While peak travel season may be fast approaching, most airlines’ summer schedules have been radically altered from normal service —with some reducing flights over the coming months by up to 90 percent. And even if your flight hasn’t already been canceled, it could be in the next few weeks, as airlines continue to adjust to low capacity during the COVID-19 crisis. Add to that ongoing shelter in place orders—both here in the U.S. and around the world—and that summer or fall trip you’ve been waiting for suddenly seems all the more uncertain. So, if you do decide to postpone or cancel your flight (or simply have no other choice), when is the best time to pull the trigger and contact the airline? Here are some options;
Wait it out
It might seem urgent right now, but the best course of action is patience. If your flight cancellation is initiated by the airline, you won’t lose out. In fact, your rights as a traveler are clear: If an airline cancels your flight you can request reimbursement in full by the original payment method. You do not need to accept a travel voucher, even when offered, and if the airline proposes an alternative flight to your original destination, perhaps on a partner carrier at a later date, you are still entitled to decline the offer and insist on your money back. (If you encounter reluctance from the airline, file a complaint with the DOT —and make sure to read our coverage about what to say if the airline pushes back.)
Most U.S. airlines will reach out to travelers via phone or email to let them know the flight they’re due to take has been canceled, and will immediately begin the refund process. If the customer service representative does not immediately clarify that you’ll be receiving a cash refund over a voucher then press them—remember, they are legally required to give you one. If you’re booked on a domestic flight, the regulations are the same. However, U.S.-based carriers have focused their schedule reduction efforts on international routes, so it would be less likely that you’d face a forced cancellation in the first place.
If you do wait, but the flight is never canceled and you’re not comfortable taking it, don’t worry. Until the current crisis, canceling a few hours before take-off would likely result in hefty penalties and a voucher for the remainder of what you’ve paid. But in the current situation, such small print has been largely put on hold: This week, for example, Delta announced it would waive change fees for flights through the end of September. If you do cancel your flight this way, you won’t be legally entitled to a refund in this case, but you will receive vouchers from the airline, which will likely be valid far longer than the usual 12 months. In fact, some airlines will allow you up to two years to spend them.
Postpone now, but consider your options
If it doesn’t look like your flight will be axed but you’re anxious about considering overseas or domestic travel in the near future, go ahead and cancel. Try, though, to make the most of the situation.
Check your date of travel against the window for which the airline is currently waiving all penalties. Every airline policy differs and can change day to day: Delta, for example, currently allows you to cancel a summer trip to Europe and receive a voucher for the full amount you paid. However, if that trip were booked in October or over Thanksgiving and you called to cancel it now, you would be charged a change fee which would be deducted from your voucher. Of course, Delta could extend its flexibility in the future, so waiting to see how the next few months play out could mean a fee-free cancellation at a later date.
Other carriers have adopted a resourceful strategy when faced with the prospect of mass cancellations, opting to incentivize travelers to take a voucher now over waiting for a refund. Take Ireland’s Aer Lingus, which rewards fliers who proactively forego their refund in favor of a voucher by tacking on an extra 10 percent in value—meaning a $500 flight, for instance, would result in a voucher for $550 for future use. Qatar Airways, meanwhile, is offering a similar deal when a passenger declines to rebook immediately. It’s easy to see why: Many airlines are struggling to stay afloat and are keen to retain as much money as possible. If the airline you booked with doesn’t officially offer that policy (no U.S. airline has formally adopted it yet), it’s still worth asking politely if there’s the possibility—there are anecdotal reports that some have offered value-boosted vouchers as part of negotiations with customers.
Of course, it’s hard to make firm plans for future travel right now, but tourism can be fundamental to helping destinations rebuild after all kinds of disasters, COVID-19 included, and it’s something worth considering when deciding whether torebook rather than cancel. Remember, it’s okay to plan ahead right now—you’ll just need to allow yourself some flexibility until we all start traveling again.
This article was authored by Mark Ellwood and originally published in Conde Nast Traveler on April 21, 2020