Cancellation & change fees

🪞 Who this is for:

New Point Travelers: Just starting your award travel journey? Learn why cancellation and change fees matter and how they can impact your travel flexibility.
Strategic Point Savvy: Looking to optimize your award travel and navigate unexpected changes? We'll explore strategies to potentially minimize fees or find programs with flexible change policies.
Travel Adapters: Do you crave flexibility in your travel plans? This guide will help you understand how cancellation and change fees can affect your ability to adjust your itineraries.

📈 What you’ll get:

Cancellation and Change Fees Explained: Learn what these fees are and how they can vary depending on the program and airline.
Strategies for Flexibility: Discover ways to potentially minimize fees or find programs with more relaxed change policies.
Planning for the Unexpected: Gain valuable tips on how to factor in potential cancellation and change fees when booking award travel.

👇 The Data:

Understanding the Fees:

Cancellation and change fees are charges airlines or award programs assess when you need to modify your award booking:

Cancellation Fees: These fees apply if you need to cancel your award flight altogether. They can vary significantly depending on the program, airline, and the amount of time left before your flight.
Change Fees: These fees apply if you need to make changes to your award flight, such as modifying the date, time, or route. Similar to cancellation fees, the amount can vary depending on the program and airline.

Loyalty Program	Change Fee	Cancellation Fee	Restrictions
Air Canada Aeroplan	$100 CAD for award changes	Up to $175 CAD in cancellation fees	2 hours prior to departure
Air France-KLM Flying Blue	€70 for changes	€70 for cancellations	Prior to check-in
Alaska Mileage Plan	None	None
All Nippon Airways Mileage Club	No fee for changes	3,000 miles	Changes must be made before departure of the original flight and up to 96 hours prior to departure of the new flight. Cancellations must be prior to departure.
American Airlines AAdvantage	None	None	Prior to departure
Avianca LifeMiles	$150 for changes	$50-200	No deadline specified. Charges for cancellations vary depending on your itinerary; international flights are typically $200.
British Airways Executive Club	$55 for changes	$55 for cancellations	24 hours prior to departure
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	$50 or 7,500 miles for changes	$120 or 17,000 miles	No deadline specified
Delta SkyMiles	None (excluding Basic Economy)	None (excluding Basic Economy)	10 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights; 72 hours for travel originating outside the US
Emirates Skywards	$25 for changes	$75	24 hours prior to departure
Etihad Guest	100 AED for changes	25-75% of miles redeemed	Changes permitted more than 7 days before departure. Refunds available up to 24 hours before departure
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands	$50 for changes	$50	No deadline specified
Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles	None	None	No deadline specified
Iberia Plus	€25 for changes	€50	24 hours prior to departure. Changes and cancellations allowed only on Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, and British Airways flights. Awards on partner airlines are not refundable.
JetBlue TrueBlue	None (excluding Blue Basic)	None (excluding Blue Basic)	Prior to departure
Qantas Frequent Flyer	5,000 points for changes	6,000 points	24 hours prior to departure
Qatar Privilege Club	$25-100 for changes	$25-100	3 hours prior to departure
Singapore KrisFlyer	$25-50 for changes	$75	No deadline specified
Southwest Rapid Rewards	None	None	10 minutes prior to departure
Turkish Miles&Smiles	$70 for changes	$70	No deadline specified
United MileagePlus	None	None	Prior to departure
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	$50 for changes	$50	24 hours prior to departure

⏩ Do this:

Strategies for Flexibility:

While cancellation and change fees can be a pain point, there are ways to potentially navigate them with more flexibility:

Program Selection: Consider booking with programs known for more relaxed change policies. Some programs might even allow free changes under certain circumstances.
Know Before You Book: Always carefully review the cancellation and change fee structure of the program and airline before booking your award flight.
Plan for the Unforeseen: Build in a buffer period when booking your award flight, especially if your travel dates are flexible. This allows some room for adjustments in case you need to change your plans.

🪞 Who this is for:

📈 What you’ll get:

👇 The Data**:**

⏩ Do this:

👇 The Data: