Every Major US Airline's Change Policies in Response to the Los Angeles Fires

American Airlines waives change fees

Among the most impacted airlines American Airlines, due to its Los Angeles hub status. The airline is offering a change fee waiver for passengers traveling to, from, or through Burbank (BUR), Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), or Santa Ana/Orange County (SNA) airports in California. This waiver applies to all fare classes, including Basic Economy, and is valid for travel between January 8th and 11th, 2025. Passengers can rebook their travel between January 8th and 16th, 2025, as long as the origin and destination cities remain unchanged. Travelers can also change their trip. Flyers eligible for this option will see the “change trip” option in the toolbar.
American’s policy in response to the wildfires are rather broad, but note that to qualify for the waiver, passengers must have purchased their tickets by January 7, 2025. Changes must be made by January 11, 2025, and travel must be completed within one year of the original ticket date. And don’t try to sneak in a free cabin upgrade during the change process – you’ll have to pay for that.

Delta Airlines waives change fees and offers trip credits

Delta Airlines is offering a similar concession as American Airlines by waiving change fees on same-cabin flight changes for all itineraries originating from, passing through, or ending in Burbank (BUR), Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), or Santa Ana/Orange County (SNA). All fliers must do is login to their flight via the Delta website (you’ll need your confirmation number) and an option to change your trip will appear. Rebook your travel by January 17, 2025, otherwise a change fee may apply.
If you aren’t able to rebook your itinerary (perhaps a different route doesn’t work out time-wise or isn’t available), Delta is allowing fliers to cancel the reservation and use a credit within one year of the original ticket purchase date.

JetBlue allows fliers through LAX to rebook or change

In the Los Angeles area, JetBlue consistently flies only through LAX, and is waiving change fees to passengers flying through that airport. Flyers must rebook by January 18, 2025. The airline will refund canceled flights to the passenger’s original form of payment, so long as the flight was booked before January 8, 2025.

Southwest cancels change fees for all LA-area airports

Southwest Airlines is offering travel waivers for customers affected by the Southern California wildfires. Passengers holding reservations to, from, or through Burbank (BUR), Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), or Orange County/Santa Ana (SNA) airports can rebook their flights within 14 days of their original travel dates without incurring change fees.

Furthermore, if your flight is canceled or significantly delayed by Southwest, you may be eligible for a refund for the unused portion of your ticket, even if it was non-refundable, as well as any optional charges like EarlyBird or Upgraded Boarding for the affected flights. Keep in mind, though, that this just covers the unused part – if you’d already departed on the itinerary and were stuck somewhere due to onward travel being impacted, you may not get full credit for the flight you took to get there.

United Airlines offers flexible rescheduling options

United Airlines is offering a flexible travel policy for customers impacted by the recent events. Passengers with flights booked in, to, or through Burbank (BUR), Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), or Orange County/Santa Ana (SNA) airports can reschedule your trip without incurring any change fees or fare differences. Your new flight must be a United flight departing between January 7th and 17th, 2025.
To be eligible, the new flight must be in the same cabin class and travel between the same original cities or one of the following California destinations: Bakersfield (BFL), Burbank (BUR), Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), Palm Springs (PSP), San Diego (SAN), Santa Barbara (SBA), or Orange County/Santa Ana (SNA).