Delta extends all new and expiring vouchers through the end of 2022
If you're not ready to resume traveling, don't worry about your expiring voucher — especially if you're flying with Delta.
On Wednesday, the Atlanta-based carrier extended nearly every voucher to Dec. 31, 2022, giving travelers over 20 months to use them. The move was first rumored this weekend based on a leaked internal memo, but it's now been officially confirmed by the airline.
Additionally, all voluntarily canceled tickets purchased any time this year will expire on Dec. 31, 2022, giving flyers a bit more than the traditional one-year expiration to rebook travel should plans change.
Previously, only Delta tickets booked prior to April 17, 2020 for travel between March 2020 and March 2021 were extended to Dec. 31, 2022.
To summarize, that means:
- All tickets expiring in 2021 will now expire on Dec. 31, 2022
- All tickets purchased in 2021 will now expire on Dec. 31, 2022
Note that you'll need to book and fly by the expiration date of Dec. 31, 2022. All extensions will be reflected in your digital wallet later on Wednesday.
This doesn't mean you can get a refund for a canceled flight. Only flights that were canceled by Delta, as well as those with significant schedule changes, are eligible for a refund. If you voluntarily cancel a trip, the value of your ticket will be stored in an eCredit that must be used for future travel on Delta or its partners.
Delta's voucher extension comes as travelers are sitting on billion dollars of unused credits, with many set to expire in the coming weeks and months. This has led to extended wait times for those struggling to rebook tickets online.
Of the Big 3 U.S. airlines, American and United each have already extended expiring vouchers to March 31, 2022, nine months earlier than Delta's new expiration policy.
Most Southwest travel funds expire one year from the ticket was purchased, though new credits or those set to expire between March 1, 2020, and Sept. 7, 2020, qualified for an extension to Sept. 7, 2022.
Related: How to use outstanding airline vouchers before they expire
Delta's blanket extension is now the most generous of all the major U.S. airlines. It's possible that the others may feel the competitive pressure to match Delta's move, but either way, the update is good news for loyal Delta flyers.
That's not all, however.
Delta is also extending the validity of its global waiver, giving flyers an additional month to purchase tickets without change fees. All basic economy tickets purchased through April 30, 2021, now qualify for free changes and cancellations. (This also includes trips originating outside of North America.) Changes can be made anytime before the ticket expiration of Dec. 31, 2022.
In late 2020, Delta permanently removed change fees for all tickets originating in North America, except for those booked in the deep-discount basic economy cabin. Those tickets are usually non-changeable and non-refundable, but Delta is giving flyers additional flexibility due to the uncertainty around the pandemic.
Interestingly, American has moved the other direction. The Fort Worth-based carrier is letting its basic economy change-fee waiver expire on Wednesday. As of April 1, the most restrictive AA fares will once again become non-refundable and non-changeable.
United extended its global waiver that includes basic economy tickets through April 30.