Rethinking your travel plans? Well, changing course just got a lot more expensive for Delta Air Lines passengers. The airline is now raising its ticket cancellation and change fees, charging customers up to $500. This comes right on the heels of the backlash over Delta’s new Basic Business class, which is also the hardest hit by these new ticket adjustment costs.
This marks a major shift in Delta’s booking flexibility, as passengers increasingly complain about “disguised” fares and recent widespread flight cancellations at its major hubs. Here’s what you should know about Delta’s higher ticket cancellation and change fees, and how you can avoid them.
Delta Air Lines Passengers Face New Ticket Cancellation And Change Fees Of Up To $500
Delta has updated its ticket change and cancellation policy for flights originating from the U.S. and Canada, reflecting the raised fees for premium cabins such as First Basic, Premium Select Basic, and Basic Business. From $99, change fees for these classes now range up to $400, while cancellation can cost up to $500, marking a 405% spike. The fees for Main Basic and Comfort Basic are still $99.
Delta notes that ticket changes only apply to date, time, or location adjustments prior to your departure. You cannot use the flight change option to upgrade a non-refundable ticket to a refundable one. Your new flight will automatically be ticketed as the ticket you originally bought.
How Delta’s New Ticket Cancellation And Change Charges Work
For passengers who wish to change their Basic and Classic (non-refundable) flights, they must also pay the fare difference on top of the charge. You do not have to pay this if your new flight costs less than your original fare, and your remaining balance will be issued back to you as a Delta eCredit, minus applicable fees. Extra or refundable tickets are only subject to price difference charges.
For Basic and Classic ticket cancellations, passengers must pay the “Remaining Value” or original amount paid for the unused ticket, minus the cancellation charge. Extra tickets are refundable and may not incur any charges depending on when you make the cancellation. This timing is also key to possibly avoiding fees altogether, as well as getting a refund for Basic and Classic tickets.
How To Avoid Delta Air Lines’ Ticket Cancellation And Change Fees
One way to avoid Delta’s ticket cancellation and change charges is by booking during the 24-hour risk-free period. Within this window period, you can get a full refund with no charge if you cancel, and you will only need to pay the price difference for flight changes—applicable to all Basic, Classic, and Extra tickets.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires carriers not to charge for flight cancellations or changes within 24 hours of booking. This mandate legally applies to flights to, from, or within the U.S., but only if the booking is made at least 7 days or 168 hours before the flight’s scheduled departure.
Simply getting an Extra or refundable ticket also guarantees no charge for ticket changes for same-day (within 24 hours of departure) confirmed adjustments. With this ticket, you also just need to pay the fare difference when changing flights during and after the 24-hour risk-free window.
So if you’re booking a trip that is likely to change, paying extra upfront for a flexible tier can save you from steep charges later on. However, many passengers cannot help but feel that Delta has only made their already controversial fare tiers “worse” with these ticket adjustment costs.
What Passengers Are Saying About Delta’s New Ticket Cancellation And Change Fees
On Reddit, most Delta passengers expressed their disapproval of Delta’s new ticket cancellation and change charges. While they now acknowledge that the Basic Business class may have its own market—those who only want the lie-flat seat and premium onboard service without advanced seat selection, ticket flexibility, and lounge access—they think a $500 cancellation fee is still too risky for these customers.
For many others, they think it’s a profit-centric move, whichever angle they look. Here’s what Delta passengers are saying about the increased flight cancellation and change costs:
|
– “That’s the entire point?? $500 will be too risky, and they will pay for a non-basic cabin instead. Delta comes out with more $.” |
|
– “What a lot of travel industry people have forecasted will happen is that Basic will serve as a lever to raise prices across the board. Meaning that Basic will price at what regular used to price at. And regular fares will see a price increase across the board. … they will use Basic to lift prices across the board. So it’s essentially a step function up in pricing.” |
|
– “Ok but give me a 400% refund when it’s your change or cancellation.” |
|
– “Meanwhile, your flight is canceled due to weather. We can’t get you out for the next 2 days…. But it’s weather related so we’re not at fault. Sorry guys!” |
Lastly, several Delta passengers have voiced concerns about the airline’s customer service, particularly its AI-assisted phone service, which launched on Oct. 29, 2025. It has become a major issue as many travelers are left confused, navigating Delta’s new complex “premiumization” strategy and the rules that come with it.
On top of that, Delta CEO Ed Bastian warned earlier in July that higher airfares will remain even when fuel prices go down due to various factors like inflation and rising labor and operating costs.
