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REFUND FILES

Refund and waiver policy at a glance.

The 24-hour DOT rule applies to any ticket sold by a US carrier or sold in the US. Beyond that, each carrier sets its own change and refund rules by fare brand.

Carrier24-hourChange policyWeather waiver
AAAmerican Airlines24h DOT voidMain: change free, fare differenceWaiver issued storm-wide
DLDelta Air Lines24h DOT voidMain: change free, fare differenceWaiver issued storm-wide
UAUnited Airlines24h DOT voidMain: change free, fare differenceWaiver issued storm-wide
B6JetBlue Airways24h DOT voidChange free above Blue BasicWaiver issued storm-wide
WNSouthwest AirlinesNo-fee changes alwaysTravel funds for any changeSchedule shift only, no fare waiver needed
ASAlaska Airlines24h DOT voidChange free above SaverWaiver issued storm-wide
BABritish Airways24h DOT void on US saleChange fees on hand-baggage fareStorm-specific waivers
VSVirgin Atlantic24h DOT voidChange fees on Light fareStorm-specific waivers
AFAir France24h DOT voidChange fee on Light, free on Standard+Storm-specific waivers
LHLufthansa24h DOT voidFee by fare brandStorm-specific waivers
EIAer Lingus24h DOT voidChange fee on SaverStorm-specific waivers
DYNorse Atlantic Airways24h DOT voidChange fee on LightStorm-specific waivers

The weather-waiver clause in practice. When a carrier issues a weather waiver, the bulletin lists the origin and destination cities, the affected dates, and the rebooking window. You can usually rebook online during that window without a phone call. If the new fare is higher, the carrier waives the fare difference up to a cap; if it's lower, you forfeit the difference. The bulletin always governs; the carrier's standard change policy does not apply during a waiver.

Basic Economy and weather. Most carriers waive the Basic Economy change restriction during a published weather waiver. This is the only common scenario in which Basic Economy becomes changeable. Read the bulletin language; some waivers exclude Basic Economy explicitly.