Airlines allow flight-change fee waivers as Hurricane Irene approaches

by Charlie Leocha on August 26, 2011


Airlines are beginning to allow change fee waivers for flights in the path of Hurricane Irene. The Wall Street Journal has issued the first notice of these changes. Check directly with your airlines to see what waivers are available.

Earlier this week, many airlines began waiving change fees for travel to the Caribbean and in the coastal Southeast. On Thursday, carriers extended those waivers to flights to and from Virginia and destinations as far north as Portland, Maine.

Delta Air Lines Inc. said Thursday it would allow one-time changes for passengers with booked flights from Friday to Monday, both to and from New York, Boston, Norfolk, Va., and eight other cities. American Airlines parent AMR Corp. said it would waive ticket-change fees for 14 potentially affected cities and allow flyers to rebook as late as Sept. 4. United Continental Holdings Inc. has wiped away change fees for East Coast travelers with flights starting Friday at a 16 airports.

Check for current airline waivers here:
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Continental Airlines

Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines: Go to their website and download a pdf file of hurricane changes.
United Airlines
USAirways

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  • http://www.mauritiustourtravels.com Jim Ken22

    Yes I read that the change fees typically escalate above $100 a ticket and not all airlines have yet waived such fees for travel as far north as New York and New England, as they review Hurricane Irene’s path. 

  • Carrie Charney

    As I read this, Irene has forced me to endure another 2 days in the rain forests of Panama with toucans in the trees outside my lodge window and the sound of howler monkeys in the distance. (Sigh!) Continental was very accommodating. Just hope I don’t get home to a roofless house…

  • Bodega

    The waivers were available well before this article was posted.  Most travel agencies had the information by midweek or Thursday at the lastest.

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