When it comes to planning travel in 2021, flexibility is in high demand. With so much uncertainty on when borders will reopen and when vaccinations will become widespread, airlines have relaxed, or completely eliminated, one of the most annoying fees in the industry — the change fee.
Airlines used to rake in hefty fees from travelers who simply wanted to change travel dates — sometimes up to a $750 fee for international flights. And when the major airlines introduced the dreaded “Basic Economy” fare, changes simply weren’t allowed.
The pandemic has changed the game and multiple U.S. airlines have decided to permanently eliminate change fees for flyers that purchase at least a standard Economy or Main Cabin Economy fare. While this is overall great news, the marketing is aimed to make consumers believe change fees are no more, but the truth is that the lowest available fares (Basic Economy) will still have restrictions on changes after the pandemic has passed.
For now, most airlines are allowing free flight changes on all tickets — even Basic Economy — but the exact policies vary by airline and the goal posts keep moving, so you’ll want to always double-check the fine print before you make a booking. Airlines will likely end these blanket free flight changes on all fares once travel picks up again, but if you’re fairly certain you’ll travel with a certain airline at some point in the future, booking a great fare for future travel poses little risk with these great no change fee policies.
Note: Even though change fees may be eliminated, keep in mind that a fare difference may still apply. For example, if the new fare is $100 more than you originally paid, you’ll have to pay $100, but won’t be charged an additional fee on top of that. If the fare is less, some airlines will issue a credit, while others will not.
Most airlines still have no-show policies (so you can’t simply just not show up for your flight and expect to be able to retain a flight credit for future use). Instead, make sure to make any changes to or cancel your itinerary by the day before departure, or at least before the required check-in time. Otherwise, the airline may cancel your trip and all remaining segments without issuing any flight credit.
Last, but certainly not least, if you are traveling to, from, or within the U.S., and the airline cancels your flight or makes a substantial schedule change, you are entitled to a refund.
Main (or higher fare class): Free changes/cancellations for all destinations.
Saver Fares: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.
See the full Alaska Airlines change fee policy
Main Cabin (or higher fare class): Free changes for all flights starting in North or South America and flying anywhere in the world (except Africa), for tickets issued on or after November 19, 2020.
For flights within North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, there are no change fees for flights issued on or after August 31, 2020.
Basic Economy: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking for flights within North America, Central America, and Caribbean. Basic Economy fares to other regions, such as Africa, Europe, and South America, can be changed for a fee.
See the full American Airlines change fee policy.
Main Cabin (or higher fare class): Free changes for all travel originating in North America and flying anywhere in the world, for tickets purchased on or after December 9, 2020.
For all flights within the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands), there is no change fee for tickets purchased on or after August 31, 2020.
Basic Economy: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.
See the full Delta change fee policy
Fares purchased with the WORKS bundle: No change fees; entire purchase is refundable.
Standard fares without bundle: $0 if change is made 60+ days prior to departure; $39 when made 59 to 7 days prior; and $59 if made 6 days prior or less (including same day).
See the full Frontier Airlines change fee policy
Main Cabin (or higher fare class): Free changes for all destinations.
Main Cabin Basic: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.
See the full Hawaiian Airlines change fee policy
Blue Extra: Free changes for all destinations.
Blue & Blue Plus: $75 - $200 depending on the fare.
Blue Basic: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking.
See the full JetBlue change fee policy
Southwest has never charged a change fee and you can always change or cancel any Southwest flight up until 10 minutes prior to departure without any fees. If the new fare is lower, you will be issued a flight credit for the difference. Any flight credit will be valid for 12 months from the original date of purchase.
See the full Southwest policy
Fares purchased with Flight Flex: One no fee flight change.
Standard fares: $90 - $100
See the Spirit Airlines COVID-19 Information Center
Economy (or higher fare class): Free changes for all travel originating in the U.S. to anywhere in the world, and for flights between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean.
Basic Economy: No changes or cancellations allowed more than 24 hours after booking (except in connection with same-day standby).
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The screeners at airports’ TSA security checkpoints don’t have a stellar reputation. On the whole, they tend to be unfriendly and more than a little bossy. Of course, every once in a while you’ll come across a TSA worker who’s a joy, like this one, or who did something super nice, like what this one did for me. But the overall appearance? Yeah, they’re crabby, irritable and more than a little bit authoritarian. Of course, there seems to be a good reason for that, but it still doesn’t make anyone feel any better when they’re yelling at some 85-year-old because they forgot to take their belt off.
Well, I’ll tell you – the whole COVID thing has not been good for TSA security. According to the TSA, over 6,400 TSA employees have tested positive for COVID and 14 have died as of this writing. Things have been better since that whole whistleblower situation over the summer, but some airports are only NOW getting enhanced protection such as acrylic shields at their respective checkpoints.
For a long time, TSA officers really couldn’t even enforce passengers wearing masks. They could ask them to, and if the locality had a mask mandate, there might be enforcement that way. But under the administration of former president Trump, federal entities were not given any power of enforcement. With that, there were no mandates and rarely any consequences for not wearing a mask at the TSA checkpoint.
That’s all changed.
President Biden made COVID safety one of the first things on his agenda and he recently signed an executive order on, “…Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel by requiring travelers to wear face masks when they are in airports, bus and rail stations, as well as while on passenger aircraft, public transportation, passenger railroads, and over-the-road buses operating on scheduled fixed-routes.”
As a federal agency, the TSA will, of course, follow those orders. With that, effective February 2, 2021, TSA requires individuals to wear a mask at TSA airport screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation systems.
Said Darby LaJoye, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the TSA Administrator”
With a federal mandate in place, there can be consequences. As per the TSA’s press release:
“Whether beginning the security screening process at the airport Travel Document Checker (TDC) or submitting checked baggage for screening, all passengers who appear to be over the age of 2 must properly wear a face mask throughout the security screening process. The officer at the TDC will request that travelers temporarily lower the mask to verify their identity. Those who approach the TDC without a mask will be asked to wear or obtain one to proceed. Passengers who refuse to wear a mask will not be permitted to enter the airport’s secure area, which includes the terminal and gate area. Depending on the circumstance, those who refuse to wear a mask may be subject to a civil penalty for attempting to circumvent screening requirements, interfering with screening personnel, or a combination of those offenses.”
So yeah…I know that most people were already going through the TSA checkpoint with masks on (albeit some begrudgingly) anyway. But for those who chose to give the officers problems because of reasons, there are now consequences to their actions.
| Update: Annual Nudist Festival Did Not Happen After All - Your Mileage May Vary Located on the Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca, Playa Zipolite (which means “Beach of The Dead”) is Mexico's first and only legal nudist beach. |
