Delta Air Lines Quietly Hikes Change, Cancellation Fees

Some unfortunate Delta Air Lines passengers could be hit with a $500 charge to cancel their flight after the carrier rolled out new basic fares for premium cabins earlier this year.

AwardWallet first reported the quiet change to the airline's change and cancellation fee structure.

Previously, Delta charged $99 to change or cancel a Basic ticket originating in the U.S. and Canada regardless of cabin. However, the fees now operate on a tiered scale in response to Delta offering customers more choice in premium seat bookings.

The fees for Main Basic and Comfort Basic are still $99. However, the cancellation fee for Basic Business can now top out at $500, with a change costing as much as $400.

Travelers can visit Delta's Change or Cancel Overview page on its website to see a complete breakdown based on their ticket type.

Moving forward, travelers with flexibility fears who don't want to risk a hefty fee can upgrade their ticket to Extra or refundable by paying more at booking or take advantage of the 24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation policy by making changes within one day of purchase.

The hiked fees are insult to injury at a time when airfares have soared as airlines seek to recoup the increased money spent on jet fuel amid the global crisis stemming from the war in the Middle East. 

---

For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.

Topics From This Article to Explore