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Points, Miles & Credit Cards

Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Fees

May 10, 2024

3 min read

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In general, airlines will refund “award flights” or “award tickets”—the phrases airlines often use for flights booked with miles or points.

The good news is that if you change or cancel your ticket, airlines will reinstate those miles to your loyalty account, and you can use them to book a future flight with that airline.

Here are the award ticket change and cancellation fees of major airlines:

Award ticket change and cancellation fees: US domestic airlines

Airline loyalty program	Change fee	Cancellation fee	Restrictions
Alaska Mileage Plan	Free	Free	Prior to departure. $12.50 partner booking fee each way is non-refundable.
American Airlines AAdvantage	No changes are possible for most flights	Free	Prior to departure.
Delta SkyMiles	No fee for changes originating in North America. $150 for changes to tickets originating outside of North America	No fee for cancellations originating in North America. $150 for cancellations to tickets originating outside of North America	10 minutes prior to departure for domestic flights; 72 hours for travel originating outside the US.
Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Miles	Free	Free	Prior to departure.
JetBlue TrueBlue	Free except for Blue Basic tickets, which are subject to a fee between $100 and $200.*	Free except for Blue Basic tickets, which are subject to a fee between $100 and $200.*	Prior to departure. A $25/person fee will be charged for changes made over the phone versus online.
Southwest Rapid Rewards	Free	Free	10 minutes prior to departure.
United MileagePlus	Free	Free	Prior to departure.

*For JetBlue, taxes and fee refunds go to Travel Bank, effectively a statement credit to apply to future cash charges.

Award ticket change and cancellation fees: international airlines

Here are the change and cancellation fees for common airline transfer partners:

Airline loyalty program	Change fee	Cancellation fee	Restrictions
Aer Lingus	42.50 EUR	42.50 EUR	24 hours prior to departure.
Air Canada Aeroplan	100 CAD	150 CAD	At least 2 hours prior to departure. An extra $25 CAD will be charged for changes made over the phone versus online.
Air France/KLM Flying Blue	70 EUR	70 EUR	Prior to check-in.
All Nippon Airways Mileage Club	Free	3,000 miles	Changes must be made before departure of the original flight and up to 96 hours prior to departure of the new flight. Cancellations must be prior to departure.
Avianca LifeMiles	$150	$200	No deadline specified. Charges for cancellations vary depending on your itinerary. Short haul are $50, international flights are typically $200.
British Airways Executive Club	Taxes or $55	Taxes or $55	An extra $25 will be charged for changes made over the phone versus online. 24 hours prior to departure. Fee varies by your location.
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles	$50 or 7.5k miles	$120 or 17k miles	No deadline specified.
Emirates Skywards	$25	$75	Prior to departure.
Etihad Guest	100 AED	More than 21 days before departure: 25% cancellation fee Cancellation 21 – 8 days before departure: 50% cancellation fee Cancellation 7 – 1 days before departure: 75% cancellation fee	No cancelation is possible within 24 hours of departure. 25%-75% of the ticket's mileage cost, prorated by the cancellation date
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands	$50	$50	Prior to departure
Iberia Plus	25 EUR	25 EUR	24 hours prior to departure. Changes and cancellations are allowed only on Iberia, Iberia Express, Air Nostrum, and British Airways flights. Awards on partner airlines are not refundable.
Qantas Frequent Flyer	5,000 points	6,000 points	24 hours prior to departure.
Qatar Privilege Club	More than 24 hours in advance: $25 Less than 24 hours in advance: $100	More than 24 hours in advance: $25 Less than 24 hours in advance: $100	3 hours prior to departure.
Singapore KrisFlyer	$25 for changes on Singapore $50 for changes on partner airlines	$75	Prior to departure.
Turkish Miles&Smiles	$70	$70	Prior to departure.
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club	$50	$50	24 hours prior to departure.

What if I pay with miles and cash?

The refund policies above only apply if you redeem points or miles for the full cost of the seat. They do not apply if you bought your ticket with a combination of miles and cash.

In that case, airlines tend to think of the miles used as a “discount” on the cash fare, and the airline’s cancellation and refund policies for cash fare apply.

We outline the current change and cancellation fees for cash tickets on US airlines in our guide to nonrefundable tickets.

Published May 10, 2024

Last updated May 10, 2024