Glorious news for globe trotters (that is, those who can trot right now). Major airlines are doing away with hefty fees to change international flights.
The fees to change from domestic to international were quite high - starting at $200 and often going much higher. Recently, Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. announced that they are doing away with this. In doing this, they will be joining the American Airlines Group Inc. which had made a similar move about a month ago. All three airlines have assured that the fees would be permanently done away with.
International travel is a sector which is running up huge losses (in billions of dollars) due to the ongoing pandemic. The move to eliminate the flight change fees for domestic flights are a strong indication of the lengths that the airline companies are willing to undertake in order to restore the international aviation sector and minimise the damage that the pandemic is causing.
This is a bid to reassure passengers and encourage globe-trotters to come out of their quarantine. The change fees were a lucrative means for airlines to bring in profits - they brought in $2.8 billion last year, according to the federal Department of Transportation.
The move will be operational from next year, post the start of mass distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. The new policy hopes to make passengers feel safe and comfortable with the idea of making advance travel plans and being flexible about them.
