Those of us fortunate enough to be in a position to daydream about traveling听when it鈥檚 safe to do so听again may have seen some crazy-low ticket prices of late鈥攆rom $400 round-trip flights to Japan, Iceland, and Norway to $200 fares to Hawaii. As airlines have essentially ground听to a halt right now, they鈥檙e slashing some future fares dramatically in an effort to encourage people to buy flights for trips down the road. Many carriers听have also temporarily suspended change and cancellation fees, which can cost a few hundred dollars per ticket. But if you鈥檙e thinking of buying, there are some risks to be aware of听补苍诲 also some mixed messages. Because the timeline of COVID-19 remains uncertain and听tourist destinations are听, while听some travel companies are听, how do you decide how far out it鈥檚 safe to plan a trip, what deals to jump on, and what to do if your plans need to be pushed back further? Here鈥檚 everything you should know before you book, according to industry experts.
Check the Terms of Your Airline鈥檚 Change and Cancellation Policies
Most major airlines, like ,听, , and听, have issued statements that change fees will be waived for flights booked before March 31. (Since the time of publication, many airlines have now extended this policy into April.) 听If you purchase a ticket before each airlines cutoff date, if need be, you鈥檒l be able to change your flight to a new date or destination. Delta, for example, is 听previously purchased flights scheduled for听March, April, and May for an e-credit to be used within two years听of the original ticket date. It听will also permit an unlimited number of date, origin, and destination changes for free on new bookings for future trips made before April 15.
But be sure to double-check the terms of an airline鈥檚 change policies before you book, because听each company鈥檚 terms听continue听to evolve rapidly.
Don鈥檛 Rely on Travel-Insurance Policies to Cover COVID-19 for Future Trips
Because the coronavirus pandemic is now a 鈥渒nown issue,鈥澨travel insurance on future trips won鈥檛 offer you the blanket peace of mind that it may have several months ago. According to Phil Sylvester, a spokesperson for the adventure travel insurance company , 鈥淚f there is currently a Do Not Travel alert for a destination, it鈥檚 going to be next to impossible to purchase insurance鈥攖emporarily鈥攆or a trip there scheduled for even months in the future.鈥 Travel restrictions around the world are , and your coverage is essentially voided if you travel in spite of a country鈥檚 advisories, Sylvester says.
Policies for future travel vary from company to company. For example, 听补苍诲 听are still selling insurance for future trips, but their standard policies won鈥檛 cover any cancellations or illness related to COVID-19. Your best bet is to try to purchase a cancel-for-any-reason policy, which usually covers a percentage of a future trip for any reason should you need to cancel it, sometimes including COVID-19. But at this time, not every company is offering cancel-for-any-reason policies. Whatever you do, it鈥檚 crucial to ask very specific questions about what a policy will cover听补苍诲 read the fine print before you buy听it. Coverage qualifications are evolving听补苍诲 also vary based on the state you live in.
Wait as Long as You Can to Cancel an Existing or Future Flight
Whether you booked a flight for travel in April听or are听looking into a trip ten听months from now, Scott Keyes听of 听recommends holding out as long as you can before canceling your flight. Why? Because if the airline has to cancel a flight on you, it听typically offers a cash refund if it听can鈥檛 rebook you on another option, Keyes says. But if you make the first move and cancel the flight, it听usually offers听a travel credit instead. He recommends waiting 24 to 48 hours before your flight to cancel.
This Might Not Be Your Only Chance to Find a Deal
Keyes says the economic turmoil airlines are currently facing could lead to longer-term increased leniency with fee waivers, an extended period of slashed fares to encourage nervous passengers to get back on planes, and experimentation with flexibility as a competitive advantage. 鈥淚 would be a bit surprised if these [change] policies last well beyond the outbreak, but I wouldn鈥檛 be as shocked as if you鈥檇 told me three months ago all airlines would waive change fees for all tickets,鈥 Keyes says. 鈥淣ow听I think it鈥檚 within the realm of possibility.鈥
If You Want to Book, How Far Out Should You Be Looking?
While the is still largely unknown, Scott Mayerowitz, executive editorial director of听, recently said in a that he鈥檚 still hoping to take a trip to Portugal he has planned for May, while Scott鈥檚 Cheap Flights is currently looking at prices past July. 鈥淎nd I would only book on an airline that鈥檚 offering to waive change or cancellation fees,鈥 Keyes says.
Based on input from our travel sources, we found flights to international adventure destinations for August and beyond with airlines that will allow you to change or cancel right up to your departure date.
August
听辞苍听顿别濒迟补
听on Delta, Icelandair, and听United
听on听American and Avianca
September
听on听Finnair and Swiss International Air Lines
听on American and听United
听
听on听Korean Air
October
听on Aeromexico
听on American and听United
November
听on听Finnair
听on听Virgin Atlantic
December
听on听American
听on听Delta
January
听on听United
听on Lufthansa and听Swiss International Air Lines
This story has been updated to reflect current airlines policies and dates.