When travel completely fell off a cliff amidst the ongoing pandemic last year, the airlines waived the change fees for basic economy seating. In early 2021 pent-up demand has made the airlines reverse that. Still, I wanted to relay some information on specific airlines and their change fees with travel restrictions coming back. Alaska Airlines is waiving change fees to/from Hawaii due to the Governor recently asking visitors and residents to reduce travel to/from the island. Delta airlines are waiving change fees for travel dates that fall within 2021. If you buy a ticket now for travel dates in 2022, the waiver does not apply. Frontier allows a waiver for change fees for tickets purchased between August 12- September 30, 2021, regardless of travel dates.
Hawaiian Airlines allows main basic cabin fare to be waived fees as long as:
Purchased between May 1, 2021 – August 16, 2021, for travel dates through October 31, 2021
Purchased between August 17, 2021 – October 31, 2021, for any travel date on or after August 17, 2021.
Jetblue announced a new booking fee waiver for changes or cancellations to blue basic made between August 25 to October 31, 2021, for any travel dates. Southwest doesn’t sell basic economy tickets, and their standard policy does not include fees to change tickets. United quietly adopted basically what Delta has done. As long as you purchase your ticket by December 31, 2021 and your travel starts by December 31, 2021 United is waiving change fees.
If you care to read the original article it is at this link. Happy travels.