For destinations the CDC has raised to Level 1, 2, or 3 warnings (China, Iran, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, and Italy) many flights are cancelled, and airlines are offering full refunds, refunds in the form of future travel credit, or waived changed fees. Experts expect most airlines will be "bailed out" as their businesses simply can't absorb the massive losses they've sustained thus far.

Many airlines are offering free changes for destinations outside the above list. American, United, and Delta are all offering fee changes for any flights through April 30, regardless of the destination or date they were booked. Note that for the waived change fees, in most cases while you won’t pay a change fee you will still pay the fare difference if your new date costs more, though there are some exceptions.

Some airlines are better than others about proactively notifying travelers of their options, so if you don't see your airline below or aren't clear on the rules for your trip, check the airline's website or reach out to the airline directly via phone, email, or social media. As previously mentioned, I find that airlines respond very well to direct messages on Twitter, and sometimes on Instagram.

Here’s a roundup of some of the airlines offering free changes on previously booked tickets. They'll usually request that you fly or re-book by a certain date.

Alitalia‍: Travelers with tickets for a destination in northern Italy (Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Milan Bergamo, Bologna, Genoa, Turin, Venice, Verona, or Trieste), who booked before February 23, 2020 with travel dates before March 8 can change their flight for free, as long as the new flight departs by March 31, 2020. Read the complete rules here. 

American Airlines: American airlines is offering free changes for any ticket purchased prior to March 1 for travel through April 30, as long as the new ticket is reissued on/before December 31 or 12 months from the original ticket date (whichever is earlier) and the new flight departs on/before December 31, 2020. In cases where flights have been cancelled entirely (such as flights to/from South Korea, Hong Kong, China, and select cities in Europe) you’ll get a refund. Read the complete rules here.

​

ANA‍: Travelers headed to Japan who booked by February 28 for travel through March 19 can get a refund or change their flight with no fee as long as they travel by April 20, 2020. Read the complete rules here.

British Airways‍: Travelers booked to fly from London to Milan, Turin, Bologna, Venice, Bergamo, or Verona through March 15 can re-book with no change fee for travel up to April 3, 2020. Read the complete rules here. 

Cathay Pacific: Cathay Pacific is issuing refunds for travelers booked to select destinations where the airline has suspended flights as well as coronavirus-impacted destinations including Israel, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea for travel through April 30, depending on when you booked (varies by destination). Read the complete rules here.

Delta Air Lines: Travelers flying to any international or domestic destination through April 30 can change their flight with no fees. Change fees are also waived through May 31 for travelers booked to fly to any destination the UK or Europe, as well as Shanghai, Beijing, and Seoul. The airline has suspended flights to Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, and some flights to Japan, Italy, and throughout Europe, and will offer refunds or waived change fees for passengers booked on those flights. Read the complete rules here. 

Iberia: Travelers booked to fly from the US to Europe between March 6 and April 30 (with a few blackout dates) can re-book with no change fee for travel up to November 30, 2020. Read the complete rules here. 

Icelandair: Travelers flying between now and August 31 can re-book with no change fees as long as travel departs before September 1, 2020. Read the complete rules here

JAL: Travelers flying to Japan who booked by February 28 for travel through March 19 can cancel or change their flight with no fee. For changes, flights must be re-booked to depart by April 20, 2020. Read the complete rules here. 

Lufthansa: Travelers flying Lufthansa through April 30 can re-book for a new date with no change fees, as long as travel departs by December 31, 2020. Read the complete rules here.

Qatar Airways: ‍Travelers who have booked flights for travel up to June 30 can change their dates with no change fee or exchange their ticket for a travel voucher valid for one year as long as they make the request at least three days prior to departure. Read the complete rules here. 

Singapore Airlines: Travelers going to South Korea who booked by February 25 for travel through April 30 can re-book with no change fee, as long as the new trip starts on or before August 31, 2020. Read the complete rules here. 

United Airlines: United is waiving change fees for all tickets—domestic or international—with original travel dates through April 30. United is also waiving change fees and/or allowing refunds for travel to or from select cities, which includes Wuhan, Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Hong Kong, Seoul, and several cities in northern Italy. Rules vary by city. For example, tickets to Hong Kong must have been purchased by February 12, 2020 to be eligible; for northern Italy, flights must be rescheduled by June 30, 2020 to avoid paying a fare difference (if you reschedule for a date after that, you’ll need to pay the difference in fare). Read the complete rules here. 

If your airline is not currently offering free cancellations or changes for your trip, it can be wise to wait it out. If you wait until closer to your departure date, the situation could change and the airline may change its policies accordingly.

Source: Scott's Cheap Flights