delta award travel cancellation policy

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How To Cancel a Delta Air Lines Flight [Points or Cash Ticket Purchases]

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Basic Economy Tickets

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Sometimes, plans change and you’re forced to cancel a flight that you’ve been looking forward to for months. If you’ve ever been in a position where you needed to cancel a flight, you know the process can be both expensive and complicated.

If you’ve happened to book your flight with Delta Air Lines and need to cancel, you’re in the right place! Here’s all the information you need to navigate its 2023 cancellation policy and determine what policies apply to your situation.

Delta’s Cancellation Policy: Flights Paid With Cash or Points

All customers have 24 hours from the time of the original booking to cancel a reservation without being charged a cancellation fee, regardless of the fare selected.

If you’ve purchased a basic economy ticket , you have 24 hours from the time the ticket purchased was placed to cancel. Afterward, you can cancel a Basic Economy ticket for a cancellation fee of $99 – $199 for flights originating within North, South & Central America & the Caribbean. Basic Economy tickets for flights originating in Mexico cannot be canceled.

For flights originating in Europe and the U.K., the cancellation charge for Basic Economy tickets is €200, and £200 for tickets issued on or after February 23, 2023 (€150/£200  for tickets issued prior to that date).

For flights originating in Africa, the Middle East, and India, the cancellation charge is $200 for tickets issued on or after February 23, 2023 ($180 for tickets issued prior to that date).

Any remaining value after the deduction will be issued as an eCredit for future travel use.

Cancellation fees are not applicable for travel originating from the U.S., Canada, or the Caribbean to anywhere in the world. Flights operated by joint venture and codeshare partners are included.

For flights originating in Mexico or South America, the cancellation fee is $200 for Main Cabin and above tickets.

For flights originating in Central America with a destination to the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the cancellation charge is $99 for Main Cabin tickets or above. For other international destinations, the cancellation fee is $200.

After canceling your ticket, the value of your fare will be refunded to you as an eCredit that you can redeem on a future flight with Delta within 1 year from the original issue date; any fare difference may apply.

After your 24-hour grace period, the cancellation fee for a non-refundable ticket can range from $0 to $400, depending on the location you’re traveling to.

For flights originating in Europe, the U.K., Africa, the Middle East, or India, there is no cancellation fee for Main Cabin and above tickets.

After canceling your ticket, the remaining value of your fare (minus the cancellation fee) will be refunded to you as an eCredit that you can redeem on a future flight with Delta within 1 year from the original issue date; any fare difference may apply.

If you shelled out the extra cash to purchase a refundable ticket, cancellations can be made anytime before the departure of your flight and the refund will be issued to your original payment method.

Delta SkyMiles award tickets for travel within the U.S. can be canceled without fee any time prior to departure. Basic Economy award tickets attract a cancellation charge of 9,900 miles for domestic flights (within the U.S. and Canada) and 19,900 for international flights.

For award tickets that originate outside of the U.S., cancellations must be made at least 72 hours in advance of the departure or return of the flight. Award ticket cancellation fees are a flat fee of $150 regardless of fare class or destination, but the fee is waived if you’re a SkyMiles Platinum or Diamond Medallion member.

After canceling your ticket and paying the $150 cancellation fee, all of the miles that you used to book the flight will be deposited back into your account.

Hot Tip: Looking for even more information about canceling award tickets? Explore our guide on canceling award tickets , including information on over 30 carriers, to learn more.

Delta’s Flight Change Policy

As with cancellations, all customers will have 24 hours from the time of their original booking to change their reservation without being charged a fee, regardless of the fare selected.

*Only available for travel within the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Not available for international flights.

If you’ve purchased a basic economy ticket, you are not permitted to make any changes to your flight itinerary after the 24-hour grace period has passed.

Delta no longer charges change fees for domestic and international flights originating from the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean(excluding Basic Economy).

For flights originating in Mexico and South America, the change fee is $200 for Main Cabin and above tickets.

For flights originating in Central America with a destination to the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, the change charge is $99 for Main Cabin and above tickets. For other international destinations, the change fee is $200.

Same-day flight change fees are $75. The same-day change fee is waived for all Delta SkyMiles Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Medallions members. Same-day changes are only eligible on flights in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

If you’re changing your flight because you’ve found a cheaper option, the remaining value of your fare (minus the change fee) will be refunded to you as an eCredit that you can redeem on a future flight with Delta.

For international flights originating outside of North, South and Central America, or the Caribbean, a change fee of $0 to $400 applies.

For flights originating in Europe, the U.K., Africa, India or the Middle East, the change fee is $0.

With a refundable ticket, changes can be made anytime until 24 hours before the departure of your flight, and there is no fee to do so — all you will need to pay is the difference in price. If you’re changing to a cheaper flight, the difference in fare will be refunded to your original method of payment.

Delta does not charge change fees for award tickets.

Step 1: Log into your account on Delta’s homepage and select My Trips .

Step 2: Once you’ve selected the trip you want to change or cancel, select Modify Flight .

Step 3: Choose to either change or cancel your flight.

Step 4: If you’re changing your ticket, you can now go through the process of selecting a new flight. If you’re canceling your ticket, the next page will list the flight itinerary you want to cancel. To finalize, you just need to press cancel or request refund , depending on your type of ticket.

If you have eCredits in your account, they can be viewed by logging in at delta.com with your SkyMiles number. Go to My Delta and open the Certificates and eCredits module within My Wallet .

When you’re ready to redeem your eCredits, simply book a flight as you normally would, as the option to redeem your eCredits will be presented when you’re ready to finalize the transaction. The maximum number of eCredits allowed with the purchase is 3 per ticket. Keep in mind that each eCredit must be used within 1 year of the date you received it.

Hot Tip:  Have more than 3 eCredits that you want to use for your round-trip ticket? Split that round-trip ticket into 2 one-way trips and you can use 3 eCredits on the first ticket and another 3 on your return trip!

In summary, if you’re worried that you may need to cancel your flight and want to make sure you can get a refund, flexible or refundable fares are going to be your best, albeit more expensive, option.

Having to deal with canceling a flight can be difficult enough as it is, but knowledge is power. Be certain to review fare rules closely so that you know what your options are both at the time of booking and if you end up needing to cancel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if i cancel my delta flight.

That depends on what fare type you’ve purchased and whether or not you’ve purchased a refundable ticket.

If you’ve purchased a basic economy ticket, you can cancel it for a $99-$199 fee after the 24-hour grace period from when your ticket was purchased.

If you have a nonrefundable ticket, domestic flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can be canceled for free (excluding Basic Economy tickets). Travel originating from North, South and Central America, or the Caribbean can be canceled for $0 to $200. Fees for flights originating from outside of North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean range from $0 to $400 (depending on the length of the flight, location, and type of fare). Afterward, you will receive the remainder of your fare, minus the fee, in the form of an eCredit for use on a future Delta flight.

If you have a refundable or flexible ticket, you can cancel anytime before the departure of your flight, and you will be reimbursed on your original method of payment.

Can I cancel a Delta flight within 24 hours of booking?

Yes, all customers will have 24 hours  from the time of their original booking to cancel their reservation without being charged a cancellation fee, regardless of fare selected.

What happens if you cancel a nonrefundable flight?

Nonrefundable tickets for travel within the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can be canceled for free.

To cancel nonrefundable tickets for flights originating within North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean, the cancellation fee is $0 to $200.

To cancel a nonrefundable ticket for flights originating from outside of North, South and Central America, and the Caribbean, you’re required to pay between $0 and $400 depending on the length of the flight, location, and type of fare. The remaining fare will be given to you as an eCredit for future use on a Delta flight.

When do Delta eCredits expire?

Your eCredits will expire exactly 1 year after their issue date.

Will Delta waive my cancellation fees?

It depends on your reason for canceling the flight. If it’s because of an immediate family member’s death or illness, Delta may waive your cancellation fees, but they may ask for proof.

If you believe you have a legitimate reason to have your cancellation fees waived, then it never hurts to call and ask!

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About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 6 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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How to Get a Delta Air Lines Refund

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The assurance of a flexible refund policy can ease a stressful travel experience when unexpected events, like a severe illness or poor weather, derail your flight plans.

Travelers who fly on Delta Air Lines might have the ability to request a refund, depending on the specifics of their ticket. Learn more about Delta's refund policy.

Delta Air Lines refund policy

Depending on the timeline since you first booked your ticket, the fare type and how you purchased it, you might get your money back. If a refund isn’t possible under the airline’s refund policy, an eCredit toward your next flight might be an alternative.

» Learn more: How to rebook and save when Delta prices drop

On Jan. 12, 2022, Delta announced that all existing eCredits will remain valid through Dec. 31, 2023, for flights scheduled through 2024.

Free 24-hour cancellation

Delta's refund policy offers the most leniency when it comes to flights that are canceled within 24 hours of booking. Under its 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy, you can cancel your booking for any reason without penalty.

This policy applies to any flight fare, whether it’s a refundable, nonrefundable or basic economy ticket. Upon canceling your flight, you’ll receive an automatic full refund issued to the original payment method.

Delta refund ticket eligibility

After the 24-hour free cancellation window passes, a Delta refund depends on the terms of your ticket fare type.

Refundable tickets

If you booked a flight with a refundable fare, you can submit a Delta refund request to the airline after officially canceling your trip. Your ticket must also have been purchased with cash, a check or a credit card.

Whether you’re seeking a refund on a refundable ticket or for an unused trip purchase — like a Wi-Fi pass — you must fill out a form to apply for a refund or eCredit.

Nonrefundable tickets

Nonrefundable tickets are ineligible for a cash refund, but you can receive eCredit on the value of the ticket, minus any cancellation fees (if applicable). The eCredit can be redeemed toward a future Delta flight.

Exceptions for nonrefundable tickets: If there’s a death of an immediate family member, travel companion or passenger of the nonrefundable ticket, you can request a refund under Delta's policy. Be prepared to provide proof, like a copy of the death certificate, to the airline's refund department.

Basic economy ticket

Basic economy tickets are only eligible for cancellation, changes and refunds within the 24-hour risk-free period. If you purchased a basic economy fare and are past the 24-hour time frame, you won’t be allowed to request a refund and will lose the full value of the ticket.

However, if you purchased travel insurance , you might be able to get reimbursed for your ticket. Keep in mind, you must cancel for one of the covered reasons.

Award ticket refunds

Are Delta award tickets refundable? Depending on how you used your Delta SkyMiles to redeem award travel , you might be able to reclaim your miles.

Award tickets: When SkyMiles are used to cover the entire cost of the ticket and you choose to cancel your flight, your miles will be redeposited into your SkyMiles account.

Pay with Miles tickets: Some Delta SkyMiles AmEx cardmembers can secure their ticket through the Pay with Miles redemption option. Regardless of whether you redeemed miles toward a refundable ticket, the miles won’t be redeposited into your SkyMiles account. You'll get an eCredit for the value instead.

Miles + Cash tickets: For customers who purchased a ticket through Miles + Cash , the cash portion of the ticket is nonrefundable. The mileage portion of the ticket value will be redeposited into your SkyMiles account.

Upgrade with Miles tickets: Miles used for flight upgrades can’t be redeposited into your SkyMiles account unless the ticket falls under the 24-hour risk-free cancellation policy.

How to initiate a Delta refund request

Initiating a Delta refund request can take two different paths, depending on the timing of your request.

Within 24 hours

Customers can easily cancel and request a refund on a ticket online within 24 hours of booking at no additional cost. Visit delta.com or launch the Fly Delta app, then:

Either log in and select My Trips, or if you don’t have a Delta online account, select Find Your Trip.

Select the trip you want to cancel and select the Cancel Flight button.

Then, follow the steps to submit a Delta refund request.

After 24 hours

Once the risk-free cancellation period ends, you’ll need to go through a different channel to submit a Delta refund request.

Customers with a refundable ticket can submit a Delta refund request for their booking online by visiting delta.com and filling out its electronic form. Nonrefundable ticket holders can also use the same form to cancel their trip and apply for an eCredit.

You’ll need to enter your first and last names and the 13-digit ticket number that’s on the confirmation or receipt from when you first purchased your ticket.

A Delta representative can also assist you over the phone. Customers within the U.S. or Canada can contact 800-847-0578. SkyMiles members can reach out to a dedicated phone line at 800-323-2323. Representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help you with refund requests.

» Learn more: Don't just redeem miles — redeem them wisely. Here's how

Getting your Delta Air Lines refund

After you’ve started the process for a refund on your Delta flight, it takes some time to process your request. Even eligible tickets can take up to seven business days for the airline to issue a refund for U.S. credit or debit card purchases.

Tickets that were purchased with cash or a check can take up to 20 business days for returns to process.

For your convenience, Delta offers a helpful tool to check on the status of your refund. Visit the refund status page and enter your full name, ticket number and refund request number that was emailed to you.

» Learn more: The basics of travel cancellation refunds and vouchers

If you're seeking a Delta refund

Understanding which tickets are eligible for a Delta Air Lines refund can be confusing. Once you’re outside of the 24-hour cancellation window, your ticket type will become more relevant to your eligibility. If the likelihood of a cash refund is important to you, avoid booking basic economy fares (where no refunds are given) or other nonrefundable tickets (where eCredits are given).

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Can I Cancel/Change My Flight Without Fees?

Updated as of March 21, 2024

We understand that your plans may change. Enjoy more peace of mind with no change and cancellation fees when you purchase Main Cabin or above tickets on flights originating from the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. Any remaining value will become an eCredit that you can use at any time before your ticket expires (typically one year from the date of purchase).

You can change the date, time or location of your trip prior to departure in My Trips . When changing your ticket, sometimes your new flight may cost more than your original flight. If this happens, you will need to pay the difference in price. Any ticket not changed or canceled prior to departure will have no remaining value. Please note that Basic Economy tickets remain non-changeable and non-refundable in most cases.

For some originating markets, change and cancellation fees will continue to apply for all tickets, including Main Cabin and premium fares.

Already have an eCredit and ready to book? Visit delta.com/redeem to book your future travel. If you need assistance with how to cancel or change your flight, visit our how-to guide .

Tickets purchased directly from Delta, including Basic Economy fares, are included in our  24-Hour Risk-Free Cancellation policy . This means you have up to 24 hours after booking to cancel your ticket for any reason and receive a full refund with no change or cancellation fees.

Basic Economy tickets are non-changeable* and non-refundable in most cases. You may cancel your ticket before departure to receive an eCredit minus a cancellation fee** and apply the remaining value toward a future Delta ticket. Basic Economy Award Tickets are also non-changeable and non-refundable in most cases; you may cancel for a fee in miles which is deducted from the value of your ticket, and the remaining mileage balance will be redeposited into your SkyMiles account.

How to Cancel Your Flight:

• To cancel your flight, visit My Trips on delta.com and click on "Need to Cancel?” then “Start Flight Cancellation”
• Follow the steps through the cancellation process. Before the cancellation is final, you will have the opportunity to check your flight details and confirm that you would like to cancel
• You may cancel your flight before departure and apply any remaining value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original date of purchase

*For tickets issued for travel originating in Korea, tickets will be refunded to the original form of payment after deducting the cancellation fee. Check your ticket along with the Baggage & Travel Fees page to view any fees that may apply to your Basic Economy ticket depending on your origin city and destination.

**An eCredit will not be issued if the cancellation fee exceeds the ticket value.

How to Change Your Flight: 

• For Main Cabin or above tickets you would like to change, visit My Trips on delta.com, select the flight you wish to change and then click on "Change or Add Flights"/li>
• View and select new flight options
• To cancel your flight, visit My Trips on delta.com and click on "Need to Cancel?” then choose "Start Flight Cancellation"
• You may cancel your flight before departure and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original date of purchase. Cancellation fees apply for Basic Economy fares and other fares originating in select markets.

Depending on where you are flying from and the type of ticket you purchased, change and cancellation fees may apply. The Change and Cancel Waiver is still in effect for flights originating from Asia, Oceania, India and Israel so that customers originating in these regions may continue to change or cancel their flight without incurring a change or cancel fee.

How to Change Your Flight:

• To change your flight, visit My Trips , opens in a new window on delta.com, select the flight you wish to change and then click on "Change or Add Flights"
• To cancel your flight, visit My Trips , opens in a new window on delta.com and click on “Need to Cancel?” then choose "Start Flight Cancellation"
• Once you have selected “Start Flight Cancellation” you will be taken through the cancellation process and have the opportunity to check your flight details and confirm that you would like to cancel before it is final
• You may cancel your ticket before departure to receive an eCredit , opens in a new window minus a cancellation fee* and apply the remaining value toward a future Delta ticket for a period of one year from the original date of purchase

*An eCredit will not be issued if the cancellation fee exceeds the ticket value.

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Delta Award Cancellation Policy for SkyMiles Redemptions

April 9, 2018 by Points, Miles & Martinis

Sometimes the unexpected happens in life and you need to cancel a Delta booked award trip . When this happens, numerous factors including elite status will have an impact of the fees and even if your SkyMiles can be redeposited.

Love racking up the Delta Miles?

If you are looking for more ways to earn Delta miles, consider The Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, The  Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card or The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card.

The policy that applies to almost all scenarios is the 72 hour rule. Any booked award travel that departs within 72 hours is ineligible to be refunded or changed and the SkyMiles are forfeited.

However, as part of Delta’s Risk Free cancellation policy, if you book a flight within the terms of the customer service policy, you would be entitled to a full refund. (An example of Delta’s Risk Free cancellation includes the scenario where a customer buys a ticket at 12:01 AM on a Tuesday and then has until 11:59PM on Wednesday to cancel the ticket for a full refund).

A benefit of Delta elite status is waived award redeposit fees for Diamond and Platinum Medallion members for award trips that fall outside of the 72 hour rule. Gold, Silver, and General Medallion members are all charged the same $150 award redeposit fee. Some things to note include that the fee is determined by the SkyMiles member who is paying for the points.

For example if a Diamond Medallion is using their SkyMiles to buy their non-status child an award ticket and needs to cancel outside of the 72 hour rule, there will be no award redeposit fee. Additionally, the $150 award redeposit fee is only waived for Diamonds and Platinum Medallion’s who have elite status at the time of cancellation. To elaborate, if in 2018 a Diamond Medallion books an award ticket for Spring 2019 and fails to earn status for 2019, they will not have the $150 award redeposit fee waived when making the cancellation.

All awards purchased under Delta’s Risk Free cancellation policy are entitled to a full miles redeposit regardless of when the purchase is made. This is helpful in situations such as when you are making a booking 11 months out and immediately realize you have made a mistake with the dates of the trip after completing the booking.

A full list of Award Ticket FAQs can be found on Delta’s website.

Do you have experience canceling Delta award tickets? Any strategies you have for avoiding the redeposit fee? Feel free to share in the comments below.

About Points, Miles & Martinis

Here at Points, Miles and Martinis, we love all things travel. We focus on topics relating to travel including destinations, airline, hotel, car rental and credit card reward programs. Our goal is to help people travel better. - See more at our About Us page.

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What is the 72 hour rule? Even in the extreme example given in this article (12:01 AM Tuesday to 11:59 PM Wednesday), that gives you just shy of 48 hours to get a refund. Where does the 72 hours come in? Thanks!

Last year Delta was kind and did not charge me any fees when my child died

Delta Skymiles are the TRASHIEST frequent flyer points you can earn. Within 72 hours is something happens you LOSE everything! Yeah, this airline HATES you if you are a customer of theirs.

so you will be 3x the amount of miles compared to most other airlines, fly on Skyteam, the worst alliance and the on top of that DL will keep your points if you have a last minute emergency.

DL flyers are lost in their own world

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Airline Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies

AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers .

Due to award availability, it’s often necessary to book award flights months in advance to secure your seat. This is particularly true for business- and first-class awards. With such a long period between the date you book and the date you fly, it’s easy for your plans to change, and you may need to change a flight award. Or, even worse, you may need to cancel your flight and request your miles be returned to your account. Unfortunately, award ticket change and cancellation policies differ greatly across airlines. Fees can range from free changes with Southwest, ANA, and SAS up to a draconian $220 per ticket for Aeromexico flights to the United States. Avianca LifeMiles is another program that charges sky-high fees: over $200 to cancel an international award flight.

However, many programs have changed for the better. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, airline change and cancellation policies tend to be much more consumer friendly than they were before 2020. Previously, Delta charged $150 to redeposit miles from a canceled award ticket. Now, across the board, U.S. carriers have eliminated change and cancellation fees on most itineraries.

Still, there is a lot of variation among carriers. With such a wide array of policies in play, we've compiled the award change and cancellation policies into the table below as a convenient reference. We’ll keep it updated as policies change.

Page Contents

Aeromexico Rewards

Aer lingus (booked via avios.com), air canada aeroplan, air france–klm flying blue, air new zealand airpoints, alaska airlines mileage plan, american airlines aadvantage, ana mileage club, asiana club, avianca lifemiles, british airways avios, cathay pacific asia miles, emirates skywards, etihad guest, eva air infinity mileagelands, frontier myfrontier, garuda indonesia garudamiles, jal mileagebank, korean air skypass, lufthansa miles & more, qantas frequent flyer, qatar airways privilege club, sas eurobonus, singapore airlines krisflyer, spirit airlines free spirit, starlux cosmile, turkish airlines miles & smiles, united airlines mileageplus, virgin atlantic flying club, final thoughts, award ticket change and cancellation policies.

Before we dig into the details, it’s important for you to note that each frequent flyer program features rules and exclusions unique to that program. A common way to avoid change and cancellation fees is to hold elite status, although this isn't universal. We've summarized the key change and cancellation policy terms but also linked to the official program terms for each airline if you need to investigate further.

If you don't want to scroll through a long list of airline award ticket change and cancellation policies, we have summarized the North American airlines into a separate post for easy reference:

North American Airline Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies

Remember that these fees apply to voluntary changes. You are often entitled to a free change or ticket cancellation if the airline changes the schedule significantly or changes the aircraft/route.

• Domestic itineraries: $1,070 MXN (~$63 USD)
• Non-USA international itineraries: $1,930 MXN (~$113 USD)
• USA itineraries: $4,000 MXN (~$234 USD)
• Free within 24 hours of booking
• Domestic itineraries: $1,930 MXN (~$113 USD)
• International itineraries: $2,900 MXN (~$170 USD)
• Exceptions: Change fee waived for Titanium elite members if the change is made 21+ days prior to departure; SkyTeam awards are refundable, provided the trip has not started.
• Close-in fees: No close-in booking fee.
• Other fees: Ticketing fees of ~$15–30 USD (charged in MXN), depending on the channel used.
• Change fee: €42.50 per ticket
• Cancellation fee: €42.50 per ticket
• Close-in fees: None
• Other fees: €15 fee for booking via chat or phone instead of online
• Standard tickets: CAD $100 (plus taxes) per direction, per ticket
• Flex and Latitude tickets: Free
• You must change at least two hours before departure or the ticket is forfeited
• Standard award: CAD $175 via contact centre or CAD $150 online (plus taxes and fees)
• Economy Flex award: CAD $125 via contact centre or CAD $75 online (plus taxes and fees)
• You must cancel at least two hours before departure to avoid ticket forfeiture
• Change and cancellation fees are waived for Aeroplan Super Elite members
• Change fee: €70 per ticket
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: €70 per ticket
• Note: Previously Flying Blue Promo Rewards couldn't be changed or canceled. However, Flying Blue now allows changes to Promo Rewards for a €70 fee plus fare difference.

• Flexichange and flexirefund: $0
• Other other fare types: $50 NZD
• Changes must be made prior to departure
• Free for flexirefund fares
• Tickets are non-refundable for all other fare types
• However, Saver fares cannot be changed
• Ticket must be changed prior to departure or it's forfeited
• Other fees: Nonrefundable $12.50 per one-way itinerary for partner awards
• Change fee: None; changes aren't possible ( for most awards, at least )
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: Free
• Change fee: Free, but changes must be at least 96 hours before departure
• Deduction of 3,000 miles
• Ticket must be canceled prior to the first flight on the itinerary
• Change fee: $30 or 3,000 miles
• 91 or more days before departure: No fee
• Within 12 months of ticketing: 3,000 miles or $30
• More than 12 months from ticketing: 10,000 miles or $100
• Domestic awards: 500 miles or 5,000 KRW
• $150 — only date changes allowed
• Single-region: $50
• Multi-region: $200
• Some awards are completely non-refundable
• Other fees: $10–25 award ticketing fee on award tickets
• No policy to reference directly

• Forefeit the taxes paid on your award or pay $55 per ticket
• Note: This means it only costs $5.60–$11.20 to change or cancel a domestic award in the U.S.
• Must cancel minimum 24 hours prior to departure
• Exceptions: Award ticket change and cancellation fees waived for BA Gold members
• Online: $50 or 7,500 miles
• Additional fees if changed through other channels or changing more than just a flight date
• No fees if changed or canceled within 24 hours of booking
• $120 USD or 17,000 Asia Miles — must submit through an online form
• Ticket must be completely unused to be eligible for miles redeposit
• Free for domestic itineraries and international itineraries originating in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean
• Basic economy tickets, including awards, are non-changeable
• Free for domestic itineraries and most international itineraries
• Some Basic Economy tickets can be canceled for a penalty assessed in SkyMiles
• Classic Saver awards: $25 (waived for infants)
• Classic Flex Plus awards: Free
• Classic Saver awards: $75 (waived for infants)
• AED 100 (~$27) for date changes
• Date change is permitted more than 7 days before departure
• Must cancel at least 24 hours prior to departure to get a refund
• Route changes are not permitted; you must cancel and re-book
• 21+ days before departure: Forfeit 25% of the fare.
• 8–21 days before departure: Forfeit 50% of the fare.
• Within 7 days of departure: Forfeit 75% of the fare.
• Within 24 hours of departure/no-show: Forfeit 100% of the fare.
• Change fee: $50 (can only change date, booking class, or origin/departure cities)
• $50 if canceled prior to departure
• $50 to redeposit after short-haul no-show
• $100 to redeposit after long-haul no-show
• Exceptions: Award ticket change and cancellation fees waived for all elite members
• 60+ days out: Free
• 7–59 days before departure: $49
• <7 days before departure: $99
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: $75
• 180+ days before travel: Free
• 21–179 days before travel: $15
• 7–20 days before travel: $50
• <6 days before travel: $75
• Close-in fees waived for elite members and Frontier credit cardholders
• Cancellation fee waived for Last Seat Award flights
• 20% of award mileage
• If change requires a reissued ticket, this costs another $20 through a Garuda sales office
• Changes must be made prior to 4 hours before first flight departure
• 20% of award miles deducted from total refund
• Cancellation must be made prior to 4 hours before first flight departure
• Change fee: None, changes not permitted
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: ¥3,100 (~$22 US)

• Change fee: Free for all fares except Blue Basic
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: Free for all fares except Blue Basic
• Blue Basic fares cannot be booked with TrueBlue points
• Paying fare difference is required when making changes to an award ticket
• $25 nonrefundable per-person fee when changing or canceling via chat or on the phone, instead of online
• KRW 30,000 (~$23 US) for international flights
• No change fees for changes to domestic Korean flights
• If more than 90 days from departure: Free
• Within 12 months of ticketing: 3,000 miles
• If beyond 12 months from ticket issuance: 10,000 miles
• Free if more than 90 days prior to departure; 3,000 miles if within 12 months of ticket being issued; 10,000 miles if beyond 12 months of issue date
• Reduced award ticket cancellation fees for domestic Korean flights
• Within Brazil: $60 or 6,000 miles
• Within Chile: $40 or 5,700 miles
• Within Colombia: $25 or 2,800 miles
• Within Ecuador: $15 or 2,400 miles
• Within Peru: $16 or 5,700 miles
• Between South American countries: $75 or 9,400 miles
• Between South America and U.S. destinations: $200 or 23,400 miles
• All other international flights: $150 or 18,800 miles
• Fees waived or Platinum, Black, and Black Signature elites
• Within Brazil: $65 or 6,000 miles
• Within Chile: $60 or 5,700 miles
• Within Colombia: $30 or 2,800 miles
• Within Ecuador: $25 or 2,400 miles
• Within Peru: $60 or 5,700 miles
• Between South American countries: $100 or 9,400 miles
• Between South America and U.S. destinations: $250 or 23,400 miles
• All other international flights: $200 or 18,800 miles
• Other fees:  Call center booking fee of $50 (between South America and other continents) or $30 (within South America)
• Standard awards: €50 per person (applies only to date and time changes; other changes require cancellation)
• Same-day awards: €150
• €50 or 10,000 miles per person
• 5,000 points
• Change must be completed at least 24 hours prior to departure of the first flight
• 6,000 points
• Cancellation must be completed at least 24 hours prior to departure of the first flight
• Other fees: Additional fees are assessed if changes are made via a Qantas call center
• More than 24 hours from departure: $25
• Between 3 and 24 hours before departure: $100
• Changes can't be made within 3 hours of departure; only taxes are refunded
• Cancelations can't be made within 3 hours of departure; only taxes are refunded
• Exceptions: Fees waived for Gold & Platinum Elites for tickets in their name
• Short-haul SAS Bonus tickets: €25/$25
• Long-haul SAS Bonus tickets: €75/$75
• Award flights must be changed at least 1 hour prior to departure
• No fees for SAS Go Pro, SAS Plus Pro, and SAS Business Pro tickets
• 650 SEK (~$61) change fee for other ticket types
• Award flights must be canceled at least 1 hour prior to departure
• 650 SEK (~$61) cancellation fee for other ticket types
• Other fees: Additional fees may apply if rebooking through other channels, depending on the change and your level of elite status

• Saver award: $25
• Advantage award: Free
• Route, cabin class, or award type change fee (Singapore- & Silk Air-operated flights): $25
• Partner-operated flight changes: $50
• Advantage: $50
• Economy, per ticket: $100
• Premium economy, per ticket: $200
• Business or First, per ticket: $300
• Service fee of $25 or 2,500 miles if booking via phone or in person
• Service fee of $250 for new Star Alliance Round-the-World redemption bookings
• Close-in fee: None
• Change fee: $110
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: $110
• Notes: Changes can be made up to 1 hour before departure. Cancellation must be completed prior to departure.
• Short-haul first class: $120
• Short-haul other cabins: $30
• Long-haul first class: $200
• Long-haul other cabins: $30
• Note: Cabin changes aren't allowed
• Change fee: None
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: None
• Note: As a revenue-based program, you'll pay the award cost difference upon canceling and rebooking.
• Türkiye domestic flights: TRY 150
• International itineraries: $70
• Note that some awards seem to still have lower change fees through the call center (e.g. $25 for domestic United awards booked with Miles & Smiles)
• Must change prior to departure.
• If you no-show: TRY 200
• If you no-show: $150
• Note that some awards seem to still have lower change fees through the call center (e.g., $50 for domestic United awards booked with Miles & Smiles)
• Note: If you no-show, you can redeposit miles for a $125 fee.
• Change fee:  £30 for flights departing the U.K. and $50 for flights departing the U.S./other international locations
• Cancellation and redeposit fee: £30 for flights departing the U.K. and $50 for flights departing the U.S./other international locations

Comparing the North American airline award ticket change and cancellation policies with those from the rest of the world, U.S. carriers have surprisingly become some of the most consumer-friendly. Airlines in the Middle East and Asia are pretty easy on the wallet, too. In fact, post-COVID-19, only a handful of carriers will stick it to you if you need to change or cancel an award.

If you miss the award change cutoff and it looks like you’ll be out of pocket, check the travel coverage on the credit card you used to pay the award ticket's taxes and fees . Importantly, you may already be covered under your card’s complimentary travel insurance . Worst case, you should look to use the best credit card for incidental travel fees . This is because it could be the fastest way for you to minimize the hit to your wallet.

If you have any questions about the policies above or want to see another program's award ticket change and cancellation policies added to the list, reach out via the comments below.

The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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Is the LifeMiles change per person or all everyone on the ticket?

Hi Sarthak, these fees are per ticket (so each individual ticket issued for a person, though not counting a lap infant for example). Thus, if you had 3 people on a reservation, you’d pay the fee 3 times.

This is very helpful. Are these up-to-date? How often is this updated? Is there a reason Virgin Atlantic isn’t listed?

Hi Lynn, we update this post whenever there are changes. I’ve just added Virgin Atlantic to the chart now.

Virgin isn’t on this list now?

I’ve added it now. Sorry for that.

Ill have to keep this list as, I agree its really unfortunate some of the fee’s. One does need to book far in advance, but I can see why as I assume many would book and keep cancelling on spec which could make it even harder to find actual trips.

For an AAdvantage saver award… can I change the airline (EY for QR) without paying the redeposit fee? (same route) Thanks.

For awards involving travel on other airlines, origin or destination changes or changes to the airline(s) in the itinerary will incur a change fee of $150, even when retaining the same award type. Sorry, you’ll have to pay for it.

Just a thought, but the complexity of all these various change/cancellation fees is just out of this world.

Very useful article. I would also add Iberia. Moreover, SAS should be moved up a little to be together with the other European airlines.

Thanks, Rosario. We’ll get Iberia added.

Or you could just wait for a hurricane and until the Airline offers free changes and cancellations. Yep, we’re sitting in Hawaii anticipating a hurricane and Hawaiian Airlines is offering waiving fees to change or cancel ?

Yes thank you for the list. Even at 4am my brain could wrap itself around the rules, however harsh some are to read. It’s all good to know and have a list. It’s all so much to keep up with! I guess I better make sure of my dates when I redeem miles with an airline. Would it be better to redeem one ways with certain airlines and roundtrips with others?

It really comes down to what you’re looking to book, but yes, it could be advantageous to book one-ways with different programs if you plan on making changes.

Nice to have it all put toghether in one list! Most of my travels are flown by SAS, and their free of charge change has obviously saved me some money over the years! Did not know other airlines were this expensive…

When comparing with a revenue ticket, It is worth mentioning that a checked bag is included too. So you normally get a flex ticket plus checked bag.

The rules are getting so complicated these days.

Some of these fees are getting ridiculoous

I am also very surprised by the SAS policies

Thanks for this. Very useful reference!

Great list! Very helpful and shows why elite status matters.

The benefits of elite status are certainly evident from this post. This is why I prefer to use flexible points for booking — to achieve status. That way, when I do book a flight on award miles (which I earn from my UR or MR bookings) I might also have fewer fees.

Thanks for this, it will be a quick reference I’ll use to see what it will cost for changes.

Everything about air travel in the US is worse than asia and Europe for the most part these days. US carriers are basically greyhound buses in the sky compared to charter buses in EU and Asia. Pro consumer legislation in the US is also severely lacking.

It’s much easier to earn miles in the US though!

Great list outlines. very helpful.

Thanks, that’s a very useful list. Just had to cancel an AAdvantage awards and they tried their hardest to minimise our cancellation cost.

Alaska no longer gives you until 60 days before travel to make changes (on paid and award tickets). The $125 fee “applies to all changes/cancellation made more than 24 hours after booking.”

Does the 24 hour cancellation allowance required by US law apply to all award tickets (at least to/ from/ within the US) too?

Thanks, Ken, got that updated.

The 24-hour cancellation policy holds for both purchased or award tickets.

Before booking an award ticket, it’s important to compare the cost of the ticket in miles and dollars to determine which is the better value. Because, as noted, cancellation and change fees can vary widely among airlines, it’s important to consider those as well when making that decision.

Very interesting. Especially that SAS do not charge fees!

Thank you for putting this list together.

Thanks for having it in one place. I recall that there is the possibility of having the fee waived for medical, or family medical reasons.

I hate to see Spirit Airlines policy.

1. A single page is a wonderful resource. 2. However, I know AA’s rules. and what you put there in the first line is *incorrect*.

I’ve reworded the AA section to move the > 21-day change under the date change section as the > 21-day change is only for date changes.

thanks for this recap!!! Great to have it all in 1 place.

Great info to keep for reference! Thanks!

This is a very helpful list. Thank you!

Delta to update policy and add more flexibility to Basic Economy   

Beginning December 9, 2021, Delta will introduce an added flexibility option for customers who purchase Basic Economy fares and Award tickets for travel on or after Jan. 1, 2022. Customers will be able to cancel their travel plans with a cancellation charge and apply the remaining value of their ticket toward future travel. As part of this policy change, SkyMiles Members will no longer earn miles or earn towards Medallion Status for their Basic Economy trips. This update follows the expiration of the Basic Economy changeability waiver. 

Delta is committed to ensuring customers can book and service travel plans in their preferred channels, including third parties. A blanket waiver policy has been established for Travel Agencies to service these tickets; full details can be found in the Policy Library under Self-Service Exceptions on Delta Professional. 

To retain partial value of their ticket, customers will need to notify their Travel Agent or Delta that they will not be traveling as scheduled and cancel their reservation prior to departure. Customers can then use the remaining value of the ticket, less the cancellation charge, toward the purchase of a new ticket for future travel.   

Effective December 9, 2021: 

• The remaining value must be used within the validity of the original ticket. 
• Before this new policy, Basic Economy tickets could not be changed or canceled. 
• $99 deduction for U.S. domestic, Canada, and short haul travel to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean 
• $199 deduction for long-haul international travel 
• For Award tickets, cancellation charges will be in miles: 9,900 for U.S. domestic, Canada, and short haul travel to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean or 19,900 for long haul international travel. 
• For tickets purchased outside the United States and Canada, the cancellation charge may vary—check the fare rules.  
• If the cancellation charge exceeds the ticket price, no value remains on the ticket; the customer will not be asked to pay the remaining amount of the cancellation charge.
• Applies via a waiver to existing tickets issued between May 1, 2021, and December 8, 2021, with a Basic Economy fare on DL 006 ticket stock, booked for travel on or after January 1, 2022 – these tickets previously could not be canceled or changed. 
• Applies to new tickets issued on/after December 9, 2021, with a Basic Economy fare on DL 006 ticket stock, booked for travel on/after January 1, 2022  
• Some exceptions apply based on point of sale (i.e., Mexico)  
• Basic Economy tickets purchased in certain transatlantic markets will have extended flexibility through 1/31/2022. 
• Cancellations are available anytime post-purchase up to departure. No Show forfeiture policy is in effect, resulting in no remaining value if the reservation is not canceled prior to departure.
• Includes all Delta-Marketed and Delta Codeshare flights.
• Exception: SkyMiles Members who booked a 2022 Basic Economy trip prior to Dec. 9, 2021, will continue to earn mileage or Status on those trips.
• Other Basic Economy attributes remain the same, including seat assignments after check-in, no paid access to Priority Boarding and ineligibility for complimentary upgrades to premium seats.

For any additional information, Travel Agents may contact Global Sales Support for assistance. 

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Who are the Chase transfer partners? Everything to know

Ultimate Rewards points are the currency of most Chase-branded credit cards. You can earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points for everyday spending and then redeem them for a wide range of rewards.

Despite increasing competition from American Express Membership Rewards points , Citi ThankYou Rewards points and Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards points have maintained their place as one of the most valuable and useful points currencies — especially with valuable products like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card .

Transferring Ultimate Rewards to travel partners is often the most valuable way to redeem your hard-earned points. With 14 different transfer partners, you have plenty of options, since you can keep your Chase points in your Ultimate Rewards account until you can transfer them.

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Here is everything to know about Chase Ultimate Rewards' transfer partners.

What are the Chase transfer partners?

You can transfer Ultimate Rewards points to 11 airline programs:

• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Air Canada Aeroplan
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue
• British Airways Executive Club
• Emirates Skywards
• Iberia Plus
• JetBlue TrueBlue
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
• United Airlines MileagePlus
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Chase also partners with three hotel programs:

• IHG One Rewards
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt

All transfer ratios are 1:1 (though there are occasional transfer bonuses ), and you must transfer points in 1,000-point increments.

How long do Ultimate Rewards transfers take?

Most transfers from Chase Ultimate Rewards to its partner programs are instantaneous , with two exceptions. In our testing, transfers to both Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer and Marriott Bonvoy can take up to two business days.

We've heard anecdotal stories of delays with other programs, but as long as the name on your Ultimate Rewards account matches that on your loyalty program account, these should process immediately.

Note that transfer bonuses can also be inconsistent. For example, when TPG's Nick Ewen recently transferred points to Aeroplan to take advantage of a 20% bonus, the base points arrived immediately, but it took three days for the bonus points to post.

How do I transfer Chase points to partners?

You can easily transfer Chase points online. First, log in to your Chase account and navigate to the Ultimate Rewards portal. Under the Travel drop-down, select "Transfer to Travel Partners" to access the main transfer page.

You will then see the list of transfer partners. Any current transfer bonuses will also be shown (note that the screen shot below may show outdated offers). Select your desired transfer partner, link your external account if you have not already done so, select the number of Ultimate Rewards points you wish to transfer and then submit the transfer.

Remember, Ultimate Rewards transfers cannot be reversed, so it's best to wait until you have a specific use before transferring them.

What are the best Chase transfer partners?

Given the low award chart rates of the World of Hyatt program, many TPG staffers believe Hyatt is the best hotel transfer option for Ultimate Rewards points.

If you would prefer to transfer to one of the 11 different airline program partners, the best option may depend on which airlines fly to and from the destinations you wish to travel, who the program partners with and which airlines you like to travel with.

There are sweet spots to be found in most airline transfer options, especially those programs that have retained award charts .

Here are some of our favorite Ultimate Rewards sweet spots .

Top-tier Hyatt hotels

The World of Hyatt award chart has two appealing factors. First, its mere existence is notable, given most other hotel programs (including IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy, the other Chase hotel partners) have shifted to dynamic pricing .

Beyond that, Hyatt award rates can be incredibly low compared to some competitors. You can book some of the fanciest Park Hyatt properties in the entire portfolio, including the Park Hyatt New York and Park Hyatt Sydney , for just 35,000 points per night during off-peak dates. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each, so 35,000 points are worth $595.

That's a great deal for hotels that sell for close to $1,000 per night, even when demand is low.

There's also great value at the lower end of the Hyatt award chart. Category 1 hotels range from 3,500 to 6,500 points per night, depending on whether you travel on peak, standard or off-peak dates.

Iberia flights to Madrid

Round-trip, off-peak flights from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Spain's capital will only set you back 34,000 Avios in economy, 51,000 in premium economy or 68,000 in business when you transfer your Chase points to Iberia Plus. Considering that most airlines charge at least 60,000 miles for a one-way business-class award to Europe, you're essentially getting a 50% discount.

Related: 7 of the best airline award chart sweet spots

Flights to Hawaii with Alaska and American

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards to British Airways, you can book awards with Oneworld partners American Airlines and Alaska Airlines . As long as your nonstop flight distance is under 3,000 miles each way (and saver-level award space is available), you can leverage British Airways' distance-based award chart to fly from any West Coast gateway to Hawaii for only 32,000 Avios round-trip — after a December 2023 devaluation that saw prices increase by up to 32%.

ANA flights booked through Virgin Atlantic

For just 145,000 miles, you can fly round-trip in All Nippon Airways first class between the West Coast and Tokyo. Flights from other U.S. gateways only cost an extra 25,000 miles (170,000 miles round-trip). Business-class redemptions are an even better deal, costing just 90,000-95,000 miles round-trip, depending on your U.S. departure airport. If possible, you'll want to route through New York-JFK and fly ANA's new industry-leading "The Room" business class , which is only available on select routes.

However, availability can be difficult to come by.

Short-haul flights to Canada

Aeroplan stuck to an award chart for partner redemptions but added dynamic pricing for Air Canada flights. As a result, you can often find super-cheap short-haul tickets from the U.S. to Canada. For example, New York to Toronto Pearson Airport (YYZ) can be booked for under 6,000 miles one-way on many dates.

However, you can also find very reasonable award rates on Star Alliance partners through Aeroplan — including Lufthansa, Swiss and EVA Airways.

Related: Your complete guide to Star Alliance benefits

What are Chase Ultimate Rewards points worth?

TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents apiece in our monthly valuations, and we believe you will receive the best value by transferring the points to partners.

However, you'll get varying values for Chase points if you pursue other redemption opportunities. For example, Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1.5 cents apiece through the Chase travel portal for Sapphire Reserve cardholders or 1.25 cents for those with the Sapphire Preferred or Ink Business Preferred . You'll also have access to Chase Pay Yourself Back as a cardholder of any of the above cards, and there are occasionally offers to use Chase points for Apple products or gift cards at an enhanced value.

Finally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece if used for simple cash back.

How do I earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points?

There are many ways to earn Chase points at 1-10 points per dollar spent, depending on the specific Chase credit card you carry.

The first three cards below earn fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points by themselves, while the remaining four are technically billed as cash-back credit cards .

However, if you have an Ultimate Rewards-earning card, you can effectively convert your cash-back rewards into Ultimate Rewards points. For this reason, having more than one Chase card can make sense to maximize your earning and redeeming potential.

Here are the cards that allow you to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Welcome bonus: 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is a fantastic all-around travel credit card . It earns points at the following rates:

• 5 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 5 points per dollar on all travel purchased through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
• 3 points per dollar on select streaming services
• 3 points per dollar on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
• 2 points per dollar on all other travel
• 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

The Sapphire Preferred has no foreign transaction fees and has many travel perks , including delayed baggage insurance, trip interruption/cancellation insurance and primary car rental insurance .

Annual fee: $95

Application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Welcome bonus: 75,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: The Sapphire Reserve offers earning power paired with travel perks that can easily cover the annual fee. It earns points at the following rates:

• 10 points per dollar on Lyft (through March 2025)
• 10 points per dollar on Chase Dining booked through Ultimate Rewards
• 10 points per dollar on hotel and car rental purchases through the Chase Travel
• 5 points per dollar on airline travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3 points per dollar on travel not booked through Chase
• 3 points per dollar on other dining purchases
• 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Other perks include an easy-to-use $300 annual travel credit , a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100 once every four years) and Priority Pass Select lounge access as well as the growing list of new Sapphire lounges . This is one of the few cards that allow you to use your Priority Pass membership for discounted meals in airport restaurants . Cardholders also get primary car rental coverage , trip interruption/cancellation insurance and other protections .

Annual fee: $550

Application link: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Welcome bonus: 100,000 points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Why you want it: This is one of the best credit cards for small-business owners , earning 3 points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, advertising made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. You earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases, and points don't expire as long as your account is open.

Application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Cash-back Chase credit cards

Four Chase credit cards are technically billed as cash-back products. However, suppose you have one of the three cards noted above. In that case, you can combine your points in a single account, converting these cash-back rewards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points.

Even better? None of these cards charge an annual fee.

Here are the four cards that offer this functionality:

• Chase Freedom Flex : Earn $200 after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening. Earn 5% back on select bonus categories, which rotate every quarter and apply on up to $1,500 in combined spending (activation required). Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited : Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year), worth up to $300 cash back. Plus, earn 5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel , 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and 3% on drugstore purchases. Earn 1.5% on all other purchases.
• Ink Business Cash Credit Card : Earn up to $750: $350 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year (then 1%). Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year (then 1%).
• Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card : Earn $750 cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards on every purchase.

Note that Chase also issues the Ink Business Premier® Credit Card . However, the earnings on this card can't be combined with others in the Ultimate Rewards ecosystem.

Read more: Your guide to the Chase Ink Business credit cards

Bottom line

If you value the flexibility of choosing from 11 airline partners and three hotel partners, Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of our favorite credit card programs at TPG.

In the age of no-notice devaluations by some loyalty programs, it is smart to earn Ultimate Rewards via the range of credit card welcome bonuses, category bonuses and everyday spending, and then keep your Ultimate Rewards points until you are ready to transfer and book with an airline or hotel partner.