Airline Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies

The COVID-19 pandemic has complicated flying, as well as life. Many travelers are confused about how to change travel plans or what to do if a flight is canceled. Fortunately, most airlines sympathize and have created new policies to make it easier to move things around when travel plans do go exactly as expected.

Many commercial air carriers have removed fees and penalties for switching flights and now offer alternatives have tried to soften the blow by offering rescheduled departures and ticket refunds. 

Check out the policies for the airlines that currently serve SUN. 

Delta Airlines:

• All canceled flights are available for refund. 
• Waivers can be extended on change fees for newly purchased flights through the end of the year. Delta will also extend expiration on travel credits through December 2022 for tickets booked before April 17, 2020.
• Award flights that have qualified for a change fee waiver can also have mile redeposit fees waived.

Read Delta’s full policy here.

United Airlines:

• Tickets issued by Dec. 31, 2020, can be changed without a fee.
• Electronic certificates are now valid for 24 months from their issue date, including all currently valid and new certificates issued on or after April 1, 2020.
• Fare differences will be applied to more expensive tickets. The difference will not be refunded for cheaper tickets changed to more expensive ones.
• Starting Jan. 1, 2021, you may stand by for an earlier trip to your destination for free. However, if your trip has multiple connections, you will need to stand by for each flight, and there is no guarantee that your checked bags will also make the flight if you do.
• Starting Jan. 1, 2021, MileagePlus members will have more flexibility when traveling and may be able to confirm a seat for an earlier flight at no extra cost. However, flights must have the same origin and destination and must depart within 24 hours of the originally booked flight. The ticket must also be in the same fare class, otherwise, you will have to pay the difference.

Read United’s full policy here.

Alaska Airlines:

• All canceled flights are available for refund.
• You won’t need to pay a cancellation or change fee if:
  • You paid for a Saver Fare through Dec. 31, 2020. You won’t pay a fee and will receive credit for a future flight that must be spent within one year of the original purchase date.
  • You purchased a ticket between Feb. 27 and Dec. 31, 2020. Flights can be changed to new travel completed by Nov. 30, 2021, or be canceled with credit transferred to your Alaska account or credit card via email. Keep in mind that fare differences will be applied.
  • You have had Alaska credit deposited before March 1, 2020. The booking expiration will also be extended by six months.
  • You canceled a flight between March 1 and Aug. 31, 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19. Credits from the canceled flight will be extended for purchase through July 5, 2021, and for travel as late as May 31, 2022.

• Starting Jan. 1, 2021, change fees will be eliminated on main cabin and first-class fares.

Read Alaska’s full policy here.