The last shoe has dropped. United and Delta this week announced they are permanently dropping change fees on international flights, matching American’s action a few weeks ago.
The airlines had previously said a permanent goodbye to domestic change fees, long an irritant to travelers who were often asked to pay fees that cost more than a new ticket to change itineraries.
While the airlines had dropped these fees temporarily for all tickets during the current pandemic, the permanent change applies to all tickets except Basic Economy; all three airlines will eventually re-impose the fees on those tickets which offer lower prices in return for no flexibility.