Mar 11, 2020, 10:41 pm
Last edit by: hur88
Alaska Airlines is waiving change fees both for flights ticketed on or before Feb 26 (for original travel dates until May 31) and for flights ticketed after Feb 26 (for original travel dates until Feb 28, 2021).
Excerpted from the associated FAQ:
Excerpted from the associated FAQ:
What if I used miles? If you used miles to purchase your ticket, for travel in March, we’ll re-deposit the miles in your Mileage Plan account.
What if I used a companion fare? If you cancel your reservations entirely, and if it included a companion certificate, we will reinstate your certificate with original expiration date or June 30, 2020, whichever comes later. Please call Reservations for assistance with canceling tickets using companion certificates
What do I do if I’ve already paid the change fee? If you traveled or are traveling between February 27, 2020 and May 31, 2020 and you were charged an out of pocket change fee, please contact Reservations. We’ll take care of the change fee to your original form of payment.
What if I used a companion fare? If you cancel your reservations entirely, and if it included a companion certificate, we will reinstate your certificate with original expiration date or June 30, 2020, whichever comes later. Please call Reservations for assistance with canceling tickets using companion certificates
What do I do if I’ve already paid the change fee? If you traveled or are traveling between February 27, 2020 and May 31, 2020 and you were charged an out of pocket change fee, please contact Reservations. We’ll take care of the change fee to your original form of payment.
Waiver for Tickets Purchased Through 12/31/2020
Apr 19, 2020, 3:07 pm
#166
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 984
Apr 19, 2020, 6:24 pm
#167
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: EWR/PHL/JFK
Programs: A3*G, AS MVPG, UA, AA
Posts: 610
Edit: oh, 4/30/21. Makes sense.
Apr 22, 2020, 12:33 pm
#168
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
Am I not thinking this through? In November 2019, I booked a Mileage Plan award miles itinerary for June 2020 that just ain't gonna happen with everything going on nowadays. IAD-LAX on Alaska, LAX-SIN-AKL on Singapore. It appears that if I opt to change the itinerary online, I get hit with a $125 per person change fee. If I opt to flat out cancel, there's no penalty and I would just reapply the miles to a new itinerary. Is this right?
Apr 22, 2020, 3:37 pm
#169
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 27
So with Alaska's new covid policy, if I'm reading it right, if I book an award flight right now on a partner airline, I can have free cancellation and changes for travel dates up till April 30/21, correct? Just want to make sure I'm reading this correctly. It doesn't mention anything about points be redeposited for free, but I assume they would be?
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
Apr 23, 2020, 3:27 pm
#171
Original Member, Moderator: Hotel Deals and MilesBuzz
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 14,257
Am I not thinking this through? In November 2019, I booked a Mileage Plan award miles itinerary for June 2020 that just ain't gonna happen with everything going on nowadays. IAD-LAX on Alaska, LAX-SIN-AKL on Singapore. It appears that if I opt to change the itinerary online, I get hit with a $125 per person change fee. If I opt to flat out cancel, there's no penalty and I would just reapply the miles to a new itinerary. Is this right?
Apr 25, 2020, 6:29 pm
#172
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS AA
Posts: 205
I had to call in to cancel my WED flight to Vegas - since March Madness is cancelled and there will literally be no other sports to bet on, the weekend was kinda a bust.
I couldn't cancel online because I used a $150 voucher (from a delay) to purchase the ticket - the cancel button was grayed out and it said I had to call.
Hold time on the MVP/Gold line at 11:45PM was only 4 minutes... first nice thing.
Second nice thing, before I even had a chance to ask about it - the phone agent proactively told me she would re-issue my $150 voucher in addition to refunding the cash difference back to my original form of payment (wallet for that part would've been fine for me).
I was ready to argue for that voucher back if I had to, but was very happy they took the initiative. I even asked how I could give her some nice feedback and she responded "Any of us would do that for you right now given the circumstances."
A+ as always from AS.
I couldn't cancel online because I used a $150 voucher (from a delay) to purchase the ticket - the cancel button was grayed out and it said I had to call.
Hold time on the MVP/Gold line at 11:45PM was only 4 minutes... first nice thing.
Second nice thing, before I even had a chance to ask about it - the phone agent proactively told me she would re-issue my $150 voucher in addition to refunding the cash difference back to my original form of payment (wallet for that part would've been fine for me).
I was ready to argue for that voucher back if I had to, but was very happy they took the initiative. I even asked how I could give her some nice feedback and she responded "Any of us would do that for you right now given the circumstances."
A+ as always from AS.
Apr 25, 2020, 7:17 pm
#173
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
James
Apr 26, 2020, 10:03 am
#174
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: AS AA
Posts: 205
Thanks James. Good to know. I have an unused discount code expiring in July. I have more confidence in making a booking if the code can be extended upon cancellation.
May 3, 2020, 9:05 pm
#175
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 1,204
Just wanted to confirm, but if I book an award ticket today, for travel later this year, will I be able to take advantage of this waiver?
My understanding of the waiver is that I can cancel my trip anytime prior to departure, and have the points redeposited with no fee?
My understanding of the waiver is that I can cancel my trip anytime prior to departure, and have the points redeposited with no fee?
So with Alaska's new covid policy, if I'm reading it right, if I book an award flight right now on a partner airline, I can have free cancellation and changes for travel dates up till April 30/21, correct? Just want to make sure I'm reading this correctly. It doesn't mention anything about points be redeposited for free, but I assume they would be?
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
And will be able to make unlimited changes without fee to such ticket ?
Last edited by hoipolloi; May 3, 2020 at 9:29 pm
May 9, 2020, 10:55 pm
#177
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,393
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
What isn't clear about this? It's says "award ticket" and "cancel without a fee" and "change your trip without a fee". It seems to be pretty clearly written English.
If you purchase a nonrefundable First Class, main, or award ticket between February 27, 2020 and May 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.
May 16, 2020, 12:36 am
#178
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: YXY
Posts: 3,506
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
What isn't clear about this? It's says "award ticket" and "cancel without a fee" and "change your trip without a fee". It seems to be pretty clearly written English.
What isn't clear about this? It's says "award ticket" and "cancel without a fee" and "change your trip without a fee". It seems to be pretty clearly written English.
May 16, 2020, 2:56 am
#179
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: British Columbia
Programs: AS MVPG100K, Marriott Marriott Titanium Elite, Hilton Gold
Posts: 7,263
What isn't clear about this, to me, is this: If I now book a Main class award ticket on Alaska, which I pay with miles plus ~$6 fee, and tomorrow I cancel the booking: I understand that the miles go back to my award account. But what about the $6 fee? Does it go back to my credit card or to a wallet with Alaska Airlines? It is not a fare, it is an inappliccable tax.
The current COVID-19 waiver just means you don't have to pay the $125 fee. The process of cancelling an award, whether AS or a Partner, hasn't changed. If you are familiar with AA, think about the $125 fee as a redeposit fee that you don't have to pay.
James
May 16, 2020, 7:06 am
#180
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75K (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,347
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/ad...#peace-of-mind
What isn't clear about this? It's says "award ticket" and "cancel without a fee" and "change your trip without a fee". It seems to be pretty clearly written English.
What isn't clear about this? It's says "award ticket" and "cancel without a fee" and "change your trip without a fee". It seems to be pretty clearly written English.