United permanently eliminates $200 domestic change fee
United Airlines parked at Denver International Airport. United has announced the elimination of change fees
Image: The Window Flyer
ADVERTISEMENT
On Sunday, August 30, 2020, United Airlines announced it will be permanently eliminating change fees for standard Economy and Premium cabin tickets for travel within the United States. The new policy goes into effect immediately, eliminating a fee that was as high as $200. International flights will still retain a change fee that ranges from $150 to $400.
United eliminates numerous fees
Additionally, United announced that beginning on January 1, 2021, it will also be eliminating its $75 same-day standby fee. The change will allow any flyer, regardless of ticket fare class, to switch their flight between the same airports as their original ticket, if space is available, free of charge. Flyers will be able to put themselves on a standby list through United’s app, website, or airport customer service agent. Requests can be made up to 30 minutes before departure for domestic flights, and up to 60 minutes prior to departure for international flights.
United MileagePlus members will also see some additional changes. United will be waiving all mileage redeposit fees for award tickets that are changed or cancelled at least 30 days prior to departure. Additionally, MileagePlus members with Premier status will also have the ability to skip the same-day standby list for flight changes and confirm a seat, free of charge, on a same-day departure between the same city pairs if a seat within the same fare class is available.
Effect on the industry
The moves are expected to place pressure on the policies of United’s two biggest competitors, American and Delta [Update: American and Delta announced the following day, 8/31, that they too would be permanently eliminating domestic change fees on most tickets, effective immediately]. However, these new policies are not unheard of in the U.S. airline industry. United’s elimination of domestic change fees aligns it with Southwest Airlines, which has never charged change fees. Furthermore, the new, complimentary same-day confirmed change policy for its elite flyers aligns United with Alaska Airlines, which already offers complimentary confirmed same-day changes for its MVP Gold and MVP Gold 75K Mileage Plan members.
United CEO announces changes
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby announces the elimination of change fees at the airline.
Related Content
