United Air Drops Fees, American Air Whacks Schedule in Covid Era
- American adds warm destinations while cutting 55% of schedule
- United eliminates change fees permanently to woo travelers
Photographer: Angus Mordant/Bloomberg
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The airline industry, yearning to bounce back from the prolonged global outbreak of Covid-19, is pulling out more tricks designed to get fliers back on board.
United Airlines on Sunday spiked its loathed $200 change fee for domestic flights and said that, beginning next year, customers can fly standby for free if a there’s an available seat on the same day as their previously planned flight. Earlier in the day, American Airlines took the sting out of a 55% reduction in its October schedule by adding service to warm-weather destinations like Florida and Mexico.