In this post, I want to cover the change fees & cancellation policies across the eight US airlines we currently support on theskykey.com: Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United. This is meant to be an easy-to-read reference guide for you to view whenever you are trying to figure out what the change fee or cancellation policy might be for your airline ticket. As always, the best source for updated information is the airline’s website.

Not covered in this post:  Policies for ticket changes on the same day of travel, and policies for itineraries originated in Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.

Before we get into the specifics for each airline, it’s important to note what is the same across all of these airlines.

1. Airlines are legally required by the Department of Transportation (DOT) to refund you your money to your original form of payment on all fare types if you cancel a flight within 24 hours of booking it. This specifically applies to all tickets booked directly with the airline that are booked at least seven days before departure.
2. Flight credits are non transferable. This means that they can only be used by the same person who they were issued to from the original reservation.

Additionally, all of these airlines have various different fare types, some of which are fully refundable to the original payment method. Most people however do not book refundable tickets because they are significantly more expensive. So in this post, we will be focusing on the various policies for non-refundable tickets. Let’s dive in.

Alaska Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Saver, Main, Premium, First Class

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare. Saver fares excluded- these cannot be changed.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit. Saver fares eligible for only 50% of ticket value if canceled at least 14 days prior to departure date.

Flight Credit Expiration: Valid for 12 months from issue date of your original ticket, or 30 days from the date of exchange or cancellation, whichever is greater.

Miles & Points Cancellations: Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded to original payment method.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit, or call Alaska.

American Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Basic Economy, Main, Main Plus, Business, First

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare. Basic Economy fares excluded.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit. Basic Economy fares excluded, see below for details.

Flight Credit Expiration: One year from original ticket issue date, travel must begin by expiration date.

Miles & Points Cancellations: No fee. Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded to original payment method.

Basic Economy Cancellation Policy: AAdvantage members can cancel and receive travel credit for a fee of $99. Here are the qualifications:

1. AAdvantage number must be in your reservation
2. Travel must be only within the 50 U.S. states

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit, or call American.

Delta Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Basic, Main, Comfort, Premium Select, First, One

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare. Basic Economy fares excluded.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit. Basic Economy fares excluded, see below for details.

Flight Credit Expiration: One year from original ticket issue date, travel must be booked by expiration date.

Miles & Points Cancellations: No fee. Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded to original payment method.

Basic Economy Cancellation Policy: $99 – $199 cancellation fee, depending on your itinerary. Remaining amount can be used as future flight credit.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit, or call Delta.

Southwest Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Wanna Get Away plus, Wanna Get Away

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit.

Flight Credit Expiration: No expiration.

Miles & Points Cancellations: No fee. Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded to original payment method.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? One-click claim credit within your reservation, or call Southwest.

United Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Basic Economy, Economy, Premium, Business, First

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit.

Flight Credit Expiration: No expiration.

Miles & Points Cancellations: No fee. Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded to original payment method.

Basic Economy Change Policy: Changes are not permitted.

Basic Economy Cancellation Policy: No cancellations allowed beyond 24 hours from booking.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit, or call United.

Frontier Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Basic, Economy, Premium, Business

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare. Basic fares excluded, see below for details.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit. Basic fares excluded, see below for details.

Flight Credit Expiration: Expire 12 months from date of issuance, travel must be booked by expiration date.

Miles & Points Cancellations: $75 redeposit fee for miles, award redemption fees paid at the time of reservation are non-refundable.

Basic Change Policy: $49 fee if 59 – 7 days prior to departure. $99 fee if 6 days or less prior to departure.

Basic Cancellation Policy: $99 – $199 cancellation fee, depending on your itinerary. Remaining amount can be used as future flight credit.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit.

JetBlue Airways

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Basic, Blue, Extra, Mint

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare. Basic fares excluded, see below for details.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit. Basic fares excluded, see below for details.

Flight Credit Expiration: Expire 12 months from date of issuance, travel must be booked by expiration date.

Miles & Points Cancellations: No fee. Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded as a travel credit.

Basic Change Policy: No changes allowed.

Basic Cancellation Policy: $100 per person (North America, Central America, Caribbean). $200 per person other routes.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit, or call JetBlue.

Spirit Airlines

Non-Refundable Fare Types: Go, Savvy, Comfy, Big

Change Fees: None, just pay the difference in fare.

Cancellation Fees: None, money returned as a future flight credit.

Flight Credit Expiration: Valid for one year from the date of issuance.

Miles & Points Cancellations: No fee. Miles redeposited, taxes & fees refunded to original payment method.

How to get money back if the price drops after booking? Cancel and rebook using your flight credit, or call Spirit.

-Jacob

Co-Founder @ The Sky Key