Passengers exchange or cancel airline tickets for any number of reasons. The reason for the change determines whether they get their money back in full, in part or not at all. Here are some of the most popular reasons for airline ticket exchanges.
Business travelers often must change their airline tickets when their work or meeting schedules are disrupted for any reason. Many business travelers fly on unrestricted or refundable tickets in order to accommodate last-minute changes. Most airlines allow travelers to exchange or refund such tickets at no charge if the change or cancellation is made before the flight departs.
Leisure and business travelers alike may need to change their plans because of family emergencies such as severe illness or death. People traveling on refundable tickets (usually business travelers) can exchange or cancel their tickets without penalty and without needing to provide proof of a family emergency in most cases. Those traveling on discounted fares (usually those traveling for leisure) often must pay a fee to exchange their tickets unless they can provide medical proof of a legitimate family emergency.
Travelers who are too ill to fly may exchange their airline tickets for tickets on a later date. Many airlines will waive change fees even on nonrefundable tickets if a sick passenger provides a doctor's note stating that they are too ill to travel or are contagious.
Severe weather can disrupt travel plans at any time of year. Airlines usually allow passengers to exchange tickets free of charge if a severe weather event such as a hurricane or blizzard threatens to disrupt travel on a large scale.
Travelers who must exchange airline tickets for personal reasons that cannot be documented by a doctor's note or death certificate of an immediate family member usually must pay a fee in excess of $100 to exchange a nonrefundable ticket, depending on the airline and fare class.
