Coronavirus: These Airlines Offer (Free) Cancellations/Rebooking
The Coronavirus outbreak is officially a global pandemic and will affect international travel over the next weeks, possibly even months. Because of this situation, it is a little risky to book flights far in advance right now. Especially since no-shows can cause a lot of financial damage.
Many airlines and tour operators are responding with amended rebooking and cancellation terms. It may be possible to cancel the journey until a few days before.
Info
We are expecting more airlines and tour operators to respond in similar ways. We are trying to keep this article up to date.
Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Eurowings
The Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Air Dolomiti, Eurowings) has waived the booking fee for tickets purchased before March 5, as well as for new bookings made between March 5th and May 15, 2020. A new flight date has to be chosen before August 31. You need to pay the price difference, but all Lufthansa Group airlines grant a €50 discount on it.
Update
Lufthansa Group airlines now offer the opportunity to confirm your new flight date later than your initial departure. In this process, your current ticket will be cancelled, but not refunded. Until June 1, 2020, you may select a new flight date, that has to be earlier than December 31, 2020.
The new flights have to be flown before December 31st, 2020 and the airport of origin and destination must remain the same. If the new flight costs more, you’ll have to pay the price difference. Your ticket number must start with 257, 220, 724, 082, or 101 in order to be able to use this rebooking policy.
Accor Hotels
Worldwide stays before June 30, even the ones that are not refundable, can be postponed until December 31st, 2020 without paying any fees.
To do this, you should directly contact the hotel. For some affected regions, you can also cancel for free.
Aegean Airlines
Aegean Airlines allows free rebooking to a later date (the latest being October 20, 2020) for travel until May 10, 2020. No limitations in terms of travel destination.
It is uncertain yet if Aegean will calculate any fare difference. Free cancellation is not offered yet.
Aer Lingus
The Irish carrier waives rebooking fees for all bookings departing before September 30, 2020. The price difference must be paid, nonetheless. You can opt out of rebooking or a monetary refund by accepting a voucher adding 10% to your initial ticket’s value.
Aeroflot
For departures before May 31, 2020, you can exchange your ticket for a voucher of the same value, valid for three years. Tickets from/to France, Germany and Spain can be rebooked without a free.
For flights to Italy or Isreal, passengers may get a free rebooking before December 31, 2020 or a full refund.
Airbnb
Guests that booked before March 14, 2020 with a check-in date up to June 15, 2020 can cancel and get a full refund.
Update
Now applicable to all bookings worldwide made before April 14, 2020.
You can alter or cancel your booking online directly at Airbnb. You’ll get your refund within ten days.
Air Baltic
New bookings made before May 31, 2020 for travel before December 31, 2020 allow one date change without a fee.
If there is a price difference between your flights, you’ll probably have to pay that. Extra services like checked baggage are transferable without a fee.
Air Canada
For new bookings made before March 1st, Air Canada will let you rebook the flights for free once. The flights may be booked up to 24 months in advance and have to be rebooked at least 2 hours before departure.
Nevertheless, you will have to pay the price difference. You can also cancel your booking and get the entire price you paid refunded as a voucher for a new booking during the next 24 months.
Air France
Air France and KLM won’t be charging any money (neither fees nor price difference) for the following bookings:
- Bookings up to April 21, 2020, with travel up to August 31, 2020.
- Bookings after April 22, 2020, with travel up to November 30, 2020.
While this is a very generous policy, there are some restrictions when it comes to possible new travel dates:
- Travel before November 30, 2020: Free change of travel dates regardless of your booking class, as long as your cabin class (Economy, Business, First) remains unchanged and seats are still available.
- Travel after December 1, 2020: Free change of travel dates within the same booking class. Otherwise, the price difference must be paid.
Further information at Air France
Alternatively, you can accept a voucher valid until December 31, 2020, and redeemable on any flight with Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways.
Alitalia
Alitalia is allowing its passengers to rebook their flights for free, if the booking was made before March 5th, and the destination lies in Italy. You can either fly to the same destination on new dates before the end of September 2020, or change the destination but fly on the same dates.
Update
Alitalia now allows free rebooking or exchanging your ticket for a voucher for all flights.
If your booking class is no longer available for your new flight, you will have to pay the price difference.
American Airlines
AA waives the rebooking fee for flights:
- Bookings made in March 2020 (regardless of travel dates)
- Bookings made in April and May 2020 for travel up to September 30, 2020.
This offer is only valid for tickets that have been booked directly with American Airlines.
British Airways
British Airways allows exchanging all tickets for travel up to July 31, 2020, for a voucher, worth the full price including taxes and surcharges. The voucher can be redeemed for all flights up to April 2022.
For flights booked between March 3 and July 31, 2020, the airline waives the rebooking fee. It will charge you the price difference between your new and old flights, nonetheless.
Cathay Pacific
New bookings made between March 9 and June 30, 2020, with Cathay Pacific can be modified as often as you wish before departure. The trip has to be completed before February 28th, 2021. You will, however, have to pay the price difference for the new flight.
Award flights and group tickets are excluded from this policy. Getting a refund for the flights is only possible if the booked fare allows that, if there are travel restrictions for the destination, or if the flights were canceled.
Condor
Condor is the first German airline to waiver its rebooking fee. If you’ve booked a flight between March 5th and 20, 2020 (now May 31, 2020), you can rebook it up to one day before departure, without paying a rebooking fee. This, however, does not apply for flights in the Economy-Light fare.
There are no restrictions concerning the travel period. You will, however, have to pay the price difference for your new flight. If your new flight is cheaper, you won’t be reimbursed.
Delta Air Lines
Delta is removing the rebooking fees. Depending on when you booked your flights, rebooking terms are more or less generous. Tickets booked before May 31 can be rescheduled once without a fee.
Update
Now valid for all flights! Until now, these changes did not apply for flights within the United States.
For tickets issued before March 2nd, 2020, and for travel during March, Delta allows free rebooking once for travel dates between now and May 31, 2020.
For tickets issued on/after March 1 and before March 31, 2020, Delta allows free rebooking once for travel dates between now and February 28th, 2021.
Easyjet
Easyjet waives rebooking fees for new and existing bookings. It is even possible to change your flight or destination. You need to pay the price difference between the two flights.
Changes to your booking can be made online und Manage my Booking. A full refund is offered if Easyjet cancels your flight.
Emirates
Emirates’ Generous Rebooking Policy – Free Changes of Date & Destination or Full Refund *UPDATE*
Etihad Airways
Etihad waives the rebooking fee for new bookings made between March 7 and April 8, 2020.
Update
Etihad gives different options for all who are scheduled to travel up until July 31, 2020. This document gives you a great overview.
The difference to the new price probably has to be paid.
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian waives the rebooking fee for travel commencing before June 30, 2020, for new and existing bookings. Only the difference to the new price has to be paid. Your journey has to end before December 31, 2020.
Eine Änderung der Route ist ebenfalls möglich.
Finnair
Finnair permits free rebooking for all flights booked between in April, May and June 2020. The new flights have to take place before June 30th, 2020. The price difference must be paid if you change your booking class (which is not the same as your cabin class).
Hilton
Stays (even without free cancellation option) up to June 30, 2020, can be cancelled up to 24 hours before arrival without a fee.
This offer is valid for new and existing booking worldwide.
Hyatt
For stays without cancellation option booked before March 8, 2020 (now: June 30), Hyatt offers 10,000 World of Hyatt points.
You can use this offer via telephone or worldofhyatt@hyatt.com.
For travel to or residents of China, South Korea, Japan and Italy, Hyatt offer cancellations free of charge.
Iberia
For bookings made up to June 30, Iberia offers the opportunity to change your travel dates to November 30, 2020, without a fee or get a refund in form of a voucher. This voucher can be redeemed for travel before June 30, 2021. If you ask for a voucher before May 15, you get additional 10% value on top.
The refund is possible for online flight cancellations as well. If Iberia cancels your flight, you’ll receive full monetary compensation.
Icelandair
For existing and new bookings made before April 1, 2020, with departure before August 1, 2020, Icelandair waives the rebooking fee once. Your new flight date has to be earlier than September 1, 2020.
You have to pay the difference in price between your new and your old flight. A change of destination is not possible.
KLM
Air France and KLM won’t be charging any money (neither fees nor price difference) for the following bookings:
- Bookings up to April 21, 2020, with travel up to August 31, 2020.
- Bookings after April 22, 2020, with travel up to November 30, 2020.
While this is a very generous policy, there are some restrictions when it comes to possible new travel dates:
- Travel before November 30, 2020: Free change of travel dates regardless of your booking class, as long as your cabin class (Economy, Business, First) remains unchanged and seats are still available.
- Travel after December 1, 2020: Free change of travel dates within the same booking class. Otherwise, the price difference must be paid.
Further information at Air France
Alternatively, you can accept a voucher valid until December 31, 2020, and redeemable on any flight with Air France, KLM, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and Kenya Airways.
LATAM
LATAM is offering free rebooking for new bookings made between March 15 and April 30 for trips in 2020. You only have to pay the price difference.
You may also change the destination. You can change the flights up until 14 days before departure.
LOT
LOT Polish Airlines is offering free rebooking for all tickets booked before August 31, 2020, with travel in 2020. Your alternative flight has to be completed on or before March 31, 2021.
The routing has to remain identical. If the booking class also remains the same, you won’t have to pay any surcharge.
Meliá Hotels
Bookings made between April 2 and May 31, 2020, can be changed or cancelled up to 24 hours before your initial stay, free of charge.
Norwegian
Warning
Norwegian announced that it won’t be flying internationally again before March 2021.
Norwegian is wavering the rebooking fee for new bookings made from March 6th to 22nd (now: May 31, 2020) for trips before the end of August.
If your booking class is no longer available on the new flights, you will be charged the price difference.
Oman Air
For new bookings made from March 6th until May 31st, for flights before October 31st, Oman Air will let you rebook your flight without any fees up to two times. If the booking class remains the same, you won’t have to pay any surcharge, otherwise, you will have to pay the price difference.
Update
The rule is now available for existing booking made before March 12, 2020 as well. It is now possible to change your routing, as well.
This information was communicated from Oman Air to travel agencies. Their website currently does not show any information regarding this topic.
Travel agencies are to write INVOL CHANGE DUE TO COVID in the Endorsement Box during the rebooking process.
Pegasus Airlines
Pegasus will allow rebooking flights once without paying a rebooking fee for new bookings of international flights (incl. northern Cyprus) made between March 9th – 31st (now: April 30). Should there be a price difference, you will have to pay it.
Getting a refund is only possible if the fare you booked allows this.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways is wavering the rebooking fee for flights before September 30, 2020, if you rebook at least 3 days before departure. This applies to new and old bookings alike. It is also possible to cancel your flight for free, getting a voucher for the entire price of the ticket with a 10% bonus, which would be valid for one year.
Update
Qatar Airways now allows changing your destination, as long as it is within a 5,000 km radius of your original destination.
Should there be a price difference between the price you paid and the price being currently charged on the new dates, you will have to pay the difference. Award flights can also be rebooked for free.
Radisson Hotels
All bookings made between April 1 and June 30, 2020, can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before the first day of your stay.
SAS
Booking made up to March 4 with travel dates up to May 31, 2020, can be changed free of charge, if the same booking class is still available. The new travel date must be before April 30, 2021.
All trips up to May 31, 2020 (regardless of booking date) can be exchanged for a voucher with a 10% bonus on top. These vouchers are valid for one year.
For new bookings made before June 15, 2020, and travel before November 30, 2020, SAS waives the rebooking fee. You’d still need to pay the price difference when changing flight dates.
You may only rebook your flight once, and cancellations are only possible if the fare allows it, or if SAS cancels or changes the flight.
Scoot
Scoot will allow rebooking flights for free once for new bookings made between March 10th and May 14th, 2020.
A possible price difference for the new flights will have to be paid. You can change the flights directly on flyscoot.com.
Singapore Airlines
All tickets booked before March 16, 2020, for travel up to June 30, 2020, can be exchanged for a voucher. The voucher can be redeemed for travel up to June 30, 2021. You may opt for a full refund, as well.
For bookings made before June 30, 2020, Singapore Airlines waives the rebooking fee. The price difference to the new flight, however, has to be paid.
Further Information on Existing Bookings
Further Information on New Bookings
TAP Air Portugal
If your first flight was until September 30, 2020, and as long as the ticket is issued until May 15, you can do afree change and benefit from an additional discount of €25 on short haul or €100 on long haul tickets to use on the fare difference.
For journeys that have their first flight until June 30, 2020, there is also the alternative of opting for a refund through a voucher, TAP offers an additional 20% to the amount of the voucher. It is valid for two years.
Thai Airways
For new and existing booking between January 28 and April 30, 2020, Thai Airways allows one rebooking without a fee. The airline will charge you only the price difference between your current and your new flight.
This applies to tickets for travel up to June 30, 2020, too.
Origin and destination must identical. You must rebook at least seven days before your scheduled departure.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines removes the rebooking fee for all bookings made before June 20, 2020. Your new travel date has to be before February 28, 2021.
United Airlines
United offers free rebooking for bookings made before March 3, and travel before May 31, 2020 – your new flight date has to be within a year after your original one. However, the fare difference has to be paid.
For new bookings made after March 3 and up to May 31, 2020, you can move your flight up to two years into the future without a fee. The price difference still has to be paid.
More Airlines
- Air Mauritius: For bookings made until April 30th for trips before June 30th, Air Mauritius won’t be charging any rebooking fees. You will, however, have to pay the price difference. It is also possible to cancel the booking and get a refund as a voucher. Further information
- Air Austral: Booking made before March 31st and trips before May 31st can be rebooked for free to new flights in the same booking class. Further information
- JetBlue: For bookings before May 31, 2020, and for travel until January 31, 2021, JetBlue allows free cancellation and rebooking. However, refunds are only given in the form of travel vouchers for future travel. Further Information
- Alaska Airlines: Rebooking and Reimbursement rules depend on travel dates on booking classes. Further information
Tip: Free Cancellation Possible if Schedule Changes Happen
Many airlines are reducing their flight schedule now and therefore cancel flights and/or amend flight times. In those cases, usually a free cancellation and rebooking is permitted. It might therefore make sense to just wait right now. For additional information, have a look at the following articles:
Coronavirus: At Which Point Must Airlines Offer a Full Refund?
Your Flight Got Cancelled? These Airlines Offer Refunds or Vouchers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my travel because of health concerns?
It depends on the regulations in your country. Generally speaking, unless there is a warning from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country, usually it is not possible to cancel your travel for free. You will have to accept the regular cancellation terms.
Tour operators are usually a bit more generous regarding cancellation. Depending how far in advance you cancel, you will always get a certain part of your money back.
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source https://sharingcost.com/coronavirus-these-airlines-offer-free-cancellations-rebooking/
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