The resumption of domestic air traffic is having a negative impact on travellers. Since 1st May, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United no longer offer total travel flexibility. These three carriers follow American Airlines which decided back in April to further restrict the conditions for switching.
All these airlines have reinstated most of the existing restrictions on basic economy fares. As a result, economy class tickets on the lowest fares cannot be changed or refunded. For the passenger, the ticket is once again "unfit for consumption" if it is not used.
The flexibility offered to all types of ticket was in fact granted by the airlines to limit the impact of covid on their traffic. It also made it possible to extend the validity of a ticket that had often become unusable with the introduction of quarantine. If the ticket was not refundable, the flight date was at least interchangeable. JetBlue is the last airline still offering total flexibility. However, the company will be aligning itself with the rules in force among its competitors from 31 May.
Passengers are left with only one choice: buy a Economy class ticket at a higher rate if they wish to modify or amend their journey at a later date. Restrictions apply to new tickets. Any ticket purchased during the airlines' period of largesse retains its flexibility.
On the other hand, change fees no longer apply. At the end of last year, United Airlines definitively abolished most of its change fees.. All the other major companies followed suit.
