Airline Flight Change Policy 2026: Fees and Rules
Last updated . Passenger-rights rules are based on US Department of Transportation and EU sources. Airline figures come from each airline's published pages as of the date shown in its section below, and the section says where it relies on a secondary source.
Published by AirFiesta, an independent travel agency. About AirFiesta
Most airline flight change policies work the same way: your fare type decides whether a ticket can be changed and what it costs. The cheapest fares (Basic, Light) usually cannot be changed, standard fares can be changed for a fee plus any fare difference, and flexible fares allow changes with little or no fee. If the airline cancels or significantly retimes your flight, you can normally rebook or get a refund without a change fee. Always check your own fare rules before you pay.
Quick facts: how airline change policies usually work
- Cheapest fares
- Basic and Light fares often cannot be changed. Icelandair Economy Light and United Basic Economy are examples.
- Standard fares
- Changes allowed for a fee plus any fare difference on many international airlines. Some airlines charge no change fee on certain routes.
- Flexible fares
- Little or no change fee. A fare difference can still apply.
- Airline changes your flight
- Rebook or refund without a change fee. In the US, a shift of 3 hours (domestic) or 6 hours (international) is significant.
- Total cost of a change
- Change fee + fare difference + tax adjustment + any agency fee.
- 24-hour rule (US)
- Cancel or hold for 24 hours on tickets bought 7+ days ahead. It does not guarantee free changes and does not apply to agency bookings, per DOT.
- Name changes
- Usually not allowed to another person. Spelling corrections are often possible.
- Where to change
- With whoever sold you the ticket: the airline, or the agency.
Booked directly with an airline?
Use Manage Booking on the airline's own website with your booking reference and last name. Fees and options are shown before you confirm.
Find your airline's rulesBooked with AirFiesta?
Agency tickets are changed by the agency, so send us the request. We list the airline's fee, any fare difference and our service fee separately before you approve.
Booked with another agency or travel site? Contact them. They issued your ticket, and the airline usually cannot change it for you.
How airline flight change policies work
Whatever the airline, five factors decide what a change will cost you. Check them in this order and you can estimate your cost before you open any website.
- Your fare type. This is the biggest factor. The fare name is on your booking confirmation: Light, Basic, Classic, Standard, Flex and Flextra are common examples.
- Where your journey starts. Some airlines set the fee by starting country or route, so the same fare can cost USD 250 to change from the USA and a fraction of that within Europe.
- Who initiates the change. A change you ask for is voluntary and follows your fare rules. A change the airline makes is involuntary and follows passenger-rights rules, usually with no change fee.
- Timing. Every airline has a cut-off, from a few hours before departure to the scheduled departure time. Fare differences also tend to grow closer to departure.
- Where you bought the ticket. The seller controls the ticket. Agency and online travel agency bookings are changed through the agency, which may add a service fee.
The three fare tiers and what they usually mean
Airlines use different names, but almost all fares fall into three tiers. This is a pattern across the industry, not a rule, so confirm the details for your own fare.
- Basic / Light
The cheapest fare. Changes are usually not allowed, and the ticket is often non-refundable. Some airlines offer a small credit if you cancel.
- Standard / Classic
Changes allowed, usually for a change fee plus any fare difference. Some airlines waive the fee on certain routes. Often non-refundable but may return a travel credit.
- Flex / Full
Little or no change fee, and often refundable. A fare difference may still apply. Costs more upfront.
Premium cabins follow the same logic, usually with higher fees on the lower premium fares and no fee on the flexible ones.
Airline flight change policy: verified rules by airline
These airlines have their own sections because we could check their rules and say something specific. Each section shows the date checked, links to the source, and marks with an asterisk where it relies on a secondary source. For any other airline, use the five-step method further down this page.
Icelandair flight change policy and fees
Checked 2 October 2026
Economy Light cannot be changed. Economy Standard changes carry a fee per ticket that depends on where the journey starts: USD 250 from the USA, GBP 70 to 130 from the UK, and EUR 75 to 140 from the rest of Europe, by route. Economy Flex has no change fee. A fare difference can apply on top.
Full Icelandair flight change guide | Icelandair fees page
United Airlines flight change policy and fees
Checked September 2026*
Basic Economy cannot be changed unless you upgrade first. Economy, Economy Plus and premium cabins have no change fee within the US, between the US and Mexico or the Caribbean, and on international flights starting in the US. International flights starting elsewhere can be changed, but fees still apply.
*This section reflects United's published pages as quoted in September 2026 coverage, so confirm it on united.com. Full United flight change guide | United change fee page
Qatar Airways flight change fees
Checked 4 October 2026
Tickets modified or reissued by phone, at the airport or at a ticket office carry a non-refundable service fee from USD 25. For Privilege Club award tickets, changes more than 24 hours before departure are free for Platinum and Gold main members and USD 25 for Silver and Burgundy. Between 3 and 24 hours before departure, the fee is USD 100 for Silver and Burgundy.
Full Qatar Airways flight change guide | Qatar Airways fees page
Aeromexico flight change fees
Checked 4 October 2026
Classic fare changes carry a route-based fee published in a table on Aeromexico's site, from USD 160 (Canada, low season) to USD 340 (Europe, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, high season, within 7 days of departure), with USD 200 for the USA. The first change on flights from the United States to Mexico is free, and a fare difference may still apply.
Full Aeromexico flight change guide | Aeromexico Classic fare conditions
Norse Atlantic Airways flight change policy
Checked against the 2023 conditions of carriage
The conditions of carriage say an administrative fee may apply to changes through Norse's call center, that accepting a new fare means paying the fare difference plus the administrative fee, and that some fares limit or exclude changes. We could not confirm exact fee amounts, so check the fare rules for your ticket.
Full Norse Atlantic flight change guide | Norse Atlantic official site
Air Canada flight change policy
Checked 4 October 2026*
Economy Basic fares cannot be changed. On other fares, an any-time change can be made up to 2 hours before departure, online or through Air Canada Reservations. Fees are charged per direction plus taxes, and a fare difference applies if the new flight costs more. Flexible fares carry the fare difference only, while the lowest fare in each cabin carries a change fee. The exact amount depends on the route and is shown in Manage Booking.
*Taken from Air Canada's international fare-options page, which may predate recent updates, so confirm on aircanada.com. Air Canada fare options and fees
Emirates flight change policy and fees
Checked 4 October 2026*
Emirates sells Special, Saver, Flex and Flex Plus fares in Economy and Business, and Flex and Flex Plus in First. Flex Plus is the fare with no charges for changes or cancellations, and Special fares are not refundable. Saver and Flex fares carry change fees that vary by route. In one NerdWallet check of a Maldives to New York route, a Flex change showed a USD 75 fee. A fare difference can apply on top.
*Emirates' own fee tables could not be retrieved, so this section reflects NerdWallet's review and Business Traveller's report on Emirates' fare types. Confirm on emirates.com. Full Emirates flight change guide | NerdWallet's Emirates review
Fees change and are often converted at the exchange rate on the day. Confirm the exact amount on the airline's site before you pay.
Flight change cost calculator
Enter the numbers from your fare rules and the airline's change screen to see your total cost, and whether it beats buying a new ticket. Use one currency throughout.
Worked example (illustrative): You paid 480, the new flight costs 540, the change fee is 250 and there is no agency fee.
Fare difference = 540 - 480 = 60. Total cost = 250 + 60 = 310. On a flexible fare with no change fee you would pay only the 60.
If the new flight is cheaper than your original fare, airlines differ. Some return the difference as a travel credit, some keep it, and some do not let you move to a cheaper fare at all. Check the airline's rules rather than assuming a refund.
Voluntary vs involuntary flight changes
| Type | Who starts it | Usual cost to you | Your options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voluntary | You | Change fee, if your fare has one, plus any fare difference | New date, time or route, subject to fare rules |
| Involuntary | The airline | Normally no change fee | Rebook, reroute, or refund if you decline the alternative |
Your rights when the airline changes or cancels your flight
These rights apply when the airline makes the change. They do not apply when you change your own plans. They depend on where your flight departs from and arrives.
United States (Department of Transportation)
You are entitled to a refund if the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you do not accept the alternative or credit offered. DOT defines a significant change as a departure or arrival shift of 3 hours or more on a domestic itinerary or 6 hours or more on an international itinerary, a different origin or destination airport, added connections, or a downgrade to a lower class of service. See DOT's refunds page.
The 24-hour flight cancellation rule (US)
For tickets bought at least 7 days before departure, airlines must either let you cancel within 24 hours for a full refund or hold the reservation at the quoted price for 24 hours. DOT states that airlines are not required to make changes free of charge in that window, and that the requirement does not apply to tickets booked through travel agents or online travel agencies.
European Union and United Kingdom
Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 gives passengers whose flight is cancelled a choice between reimbursement of the ticket and rerouting to the final destination, plus care while waiting. Compensation may also be due depending on how much notice you were given and the cause. It generally covers flights departing from EU airports and EU airlines arriving in the EU. The UK has its own version of these rules. Read the official EU summary.
Everywhere else
Canada, Australia, India and many other countries have their own passenger-rights rules. Your national aviation regulator's website is the place to check.
How to change a flight on any airline, step by step
How to change a flight date online with the airline
- Open Manage Booking on the airline's website or app.
- Enter your booking reference (PNR) and last name.
- Select the change option and choose the new flight or date.
- Review the change fee, fare difference and any tax adjustment before you pay.
- Confirm, then save the updated confirmation email.
How to change a flight booked with AirFiesta or another agency
- Use the on this page, or email support@airfiesta.com with your booking reference.
- We read your fare rules and send you the options, with the airline's fee, any fare difference and our service fee listed separately.
- You approve, we make the change with the airline, and the new itinerary arrives by email.
How to change a codeshare or partner-airline flight
Change it with the airline that issued the ticket. The first three digits of the 13-digit e-ticket number identify that airline (016 is United, for example). The airline operating the flight often cannot change a ticket it did not issue.
How to change a flight booked with miles or points
Award tickets follow separate rules. Use your loyalty account or the airline's support channels. Fees can depend on your status and how close to departure you change, and some airlines charge nothing.
How to change an international flight
International changes follow the same fare rules, with a few extras. Many airlines set the fee by the country where the journey starts, so the same fare can cost very different amounts to change (Icelandair and Aeromexico both do this). United, for example, treats international trips that start in the US differently from those that start elsewhere. Changing dates can also adjust taxes, and the US significant-change threshold for international itineraries is 6 hours, not 3.
How to change the destination or only the return flight
Both are treated as ordinary changes. The airline reprices the ticket under your fare rules, some fares allow date and time changes only, and changing one leg can reprice the whole ticket, so read the new total before you confirm. Do not skip the outbound flight to change only the return, because the return can be cancelled.
How to find any airline's change rules in five minutes
If your airline is not in the snapshot above, these five steps get you the answer from the source.
- Find your fare name on your booking confirmation email (for example Light, Classic, Flex).
- Open the airline's fare rules page for that fare. Search the airline's site for the fare name plus "fare rules" or "fare conditions".
- Check the optional services and fees page. Change fees, service fees and no-show fees are often listed there.
- Read the conditions of carriage (also called the contract of carriage) for the legal baseline on changes, refunds and no-shows.
- Start the change in Manage Booking and stop before paying. The screen shows the real cost for your itinerary.
Check the "last updated" date on the airline page. Fees are often set per route and currency, so make sure you are reading the table for your journey.
Flight ticket name change and name correction
Most airlines do not let you hand a ticket to another traveller. Small spelling corrections are usually possible, and some airlines accept legal name changes, for example after marriage. Contact the airline or your agent before you travel, because the name on the ticket must match your passport. Airline-specific name rules are in the change guides linked in the airline directory below.
Same-day flight change, standby and missed flights
Same-day change or standby. Many airlines let you move to an earlier or later flight on the day of travel, sometimes free for flexible fares or elite members and sometimes for a fee. Cut-offs vary, and the cheapest fares are often excluded.
Missed flight. If you do not use a flight and have not told the airline, you are normally a no-show. The rest of the ticket may be cancelled and a no-show charge can apply. Contact the airline as early as you can, keep your documents and receipts, and never skip an outbound flight without telling the airline.
Refund, travel credit or voucher: what is the difference?
| Term | What you get | When it usually applies |
|---|---|---|
| Refund | Money back to the original form of payment | Refundable fares, the 24-hour window, or when the airline cancels or significantly changes your flight and you decline the alternative |
| Travel credit | Value to use on a future booking, often with an expiry date and in the traveller's name | Cancelling a non-refundable fare yourself |
| Voucher or compensation | A goodwill or compensation instrument with its own terms | Offered by the airline after a disruption. You are not required to accept it if you are owed a refund |
Is it cheaper to change a flight or buy a new ticket?
| Situation | Usually better |
|---|---|
| Flexible fare, small fare difference | Change |
| Standard fare, change fee lower than a new ticket | Change |
| Basic or Light fare that cannot be changed | Check the cancellation value, then compare with a new ticket |
| You booked within the last 24 hours | Cancel and rebook where the 24-hour rule applies to your booking |
| The airline changed your schedule | Ask for rebooking or a refund. No change fee should apply |
Do not cancel the old ticket until the new one is confirmed.
Flight change policy by airline: find your airline
Every airline publishes its own change fees, fare rules and Manage Booking page, and they differ by fare, route and country. The jump list at the top of this page leads here. Use this directory to go straight to the official site of 65 international airlines, then follow the five steps above to find your fare's rules. Where AirFiesta has written a dedicated guide, it is linked in the last column.
| Airline | Based in | Official site | AirFiesta change guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus | Ireland | www.aerlingus.com | Aer Lingus flight change policy |
| Aeromexico | Mexico | www.aeromexico.com | Aeromexico flight change policy |
| Air Canada | Canada | www.aircanada.com | Use the method above |
| Air China | China | www.airchina.com | Use the method above |
| Air France | France | www.airfrance.com | Use the method above |
| Air India | India | www.airindia.com | Use the method above |
| Air New Zealand | New Zealand | www.airnewzealand.com | Use the method above |
| AirAsia | Malaysia | www.airasia.com | Use the method above |
| Alaska Airlines | United States | www.alaskaair.com | Use the method above |
| American Airlines | United States | www.aa.com | American Airlines flight change policy |
| Austrian Airlines | Austria | www.austrian.com | Use the method above |
| Avianca | Colombia | www.avianca.com | Use the method above |
| Batik Air | Indonesia | www.batikair.com | Batik Air flight change policy |
| Breeze Airways | United States | www.flybreeze.com | Breeze Airways flight change policy |
| British Airways | United Kingdom | www.britishairways.com | Use the method above |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong | www.cathaypacific.com | Use the method above |
| China Airlines | Taiwan | www.china-airlines.com | Use the method above |
| China Eastern | China | www.ceair.com | Use the method above |
| China Southern | China | www.csair.com | Use the method above |
| Copa Airlines | Panama | www.copaair.com | Use the method above |
| Delta Air Lines | United States | www.delta.com | Use the method above |
| EgyptAir | Egypt | www.egyptair.com | Use the method above |
| El Al | Israel | www.elal.com | Use the method above |
| Emirates | United Arab Emirates | www.emirates.com | Emirates flight change policy |
| Ethiopian Airlines | Ethiopia | www.ethiopianairlines.com | Use the method above |
| Etihad Airways | United Arab Emirates | www.etihad.com | Use the method above |
| EVA Air | Taiwan | www.evaair.com | Use the method above |
| Finnair | Finland | www.finnair.com | Use the method above |
| Garuda Indonesia | Indonesia | www.garuda-indonesia.com | Use the method above |
| Gulf Air | Bahrain | www.gulfair.com | Use the method above |
| Iberia | Spain | www.iberia.com | Use the method above |
| Icelandair | Iceland | www.icelandair.com | Icelandair flight change policy |
| IndiGo | India | www.goindigo.in | Use the method above |
| ITA Airways | Italy | www.ita-airways.com | Use the method above |
| Japan Airlines | Japan | www.jal.co.jp | Use the method above |
| JetBlue | United States | www.jetblue.com | Use the method above |
| Kenya Airways | Kenya | www.kenya-airways.com | Use the method above |
| KLM | Netherlands | www.klm.com | Use the method above |
| Korean Air | South Korea | www.koreanair.com | Use the method above |
| LATAM Airlines | Chile | www.latamairlines.com | Use the method above |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Poland | www.lot.com | LOT Polish Airlines flight change policy |
| Lufthansa | Germany | www.lufthansa.com | Use the method above |
| Malaysia Airlines | Malaysia | www.malaysiaairlines.com | Use the method above |
| Norse Atlantic Airways | Norway | flynorse.com | Norse Atlantic Airways flight change policy |
| Philippine Airlines | Philippines | www.philippineairlines.com | Use the method above |
| Qantas | Australia | www.qantas.com | Use the method above |
| Qatar Airways | Qatar | www.qatarairways.com | Qatar Airways flight change policy |
| Royal Air Maroc | Morocco | www.royalairmaroc.com | Use the method above |
| Royal Jordanian | Jordan | www.rj.com | Use the method above |
| Saudia | Saudi Arabia | www.saudia.com | Use the method above |
| SAS Scandinavian Airlines | Sweden | www.flysas.com | Use the method above |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | www.singaporeair.com | Use the method above |
| South African Airways | South Africa | www.flysaa.com | Use the method above |
| Southwest Airlines | United States | www.southwest.com | Southwest Airlines flight change policy |
| SriLankan Airlines | Sri Lanka | www.srilankan.com | Use the method above |
| Starlux Airlines | Taiwan | www.starlux-airlines.com | Starlux Airlines flight change policy |
| Swiss | Switzerland | www.swiss.com | Use the method above |
| TAP Air Portugal | Portugal | www.flytap.com | Use the method above |
| Thai Airways | Thailand | www.thaiairways.com | Use the method above |
| Turkish Airlines | Turkey | www.turkishairlines.com | Use the method above |
| United Airlines | United States | www.united.com | United Airlines flight change policy |
| Vietnam Airlines | Vietnam | www.vietnamairlines.com | Use the method above |
| Virgin Atlantic | United Kingdom | www.virginatlantic.com | Use the method above |
| Virgin Australia | Australia | www.virginaustralia.com | Virgin Australia flight change policy |
| WestJet | Canada | www.westjet.com | Use the method above |
Links go to each airline's home page, where Manage Booking, fare rules and contact details are found. Airline names belong to their owners. AirFiesta is not affiliated with any airline, and an airline missing from this list is not excluded for any reason: tell us and we will add it.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to change a flight?
It depends on the airline and fare. The cheapest fares often cannot be changed. Standard fares on many international airlines carry a change fee plus any fare difference, for example USD 250 per ticket on an Icelandair Economy Standard journey that starts in the USA. Flexible fares often have no change fee. Some airlines, such as United, charge no change fee on most standard tickets on many routes.
Can I change a flight for free?
Sometimes. Free or fee-free changes are most common on flexible fares, on routes where an airline has dropped change fees, and when the airline itself changes or cancels your flight. A fare difference can still apply even when the change fee is zero.
Can I change a Basic Economy or Light fare ticket?
Usually not. Icelandair Economy Light cannot be changed, and United Basic Economy cannot be changed unless you upgrade the fare first. Your options are normally to upgrade if the airline allows it, cancel within the 24-hour window, or buy a new ticket.
What is the 24-hour rule for flights?
In the US, airlines must let you cancel for a full refund, or hold the fare, for 24 hours on tickets bought 7 or more days before departure. It does not require free changes, and DOT says it does not cover agency bookings. The rights section above has the details.
What happens if the airline changes or cancels my flight?
You can normally rebook, or take a refund if you decline the alternative, with no change fee. The US thresholds are 3 hours (domestic) and 6 hours (international). EU and UK rules offer reimbursement or rerouting plus care.
How do I change a flight booked through a travel agency or online travel agent?
Through the agency that issued the ticket. The airline usually cannot change it, and refunds also come back through the agency.
Can I change the name on a flight ticket?
Rarely to another person. Spelling corrections are usually possible, so contact the airline before you travel, because the ticket must match your passport.
Is it cheaper to change my flight or buy a new ticket?
Add the change fee, fare difference and any agency fee, then compare the total with a new one-way fare. The calculator above does the sum.
How do I change a flight on Lufthansa, British Airways, Emirates, Air France, Singapore Airlines or another major airline?
The steps are the same for any airline: find your fare name, check that fare's rules and the airline's fee list, then start the change in Manage Booking on the airline's official site and stop before paying to see the real cost. The airline directory on this page links to the official sites of more than 60 international airlines.
How do I contact an airline about a change safely?
Use the contact details on the airline's official website or in your booking confirmation. Numbers in ads, forum posts and blog pages are often unofficial. If you booked with AirFiesta, contact AirFiesta instead, since we hold the ticket.
How much does it cost to change an Icelandair flight?
It depends on the fare. Economy Light cannot be changed, Economy Standard carries a fee per ticket that depends on where the journey starts (USD 250 from the USA), and Economy Flex has no change fee. A fare difference can apply on top.
Does United Airlines charge a flight change fee?
Not on Economy, Economy Plus or premium-cabin tickets within the US, between the US and Mexico or the Caribbean, or on international flights starting in the US, though a fare difference applies. Basic Economy cannot be changed unless you upgrade first, and international flights starting elsewhere still carry fees.
How much does Qatar Airways charge to change a flight?
The change fee depends on your fare, and the booking screen shows it before you pay. Changes made by phone, at the airport or at a ticket office also carry a non-refundable service fee from USD 25. Privilege Club award changes follow separate fees by member tier and timing.
How much does Aeromexico charge to change a flight?
On a Classic fare the fee depends on the route, from USD 160 (Canada, low season) to USD 340 (Europe, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, high season, within 7 days of departure), with USD 200 for the USA. The first change on flights from the United States to Mexico is free, and a fare difference may still apply.
Does Norse Atlantic charge a fee to change a flight?
Norse's conditions of carriage say an administrative fee may apply to changes made through its call center, and accepting a new fare means paying the fare difference plus that fee. Some fares limit or exclude changes. We could not confirm exact amounts, so check your fare rules.
Can I change an Air Canada flight?
Economy Basic fares cannot be changed. On other fares you can make an any-time change up to 2 hours before departure, online or through Air Canada Reservations, with a fee per direction plus taxes on the lowest fares. Flexible fares pay only the fare difference.
How much does Emirates charge to change a flight?
It depends on the fare brand. Flex Plus has no charges for changes, Special fares are not refundable, and Saver and Flex changes carry fees that vary by route. NerdWallet's check of one Flex route showed a USD 75 change fee. Confirm the amount for your ticket on emirates.com.
Sources
- US DOT: Refunds (24-hour rule, significant change)
- US DOT: final rule on automatic airline refunds
- Federal Register: Refunds and Other Consumer Protections (2024)
- EUR-Lex: EU air passenger rights, Regulation (EC) No 261/2004
- Icelandair: optional services and fees
- Icelandair: Economy Standard fare rules
- United: flexible booking and change fees
- United: refund policy
- Qatar Airways: optional services and fees
- Aeromexico: Classic fare conditions
- Norse Atlantic Airways: official site and conditions of carriage