The cost to change a flight depends on the ticket you have, as well as the airline you are flying with.
Many airlines won’t charge you to change your flight as long as you aren’t flying Basic Economy or the equivalent and as long as your ticket isn’t non-refundable, but if not, the fee may range from $100-500.
Some airlines also permit you to change your flight without having to pay a fee if the change is made 60+ days from departure.
How Much Does it Cost to Change a Flight? (By Airline)
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines have eliminated change fees on Main and First Class fares, but a difference in fare may be charged for any new flights booked.
Same-day changes to your itinerary are allowed, though a $25-50 fee will apply and no difference in fare is charged.
Note that Saver fares cannot be changed
Allegiant
Allegiant state that unless you have purchased Trip Flex, you are unable to change your ticket within 7 days of departure.
If you want to change your flight before 7 days you are due to fly, a $75 fee will apply.
If you have Trip Flex, you can change or cancel your flight up to 1 hour before departure without paying any fees.
American Airlines
If you are flying on a First Class, Business Class, Premium Economy or Main Cabin ticket with American Airlines, no change fee will apply for all long-haul international flights when travel originates in North or South America.
If you are flying on a Basic Economy ticket, a $75-150 fee will apply depending on if you are flying domestically or internationally.
Delta
Excluding Basic Economy tickets, Delta allow you to change your flight for free when flying from North America to anywhere in the world.
If you have a non-refundable ticket, which Basic Economy falls under, you can change your flight when you pay a change fee of $0-500, depending on your travel route, plus the price difference.
Frontier
If you purchase Frontier’s the Works bundle or Flight Flexibility during your initial booking, there are no fees for changing your flight at anytime you want.
If you have not purchased one of the above, Frontier won’t charge you if you change your flight 60+ days before departure; but will charge you $49 if you make a change 59-7 days before your departure; and $99 if you make a change 6 days or less from departure.
Changes to your itinerary are subject to any difference in fare and options prices.
Hawaiian Airlines
When flying with Hawaiian Airlines, Main Cabin Basic tickets are non-changeable and non-refundable.
Main Cabin, First Class and Business Class tickets can be changed with only a fare difference applied.
JetBlue
Except for Blue Basic tickets, JetBlue do not charge any change or cancellations fees on most of their fares.
If you are flying on a Blue Basic ticket, a $100 fee will apply for travel within the U.S., Caribbean, Mexico or Central America, or $200 for all other routes.
Fare difference and fare rules on date of change also apply.
Blue, Blue Extra, Blue Plus, and Mint fares do not have any change fees unless you change your flight on the same day as your departure, in which case a $75 fee will apply.
Southwest
Southwest have the best change policy for passengers, as they do not charge any fee to change your flights.
You may be asked to pay a difference in fare if the new flight costs more than your original flight, but they will refund the difference if the new flight costs less.
Spirit
Spirit state that if you change your flight 0-6 days from departure, a $99 fee applies; $49 if changed 7-59 days from departure; and there is no cost if you change your flight 60+ days from departure.
Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines do not charge a fee to change your flight if the change is made at least 60 days before your flight.
A $39 fee applies if you change your flight within 14-59 days of your flight, and a $79 fee if a change is made within 0-13 days.
United
United state that if you book a flight within the continental U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Caribbean, or Mexico, and are flying under an Economy, Economy Plus, United First, United Business, or United Premium Plus ticket, there will be no change fees.
Additionally, for most Economy and premium cabin tickets for international flights between the U.S. and Mexico or the Caribbean, and for international travel originating in the U.S, United do not charge a fee to change your flight.
Changing Your Flight is Simple
Changing your flight is as simple as going to the website of the airline that you have booked with and then going to the “Manage Booking” section.
You can also change your flight by finding and calling the customer service department of the airline you have booked your flight with.
Most airlines will let you change your flight on the same day of departure, too, but the fees can usually be hefty, ranging from $75+.
It Doesn’t Necessarily Cost More to Change an International Flight
Whether it costs more to change an international flight than a domestic one depends on the airline.
Some airlines charge the same fee for changing any flight, while others will charge more for changing an international flight.
In Some Instances, You Can Change Your Flight For Free
Unless you have booked a fare with an airline that allows you to change your flight for free, there are no magical words that you can say to waive the change fee.
However, if there are external circumstances that impact your booking, which we saw during the Covid pandemic, flight disruption due to weather, or a sudden medical concern or death of a loved one, it can be possible to change your flight for free.
Ella Dunham, a Freelance Travel Journalist and Marketing Manager, boasts an impressive career spanning eight years in the travel and tourism sectors.
Honored as one of "30 Under 30" by TTG Media (the world’s very first weekly travel trade newspaper), a "Tour Operator Travel Guru" and "Legend Award" winner, Ella is also a Fellow of the Institute of Travel, a Member of the Association of Women Travel Executives, has completed over 250 travel modules, and hosts travel-focused segments on national radio shows where she provides insights on travel regulations and destinations.
Ella has visited over 40 countries (with 10 more planned this year).
