The travel world is in disarray and plans are changing just about as often as new information is coming in. Airlines have been in quite the financial pinch, struggling to fill flights to anywhere near capacity.
Alaska Airlines is offering a fantastic Covid-19 Coronavirus travel waiver policy, waiving the majority of fees until well more than a year from today.
Change fees have been a scourge of the airline industry, where the cost to simply change your flight would result in $100-200 or more.
Depending on when you purchased your ticket, you could get a fee waiver of up until December 31st or April 30th, 2021. Here's the specifics for a ticket you purchased BEFORE February 26, 2020:
For tickets purchased on/before February 26, 2020:
Tickets Purchased On/Before
February 26, 2020
Original Travel Dates
March 9, 2020 - December 31, 2020
New Travel Dates
One year from the original travel date
Exception Policy
Tickets must be changed or canceled prior to the departure of your original flight.
If you purchased your tickets through a third party, such as Expedia, another travel agency, or another airline, contact them directly for assistance.
If you purchased a Saver fare for travel through December 31, 2020, you may cancel your trip without a fee and deposit the funds into My Account wallet or receive a credit certificate for future travel.
If you purchased a nonrefundable First Class, main, or award ticket for travel through December 31, 2020, you may:
Change your trip without a fee. A fare difference may apply to your new itinerary.
Cancel your trip without a fee and deposit the funds into My Account wallet or receive a credit certificate for future travel.
Here's the specifics for a ticket you purchased between February 27, 2020 and May 31st, 2020:
Tickets Purchased Between
February 27, 2020 - May 31, 2020
Original Travel Dates
February 27, 2020 - April 30, 2021
New Travel Dates
One year from the original travel date
All the details remain the same from above
These models are not being socially distant...
This is huge. Considering that you're able to refund even the basic saver fare offers you immense flexibility in your travel plans. Since the new travel date must be within a year of your original travel, you could technically book a ticket through April 2021 and the new ticket date could be all the way out to April 2022. That's well over 2 years of ticket validity.
It's a super classy move, and a financially smart one. It's classy because it allows you, the traveler, to book now when prices are low and secure yourself a flight. If you can't make it, don't worry, you can always get your money deposited into your Alaska Wallet, get a credit towards future travel, OR you can change without the change fee.
It's smart from a business perspective because it allows Alaska the ability to secure some revenue now and hopefully attract those customers willing to bet that travel will change in the course of the next year.
Book now for travel well into 2021 and don't worry. If you want a change or a credit, they'll take care of you.
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