American Airlines has expanded its elimination of change fees to cover most long-haul international tickets originating in the Americas.
The new policy covers all premium and economy tickets with the exception of Basic Economy for any flights starting in North or South America, according to American. As with its earlier elimination of change fees on domestic and short-haul international travel, travelers keep the original value of their ticket, including the fare difference if their new ticket is cheaper than their original ticket. They still would need to pay the difference if the new fare is more expensive.
All of the largest U.S. carriers have eliminated change fees—Southwest Airlines never has charged them—but so far American is the only carrier to expand that policy to cover long-haul international travel and to offer credit back on cheaper tickets.
American also announced it has permanently eliminated service charges for tickets booked through its reservations line. It already had been waiving the fee amid the Covid-19 pandemic.