A trickle has turned into a torrent as major airlines announce the permanent elimination of change fees. Alaska Airlines announced today that it is permanently eliminating a $125 change fee on all but the most basic tickets, a move that follows United, American and Delta’s decisions to make permanent what many airlines had agreed to do temporarily as the COVID-19 lockdowns upended travel in the spring and early summer. Southwest Airlines was among the rare airlines not to charge a change fee, nor has it resorted to charging for all checked baggage. Most airlines are, however, expected to keep the numerous upcharges that have become part and parcel of a traveler’s life, including paying for premium seats in economy, seat choices and checked baggage.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/aviation-news/major-airlines-cut-change-fees