Delta permanently axes international change fees from North America

Delta Air Lines has thrown down the travel flexibility gauntlet by permanently eliminating international change fees for trips from North America to anywhere in the world. The airline’s decision not to charge change fees on Delta tickets for travel originating from North America to international destinations is effective immediately. It will include flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners but excludes low-cost basic economy tickets. READ: Virgin boss predicts low fares to stay in market share battle. Delta had previously announced it was eliminating change fees for travel within the US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands for fares other than basic economy. The airline has also extended its existing change waiver for all tickets purchased through March 30, 2021. It says this means no change fees “for travel at anytime to anywhere”. “No year has better demonstrated the value of flexibility than this one,” said Delta chief executive Ed Bastian. “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.” Airlines globally have been offering waivers on punitive change fees as a way of giving passengers confidence they will not be hit with penalties if their travel plans are disrupted by border closures and other restrictions. The US carrier has also offered more flexibility for its frequent flyers with moves such as eliminating a $US150 fee to cancel an award ticket and a similar fee to change an award ticket. Basic economy fares are again excluded. It also eliminated the 72-hour requirement to change or cancel an award ticket. And Delta customers can use the remaining balance of their ticket towards future Delta flights, a move the carrier likens to receiving store credit when exchanging an item for a less expensive one.