What is a no-show fee?

Change, refund and award-ticket rules

A no-show fee is a charge that can apply when a booked passenger does not travel on the booked flight.

The China Southern online ticket ordering page is an online booking and trip-management entry point. It lists a Change/Refund entry alongside booking, flight status and the trip-management login. [6] It also says the itinerary login can handle seat reservation, online check-in, pre-paid luggage and meal reservation. [6]

The airline's frequent flyer programme sets out award redemption standards. For award tickets on flights whose flight code and actual carrier are China Eastern (including MU and FM), with the whole ticket on direct flights, the page states that after redemption the award ticket cannot afterwards be upgraded with cash or points. [7] It also covers partner-operated award flights and says partner award seats depend on availability. [7]

How is a no-show fee different from a cancellation fee?

A no-show fee concerns not travelling on a booked flight. A cancellation fee concerns cancelling a booking before travel.

A no-show fee and a cancellation fee are separate labels: one concerns not travelling on the booked flight; the other concerns cancelling before travel.

Where do you find change and refund handling for a ticket?

The China Southern online booking service lists a Change/Refund entry. [6] It also provides a trip-management login for existing itineraries, with seat reservation, online check-in, prepaid baggage and meal requests. [6]

For an award ticket, the airline's frequent flyer programme page sets out redemption tables and conditions for China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines (MU/FM) flights and for partner-operated flights. [7]

The fare rule entry is separate.

What award-ticket conditions does the frequent flyer programme state?

The airline's frequent flyer programme sets out award redemption standards for flights marketed and operated by China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines (MU, FM), with the whole ticket on direct flights. [7] For those award tickets, the page states that after redemption the ticket cannot afterwards be upgraded with cash or points. [7] For partner-operated award flights, partner award seats depend on availability. [7]

The same page says that some airlines apply restricted dates to award tickets, and directs readers to the rule details and product instructions for the product being redeemed. [7]

What exceptions and limits should you check?

• China Southern Change/Refund entry. The online ticket ordering system lists a Change/Refund entry. [6]
• China Southern trip management. The itinerary login can process or inquire about seat reservation, online check-in, pre-paid luggage, meals reservation and other itinerary services. [6]
• MU/FM award tickets through the airline's frequent flyer programme. Award tickets must be on flights whose flight code and actual carrier are China Eastern (including MU, FM), with the whole ticket on direct flights; after redemption the ticket cannot afterwards be upgraded with cash or points. [7]
• Partner awards through the airline's frequent flyer programme. Partner award seats are subject to availability; some airlines apply restricted dates; details are in the rule details and product instructions. [7]
• Japan Airlines awards through the airline's frequent flyer programme. All flights on the award ticket must be operated solely by Japan Airlines; only round-trip awards are available, not one-way. [7]
• Round-trip pricing through the airline's frequent flyer programme. Round-trip redemption standards are double the one-way standard; when outbound and return are in different cabins, add the one-way points for each cabin. [7]

Check the rule details or product instructions for the specific product being redeemed. [7]

Frequently asked questions

What does the China Southern page list for changes and refunds?

It lists a Change/Refund entry inside the online ticket ordering system. [6]

What trip-management services does China Southern list?

The itinerary login can process or inquire about seat reservation, online check-in, pre-paid luggage, meals reservation and other itinerary services. [6]

What does the frequent flyer programme say about upgrades after award redemption?

For award tickets on China Eastern/Shanghai Airlines (MU/FM) flights, after redemption the ticket cannot afterwards be upgraded with cash or points. [7]

What conditions apply to partner awards in the airline's frequent flyer programme?

Partner award seats are subject to availability; some airlines apply restricted dates to award tickets; details are in the rule details and product instructions. [7]

What Japan Airlines rule does the frequent flyer programme state?

All flights on the award ticket must be operated solely by Japan Airlines; only round-trip awards are available, not one-way. [7]

Related pages

Read next: fare rule, award redemption fee, award ticket change checklist, missed-connection action plan, and, for tickets issued in the United States, the US flight cancellation and refund guide. Browse the full glossary of frequent flyer terms.

Sources

China Southern source checked 18 October 2026; China Eastern's frequent flyer programme source checked 12 October 2026. Carrier examples: China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

1. China Southern Airlines online ticket ordering and trip management service, checked 18 October 2026
2. China Eastern Airlines frequent flyer programme award ticket redemption rules, checked 12 October 2026