Airlines run the gamut when it comes to charging ill passengers for cancellation of their flights. Of several airlines polled by a CBS5 in Northern California, Virgin America, Southwest and United were the only airlines to waive the cancellation fee on non-refundable tickets when passengers were too ill to travel.
Choosing a "premium fare," refundable ticket when booking will guarantee you more flexibility when traveling. Most tickets booked through internet sites are non-refundable, which makes cancellation policies much stricter.
Airlines sometimes offer monetary credit when you cancel a ticket. Some airlines apply the price of the unused ticket, minus any fees they've charged, to your next ticket when you enter the ticket number as a "discount" in future travel bookings.
