How to Change or Cancel Your Flight Without Penalties During a Pandemic

Traveling during a public health crisis introduces a layer of uncertainty that can disrupt even the most carefully planned itineraries. Airlines have responded by creating some of the most flexible booking policies in history, yet many travelers still end up paying unnecessary fees or losing the value of their tickets simply because they do not know the right steps. Understanding how to change or cancel a flight without penalties requires knowing where to look, what language to use, and when to act. This guide walks through the exact process, from decoding fare rules to handling airline customer service, so you can make changes with confidence—and save both money and stress.

Understanding Airline Policies During a Pandemic

Since early 2020, most major airlines have introduced travel waivers that allow passengers to change or cancel flights without the usual change fees or cancellation penalties. These policies are not permanent; they are often tied to specific booking windows, travel dates, or regions affected by virus outbreaks. The key is to understand that pandemic‑era flexibility is not universal. It applies only when the airline has issued a waiver for your particular route, travel dates, or fare class.

Airlines frequently update their waiver policies in response to government travel restrictions, spikes in cases, or operational changes. A ticket purchased during a waiver period may still be subject to the fare difference if you switch to a more expensive flight, but the change fee itself is typically waived. Some airlines also offer a one‑time fee waiver for any booking made within a given timeframe, regardless of destination. Checking the official airline website and the “Travel Alerts” or “Travel Advisories” section is the most reliable way to see if your itinerary qualifies.

Check the Fare Rules Before You Book

The single most important factor in determining whether you can change or cancel without penalties is the fare type you purchase. Airlines segment tickets into categories such as Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Economy Plus, Business, and First. The rules for each vary widely:

Basic Economy: Typically non‑changeable and non‑refundable. Even with a pandemic waiver, Basic Economy tickets often only allow cancellation for a future travel credit, not a refund. Many carriers still charge a fee or limit changes to specific dates.
Main Cabin / Standard Economy: Usually changeable for a fee, but many airlines have waived change fees on these fares for tickets issued during the pandemic. Cancellations often result in a travel credit rather than a cash refund.
Refundable Fares: These are the most flexible. You can cancel at any time and receive a full refund to your original payment method, no questions asked. They cost significantly more, but for travelers who value maximum flexibility, the premium may be worthwhile.
Business and First Class: Often come with more lenient change and cancellation policies, sometimes including free changes up to 24 hours before departure. Check the specific fare rules on your booking confirmation.

When shopping for flights during a pandemic, look for labels like “Flexible,” “Changeable,” or “Refundable.” Some airlines now display a “Flexibility” badge next to fares that have been granted temporary waivers. Read the fare rules carefully before clicking “purchase.” A screenshot of the fare rules at the time of booking can be helpful if you need to dispute a fee later.

Use Airline Websites and Apps to Manage Your Booking

The fastest and most reliable way to change or cancel a flight without penalties is to use the airline’s own digital tools. Most carriers have invested heavily in their websites and mobile apps, allowing you to manage reservations, view available alternatives, and complete changes in minutes—all without speaking to a representative.

To start:

Log into your frequent flyer account or enter your booking reference number and last name on the airline’s “Manage Booking” page.
Look for a section labeled “Change Flight,” “Cancel Booking,” or “Travel Waiver Options.” If a pandemic waiver applies to your itinerary, the system typically displays the waiver message prominently.
Review the offered alternatives. Many airlines now show a calendar of available dates and prices, allowing you to see the fare difference before proceeding.
Select your new flight or choose to cancel. If you cancel, note whether the system offers a refund to original payment or a travel credit. Read the terms carefully—some credits expire within 12–18 months.
Confirm the transaction. You should receive an email confirmation with the updated itinerary or cancellation receipt. Save this confirmation for your records.

If the website does not show the waiver or seems to be charging a fee, try clearing your browser cache, using a different device, or accessing the mobile app. Sometimes the web version does not display all available waiver options. If you still see fees, call the airline’s customer service line rather than completing a paid change online.

Step‑by‑Step Action Plan for Changing or Canceling

Having a clear process helps you avoid mistakes and ensures you take advantage of every available flexibility. Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Verify the waiver status. Go to the airline’s Travel Alerts page. Enter your departure and destination cities and travel dates. If a waiver is active for your route, it will show details about waived change fees and allowed changes.
Step 2: Check your ticket type. Log into your booking. Look for the fare class code (e.g., Q, N, V). If you are unsure, call customer service and ask “Is my fare eligible for a waiver?”
Step 3: Decide: change or cancel? If you want to move to a different date, changing is usually better than canceling and rebooking, because you may avoid losing the value of the original ticket. If you have no future travel plans, canceling might make sense—but only if you get a refund or a credit that you will actually use.
Step 4: Complete the change online. Follow the prompts in “Manage Booking.” Accept the fare difference if any. Avoid calling unless prompted by the system.
Step 5: Document everything. After the change or cancellation, take a screenshot of the confirmation page and save the email. Note the date, time, and any fee amounts shown. This documentation is critical if the airline later claims you did not follow the waiver rules.

When to Change vs. When to Cancel

Understanding the difference between changing and canceling can affect how much money you ultimately lose. A change modifies your existing reservation to a new flight, date, or destination. If the new flight is more expensive, you pay the difference; if it’s cheaper, some airlines refund the difference (others give a travel credit). A cancellation voids the booking entirely. Depending on fare type and waiver, you may receive a full refund, a partial refund, or a travel credit (voucher) for the value of the ticket.

Consider these scenarios:

If your plans are postponed by a few weeks or months, changing the date is almost always better. You keep the same fare and only pay any fare difference. Many pandemic waivers allow changes an unlimited number of times.
If you have no certainty about future travel, canceling for a travel credit may be your only option. However, remember that credits often expire. Some airlines now allow credits to be transferred to another person, but that provision is rare.
If the airline cancels your flight (not you), you are entitled to a full refund to your original payment method, per U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rules. This is true even for non‑refundable tickets. If the airline offers a credit instead, you can insist on a refund.

How to Get a Refund Instead of a Travel Credit

During the height of the pandemic, many passengers accepted travel credits even when they were entitled to refunds. The DOT has clarified that if an airline cancels a flight or makes a significant schedule change (for example, delaying departure by several hours), the passenger has the right to a refund—not just a voucher. “Significant change” is not precisely defined, but delays of more than a few hours or days, or a change in routing that adds hours, are usually considered significant.

If you want a refund, follow these steps:

Check if the airline canceled or made a major change. Look at the original versus new departure time. If the change is substantial, request a refund online via the “Cancel Booking” option—some airlines automatically process refunds for cancellations caused by them.
If online only offers a credit, call or use the airline’s refund request form. Be polite but firm. Explain that the cancellation was by the airline and reference the DOT policy. Provide your booking reference.
Escalate if needed. If the airline refuses, file a complaint with the DOT at airconsumer.dot.gov. Many passengers have received refunds after filing a formal complaint.
For European flights, EU Regulation 261/2004 may also entitle you to compensation if the flight was canceled within 14 days of departure. Check with the airline or a service like Your Europe for details.

Additional Tips for Flying During a Pandemic

Travel Insurance That Covers Pandemics

Most standard travel insurance policies exclude pandemics and epidemics. However, some insurers now offer “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) upgrades that allow you to cancel a trip for any reason and recover 50‑75% of non‑refundable costs. CFAR must be purchased within 14‑21 days of your initial trip deposit. If you expect travel disruptions may force you to cancel, CFAR can be a lifesaver—but read the fine print carefully.

Another option is to look for policies that explicitly cover COVID‑19 related cancellations. Companies like Squaremouth maintain lists of insurers that have updated their terms. Always verify coverage directly with the insurer before buying.

Credit Card Protections

Many premium travel credit cards offer trip cancellation and interruption insurance as a benefit. For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and the American Express Platinum® cards may reimburse non‑refundable expenses if you cancel due to a covered reason (illness, natural disaster, etc.). However, pandemics are often excluded unless the card issuer specifically added COVID‑19 coverage. Check your card’s benefits guide or call the benefits administrator. If you paid for the flight with such a card, you may be able to file a claim even if the airline does not refund you.

Act Quickly When a Waiver Is Announced

Airlines often announce waivers with a limited “booking window” (e.g., new bookings must be made by a certain date) and a limited “travel window” (e.g., travel must occur within a specific period). If you have an existing ticket that falls within the affected dates, you typically have until the waiver expiration to make changes without fees. Once the waiver expires, standard fare rules apply again. Therefore, as soon as you hear about a travel advisory or restriction for your destination, check your booking and make any desired changes immediately.

Airline‑Specific Policies: A Snapshot (as of Early 2025)

While policies change regularly, here is a summary of how major U.S. airlines handle changes and cancellations during pandemic‑type situations. Always verify on the airline’s official site before acting.

Delta Air Lines: No change fees on most domestic and international tickets (Basic Economy excluded). Cancellations for travel credits, with some refunds if the airline cancels. Delta offers a “Flight Credit” that can be used for future travel; no expiration for credits issued during the pandemic.
American Airlines: No change fees on Main Cabin and higher fares for domestic and select international routes. Basic Economy changes allowed only for a fee except when a waiver is active. Refund requests for cancellations are considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
United Airlines: Permanently eliminated change fees on all standard Economy and Premium cabin tickets for domestic flights (Basic Economy still charged). For international, change fees may apply but waivers are common. United also introduced “Travel Credit” that can be used for any flight within a year.
Southwest Airlines: No change fees ever; you can change or cancel up to 10 minutes before departure. If you cancel, you receive a travel credit that never expires. Southwest’s flexibility is unmatched, but you cannot get a cash refund unless the airline cancels.
JetBlue: No change fees on Blue, Blue Plus, and Mint fares. Basic Blue fares incur a change fee. During active waivers, JetBlue often waives these fees and allows cancellations for credit.
International carriers: Policies vary widely. For example, British Airways usually allows a one‑time free change for bookings made under its “Book with Confidence” policy. Emirates offers free changes for tickets issued during certain periods. Always check the airline’s dedicated COVID‑19 or travel advisories page.

For the most up‑to‑date information, bookmark the official policy page of the airline you are flying. A helpful resource is the IATA Airline Flexibility Map which aggregates waiver information for many carriers worldwide.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Assuming a waiver applies to all tickets. Read the exact wording. A waiver might only apply to tickets purchased before a certain date, or only for travel to/from specific regions.
Waiting until the last minute. If you know you need to change, do it as early as possible. Good seats and flexible dates disappear quickly, and fare differences can increase.
Ignoring the fare difference. Even if the change fee is waived, you still pay any difference in fare. Compare alternate dates and times to find the smallest price gap.
Not reading the credit expiration terms. Some credits expire in 6 months, others in 18 months. Know the deadline and use it before it lapses. Some airlines allow you to extend the credit by calling, but that is not guaranteed.
Hanging up too soon when calling. Hold times can be long, but customer service agents have the authority to apply waivers that may not be visible online. If the website shows a fee, call and ask politely if a waiver can be applied. Have your booking reference ready.

When All Else Fails: Dispute with Your Bank

In rare cases where the airline refuses a refund for a canceled flight and you have exhausted all other channels, you can dispute the charge with your credit card company. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) or the Payment Services Directive in Europe, you may be able to file a chargeback if you did not receive the service you paid for. However, use this option only as a last resort, because chargebacks can lead to the airline banning you from future travel or revoking your frequent flyer miles. Document all your attempts to resolve the matter with the airline before filing the dispute.

Final Thoughts

Navigating flight changes and cancellations during a pandemic does not have to be a nightmare. By understanding fare types, staying informed about active waivers, and using the airline’s digital tools, you can avoid most penalties. When in doubt, call customer service—many agents are empowered to help. And always keep copies of your communications, confirmations, and any waiver announcements. With the right knowledge and a proactive approach, you can keep your travel plans flexible and your wallet intact.

How to Change or Cancel Your Flight Without Penalties During a Pandemic

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