What is an airline change fee?
A change fee is the airline's charge for switching your ticket to another flight. This cheat sheet covers how to think about one, how to work out the cost of a change and what to check before you change a flight. The detail is further down.
How to think about it
- There are two charges. A change can cost a fee plus the difference in price between your old flight and your new one.
- Many fares have no fee. Delta charges no change fee on travel from the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, except Basic. JetBlue's Main, EvenMore, BlueFirst and Mint fares have none either.
- The cheapest fares still pay. JetBlue charges $150 per person to change a Base fare. Delta's Basic tickets are left out of its no-fee policy.
- The route matters. For Delta travel outside the US and Canada, the change fee runs from $0 to $500, depending on where the trip starts and the fare.
The math
Cost of a change = change fee + (new fare - original fare), when the new flight costs more.
Move a $400 JetBlue Base fare to a $470 flight and you pay the $150 fee plus the $70 difference.
$220
Illustrative example using JetBlue's published Base fare fee. Fees and fare rules vary by airline, route and fare.
Before you change a flight
- Change it before departure. Delta says tickets not changed or canceled before departure have no remaining value.
- Same-day changes have their own fee. Delta charges $75 for a Same-Day Confirmed change, and JetBlue charges $100 for a same-day switch. JetBlue's Flex fares switch for free.
- Compare against cancel and rebook. JetBlue notes that if the fare difference is less than $100 on a standard fare, canceling and booking again can beat the same-day switch fee.
- Check who issued the ticket. Delta says changes to a ticket it didn't issue, such as one bought through a hotel or vacation package, may carry additional fees.
Change fees at two US airlines
| Fare | Change fee | Fare difference |
|---|---|---|
| Delta, travel from the US, Canada, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands (not Basic) | None | Yes, if the new flight costs more |
| Delta, travel outside the US and Canada | $0 to $500, by origin and fare | Yes, if the new flight costs more |
| JetBlue Main, EvenMore, BlueFirst and Mint | None | May apply |
| JetBlue Base | $150 per person | May apply |
How it works on Engine
When you book a flight on Engine, you review the fare details, including included baggage, before you pay, and the fare rules shown during booking tell you what the airline allows. After booking, eligible changes start from Trips. Some requests are handled automatically and others go to Member Support, and what you get back depends on the fare terms.
Questions
Do airlines still charge change fees?
Some fares still do. Delta has no change fees on travel from the US, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands except Basic tickets, and JetBlue charges $150 per person only on Base fares.
What's the difference between a change fee and a fare difference?
The change fee is the airline's set charge for making the change, such as JetBlue's $150 per person on a Base fare. The fare difference is the gap between what you paid and what the new flight costs, and you pay it even on fares with no change fee.
Can I change a flight without a fee within 24 hours?
US airlines must let you hold a reservation or cancel it without penalty for at least 24 hours after booking, as long as you book a week or more before departure.
Do I pay a change fee if the airline changes my flight?
No. When Delta cancels or significantly delays a flight, it says it will first try to rebook you at no additional cost.
What is a same-day change fee?
A fee to switch to another flight on the day you travel. Delta charges $75 for Same-Day Confirmed, and JetBlue charges $100 for a same-day switch, with no fare difference on top.
Sources
- Delta Air Lines, Change Your Flight, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Delta Air Lines, Same-Day Flight Changes, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Delta Air Lines, Am I Experiencing a Delayed or Canceled Flight?, accessed November 2, 2026.
- JetBlue, Our Fares, accessed November 2, 2026.
- US Department of Transportation (eCFR), 14 CFR 259.5: Customer Service Plan, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Engine, What Is a Flexible Ticket? A Business Traveler's Guide, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Engine, Business Flight Booking With Engine, accessed November 2, 2026.
- Engine, Managing Business Trips With Engine, accessed November 2, 2026.