Bargain airline travel just got a whole lot less flexible.
With leisure travelers returning to the skies across the country, U.S. airlines are bringing back pre-pandemic restrictions on basic economy fares.
Passengers traveling on Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines can no longer make any changes to basic economy tickets. The restriction applies to basic economy bookings made on or after May 1.
American Airlines was the first to bring back these restrictions, making domestic basic economy tickets purchased on or after April 1, 2021 nonchangeable as well as nonrefundable.
There are a couple of benefits some basic economy fliers will be able to keep — at least for now. American, for example, continues to allow basic economy passengers to purchase preferred seats and upgrades.
Video: FAA: Approximately 1,300 Unruly Passenger Reports Received Since February (CBS New York)
Central Park Gunpoint Robbery Suspect Arrested
CBS New York
Private Security Guard Shoots Man Armed With Knife In The Bronx
CBS New York
2 East Meadow Homes Catch Fire After Propane Tank Explodes
CBS New York
Army Trainee From New Jersey Arrested After Allegedly Hijacking School Bus In South Carolina
CBS New York
Junior's Cheesecake Holds Grand Reopening In Times Square
CBS New York
Mother-Daughter Team Makes History Volunteering For Local Fire Department On Long Island
CBS New York
Rye City Council Votes To Fly LGBTQ+ Pride Flag At City Hall
CBS New York
New York Lawmakers Want To Expand Vaccine Distribution At Pharmacies
CBS New York
2 Men Wanted In Connection To Deadly Shooting Of Grandmother
CBS New York
Over A Dozen Alleged Brooklyn-Based Gang Members Indicted On Murder, Weapons Charges
CBS New York
Families Kept Apart By COVID Pandemic Reunite At Special Event In New Jersey
CBS New York
Scientists Working On Preventing Type 1 Diabetes, Extending Life To Age 120
CBS New York
Tri-State Area Hospitals Recognize Health Care Heroes For National Nurses Day
CBS New York
Nassau Police Arrest Teen Accused Of Attacking Officers
CBS New York
NYPD Searching For Biker In Central Park Gunpoint Robberies
CBS New York
Lincoln Center's Famed Plaza Goes Green
CBS New York
Central Park Gunpoint Robbery Suspect Arrested
Police have arrested a suspect in two Central Park gunpoint robberies.
CBS New York
Private Security Guard Shoots Man Armed With Knife In The Bronx
Police are investigating after a private security guard shot a man who was waving a knife at people in the Bronx; CBS2's Nick Caloway reports.
CBS New York
2 East Meadow Homes Catch Fire After Propane Tank Explodes
Two homes went up in flames and at least three people were hurt after an explosion on Long Island.
CBS New York
Meanwhile, Delta and United do not allow basic economy passengers to upgrade their travel.
Load Error
And while pre-pandemic travel restrictions are making their way back, change fees are not. United, American, and Delta have all promised to make their change fee eliminations permanent, matching a policy previously only available on Southwest Airlines.
But change fees were never applicable to basic economy fares, which, prior to the pandemic, required passengers to use the ticket purchased or forfeit its value.
With regular economy fares, customers are still able to cancel itineraries on Alaska, Delta, United, and American, and put the value of their canceled trip toward a new flight.
JetBlue’s pandemic flexibility policy for basic economy fares is set to expire at the end of this month, but that doesn’t mean passengers will be stuck with the tickets they bought. JetBlue plans to offer basic fare customers the option to make changes, with a fee, The Points Guy reported last month.
Regardless of the airline, basic economy fees remain eligible for refunds if an airline significantly changes the itinerary or cancels the flight.
Meena Thiruvengadam is a Travel + Leisure contributor who has visited 50 countries on six continents and 47 U.S. states. She loves historic plaques, wandering new streets and walking on beaches. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Source: Read Full Article