Delta is “permanently” eliminating change fees for international travel originating from North America, effective immediately. Will United Airlines soon match?
Delta Permanently Eliminates International Change Fees
Last month, American Airlines announced it would eliminate change fees on all international tickets originating in North or South America for travel on American or its joint venture partners (British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines). Basic economy fares were excluded.
Nearly three weeks later, Delta has now matched. Delta promises:
- No change fees on Delta tickets for travel originating from North America to anywhere in the world (including flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners)
- Basic Economy fares are excluded
Delta Extends Systemwide Change Fee Waiver Through March 31, 2021
In addition to the permanent elimination of international change fees on flights originating in North America, Delta extended its global fee waiver to March 31, 2021. That means any Delta fare you buy between now and then (including basic economy fares) is fully flexible. Should you need to change your travel, all fees will be waived. Note, should there be an increase in fare you will be responsible for that. Should the fare decrease, you will receive the difference in the form of a voucher. Delta is also extending its middle seat blocking policy until March 31st.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian remarked:
“No year has better demonstrated the value of flexibility than this one. Our approach has always been to put people first, which is why we’re extending our current change fee waiver and making lasting changes to our practices, so customers have the trust and confidence they need long after the pandemic ends.”
Will United Airlines Match?
United Airlines, which was the first U.S. legacy carrier to permanently eliminate change fees on domestic tickets, has not matched yet. When American Airlines broadened its change fee waiver to include international travel, a United spokesperson told me:
United was the first legacy airline to announce it would permanently eliminate change fees, and that policy currently includes Basic Economy and International tickets booked through the end of this year. United plans to announce an extension of its change fee waiver for Basic Economy and International tickets later this year to continue to offer more flexibility to all customers who travel with us.
While United promises an extension of its change fee waiver, it has not committed to matching American and Delta. It does plan to extend its own global fee waiver at some point.
That said, I believe United will fully match. Already, United finds itself at a comparative disadvantage for the fee waivers in place. That’s because American and Delta will provide a future travel credit when your new ticket is cheaper than your old one. United only offers an even exchange, meaning you currently forfeit any savings. I predict by the end of the week, this will change.
> Read More: American Airlines Eliminates International Change Fees
CONCLUSION
This is a golden era for buying flexible tickets. Delta’s move to extend its elimination of change fees to international travel provides a new level of flexibility that takes out a lot of the risk of planning travel in advance. I expect United will soon match.
United is an expert in following whatever Delta does. It amazes me their lack of innovation but their ability to copy others.
In fairness, though, United was the first to eliminate change fees and Delta and American followed.
And what about the exorbitant fees to redeposit award miles if you have to cancel an award trip?
Crickets.
I think any business whether banks or airlines should be immediately audited by a regulator if they make more than 5% of revenues from fees as opposed to their main product.
Frankly fees should be a gauge of whether there is adequate competition in the market.
Yeah, just like a good leftist, you think all companies should be forced to provide a service to you for free. People like you who constantly demand things from others while offering nothing in return are dead weight on the economy and the country.
Companies should be free to offer whatever legal product or service that they want, at whatever price they want. They don’t need to be told by some idiot like you. The free market will decide who wins.
I am not an enthusiastic supporter of regulating pricing in any sector of the economy, but one has to admit that the airline industry and, worse still, banks (often licensed to print money out of nowhere!) are not exactly examples of well-functioning free markets.
Just like the “taker” red states?
Thankfully the “free (voter) market” decided who won, and actually make a smart choice this time
The new stimulus bill has a bailout for everyone, even the airlines.
Once the fake capitalists get their asses saved they will go back to pretending being self made, pulled up by hard work and other crap. Frankly i am just surprised how eager this congress is to bailout capital. This is the most corrupt congress and fed ever. You need to get your head out of your ass and think what is happening instead of knee jerk hyperbole.
Obama engaged in a biggest ever redistribution of wealth outside of a normal tax policy and this Republican president and republican Senate is presiding over one even bigger with these two stimulus bills.
Stop pretending there is capitalism in this country. Everyone is a grifter. Some are better connected than others.
A bit off topic, but, according to the LH forum of Flyertalk, the ‘big 5’ in Star Alliance (one of which presumably is UA) have agreed to impose another small devaluation in status benefits by changing rules for guests from ‘same day *A flight’ to ‘same flight’.
It would be useful if you could speak with your sources to confirm it and maybe find out why they seem so keen to annoy their best customers in the midst of a pandemic and just before a likely serious global recession.
Can you send me a link to the FT story? Thanks.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/lufthansa-austrian-swiss-brussels-lot-other-partners-miles-more/2029809-hon-sen-g-lounge-guest-rules-change-same-day-same-flight-may-2021-a.html