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Flight cancellations are the worst kinds of expenses, especially when you’re trying to make good safety decisions in the midst of Covid-19.
From refundable flights to Covid-19 travel vouchers, here’s everything we found on what airlines, hotel chains, cruise lines, and ticketing companies are doing to help you save on those extra charges that we shouldn’t even have had to pay in the first place.
Don’t forget to download the KCL app for more money-saving tips, hacks, and coupons.
Alaska, American Airlines, Hawaiian, and United have ended their change and cancellation fees on most flights.
No more having to deal with $125-$200 fees for changing or cancelling your flight on these airlines, at least for most flights.
These airline fares no longer have a change or cancellation fee:
- Alaska: Main and First Class
- American Airlines: Premium Cabin, Premium Economy, and Main Cabin
- Hawaiian Airlines: All fares, but rebooking a flight must be through their Reservations department
- United Airlines: All fares, except Basic Economy
- Southwest Airlines has never had change or cancellation fees. Though Wanna Get Away (Economy) fares are non-refundable, your ticket’s value can be turned into Travel Funds for a future trip.
Covid-19 waivers are still a thing at Alaska, American Airlines, and Delta
Alaska has a Peace of Mind waiver which gives you the freedom to make changes and cancel flights without paying a $125 fee. The Peace of Mind waiver doesn’t apply to their Saver (Economy) class, but tickets can be cancelled for future travel credit if they were purchased before April 30, 2021.
American Airlines also waived their change fee due to Covid-19. The waiver only applies if you bought your tickets on or before Aug. 15, 2021.
Delta is honoring all Covid-19 travel waivers, which gives you eCredit if you cancel your flight. They also waived their change fee on Basic Economy flights through Dec. 31, 2021.
Frontier has waived fees for tickets purchased through Sept. 30, 2021.
JetBlue has waived fees for tickets purchased through June 8, 2021 and for Blue Basic (Economy) tickets purchased through June 7, 2021.
American Airlines and United are offering free standby.
If you already have a ticket, you can show up at the airport on your day of travel and request to fly standby, no matter what kind of ticket you have. This gives a chance to score an earlier flight just by arriving at the airport earlier than your scheduled departure time.
In the past, airlines would only allow this option to higher-tier ticket classes and/or would charge between $25 and $100.
United has offered stand-by since Jan. 1, 2021, and American Airlines will offer it Oct. 1, 2021.
Hilton and Drury hotels don’t have change or cancellation fees.
Both Hilton and Drury hotels offer free changes and cancellations up to 24 hours before arrival. Drury also has a special on most reservations where you can change or cancel your reservations until noon the day of arrival.
Drury and Radisson hotels have the most flexible Covid-19 cancellation policies.
Drury also has an Advance Purchase Hardship Request for non-refundable reservations. It’s essentially a way to get a refund or future stay credit for Advance Purchase reservations.
If you booked your stay when Radisson had their flexible cancellation policy for Covid-19 in 2020, you can change or cancel at no extra charge. And international travel stays have free cancellation and changes up to 24 hours before arrival.
If you booked your stay with Marriott, they are only offering free changes and cancellations 24 hours before arrival day to existing reservations made between July 6, 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021. This offer only applies to 2021 travel.
Norwegian, Princess, and Royal Caribbean will give you future cruise credit and zero fees on cancellations.
If you have to cancel your cruise, these cruise lines have you covered. Norwegian Cruise Line will give you full future cruise credit if you cancel 15 days prior to sail date.
You can cancel your Royal Caribbean International cruise up to 48 hours prior to sail date on cruises that start on or before April 30, 2022. They’ll refund you in the form of future cruise credit (which expires Sept. 30, 2022).
Princess Cruises will let you cancel until 30 days prior to sail date for future cruise credit. Their offer is only valid for cruises booked in 2021.
You’ll get a full refund if Carnival, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean cancel the cruise.
Like many things during the Covid-19 pandemic, there’s a chance your cruise might get canceled. Don’t worry, though. These cruise lines offer a full refund on all canceled cruises. That includes all the fine print fees, too. You also have the option to get future cruise credit instead.
If you have to cancel due to Covid-19, these cruise lines will give you future cruise credit.
Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises will give you future cruise credit if you’re diagnosed with Covid-19 or if there are travel restrictions due to Covid-19 that keep you from making your cruise.
Celebrity Cruises has a Cruise with Confidence protection program for cruises booked by October 31, 2021. You can cancel up to 48 hours before sail date and receive 100% future cruise credit that you can use by April 30, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2022 or one year from your original sailing date, whichever is later. You do have to have paid the booking amount in full to get your 100% future cruise credit.
Royal Caribbean has a protection program for all cruises booked on or before Aug. 31, 2021 called Cruise with Confidence, which gives you the opportunity to cancel up to 48 hours prior to sail date and get future cruise credit valid until April 30, 2022.
Note: Royal Caribbean offers 125% future cruise credit on select suspended cruises, so make sure to check if yours applies.
You’ll get a full refund at Ticketmaster and SeatGeek if your event is cancelled.
Ticketmaster and SeatGeek can also give you future credit if you prefer. Otherwise, you’re all set!
Note: All ticket sales are final, so if you have to cancel and the event is still happening, you can always just resell your tickets.
StubHub and Vivid Seat will give you credit up to 120% of the amount you paid if your event is cancelled.
StubHub will give you credit for 120% of the amount you paid for your ticket if the event gets cancelled. Credits expire Dec. 31, 2022.
Vivid Seats will give you Rewards Cash loyalty credit for 110% of the full value of your ticket, which includes fees. If you want a full refund, contact them.
If the event is rescheduled or postponed, these ticketing companies will hold your ticket for a future date.
SeatGeek and Vivid Seats will save your tickets if your event gets rescheduled or postponed. It’s an automatic thing, so you’ll be able to attend your event at a future date.
SeatGeek offers to let you re-list your ticket if you can’t attend an event due to Covid-19.
SeatGeek has the option to re-list your tickets on the SeatGeek Marketplace once the event has been rescheduled.
