel must occur no later than November 20, 2020. Travelers wishing to cancel flights have the option to receive a voucher depended on where the ticket was purchased.

British Airways COVID-19 cancellation policy

● No fee to change any booking made from March 3 to August 31, 2020, for journeys due to be completed by April 30, 2021.

● Vouchers available when canceling a booking made between March 3 and August 31, 2020, for journeys to be completed by April 30, 2021.

China Southern Airlines COVID-19 cancellation policy

● One time, no fee to change / cancel bookings between Mainland China and other countries / regions (including Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan).

● One time, no free to cancel bookings involving interline service with other airlines.

China Southern Airlines allows for a one time, no fee rebooking or cancelation of flights between Mainland China and other countries / regions (including Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR, and Taiwan). Limitations on travel dates apply.

China Eastern Airlines COVID-19 cancellation policy

● Normal cancellation and rebooking polices are once again in place.

China Eastern Airlines is operating using the company’s standard cancellation and rebooking policies. See the airline’s website for more details.

Scandinavian Airlines COVID-19 cancellation policy

● No fee to rebook flights scheduled to depart before August 17, 2020.

SAS is allowing customers with departures scheduled before August 17, 2020, to rebook without a fee provided their new travel date is before August 16, 2021. Travelers are responsible for covering any difference in fare that may result.

Thai Airways COVID-19 cancellation policy

Thai Airways International Pcl said on Tuesday it would cancel nearly all of its international flights from March 25 onwards as demand for travel slumps amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Suspension of flights in Asia will begin on March 25 and European flights on April 1. Australian destinations would be suspended on March 27. Flights to Munich and Zurich were not canceled.