For travelers, this is undoubtedly one of the main benefits of the Covid-19 crisis. For almost two years, most transport companies, rail or air, have relaxed their exchange and cancellation conditions to encourage their customers to book "anyway" with confidence. No more pre-crisis rigidity with non-modifiable or non-refundable tickets or exorbitant penalties for changes. You can cancel your reservation until the last moment and be reimbursed 100% without having to justify yourself. But until when ?
Operators have repeatedly extended these measures depending on the health situation or simply to align with their competitors. But this flexibility comes at a cost, with a carrier not guaranteed to resell a canceled seat at the last minute, and some of them - for example Ryanair * on the air side - are already reinstating their old exchange and cancellation rules. A perilous back-pedaling, since it risks offending customers who have been accustomed for two years to this total flexibility.
In abandoning this leniency, the carriers advance in dispersed order.
Everyone has their own rule, everyone has their end dates.
To help you, here's a round-up of the trade measures put in place by the major air and rail carriers - and when they end.
One thing is certain: if your vacation is already planned, don't delay in booking!
Airplane side
Air France
Until when ?
Until January 31 for travel until June 30
The national company, at the forefront in terms of flexibility until recently, is losing its lead. Air France has for a long time stood out from the competition by guaranteeing the exchange and reimbursement of all its tickets free of charge, until the time of flight departure. A profitable strategy, since it has enabled it to gain market share on medium-haul. Air France has however decided to fall into line. From now on, only tickets purchased before January 31 for flights scheduled before June 30 will be refundable.
However, given the international health situation, it is hard to imagine the company returning immediately to the rules before the crisis, namely non-exchangeable and non-refundable "Light" tickets and penalties ranging from 70 to 150 € for tickets. "Standard".
It is therefore a safe bet that Air France is modulating the restrictions again.
Let us just hope that it gives birth to a system that is simple and understandable by everyone.
A word of advice, therefore, if you intend to travel before June 30, 2022, buy your tickets before January 31 even if you are not sure about your trip.
Even if it means having you refunded in the event of a change.
Read alsoAir France increases its prices to use sustainable fuel
Transavia
Until when ?
No end date announced
At Transavia, although the explanations on the website are unclear, the system is actually very simple.
Here, it is not the date of travel that matters but the date of purchase of the ticket.
For the moment and until further notice, you are entitled to flexibility without penalty with only a fare adjustment in the event of a change of flight or destination.
However, tickets are no longer refundable.
easyJet
Until when ?
For trips planned until March 31, 2022
Tickets can be changed free of charge up to two hours before departure and without restriction of destination.
These tickets can be carried over to all flights currently on sale until the end of September 2022. However, no tickets are refundable.
Train side
Here too, travelers will no longer benefit from the flexibility of the tickets.
It will soon end at TGV Lyria, Eurostar and Thalys, while SNCF (for TGV inOui and Intercités only) and Trenitalia will continue to apply it without an end date.
But will these operators also end up backtracking?
SNCF
Until when ?
No end date announced
All tickets are exchangeable and refundable free of charge up to three days before departure for national TGV inOui and Intercités. Less than three days before departure, the usual conditions apply, namely a penalty of € 15 per TGV inOui ticket or 40% of the ticket price with a maximum deduction of € 12 on Intercités with compulsory reservation. This flexibility at D-3, perpetuated in June 2021, has become the norm and the railway company has undertaken not to go back on this measure.
At
Ouigo
, the low-cost subsidiary of SNCF, cancellation and reimbursement are not possible.
Tickets can be exchanged up to 1h30 before departure, for a fee of € 10 and a possible price adjustment if the new reservation is more expensive.
The name and surname of the reservation can also be changed for € 10;
useful if you want to transfer the ticket to another passenger.
TGV Lyria
Until when ?
Until March 31
On the connections between France and Switzerland provided by
TGV Lyria
, the exchange free of charge is possible until the time of departure until March 31 inclusive.
Cancellation of the ticket generates a cost of € 30.
Eurostar
Until when ?
Until January 31, 2022
Standard and Standard Premier tickets can be exchanged at will and free of charge until the scheduled departure time (with possible fare adjustment). The measure will be hardened after this date, since the exchange will then be free of charge until D-7. Less than seven days before departure, each exchange will be charged between 40 and 50 € (no charge for children). Cancellation and refund are not possible, unless you have booked in Business Premier.
Read alsoTravel by train in Europe: which railway company to take from France?
Thalys
Until when ?
For reservations made until June 27
For Thalys, which serves Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands from Paris, all reservations made up to June 27 can be changed up to the time of departure. For the initially non-exchangeable fares (Standard mini, Comfort mini, etc.), tickets can be modified exceptionally, for a fee of € 5 per ticket (with possible fare adjustment). On the other hand, cancellation and reimbursement are only possible if the after-sales conditions of the chosen tariff allow it.
Note that no specific measure is put in place in the event of travel restrictions in the country of destination (as is the case for example in the Netherlands where confinement is in force until January 14 inclusive) .
In this case, you can only change the ticket and choose a later travel date.
Read also The new Thalys is coming: we visited the trains exclusively
Trenitalia
The Italian company, which has been running since December 18 between Paris, Lyon and Milan, offers very flexible exchange and cancellation conditions.
The exchange for another date can be done free of charge and unlimited up to one hour after the departure of the train.
Tickets are also cancellable and refundable up to the scheduled time of departure with a 20% holdback.
Read also Paris-Lyon: we tested the difference between SNCF and Trenitalia
* At Ryanair, no ticket is refundable and any modification is billed at 45 €, in addition to the price adjustment.
Note that a change of destination is not possible.
