This article will constantly update to show real-time policies.
Mainland China:
As requested by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), passengers can cancel and refund any tickets issued by Mainland China airlines on/before January 28th 2020. This policy only applies before the flight departs.
Asia:
Cathay Pacific / Cathay Dragon: Rebooking, rerouting and refund charges will be waived for all tickets issued on/before January 28th 2020; for travel with Cathay Pacific/Cathay Dragon arriving to or departing from Mainland China before March 31st 2020.
Air Macau: All Macau to/from Mainland China flights on/before June 30th 2020 operated by Air Macau or codeshare flights with NX flight number under 675 tickets issued on/before January 28th 2020 are refundable without charges. Tickets can be rebooked free of charge. The change fee and fare differences can be waived, in which the rescheduled travel date must be on/before June 30th 2020 and subject to cabin supply restrictions. The new ticket will maintain the original booking class. Submit relevant requirements before departure.
China Airlines / Mandarin Airlines: Passengers holding CI/AE valid tickets issued on/before January 24th 2020 on CI/AE flights to/from/via Mainland China/Hong Kong on/before March 31st 2020 can be rebooked to the other dates with the original booking class/Carrier/airport. The fare/tax difference and rebooking fee can be waived once. If flights. other than Wuhan flights, to/from China are cancelled or passengers holding tickets to/from Wuhan complied with the rules above may change to other flights in China which are operated by CI/AE, but only once. Full refund for unused tickets without imposing any refund service charge or penalty.
EVA Air / UNI Air: For passengers holding BR/B7 tickets. issued on/before January 24th 2020, on BR/B7 cross-strait and international flights with connections from/to China before February 29th 2020, the fare/tax difference and the service charge will be waived once for changing to the new BR/B7 flight/date departing on/before May 31st 2020 with the same booking class and routing as on the original ticket. Ticket validity can be extended for 14 days if the ticket validity is due to expire. The refund rule and charge will be waived.
ANA: Tickets issued on/before January 28th 2020, with flights to/from airports in mainland China by February 29th 2020 can be refunded without fees. Ticket numbers starting with “205”. Change of boarding date is allowed “once” within March 31st 2020.
JAL: All JAL flights to/from Beijing Capital, Shanghai (Pudong), Shanghai (Hongqiao), Guangzhou, Dalian, Tianjin, Hong Kong, Shenyang, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Yantai, Qingdao, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Chongqing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Kunming (including codeshare flights operated by China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Cathay Pacific Dragon Airlines) issued before January 27th 2020 and departure on/before February 29th 2020, regardless of tickets rules and conditions, can be refunded without any fees. Passengers can change departure date only once on/before April 20th 2020.
Singapore Airlines / SilkAir: Waive all cancellation and change fees for customers with tickets issued on or before January 28th 2020 for travel to and from Mainland China on/before February 29th 2020. Customers can contact the Singapore reservations team before departure. The new travel date must commence on or before May 31st 2020.
Himalaya Airlines: All H9 passengers, with ticket numbers starting with 769, are eligible for free ticket alteration and cancellation on all Himalaya Airlines flights to and from China.
Vietnam Airlines / Jetstar Pacific: The two airlines have waived flight change fees/refund fees for passengers flying to or from Chinese cities.
Nok Air: For bookings to and from China, issued before 24th January 2020 and travel date on/before 15th February 2020, are allowed to change 1 time without Change Fee and Fare Difference. All changes must be made prior to the original travel date. The new travel date is not to be more than 30 days from the original travel date. A full refund is also available.
IndiGo: The airline is offering a change/cancelation fee waiver to passengers traveling to/from China effective until 24th February 2020.
Qatar Airways: Passengers can re-book their tickets to alternative dates or destinations, or request a full refund without charge.
Thai Airways / Thai Smile: Passengers with tickets issued by THAI, prior to 28th January 2020 valid for travel on/before 29th February 2020, may change flights or get a refund before 29th February 2020. Bookings must be cancelled prior to the date of flight departure.
Jetstar: For customers travelling to/originating from or via mainland China (including those who hold a separate booking on another carrier) departing on/before 31st March 2020 may rebook the Jetstar portion of their flight, cancel their ticket and retain its value in the form of a voucher or cancel their flights for a full refund. Change and cancellation fees will not be charged to these customers.
Cambodia Angkor Air: All passengers holding K6 tickets on K6 flights between China and Cambodia, can be refunded without charge/fee within the validity period the tickets. The ticket issuance date must be on/before 27th January 2020. The ticket travelling date must be on/after 29th February 2020.
AirAsia: Obtain a full refund to your original payment method for the amount equivalent to your booking. Applicable for all flights to/from mainland China until 15th February 2020 that was ticketed prior to 28th January 2020.
Etihad Airways: The airline will waive rebooking and refund charges for tickets issued on or before 28th January 2020, for travel to or from China on/before 29th (6th for a Hong Kong refund) February 2020.
Scoot: Customers will receive a 100% refund of the unused itinerary value.
Malaysia Airlines: Passengers holding Malaysia Airlines confirmed tickets issued for travel on/before 29th February 2020 to/from mainland China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xiamen) will be permitted cancellation with a full refund or a one-time flight change with waiver of change/cancellation fees. Revised/alternative travel date must be on or before 31st May 2020.
Emirates: Customers travelling to and from China. with tickets issued on or before 28th January, can rebook for travel up to 14 days from your original travel date (one free change) or refund for any unused tickets for travel dates on/before 29th February 2020. Reroute to select destinations free of charge for outbound travel up to 29th February is also available.
Cebu Pacific: Passengers affected by flight cancellations may rebook the flight (new flight date within 30 days of original travel date), refund the tickets in full or store the value of the ticket in a Travel Fund for future use.
Korean Air: For flights travelling to/from China with travel dates on/before 31st March and ticket issued before 28th January, refund penalty and 1st re-issue penalty will be waived (difference in fares should be collected).
Asiana Airlines: Refund and reissue charges for all Asiana Airlines confirmed tickets issued before 27th January arriving or departing from Mainland China (including codeshare flights) will be waived on/before 31st March 2020.
Americas:
American Airlines: If you’re travelling to/through/from Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG) or Hong Kong (HKG), your change fee may be waived if you are travelling on an American Airlines flight, bought your ticket by January 24th, 2020 (28th for HKG) are scheduled to travel on/before February 29th, 2020, can travel on/before March 31st 2020, don’t change your origin or destination city and rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference.
United Airlines: For United flights departing Beijing (PEK), Chengdu (CTU), Shanghai (PVG) or Hong Kong (HKG) on/before February 29th 2020, the change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new flights on/before March 31st 2020; as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed. Refunds are allowed for un-flown flights (exclude HKG), even for nonrefundable tickets. Original ticket must have been purchased by January 23rd 2020 (27th for HKG).
Delta: Passengers travelling to/from/through Beijing (PEK/PKX) and Shanghai (PVG) on/before April 30th 2020 can make a one-time change to their itinerary without incurring a change fee.
Air Canada: If you are scheduled to travel to Beijing Capital Int. Airport (PEK) or Pudong Int. Airport, Shanghai (PVG) on/before February 29th 2020, you can change your flight free of charge on/before June 15th 2020; subject to availability in the cabin you originally purchased. Otherwise, any fare difference will apply. Customers also have the option of cancelling their flight for a full refund. Tickets must be issued no later than January 28th 2020.
Europe:
Turkish Airlines: For our who have issued a ticket before 31st January 2020 for flights to China on/before 29th February, a free refund will be given for unused tickets. In case the new reservation is made for flights until 31st May 2020, the reservation changes will be made free of charge. Actions must be made on/before 11th March 2020.
British Airways: If your flight has been cancelled, you will be rebooked onto other carriers where possible. If you can safely get to Hong Kong, you can change your flight to Hong Kong. If you are flying between January 31st and February 23rd 2020, you can rebook on to another flight operated by British Airways to the same destination or request a refund. This also includes any redemption bookings.
Air France / KLM: If you have a valid Air France/KLM ticket, issued on or before January 23rd, 2020, for an Air France/KLM flight departing from or arriving in China between January 26th and February 29th 2020, you can postpone your trip at no extra cost onto a later flight until May 31st 2020. Reissue or refund must be completed on or before February 29th 2020. You may also choose to postpone your flight to after May 31st 2020 or cancel your trip. In this case, you will be entitled to a full refund.
Lufthansa / SWISS / Austrian: Passengers whose flights were cancelled can request a refund free of charge. In the event of a cancellation, Lufthansa will rebook you free of charge and usually automatically to another flight. Flight solutions booked by Lufthansa may be changed by the guest, once again free of charge.
Finnair: If your flight is cancelled, you can change your flight date until May 31st 2020, or re-route to another Finnair destination in China. You can apply for a full refund for your unused flight ticket. For flights to and from China from January 25th to February 29th 2020, with your ticket issued before January 28th, 2020, you can change your travel until May 31st 2020 or cancel the booking and apply for a refund.
Aeroflot: Passengers, who booked tickets on or before 28th January 2020 for SU flights departing on or before 29th February, may change their departure dates for any date before 31st March 2020, or obtain a refund for tickets. The airline will waive all fees for rebookings and refunds.
Oceania:
Fiji Airways: For passengers holding a valid ticket issued on/before 24th January 2020 for travel on/before 29th February 2020, passengers can be rebooked to travel until 31st October 2020. Affected passengers may change their bookings without fee and fare differential until 10th February 2020. Credit can be held for further travel on FJ until 31st October 2020. No reissue fee is applicable however fare differences will apply when rebooking. All changes must be made prior to the original ticketed departure date.
Qantas: Customers with tickets issued on or before 24th January 2020 who no longer wish to travel have the option to rebook their flight, cancel their ticket and retain its value in credit or cancel their flights for a full refund. Change and cancellation fees will not be charged to these customers.
Many other airlines have also published similar waivers. Please check their websites for more detail.
I bought a tkt. to Australia, for 21st. Feb20, with AIR NEW ZEALAND. When I contacted the airline to postpone my trip (2 days before departing), due to this virus alert, they informed that changing the tkt date was still CHARGED with the PENALTY of 150 uSd. -until today, 4March, they keep this rule-.
This is a SHAME, since almost every airline Worldwide is refunding tkts. or making changes without extra cost. Even companies much smaller than AIR NEW ZEALAND.
This is very negative publicity for ANZ. Be certain that I will never again travel with them.
I booked ticket with Singapore Airline Bali-Sngapore-ICN Seoul leaving Bali to ICN Seoul 8th March transit Singapore then leaving ICN Seoul back to Bali on 17th March.
My agent has been trying to cancel with no success until today. Im getting so frustrating if the airline do not give me refund.
Is there any possibility that Singapore airline will not allow me to cancell ?
I have booked a ticket with China Southern for SYD-CAN-DEL on 1st April and return DEL-CAN-SYD on 20th April, can i get a full refund of the ticket considering the current situation? Thanks.
I “cancelled” my China Southern ticket via email as requested a week ago. no automated response from this address, or any help from the UK phone number (I’m currently still on hold 1 hour after calling – I am not sure if they are even going to answer…). the flight itself has subsequently been cancelled by CSA (and I can’t see my reservation number on their website now), so one way or the other its cancelled. the problem is getting through to them. Plus how long you have to wait for the refund. I see on tripadvisor that someone waited months for a refund but still hadn’t got it. We chose to book another airline to ensure we were going to get where we wanted, when we wanted, rather than wait for the non existent announcement by China Southern. The English website doesn’t even mention coronovirus, whereas my chinese speaking colleague says the china website does. I hope I will be able to claim on my insurance but the “not knowing” whats going on is the issue, and will be hard to prove. I was uncomfortable when I booked these last September – little did I know how badly this would turn out. if you’re reading this, you’re probably in the same boat…. If i ever hear back, I’ll update this.. Book CSA at your peril 🙁
We booked flights with China Southern from Amsterdam to Vietnam with a layover in Guangzhou, se to depart in May 2020. I am getting very confusing responses on the possibility to cancel the flights (due to the unfolding health crisis) and be refunded. Can you advise?
You need to contact the airlines for specific details. We’re reporting only in general.
Hi, thanks for this post – very helpful. I’m for guidance/advice. We have flights on China Southern from Hanoi to Auckland via Guangzhou (10th Feb). I am having problems trying to cancel these. I have called twice, and send the email with our passport info that they have . No response. Still showing as active online. I have tried cancelling online, it ‘errors’. Calling is a nightmare – as either busy, won’t connect, or I get asked to send another email! Any suggestions welcome?
Many thanks Julie
Can I get refund for the unused (i.e. return segment) portion of my LAX-Beijing-TPE round trip ticket? The return date is 2-18-2020 TPE-Beijing-LAX by Air China airlines.
You need to contact the airline directly.
My flight Xiamen airlines Amsterdam Denpasar-Bali on February 22 stopover in Xiamen fly back march 10 Denpasar-Bali. Can I cancel and refund?
You need to contact the airline. We cannot advise on specific tickets.
I also booked a flight from LON to HKG ( stopover in Zurich for outbound , stopover in Frankfurt for inbound ) that s travelling in 31st March and back on 15th Apr . I would like to know if I can get a ful refund on this occasion. Many thanks!
It depends on the airline you are traveling with.
I have layover in Guangzhou flying from LAX to KTM. next month in China Southern. can i get refund ?
Yes. Any ticket issued by mainland China airlines can get full refund.
My parents are due back on Cathay Pacific from HKG to EWR Feb 12; but would like to come back earlier next week. Is the waiver available to change their travel date?
Unfortunately, there is currently no waiver to passengers leaving Hong Kong.
I booked a ticket with cathay pacific on 20 december 2019 from Amsterdam to Hongkong. Does the refund also apply to going to HongKong? Thanks.
If you are arriving in Hong Kong on January 31st – February 29th, 2020, rebooking/rerouting charges will be waived (with conditions). Currently no waiver on cancellation and refund charges. Hope that helps.