Can You Change Award Ticket Delta?
Introduction There are several possibilities when selecting the flights for your award using your Delta SkyMiles. You might book an award ticket and then again pay for a standard mileage rate. Or you could get a discount if you are open to traveling at certain times or to certain places with Delta Airlines Miles+Cash awards or SkyMiles award sales, for example. But what if you need to make a change after booking your award ticket?
Are Delta SkyMiles award flights modifiable or refundable if your schedule alters?
Or will your SkyMiles be forfeited in case you have to make changes to your plans? In this guide, you’ll learn about Delta’s rules concerning modifications or cancellations of award tickets and how you can make changes to your reservations without paying a fee.
Change and cancellation policies of Award Tickets of Delta Delta do permit changes and cancellations on award tickets in many circumstances without charging the change fees.
However, there are a few limitations and rules to keep in mind:
- Date changes: Delta SkyMiles: You can change the dates on a Delta domestic or international award ticket without paying any fee if you do so more than 72 hours before the current departure date. For any date alterations within 72 hours, there are change fees of $150 for domestic U.S.A./Canada flights or $300 for other international flights.
- Origin/destination changes: It is possible to change your origin or destination city without incurring a fee on Delta awards tickets at any time before the flight. The new itinerary cannot have main cabin award availability; however, it must still have saver-level capacity.
- Same-day changes: To guarantee that nothing delays your travel, you can standby for other flights on the same day at no extra cost.
- Cancellations and redeposits: It is possible to cancel the award bookings and have the miles redeposited for free by Delta if it is done more than 72 hours before the flight’s departure. Regarding cancellations or no-shows, it is important to know that, within 72 hours of the flight booked, the miles used are non-refundable.
- Fare class changes: Changing from a lower-cost award fare class to a higher one results in changing fees of $150 for domestic airlines or $300 for international airlines.
- In conclusion: Yes, Delta does permit you to alter award ticket dates, origins, destinations, or flights as long as you do so at least 72+ hours before the flight without incurring fees in most situations. However, if you make changes within 72 hours to the time of travel, there will be charges.
Delta Airlines Award Flights Change Policy and Strategies If you do need to modify an existing Delta award ticket booking,
here are some tips to handle the changes smoothly:
- Make date or routing changes online: If possible, make award ticket date or destination modifications on your own on Delta’s website or Delta app to avoid having to wait through phone hold times.
- Check the award calendar far in advance: Access Delta’s award seat availability calendar and look for options up to 11 months ahead so that you can plan in case you have to change dates. Set calendar alerts too.
- Book fully refundable tickets using miles: Delta has a higher level of price for tickets in terms of its miles and does not allow change fees but full refunds within 24 hours of the ticket purchase.
- Add your SkyMiles number when booking with a partner: When making purchases of award tickets with partner airlines, entering your frequent flyer account allows for modifications without having to reach out to the operating airline through Delta.
- Use SkyMiles trip credits from cancellations timely: Delta used to cancel award miles as a trip credit valid for only one year and should re-book any credits timely.
Be Alert When A Partner Airline Amends One important note to make about switching Delta award tickets is that the above rules only apply when it comes to flying on a Delta or Delta Connection flight exclusively. SkyMiles Awards that are offered by partner airlines might have different rules for changing them and restrictions.
Specific alterations can be facilitated by Delta on partners such as Air France-KLM or Virgin Atlantic. For the others, you may need to directly communicate with the operating airline only. There could be differences in the change fees, fare differences, or even the redeposit terms compared to what Delta offers.
For any partner award ticket, it is crucial to consider the change policies of the airline alliance and whether Delta can process the changes or if it will require partnering with the airline.
Conclusion Delta gives award travelers moderate opportunities to change flight dates, routes, and times without fees in most basic circumstances. Simply ensure that the alteration is done more than 72 hours before the trip, that the new flights are available at the saver award level, and consider the airline partners.
With a little forethought and knowledge of Delta and partner airline policies, it is possible to make changes to existing award tickets when necessary due to changes in schedule or preferred locations.
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