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Every major airline defines a group as 10 or more passengers on the same flights (British Airways: 7 in premium cabins) and prices it through a group desk rather than the public booking engine. Deposit rules range from none at Alaska to $50 or $150 a seat at JetBlue; most desks allow name changes until close to departure.
A group fare is a negotiated rate that holds seats before names are known. This table gathers the published rules for 14 airlines, each checked on the airline's site in September 2026 and linked in the Source column. Desk phone numbers are on the source pages.
Group booking rules by airline (last verified: September 2026)
| Airline | Policy / discount | Who qualifies | How to book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines | Group & Meeting Travel rates for 10 or more: flexible ticketing schedule, one name change per ticket at no charge, flexible commitment timeline, space blocked up to 11 months ahead, any cabin and any American or oneworld destination. | Groups of 10 or more traveling together. | Contact the Group & Meeting reservations desk by phone or email. | aa.com |
| Delta Air Lines | Group Specialists handle 10 or more on at least one common flight segment. Booking is secured "with a booking fee and deposit as outlined in your contract", which also sets a per-seat cancellation fee if ticketing deadlines or the minimum utilization are missed. Bookings open 240 days ahead for the US, Canada, Caribbean, Central America and Asia-Pacific, 331 days for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. | Groups of 10 or more. | Online group travel request form (US and Canada) or the Group desk by phone, Monday to Friday. | delta.com |
| United Airlines | United Groups: 10 or more on a common flight to a common destination receive one fixed group fare and dedicated service; a quote is emailed within two business days of the online request. Our tools could not load united.com in September 2026; confirm deposit terms with United or call us. | Groups of 10 or more. | Submit the United Groups online request form. | united.com |
| Southwest Airlines | Group Travel Services handles parties of 10 or more by phone, Monday to Friday 5:00 a.m. to midnight Central Time. Business groups can use the Southwest Groups self-service tool in Southwest Business Assist. Deposit and name rules are given at quote time. | Parties of 10 or more. | Call Group Travel Services, or use the self-service tool for business travel. | southwest.com |
| JetBlue | Groups start at 10 people on the same flights. Nonrefundable deposit of $50 per seat (domestic) or $150 per seat (transatlantic) due within 14 days and applied to the final payment; seats held until 30 days before departure (60 days international). Names due 30 days before departure; name changes $100 plus taxes up to 72 hours out; individual deviations $135 plus any fare increase. | Groups of 10 or more. | Call the JetBlue Groups Desk or submit the online group request. | jetblue.com |
| Alaska Airlines | Discounted rate through a special fare agreement for 10 or more on the same flights and dates. "No deposits are required." Unlimited free name changes until three days before departure (a fee inside three days), no ticketing fees, advance seat assignments, no minimum stay, tour conductor credits. | Groups of 10 or more on the same flights and dates. | Call Alaska Airlines Groups or send the Group Travel request form. | alaskaair.com |
| Hawaiian Airlines | Handled on the shared Alaska and Hawaiian group travel page: Hawaiian Airlines Groups takes requests within 30 days of travel by phone; all other requests go through the Group Travel request form. | Groups of 10 or more. | Call Hawaiian Airlines Groups for travel inside 30 days; otherwise submit the form. | alaskaair.com |
| Spirit Airlines | Not available. Spirit began an orderly wind-down of operations on May 2, 2026 and cancelled all flights. | n/a | Book another carrier. | spiritrestructuring.com |
| Frontier Airlines | Group program for 10 or more on the same itinerary: everyone pays the same fare on nonstop or direct routes only (no connections); bookings include pre-assigned seats and a choice of carry-on, checked bag or both. The group leader checks the group in at the counter at least three hours before departure. A group that drops below 10 must cancel. | Groups of 10 or more on one itinerary. | Submit the online group quote form; a group travel expert contacts you. | flyfrontier.com |
| Allegiant Air | Group rates for 10 or more passengers on regularly scheduled routes, arranged by email with the group bookings team; the website accepts up to nine passengers per itinerary. Charters available for larger groups. | Groups of 10 or more. | Email Allegiant's group bookings team. | allegiantair.com |
| Air Canada | Group Travel for 10 or more passengers to the same destination on the same date and flight. Deferred payment: secure the reservation with a deposit and settle the balance closer to departure; names can be changed at no charge before tickets are issued. Urgent requests answered within one hour in business hours. | Groups of 10 or more. | Through your travel agent (Air Canada's G-Cubed tool) or the online group request form. | aircanada.com |
| British Airways | Groups are 10 or more in economy, or 7 or more in premium economy or business. Dedicated team, special group fares, a small deposit per passenger, and free name changes before tickets are issued. (BA's page returned a high-demand notice when we checked; details are from BA's group travel pages.) | 10 or more in economy; 7 or more in premium cabins. | Submit the BA group travel request or book through a travel agent. | britishairways.com |
| Lufthansa | Group travel for 10 or more with a personalized offer. Lufthansa notes that group pricing is calculated on capacity, independently of the lowest online price, and may be higher than a single seat sold online. | Groups of 10 or more. | Submit the Lufthansa group request form. | lufthansa.com |
| Emirates | Group booking for 10 or more travelling together on the same flight and itinerary in any cabin. Group seating requests at least 7 days before departure, personalized menus and headrest covers 15 days, special language requirements 30 days. | Groups of 10 or more on one itinerary. | Through your local Emirates office or a travel agent; Emirates also publishes a group booking form. | emirates.com |
Group fares are quoted, not published, and can be higher than a public sale fare for the same seats; compare both before you sign.
How it works
- Request a quote 3 to 11 months out. American blocks space up to 11 months ahead; Delta opens group bookings 240 or 331 days out. Quotes usually arrive within two business days.
- Pay the deposit to hold seats. None at Alaska; $50 or $150 per seat at JetBlue; per contract at Delta; a small per-passenger deposit at Air Canada and BA. Deposits are credited to the final payment.
- Submit names by the deadline. JetBlue wants every name 30 days out; Alaska allows changes until three days out; Air Canada and BA until ticketing.
- Ticket and check in as a group. Frontier requires the leader to check in the whole group at the counter three hours before departure; Emirates wants seating requests a week ahead.
What documents you need
- A passenger manifest with full legal names, dates of birth and genders exactly as on each ID, submitted by the airline's name deadline.
- A signed group contract (Delta, JetBlue and most desks) stating the deposit, ticketing deadline, utilization minimum and cancellation fee per seat.
- One payment method for the deposit and balance, or the airline's individual-payment link where offered.
- Passports and visas for every traveler on international trips, checked against the manifest before ticketing.
- Special requests in writing: wheelchairs, meals, seating blocks, unaccompanied minors or a tour conductor seat.
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