Coronavirus cancellation policies vary by travel provider and booking channel and the situation is very fluid. Many readers have been reaching out with questions both on the site and in our Frequent Miler Insiders Facebook group about uncertainty surrounding upcoming travel plans. Policies are changing rapidly and I expect that many will continue to change in the coming days in response to last night's announcement about travel restrictions between the US and Europe. While your best bet in all circumstances is to check with whomever you've booked, I've tried to compile the current change and cancellation policies of all major US airlines and most major cruise and hotel chains below. In each case you'll find a brief summary of their current policies as well as links to more information. We will work to keep this resource updated. We appreciate your help. If you notice changes and/or additions that should be here, please comment to help us keep it up to date.
Note that if you've booked via a travel agency like Expedia, Priceline, etc, you'll need to contact your travel agency about cancellation.
Link to waiver policy Alaska is offering or no change or cancellation fees on flights booked between 2/27/20 and 3/12/20 for travel by June 1, 2020.
For tickets purchased on or before February 26, 2020 for travel 3/6-3/31:
For tickets purchased 2/27 to March 31, 2020:
Link to waiver policy Update 3/10/2020: In addition to Delta and United, American Airlines has announced that they're extending their waived change fees to include flights that were booked before March 1, 2020. This is valid for flights due to take place from March 10 to April 30, 2020. Those flights can be rebooked for travel through December 31, 2020 or a year from when you originally booked it, whichever comes first.
If you purchased a ticket on American Airlines between March 1, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. CT and March 31, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. CT, you may change your flight once without paying a change fee. Tickets must be purchased for travel between March 1, 2020 and January 30, 2021.
American will waive the change fee only on published Non-Refundable Fare tickets.
New travel must be completed within 1 year of original ticket issue date.
Link to policy Update 3/9/2020: Delta has now expanded the waived change fees to include flights purchased on or before March 9th for travel March 1 - April 30 2020. Rebooked travel must begin by December 31 2020.
Link to policy Update 3/11/20: JetBlue has expanded their change/cancellation fee waiver policy. Currently, all change and cancel fees for travel through 4/30/20 are waived, regardless of when you purchased your ticket (flights may be re-booked for travel until 10/24/20). Additionally, there are no change or cancel fees on new flights booked from 3/6/20 to 3/31/20 for travel until 9/8/20. To be clear, cancellations will receive a JetBlue credit that is good for a year from the date of booking (not a refund).
Link to policy Spirit is offering a one-time free modification (fare difference applies) to those who need to change plans due to COVID-19 by contacting Spirit Guest Care at one of the following options:
Calling (801) 401-2222
Texting 48763
Texting via WhatsApp to (801) 401-2222 with "Hello"
Alternatively, those who must change plans due to COVID-19 have the option to receive a reservation credit for the full value of their reservation that can be used for up to 6 months to book any flight through the end of the schedule.
Link to policy Southwest never charges change or cancellation fees. As long as you cancel at least 10 minutes prior to departure, you receive a travel credit valid for up to one year from the original date of purchase. If you cancel an award booking at least 10 minutes prior to departure, points post back to your account immediately.
Link to policy Update 3/10/2020: United has also expanded the waived change fees to include flights purchased on or before March 2 for travel from March 9 to April 30, 2020. This allows you to change your flight to one that takes place by December 31, 2020 or within one year of when you first booked it, whichever date comes first.
For tickets issued March 3 through March 31, 2020, customers will be permitted to change free of charge to a flight of equal or lesser value up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. If the new flight is priced higher, the customer may change for no fee but must pay the fare difference. If the new flight is priced lower, the customer may change for free but no residual value will be given. If the customer decides to cancel their flight, they can retain the value of the ticket to be applied to a new ticket without fee for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date. This applies to all tickets, all fare types, all destinations, all points-of-sale, all travel dates available for sale, provided ticket number starts with 016.
If you booked on or before March 5, 2020 for sailings through September 2020, you can either receive an onboard credit for keeping your booking or cancel and receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the nonrefundable cancellation fee. Here is a quick run-down:
If your sailing date is scheduled for March 2020:
If your sailing date is scheduled for April 2020:
If your original sailing date is scheduled for May 2020:
If your original sailing date is scheduled June through September 2020:
Change or cancel up to 48 hours prior to sailing for cruises departing up to 7/31/20 and receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the penalty that is valid for sailings up to 12/31/21. Note that if you booked through a travel agent, you'll need to contact your agent. Note also that this policy does not apply to residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
Sailings scheduled through September 30, 2020 can be cancelled up to 48 hours prior to start of the sailing date and receive a 100% future cruise credit that is valid for new sailings through December 31, 2022, but the new booking must be made within one year of the cancellation date.
Link to most recent update and earlier policy (which still applies to cruises from May 11-31, 2020)
Update 3/12/20: Princess Cruise Lines has announced that they will voluntarily pause operations from March 12, 2020 to May 10, 2020. If you were scheduled to sail during this time, you can request a refund here.
Note that those impacted have the option to take a higher future cruise credit (as high as 225% of the price originally paid) valid for sailings through May 1, 2022 as follows:
Note: Be sure to click the box that says "Option 2" if you want the refund as shown here:
For departures May 11-May 31, 2020:
Note: This policy applies retroactively to cruises canceled on or after January 20, 2020 for sailings from March 6-May 31, 2020.
Those who choose to keep their bookings for sailings from May 11-May 31, 2020, you will receive an onboard credit in the following amount:
Cancel up to 48 hours prior to departure for all existing reservations and all new reservations made by April 30, 2020 for all voyages embarking on or before September 30, 2020 and receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit, which can be applied to any new reservation made within one year on any Regent voyage sailing before December 31, 2022.
U.S. guests on cruises in Asia departing before March 23, 2020 who want to change their plans will be allowed to rebook without penalty at a later date.
Change or cancel up to 48 hours prior to sailing for cruises departing up to 7/31/20 and receive a future cruise credit in the amount of the penalty that is valid for sailings up to 12/31/21. Note that if you booked through a travel agent, you'll need to contact your agent. Note also that this policy does not apply to residents of mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
As of March 11, 2020, Viking is temporarily suspending operations of all river and ocean cruises, for embarkations taking place between March 12 to April 30, 2020. Viking plans to resume operations on May 1, 2020, continuing all further sailings as originally planned.
For those guests whose cruise falls within this window of suspended operations, Viking is offering the choice of a Future Cruise Voucher valued at 125% of all monies paid to Viking or a refund equal to the amount paid. Guests will have 24 months to use their Future Cruise Voucher to make a new reservation on any river, ocean or expedition cruise. For additional flexibility, if you are unable to use your voucher, Viking will automatically send you a refund equal to the original amount paid to Viking after the voucher expires. These Future Cruise Vouchers will also be fully transferable.
Guests travelling to OR from Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR China, Macau SAR China, Taiwan China and South Korea through 31 March 2020 will be able to change or cancel a valid booking. Those who have booked a flexible rate can easily change or cancel online. Those who have booked a non-flexible rate should contact Accor's global reservations lines.
Note that I saw it reported elsewhere that this waiver also included guests traveling to Accor-branded properties in Saudia Arabia and Iran, though I do not see those countries included in Accor's official announcement.
Choice is offering penalty-free cancellations to:
For travel within the United States or Canada, Choice Hotels is now extending special exceptions for all Advance Purchase Rate non-refundable reservations made directly with Choice Hotels on or before March 10, 2020 for travel through April 30, 2020. If interested, guests holding these prepaid reservations who choose not to travel may opt to receive Choice Privileges points for future travel. Reservations less than $75 total (local currency) receive 5,000 points, $75-$150 total (local currency) receive 7,500 points, and reservations greater than $150 total (local currency) receive 10,000 points. To receive points, you must contact our call center at 1-888-770-6800 more than 48 hours in advance of your stay.
Hilton has what is among the most generous policies in the current environment. All reservations, both new and existing and even those described as non-cancellable ("Advanced Purchase") - that are scheduled for arrival before April 30, 2020 can be changed or cancelled at no charge up to 24 hours before your scheduled arrival. That means you can essentially book the advance purchase discount with no risk for arrivals through April 30th (provided you can cancel at least 24hrs in advance).
Additionally, Hilton will pause the expiration of any points set to expire between now and May 31, 2020 and will be announcing new elite qualification requirements "as soon as possible".
Hyatt is waiving cancellation fees for stays through March 31, 2020 for the following:
Additionally, guests holding fully prepaid reservations made on or before 3/8/20 for travel through 6/30/20 who have decided not to travel may opt to receive 10,000 World of Hyatt Bonus Points compensation in lieu of their stay. See more in our post here.
IHG is waiving cancellation fees for existing and new bookings at all IHG hotels globally for stays between March 9, 2020 and April 30, 2020.
Additionally, IHG has reduced elite status qualification requirements:
Marriott is waiving individual cancellation fees for hotel stays through March 31, 2020 for guests traveling to or from the following locations:
Marriott is also waiving cancellation fees for reservations from the following countries into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Philippines, Singapore, India, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Somalia, Vietnam, UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt.
Apparently all bookings worldwide can be cancelled without a fee for stays scheduled for arrival by April 30th. Note that I can only find this information in this news release but no direct information on the Peninsula website.
Radisson Hotel Group is extending its cancellation policy for the following reservations booked with a check-in date until 30 April 2020:
Cancellation and/or change penalties will be waived for guests traveling to or from China, South Korea, or Italy with direct bookings for stays in any of our hotels through March 31. No link as this is merely shown as a banner at the top of their website.
The best piece of advice if you've booked through any sort of travel agent - whether that may be Expedia, Priceline, or one of the credit card travel sites - is to call the travel agent directly about your booking. It is difficult to impossible to predict each possible travel agent booking situation and outcome.
Based on my reading of their announcement linked above, I think Amex Travel intends to follow the waiver policy of the travel provider with whom you are booked. In other words, if your airline/cruise/hotel is offering a waiver and your dates of booking and travel fit the requirements, I believe you will be able to change or cancel through Amex the same as you would booking direct.
Chase's site says:
In light of the outbreak of novel coronavirus, we are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to provide information and assistance to travelers.
We are currently experiencing high contact volumes. As the situation is still evolving, our airline and other travel partners are continually reviewing their policies. If you are not due to travel within the next two weeks, we recommend that you wait before contacting us to ensure we have the latest policy information for your travel.
I would expect that flights can probably be cancelled according to airline waivers. I'm unsure about hotel bookings, but it's worth calling to ask.
The Citi booking engine currently only says:
Due to the Coronavirus, we are unable to book travel to China. This has caused us to experience high call volumes. We ask that if your travel is not related to this region or is not immediate to any region, please book online or consider calling back at a later time.
Again, I would expect flights to be easier than hotels, but either way you will need to call the ThankYou Rewards center.
If the event for which you have a ticket is cancelled, StubHub will reach out with instructions to get a refund. StubHub terms guarantee a full refund if the event is cancelled. If an event is canceled, StubHub is alternatively offering the option to receive a StubHub coupon, valued at 120% of your original purchase, so you can enjoy an event of your choosing in the future.
Note that if the event is not cancelled, StubHub will not refund your order. Additionally, it sounds like they will automatically give you the coupon first - you'll need to reach out to StubHub if you prefer a refund (which they say can take 2-3 weeks).
Most Viator bookings can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance. However, for those bookings marked "All sales final" or with "non-standard" cancellation policies, Viator will be providing full refunds on bookings for experiences in the following countries:
Note that this waiver for nonrefundable bookings does not apply to activities in other countries at this time (though I'd expect we'll see this expanded given the travel restrictions put in place between the US and Europe).
All Rights Reserved © 2024
