As a result of the drop in demand for Hawaii flights we noted recently, more airlines are moving to once again offer free changes for all flights, even when using the cheapest basic economy tickets. That’s great news for Hawaii visitors. As you know, earlier this year, airlines across the board (except Southwest), modified their rules to no longer allow free changes on those least expensive tickets. Until now.
The latest announcement comes from bellwether Hawaiian Airlines.
Hawaiian Air is now offering a “rolling waiver” of change fees. It works like this. First, everything except basic economy (Main Cabin Basic) has been and remains changeable at no cost (other than for any fare difference).
Here’s what’s new. For basic economy tickets purchased between May 1 and Aug. 16, 2021, for travel on or before Oct. 31, 2021, changes can be made without a fee (other than any fare difference). Basic economy tickets purchased between Aug. 17 and Oct. 31, 2021 for travel on or after Aug. 17, 2021, can also be changed without a fee on the same basis. We’ll keep an eye on that rolling waiver for a possible extension on tickets purchased after October 31. Bottom line is that, for now, all Hawaiian Air tickets purchased from August 17 through October 31 are changeable with no change fee.
Last month Hawaii veteran United Airlines announced free changes on all tickets.
For tickets purchased through December 31, 2021, and for travel through the same date, the airline will allow free changes. Those tickets can then be changed for travel anytime in 2022. Any fare difference still applies, however. Today’s change returns all of the flexibility guests enjoyed in the past 18 months.
Passengers who have already purchased basic economy tickets since the last change-fee waiver expired can also make free changes. UAL said it will “allow customers to make changes to all basic economy tickets between now and the end of the year.”
Delta Airlines began the trend to allow changes on all tickets.
Also through December 31, 2021, Delta Airlines will allow passengers with basic economy tickets to make free changes to flights. Previously Delta permitted no changes to tickets after the 24-hour grace period from the time of purchase.
The temporary change allows customers to change the time, date, and location of their trip. In other words, trips can be canceled. Passengers only pay for cost differences that may exist, or if changes result in less expense, a credit towards future travel will be offered. Travel must be completed by December 31, 2022.
Two Hawaii airlines remain holdouts to free changes on all tickets.
We have not had word from Alaska Airlines or American Airlines. On checking today, their websites continue to indicate “no-change” policies on basic economy tickets. If anything changes, we’ll be sure to let you know.
Southwest Airlines free changes at all times.
Part of the Southwest Hawaii offer, and everywhere they fly, is free changes on all tickets. That continues to be the case.
Updated 9/15/21.
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Please Hawaii test all incoming travelers 72 hours before departure whether they are Vaccinated or Not! Thank you!
I don’ t want to fly to Hawaii until all passengers are tested and proven negative at least 72 hours before departure Vaccinated ir not.
Looking forward to late January ’22, re-did our Tix from February ’19 (3rd Time) of course we paid more then what the going Rate is, but hopefully Hawaii get’s organized by Thanksgiving, otherwise…………
I just had to change my return from HNL to SMF from Sep 29 to Sep 15 for a family matter. Said fare was $350+ one way. Charged $170+ fare difference. Spouse changed his to Sep 13 Charged $7 fee. Fare on line was $240 when I was changing. HA customer service said cant do anything, Facebook tells me to file a complaint. Cant change seats due to plane being half empty. No response yet.
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Hi Ron.
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Aloha.
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Aloha! Just found out we’re getting the use of my uncle’s time share in Kaanapali in mid-February. Can you please tell me if we should book airfare now (looks like it’s about $450 RT) and it sounds like rental cars are a tossup and wait? Thanks for your reply.
Hi Dan.
You didn’t say where you are flying from.
Aloha.
Sorry! SJC-OGG
Hi Dan.
That’s one of the most competitive markets. So we suggest waiting until sales start for the new year. Perhaps in a couple of months. You should be pleasantly surprised.
Aloha.
Thank you so much for those insights and your bounty of information!
Hi Dan.
Thanks!
Aloha.
Please let me know if Hawaiian will allow you to keep your seat upgrade for extra leg room in coach if I buy a ticket and return my miles used for a December and April trip. They are usually non refundable or changeable. Thank you.
Hi Nancy.
We do not know the answer. Perhaps someone who has had that experience will comment.
Aloha.
Rates from SJC to OGG just dropped so we got two main cabin seats RT for under $300 per person. Probably could have waited longer, but there was a good choice of seats, so we booked them. Flying second week of Feb 2022. Included fees and taxes. Thanks for advising to wait – saved $300. Now it looks like cars are about $600 for the week. Going to monitor it and see what happens with those rental rates.
Thank you for including upcoming mandates so we can decide if we need to reschedule our trip to Kona.
I am concerned that October is 2 months away and talking about a nother lockdown
Thank you
We just returned from the Big Island yesterday, and although we had a nice time, I would advise traveling to Hawaii right now if you can wait. The airport was a nightmare. The TSA screening lines were unreal and people there were not exactly full of aloha. The governor reduced the capacity for restaurants and it was pretty much impossible to get a restaurant reservation unless you made it weeks in advance. The island needs the tourists’ money but they are ill prepared to handle the influx of visitors. If you are planning on cooking the whole trip, you might be better off, but be prepared to jump through a million hoops just to get on the plane and out of the airport. And car rentals are scarce and ridiculously expensive. Maybe a nice YouTube video of the islands right now and a tropical drink in the privacy and calmness of your den might suffice. We’ll return, but it will be awhile, Mahalo.
Correction- *wouldn’t advise traveling
Have a ticket for Hawaiian in Sept, round trip from Maui to Sacramento and back. Main cabin, economy. Currently they are refusing to issue us a travel credit even though we will not fly do to the delta covid virus. Hope this changes soon???
Mahalo, David, Lahaina…
Just actually called Hawaiian airlines yesterday August 12th to try to change our tickets. Because we can’t go because of covid. They refuse to change it. So I’m really hoping that they will come around to this new policy of free changes that the other airlines are doing. No more flying on Hawaiian for me
United Airlines is the most accommodating when it comes to making changes to flights. Hawaiian Airlines will not change flights even when it says you can. Then when you get your flight credit number, they make you call in and book your flight. When you’re talking to the representative, they’ll give you some BS about prices and you can literally have the prices for the same ticket pulled up and they’ll say that the price for rebooking is double. True Story!!
The Hawaiian Islands are stressed with the surge of Covid cases and the lack of medical facilities.
Please relay your visit to Hawaii and travellers that are in Hawaii please take advantage of this offer to fly home early. Thank you.
Ugh! We still have unused tickets on Hawaiian from 2020 we need to use by next May. With Hawaii headed in the wrong direction, I doubt things will get back to a place we want to visit by May. Maybe HA will extend our ticket value.
Yeah there must be a drop. Because HawIian Air cancelled our return non stop flight back to Boston on the 17th of Sept. So we had to change connecting inter-island flights and move our departure up a day. Now we lose a day in Hawaii. Hawaiians response to that was “We are sorry”. Sorry doesn’t m a ke up a lost day and hotel fees.
I hope United considers the costs and inconvenience they cause us when they arbitrarily cancel our flights. Last February they cancelled my direct flight to Kauai and rerouted me to Honolulu. I had already paid for my night at the Marriott on Kauai and then had to purchase a hotel stay in Honolulu. Not only was that costly but I lost a days vacation on Kauai. United Airlines offered no compensation for our costs or inconvenience. That is just plain wrong!
Please see if you can get United to read this.
Mahalo,
Jon M
Aloha!
I need help with understanding the new relaxed rules. I want to fly Feb 2022 OGG to SFO. I would have 1 year (Feb 23) to change with no change fee. Which carrier in your opinion offers the most flexibility for my travel dates.
Mahalo!
Hi Carolann.
This only applies to travel booked for 2021 dates.
Aloha
Southwest offers the most flexibility and still allows two free checked baggage. If you need to cancel, you get a year to use the travel credit.