Delta Air Lines Eliminates Domestic Change Fees

Hm, in the News Hub article it does state that this new policy is "permanent" - I'd bet on DL being more likely to honor this commitment into the future than UA.

@ AG -- I published too quick, my apologies. Post updated now.

AA just announced same.

Is United offering this on international tickets?

Hi Lucky;

Thanks!

The post you link to about Delta extending travel funds to 2022 was dated April. My read of the info on the Delta web site implies that policy ended in May. Do you have anything concrete to point to? The extension is just as important as the change fee waiver to me.

Delta leading the way once again. United only pre-emptively followed.

*sarcasm*

Why is that sarcasm?
All of Lucky’s articles assume Delta’s wisdom and United’s incompetence.

https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2020/American-Airlines-Improves-the-Travel-Experience-OPS-POL-08/default.aspx

"While United did indeed beat Delta to the punch with implementing this, it is worth noting that Delta revealed plans to overhaul its change fee structure back during its 2019 Investor Day. Delta shared the desire to make fares more flexible and simple, and that was all before the current pandemic."

how convenient of lucky to still find a way to credit Delta's empty talk that they have never followed through until UA forced their hand, spending 1 sentence to mention UA then 2 and a half sentences to basically back-pedal sentence 1.

Delta's slogan at one time was "Keep Climbing". I'm surprised you didn't also credit Delta for our virus curve that was never flattened and just keeps climbing.

AA same, issuing voucher if new flight is less.

RIP southwest airlines, i know so many people who pay more money living in Dallas to fly LUV rather than AA just for the ability to change their flights.

This is shocking news and now im afraid the airlines know something we dont, will airlines have less incentive to lower prices and match competitors on certain routes knowing people can now freely change more. Price matching is great in theory but often it leads to both competitors keeping their prices higher since there is less incentive to lower price when competitor will just match it, so a JFK to LAX flight price being reduced by one airline might hurt both now so neither will want to lower price.

Great news from Delta. Wonder what the heck Alaska Air is thinking? They seem to be locked in to Sept 8 as the last day new purchased tickets will have COVID-19 flexibility. Full on late fees for tickets purchased Sep 9 forward. Considering they used to be the most flexible about changes (+60 days out), it’s sad to now see them, apparently, becoming one of the least accommodating domestic airlines.

Thanks for pointing out the question of residual value for changes to lower fares under this new policy. People don't realize how big a deal that is, especially in corporate travel. At the beginning of covid, United was the only one to eliminate residual value (they did it right away, for everything issued after 01MAR). I hope the others don't start following their lead now....

@henry lax
Lol whereever there’s a good news about delta, here you are. United fanboy.