Yahoo Finance Airlines waiving change fees for travel to Florida and Hawaii as storms approach
Today, thousands of travelers who made Labor Day weekend plans are scrambling to rebook trips, as Tropical Storm Hermine makes its way to Florida and other states on the Southeast coast. The storm is expected to become a Category 1 hurricane by the time it reaches land on Thursday night. Out in the Pacific, Hawaii is currently battling Tropical Storm Madeline, and Hurricane Lester is expected to hit the chain of islands over the weekend. All of this goes to show – once again – that no matter how much time you spend planning the perfect vacation, there’s one thing you can never control: the weather.
Several airlines are stepping up to assist frustrated travelers in salvaging what they can of their trips.
Here is a list of airlines waiving fees to change, rebook, or cancel flights due to the weather.
Alaska Airlines (ALK)
Due to Hurricane Madeline, the airline is offering a waiver if you’re traveling in or out of Kona International Airport (KOA)in Hawaii and want to postpone or cancel your travel plans. Tickets must have been purchased before Aug. 30, 2016, and original travel dates must be between Aug. 30 and Sept. 1.
Alaska Airlines will waive the change fee and the difference in the price of the ticket if the new travel is booked to, from or through the affected cities. The new flight must be in the same cabin as the original ticket and travel must occur on or before Sept. 10.
More details here.
American Airlines (AAL)
American Airlines will waive the change fee for passengers affected by both storms if you purchased your original ticket by Aug. 30, 2016.
To get a waiver for travel in the Southeast, you must be scheduled to travel on Sept. 3-4 to/from/through the following airports: Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Fla.(VPS); Gainesville, Fla. (GNV); Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX); Pensacola, Fla. (PNS); Sarasota, Fla. (SRQ); Tallahassee, Fla. (TLH); Tampa, Fla. (TPA); Savannah, Ga. (SAV); Fayetteville, NC (FAY); Wilmington, NC (ILM); Charleston, SC (CHS); Florence, SC (FLO); Columbia, SC (CAE); Hilton Head Island, SC (HHH); Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR).
To receive a waiver for travel to the Hawaiian islands, you must be scheduled to travel Aug. 31- Sept. 1 to/from/through the following airports: Hilo, Hawaii (ITO); Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL); Kahului, Maui, Hawaii (OGG); Kona, Hawaii (KOA); Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii (LIH).
More details here.
Delta Air Lines (DAL)
Due to the tropical depression approaching Southeastern US, Delta is waiving the fee to rebook, reschedule or cancel flights. Impacted travel dates are Sept. 1-2, 2016, and rebooked travel must occur no later than Sept. 6. When rescheduled travel occurs beyond Sept. 6, 2016, the change fee will be waived. However, a difference in fare may apply.
Affected cities include: Brunswick, Ga. (BQK); Charleston, SC (CHS); Destin Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (VPS); Gainesville, Fla. (GNV); Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX); Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR); Panama City, Fla. (ECP); Pensacola, Fla. (PNS); Sarasota, Fla. (SRQ); Savannah, Ga. (SAV); Tallahassee, Fla. (TLH); Tampa, Fla. (TPA); Valdosta, Ga. (VLD); Wilmington, NC (ILM)
If you want to cancel you itinerary due to a flight cancellation, you are entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your ticket.
Hurricane Madeline is expected to impact travel to and from parts of Hawaii. Passengers scheduled to fly to/from/through Kahului, Hawaii (OGG) or Kona (KOA) from Aug.31 – Sept. 1 can rebook their itinerary with no penalties if the ticket is reissued on or before Sept. 6. When rescheduled travel occurs beyond Sept. 6, 2016, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply.
More details here.
JetBlue (JBLU)
JetBlue will waive the ticket change fee and fare difference for passengers flying through the Southeastern US on Sept. 1-3, 2016. Original travel must have been booked on or before Aug. 30.
Fees will be waived for passengers traveling to/from/through: Charleston, SC (CHS)
Daytona Beach, Fla. (DAB); Fort Myers, Fla. (RSW); Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX); Orlando, Fla. (MCO); Sarasota, Fla. (SRQ); Savannah/Hilton Head, Ga. (SAV); Tampa, Fla. (TPA).
Customers may rebook their flights for travel until Sept. 9, 2016. If your flight was canceled, you can opt for a refund.
More details here.
Southwest Airlines (LUV)
Customers who are concerned about Tropical Storm Hermine are eligible to reschedule their flights as long as the changes fit in Southwest’s standard accommodation procedures. Southwest, which never charges fees to change flights, will allow customers ticketed between Aug. 31 and Sept. 3 to reschedule their flights within two weeks of the original travel date without paying a difference in fare.
Cities where travel might be affected include: Charleston (CHS), Ft. Myers (RSW), Jacksonville (JAX), Orlando (MCO), Panama City Beach (ECP) and Tampa (TPA).
More details here.
Spirit Airlines (SAVE)
If you’re planning to fly Sept. 1 and need to change your travel plans, Spirit will waive the change fee and the fare difference. The only airport affected is Tampa, Fla. (TPA), and customers can modify their reservations through Sept. 7. After that date, the modification charge will be waived, but the fare difference may apply.
More details here.
United Airlines (UAL)
It’s a crazy travel week for weather, and United is prepared to assist passengers flying to all of the areas affected by tropical storms or hurricanes.
The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for customers traveling Sept.1-3 through the following airports: Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC; Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Fayetteville, NC; Jacksonville, Fla.; Myrtle Beach, SC; Panama City, Fla.; Pensacola, Fla.; Savannah, Ga.; and Tampa, Fla.
United is also offering waivers for those traveling to destinations in the path of Hurricane Madeline. If your original travel date was Aug. 31- Sept. 1, United will waive the change fee and any difference in fare for new flights departing on or before Sept. 6. Affected Hawaiian airports include Hilo (ITO), Kahului (OGG) and Kona (KOA).
The airline is also waiving fees for customers traveling to Hawaii on Sept. 3 – 4, whose flights may be affected by Hurricane Lester.
More details here.
Virgin America (VA)
Both Hurricanes Madeline and Lester are forecast to impact the Hawaii area, so Virgin America has issued a travel advisory for the state.
People with flights to or from Maui on Aug. 31–Sept. 1 are allowed to change their travel dates by Sept. 3 without paying a change fee or the difference in fare. Guests can switch to available flights from Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, 2016. Passengers who wish to cancel their itineraries can do so without paying a cancellation fee.
More details here.
Brittany is a writer at Yahoo Finance.
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