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Exception Policy

Coronavirus Situation – All U.S. Domestic Travel – Bulletin 6   

TRAVEL EXCEPTION POLICY ADVISORY   

Coronavirus Situation – All U.S. Domestic Travel – Bulletin 6

ISSUED:  September 1, 2020, 2:30 PM ET

Ticket Validity Extension

In January, Delta announced that ticket validity would be extended to December 31, 2023. This extension provides customers with additional time to use any remaining unused tickets. Continue to watch for additional information in the coming months.

The Coronavirus Situation – All U.S. Domestic Travel – Bulletin 6 will not be extended further; however, the Travel Exception Policy is valid for ticket validity extension as follows:

  • Applies to tickets issued on/before April 17, 2020.
  • For travel between March 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021.
  • The Class to Class waiver will continue to be available for tickets reissued and travel completed by December 31, 2022.
  • The Change Fee waiver will continue to be available for tickets reissued and travel completed by December 31, 2022; however, the change fee waiver is not needed as change fees for these tickets no longer apply.
  • Any tickets not reissued by December 31, 2022, will remain available as a credit through December 31, 2023.
  • If a customer is holding an unused Basic Economy ticket that previously qualified for this exception, the value can be applied toward the purchase of a new ticket through December 31, 2023, and no fee applies.
    • If the new ticket purchased is also a Basic Economy ticket and the customer wishes to make further changes, then the fare rule for the new Basic Economy ticket must be followed.

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Please note: Effective on January 1, 2021, the suspension to exempt collection of the U.S. Transportation Tax (US) and the Flight Segment Tax (ZP) issued as part of the CARES Act has expired. Any tickets issued between March 28, 2020 and December 31, 2020 that were exempt from the U.S. Transportation Tax (US) and the Flight Segment Tax (ZP) that need to be reissued will be subject to collection of these taxes, if the ticket qualifies. Travel agents will need to reprice the itinerary and collect the current US and ZP taxes, if applicable.

NEW! Travel agents trying to determine which of Delta’s active waivers apply to a specific ticket may use Delta’s Travel Exception Policy Finder  to assist.

Applies for tickets issued on or before April 17, 2020

Please note:

For all travel on/after October 1, 2020, to/from the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, please use the terms and conditions of the Coronavirus Situation - All U.S. Domestic Travel – Bulletin 6. The Coronavirus Situation - All International Travel - Bulletin 6 will no longer include travel to/from the US. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, effective for travel on/after October 1, 2020. 

Delta Air Lines is further extending its waiver to assist customers who may be impacted by the Coronavirus situation.

Issued On:                                       DL 006 Ticket Stock

Applicable to Travel On:  Delta / Delta Connection / DL coded KLM operated / KLM coded DL operated/ / AF coded DL operated /DL coded AF operated

Applicable to Reaccommodate On: Delta / Delta Connection / DL coded KLM operated / KLM coded DL operated/AF coded DL operated /DL coded AF operated

Date of Impacted Travel:           March 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021

Affected Area(s) To/From/Through the following cities:

  • All U.S. Domestic travel (travel solely within the U.S. 50 and travel to/from the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, effective for travel on/after October 1, 2020)

Applicable Dates

For Cabin to Cabin Travel
New travel must originate on or before:                             September 30, 2020

New travel must be rebooked no later than:                      September 30, 2020

Ticket must be reissued on or before:                                  September 30, 2020

For Class to Class Travel
All travel must be completed on or before:                        December 31, 2022

New travel must be rebooked no later than:                      December 31, 2022

Ticket must be reissued on or before:                                  December 31, 2022

Event Waiver Codes:

  • Use Waiver code Q4Y3F for rebooking cabin to cabin
  • Use Waiver code X2R5W for rebooking class to class
  • Use Waiver code Z5H8K to waive change fee only, provided:
    • New itinerary is rebooked/ticketed within all parameters of this policy
    • New itinerary is priced at current applicable fares and rules

Required Documentation for Reissue

**Attention all GDS Users: PNR Documentation requirements now vary by GDS. Please review procedures below. **

Required Documentation for Worldspan (1P), Apollo (1V), and Galileo (1G) Users:

  • If applying Rapid Reprice:
    • Do not add the waiver code; the waiver code will automatically be added to the endorsement box
    • It is no longer necessary to document the PNR with an OSI message
  • If not applying Rapid Reprice, please follow the instructions below

Required Documentation for Worldspan (1P), Apollo (1V), and Galileo (1G) when not applying Rapid Reprice and for all other GDS Users:

  • Waiver code placement:
    • Waiver code should be placed in the ticket designator field if no other ticket designator is being used
    • If another ticket designator is being used, place the waiver code in the tour code box
    • If the tour code box is already in use, place the waiver code in the first position of the endorsement box
  • PNR must be documented with the following OSI message:
    • OSI DL CHANGES PER CORONAVIRUS US 17MAR20

Please Note: DL/AF/KL/AZ/VS/VA travel exception policies may vary between carriers due to local operational circumstances and limitations (Air France, Alitalia and Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia information is located at the end of this document).

Policy Information

Delta will waive administrative change fees and travel agents may rebook and reissue tickets provided the below guidelines are met and applied:

  1. Travel has not commenced on the affected flight segment and the ticket has not been reissued by Delta
  2. The first departure flight is more than 3 hours away
  3. Customer has not checked in; if checked in, travel agent may contact Delta Sales Support or Delta Reservations for assistance.
  4. Only one change is permitted under this policy (Bulletin #) without a change fee (Administrative Service Charge - ASC).
  5. Tickets can only be reissued by the agency that originally issued the ticket
  6. Bulk/Net Fare tickets must be referred to original issuing agent
  7. Some affected itineraries may have been proactively rebooked and reissued. If assistance is needed with additional changes, please contact Delta.
  8. Changes outside of these guidelines are subject to the reissue rules of the ticketed fare. This includes any applicable additional collection or administrative fees.

Change to Origin / Destination

  • Changes to Origin / Destination are permitted and subject to additional collection for the new itinerary.  To reissue, apply the value of the unused flight coupon (s) and exchange to issue another ticket with the new origin/destination at current applicable fares. Collect any applicable fare difference at the time of reissue.
  • Change fee may be waived provided ticket is reissued within policy guidelines, PNR is documented with OSI (where required by GDS) and the applicable change fee waiver code is applied as noted in the waiver section above.

Minimum/Maximum Stay Requirements

Minimum/Maximum Stay Requirements may be waived under these circumstances:

  • When a change to the outbound travel occurs, the unaffected return date may be changed to protect the original length of the trip. The return travel must be booked in the original class of service.
  • Change fee may be waived provided ticket is reissued within policy guidelines. In addition, PNR must be documented with OSI (where required by GDS) and the applicable waiver code used and documented on ticket as noted above.

Applicable Booking Class

Rebook permitted as indicated below:

  • If new travel originates March 1, 2020 through September 30, 2020, book in same class if available. If same class is not available, ok to rebook in the next class available up to and including Y class for main cabin fares, or the highest available class for premium fares/cabins, P class for Premium Economy fares, F class for First Class fares and J class for Delta One® fares (cabin to cabin), if necessary.
    • Fare differences and change fee will be waived provided the ticket is reissued on/before September 30, 2020. In addition, PNR must be documented with OSI (where required by GDS) and the applicable waiver code used and documented on ticket.
  • If new travel originates October 1, 2020 through December 31, 2022, rebook permitted in same class of service as originally ticketed. (class to class).
    • Fare differences and change fee will be waived provided all travel is completed and ticket is reissued on/before December 31, 2022. In addition, PNR must be documented with OSI (where required by GDS) and the applicable waiver code used and documented on ticket.
    • If same class is not available, rebook in new class of service. Any difference in fare between original ticket and the new ticket must be collected. Change fee will be waived provided all travel is completed and ticket is reissued on/before December 31, 2022. In addition, PNR must be documented with OSI (where required by GDS) and the applicable waiver code used and documented on ticket.

If customers are unable to rebook or reissue their ticket within the given timeline, they can cancel their reservation and use the value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket provided all travel is completed and tickets reissued on/before December 31, 2022. Any difference in fare will apply.

  • Change fee may be waived if customers complete all travel and reissue tickets on or before December 31, 2022. In addition, PNR must be documented with OSI (where required by GDS) and the applicable waiver code used and documented on ticket.
  • Please note for tickets reissued after December 31, 2022, change fees will apply.

Enroute/Diversion

Connecting customers’ enroute to one of the above-listed destinations or whose flights are diverted should work directly with the airport to rebook their travel.

Refunds

If a customer’s flight is cancelled due to this event, and no other alternate flights are acceptable, travel agents may refund a totally unused non-refundable ticket(s) through normal ARC/BSP processing.

Required Documentation for Refunds

PNR must be documented with the following OSI message:

  • OSI DL REFUNDED PER CORONAVIRUS US 17MAR20

Travel agents may also utilize the Travel Agent Travel Exception Policy Online Refund  form to submit a refund request in the following cases:

  • If a ticket has already been reissued by Delta or the ticket is partially used
  • Travel agents whose customers contact them directly to initiate the refund

Additional Information

Delta will continue to monitor this event waiver and adjust this policy if needed. Changes will be posted on the Delta Professional Travel Agency website and delta.com. Please check these sources frequently for the most up to date information or contact Delta Sales Support or Delta Reservations   for assistance.

Delta’s Travel Exception Policy may change at any time without advance notice.

Partner Information

Each of our partners have travel agent resource websites to access the most up to date information and news. Use the links below to access each website:

* Please note: A login is required to access this information.

 
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