Delta Airlines Flight Change Policy

Delta Airlines has stopped charging passengers who purchase Main Cabin or above tickets for changing flights originating from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa. For tickets originating outside of these areas, a flight change fee may apply for all tickets (incl. Main Cabin and premium fares) depending on your fare type and location. 

When changing the date, time, or location of your trip before departure, you will only have to pay the fare difference if your new flight ticket is costlier. However, Basic Economy cannot be changed or cancelled in most cases.

Delta Airlines flight change policy allows you to change your flight (date, time, and/or destination) or apply for a refund in the form of an eCredit in certain situations.

Snapshot of Delta Airlines Flight Change Policy

Under the revised Delta Airlines change flight policy:

• You can change your flight’s date, time, and/or location within 24 hours of booking without paying a flight change fee, regardless of fare type (i.e., including non-refundable fares)—by cancelling your ticket without penalty and then rebooking it.
• The Delta flight change fees for Main Cabin and higher fares have been permanentlywaived for all domesticand international flights originating from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Africa to any destination. This includes:
  • Basic Economy tickets booked up to April 30, 2021.
    (However, some tickets may be changed for a fee, such as for trips those originating from Africa, Europe, and other international regions. For details, refer to your ticket).
  • Only Delta-issued tickets, so if you booked a Delta ticket with another airline, you’ll have to check that airline’s flight change policy. 
  • All international flights operated by Delta’s codeshare and joint venture partners, as long as the ticket was issued by Delta.
• For trips originating outside of the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, a change fee may apply depending on where you’re flying from and the type of ticket you’ve purchased.
• The change fee waiver still applies to flights originating from Israel, India, Oceania, and Asia. 
• Refundable tickets can be changed anytime up to 24 hours before departure without incurring a change fee, but you will have to pay the applicable fare difference if any.
• For award tickets (except Basic Economy) originating in the United States and Canada to anywhere in the world:
  • The redeposit and reissue fees have been eliminated. 
  • All changes (incl. cancellations) must be made before departure.
• Same-day changes (within 24 hours of departure) are permitted within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for a fee, starting at USD 75 (depending on your ticket type). However, same-day flight changes are complimentary for Diamond, Platinum, and Gold Medallion members. International flight tickets and Basic Economy tickets are not eligible for same-day changes. For details, refer to the section titled Delta Airlines Same-Day Flight Change Policy below. 
• More flexibility. All tickets expiring in 2022 or purchased in 2022 can now be rebooked till December 31, 2023, for travel through 2024.
• If you change an existing flight booking online, the changes will apply to all passengers in your booking. 
• If you want to change a ticket issued by a third party, you may be charged an additional fee by the third party.

Delta Flight Change Policy for COVID

What is the Delta COVID policy for changes?

If you can’t travel due to COVID health-related entry requirements, you may be allowed to change your flight without penalty and issued an eCredit toward future travel on Delta. However, if you make any changes to your flight route and/or travel, you must pay the applicable fare difference. 

You will not be able to change a Basic Economy ticket outside of the 24-hour grace period (purchased directly through Delta). However, you may be allowed to cancel your ticket before departure and receive an eCredit equal to the value of your ticket minus a cancellation fee. 

Added Flexibility—Delta Airlines Policy on Changing Flights

How has Delta Airlines change flight policy been made more flexible?

Delta Airlines policy on changing flights has now been made more flexible for all passengers. You can now rebook the following tickets till December 2023 for travel through 2024: 

• All tickets expiring in 2022. 
• All tickets purchased in 2022.

Delta Airlines Change Flight Policy for Military

Delta Airlines change flight policy for military personnel allows you to change (or cancel) your Delta flight for free in a few special situations—such as in case of unexpected military deployment or change in orders. In such a scenario, you will likely require to produce supporting documentation before it processes your request.

Cost to Change a Flight on Delta Airlines

How much does it cost to change a flight on Delta Airlines?

If your flight ticket no longer falls under a change fee waiver*, the cost to change a flight can vary from USD 0–400, depending on your route and fare type. Remember, Basic Economy tickets are non-changeable and non-cancellable unless they fall under a travel waiver, or you cancel within the 24-hour window and rebook to suit your new preferences.

*The flight change fee has been permanently eliminated for Main Cabin and higher tickets issued for domestic and international travel originating from the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa.

Delta Airlines Change Fee Waiver for Basic Economy Tickets

Can you change your flight on Delta Airlines on a Basic Economy ticket?

Delta Airlines has waived the change fee for Basic Economy tickets until December 31, 2021 (inclusive). Although Basic Economy tickets are generally non-changeable, you can make changes to any Basic Economy flight ticket without paying a flight change fee during this period. 

Your options. If you know when you’ll be travelling, you can rebook your ticket immediately. Alternatively, you can cancel it and receive a credit for the full value of your ticket, rebook it by December 31, 2021, and start your travel no later than December 31, 2022. If your new flight is cheaper than the original flight, you will receive a credit for the fare difference, which you can redeem for future travel. If your new flight is costlier, you will have to pay the fare difference.

Also known as the 2021 Basic Economy Changeability Waiver, this waiver is temporary and applies to all Delta tickets—regardless of your flight’s origin or destination, as shown below: 

Delta Airlines Flight Change Policy—the United States, Canada & the Caribbean

You can change all tickets (except Basic Economy) without paying any flight change fee.
The flight change fee waiver applies to all trips originating from the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to anywhere in the world, including Basic Economy tickets that fall under Delta’s 2021 Basic Economy Changeability Waiver.

Delta Airlines Flight Change Policy—Outside of the United States, Canada & the Caribbean 

A flight change (or cancellation) fee may apply for tickets originating outside of the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean, depending on where you are flying from and the type of ticket you’ve purchased

Delta Airlines Same-Day Flight Change Policy

Delta allows you to make same-day ticket changes within 24 hours of the originally scheduled departure time of your flight. Same-day flight changes are subject to seat availability and can only be made: 

• Within the same travel class and route on a Main Cabin seat.
• To flights within the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 
• Online during check-in or through the Fly Delta mobile app (subject to availability). 

Exceptions. Same-day flight changes cannot be made to: 

• Basic Economy fares 
• International routes 
• Origin/destination cities or same-city airports (JFK to LGA)

Options. Same-day ticket changes can work in the following 2 ways:

Eligibility for Same-Day Confirmed Changes

• The same-day confirmed option is only available for travel within the U.S., U.S.V.I., Canada, and Puerto Rico on Delta Airlines and Delta Connection® flights. 
• You must request a same-day flight change within 24 hours before the scheduled departure time of your flight. 
• Refundable tickets may be changed without a fee. 
• You can standby for a Main Cabin ticket only in the Main Cabin. 
• You can make a same-day confirmed change to a premium cabin fare such as Delta One, Delta Premium Select, and First Class subject to seat availability in the same cabin purchased by you—or in a lower cabin. 
• You can make a same-day confirmed change when traveling in Delta Comfort+ provided a seat is available in Delta Comfort+. However, if no seat is available in Delta Comfort+, you may be allowed to make a same-day confirmed change to a Main Cabin seat, subject to availability.
• Same-day confirmed changes do not include:
  • International flights.
  • A change of origin and/or destination.
  • Same-city/co-terminal changes, such as from LaGuardia Airport to JFK Airport.
  • Changing a connecting flight to a nonstop flight. 
  • Basic Economy fares (E), regardless of Medallion/Elite status.

Same-Day Standby Upgrades

You can use Delta same-day standby upgrade option to upgrade your seat for a fee, subject to space availability. This option is only available:

• Within North America, but does not include JFK-SFO and JFK-LAX.
• To/from St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Providenciales (Turks and Caicos), Nassau (Bahamas), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Los Cabos (Mexico), Grand Cayman (Cayman Islands), Bermuda, and Aruba.
• Between Atlanta and St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and Costa Rica.
• Between Cancun (Mexico) and Minneapolis, Memphis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Detroit.

Changing Non-Refundable Flight Tickets on Delta Airlines

If you want to change a non-refundable ticket on Delta Airlines and your flight is not covered under a travel waiver, the flight change fee can range from USD 0 – 400 (depending on your route). Plus, you will have to pay the applicable fare difference. 

You cannot make changes to Basic Economy* tickets that do not fall under the Basic Economy waiver, i.e., tickets booked before April 30, 2021, or between May 1 – December 31, 2021, as long as they’re re-issued on/before December 31, 2021, and used no later than December 31, 2022. 

*Basic Economy Tickets issued for trips originating in Mexico cannot be changed or cancelled. 

However: 

• Some Basic Economy tickets originating from Africa, Europe, and other international locations can be changed for a fee depending on the fare conditions of your ticket.
  • Tickets issued for trips originating in Korea, Europe, the United Kingdom, Africa, the Middle East, and India can be cancelled and refunded after deducting the cancellation fee (€150 for Europe; £150 for the U.K., and USD 180 for Africa, the Middle East, and India).

How to Change a Delta Airlines Flight?

You can change your Delta Airlines flight by phone, online, or at a Delta sales counter. If you’re changing your flight on Delta by phone, call (toll-free in the U.S./Canada) or the Delta office/call center in your city/country.

How to Change Flight Online at Delta Airlines?

Changing your flight on Delta Airlines online is quick and easy. You can use the website to:

• Change the date, day, or time of your flight.
• Change the origin or destination of your flight.

To change your Delta flight online: 

1. Go to Delta.com 
2. Click on My Trips 
3. Select/enter your:
   1. Confirmation number, or
      Credit/Debit card number, or
      Ticket Number 
   2. First and last name 
4. Click on the Find My Trip button
5. Select the flight you want to change 
6. Click on Modify Flight
7. Choose Start Flight Change
8. Book your new flight 

How to Change a Delta Award Ticket? 

Delta Airlines award tickets can be changed online as explained below. The refund of your mileage can take a couple of hours to show up in your account. 

1. Go to Delta.com 
2. Click on My Trips or Log in 
3. Select the flight you want to change 
4. Click on Modify Flight
5. Click on Start Flight Change
6. Select your new flight(s)
7. Complete your checkout 
8. Pay the fare difference (if any) 
9. Receive your confirmation

Note. Basic Economy Award Tickets cannot be changed or refunded outside of the 24-hour window unless they fall under Delta’s Basic Economy waiver.

Flight Change Tips (applies to all tickets)

• If you don’t change or cancel your ticket before departure, it will have no remaining value later. 
• If your new flight ticket is cheaper, the difference will be refunded in the form of a credit for future use. 
• If your new flight ticket is costlier than your original flight, you’ll have to pay the price difference.
• You cannot change a Basic Economy ticket unless it falls within Delta’s Basic Economy Waiver. However, some tickets originating from Africa, Europe, and other international regions can be changed for a fee. For details, refer to the fare conditions of your ticket.

Delta Airlines Change Fee

How much does Delta Airlines charge to change a flight?

If your flight does not fall under a travel waiver, you may be charged anywhere between USD 0 – 400 to make changes to your flight, in addition to any fare differences that apply—depending on when you cancel your ticket and the type of ticket you’ve purchased (see the table below). 

How to Avoid Delta Airlines Flight Change Fee/Charges?

Follow the tips below to save on flight change fees at Delta:

• Leverage DOT’s 24-hour risk-free policy. Use the 24-hour rule of the U.S. Department of Transportation to cancel any flight for free within 24 hours of purchase and rebook per your preference. 
• Buy a flexible ticket. It’s more expensive but you won’t have to pay a change fee if your travel plan changes. 
• Get a Delta Medallion Elite status. You’ll enjoy special fee waivers if you’re holding Gold, Diamond, or Platinum status. 
• Take advantage of schedule changes. If your flight is delayed by 2 hours or more, cancelled, or rescheduled, you’re allowed to change your flight (or cancel it).

What to Do if Delta Changes Your Flight?

You can opt for a new flight on the same day as your originally scheduled flight if:

• Your Delta flight is delayed by 2 hours or more.
• Delta changes your flight route by adding one or more stops to your original itinerary.
• Your flight carrier is changed from Delta Mainline to Delta Connection.
• A flight change causes you to miss a connecting Delta flight on which you hold a confirmed booking.
• If Delta cancels your flight and no comparable/acceptable flight is available within 2 hours. 

Note. Your new flight’s origin, destination, and service class must remain the same. Earlier, Delta used to allow passengers to change their flight one day before or after the original flight, but this does not apply any longer. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Delta Flight Change Policy