United, Delta join American Airlines in scrapping change fees on international t

Posted by Airline Reservation on December 11th, 2020

(Reuters) -United Airlines and Delta Airlines said on Wednesday they will scrap change fees for international tickets purchased in the U.S., joining rival American Airlines move, in a bid to revive demand for overseas travel.

Chicago-based United Airlines said it has scrapped change fees for international bookings through the year-end and plans to further extend the policy, while also eliminating change fees on basic economy tickets purchased through March 31 next year.

Delta said it has permanently done away with change fees for international travel and is also extending a waiver of change fees for all tickets purchased through March 30.

Major U.S. airlines began implementing temporary change fee waivers this year to tide over the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

American Airlines last month said it will eliminate change fees for first-class, business class, premium economy, and main cabin tickets for all long-haul international flights. (Reporting by Rachit Vats in Bengaluru and Tracy Rucinski in Chicago)

Delta, along with American and United, had already dropped change fees for domestic flights earlier this year. In November, American expanded its policy to include international flights and long-haul travel. American Airlines passengers are also allowed to enjoy the full value of their tickets if they make any changes before their travel date.

The US Bureau of Transportation Statistics said change fees have historically been a strong source of revenue to airlines, bringing in .8 billion in 2019.

Airlines have been looking to bolster passenger traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the US economic downturn, which has hit the travel industry especially hard.
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• Delta is permanently dropping change fees for all international flights that start in North America.
• American Airlines has already done the same, and both airlines have also dropped change fees for domestic flights.
• Airlines have been looking to bolster passenger traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic and amid the US economic downturn, which has hit the travel industry especially hard.