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U.S. airlines offer increased flexibility for travelers during Hurricane Ian
September 28, 2022
As Ian barrels down on Florida bringing tornado-force winds, torrential rainfall and damaging storm surge, U.S. airlines have been actively relocating aircraft and proactively pulling down flights to prioritize the safety of all passengers and crew. To maintain the highest level of safety, the FAA closes air traffic facilities and airport authorities close airports – including airfields and airport facilities – when they are forecasted to be impacted by the hurricane. Airports across Florida, including Tampa International Airport (TPA), Orlando International Airport (MCO), Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE), Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ), and Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) got ahead of the storm and instituted closures.
Safety is always the top priority of the U.S. airline industry, and carriers will continue to work closely with the FAA and all stakeholders to assess operating conditions in live time.
A4A member airlines are offering increased flexibility for travelers whose air travel plans are impacted by the hurricane. Many A4A passenger carriers have issued travel waivers allowing customers who have impacted flights increased flexibility, and they continue to evaluate these policies as the situation evolves.
Here are some of the many ways airlines are working with passengers affected by Hurricane Ian:
Alaska Airlines
Alaska has issued a travel advisory for customers traveling to/from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando for tickets purchased on or before September 25, for passengers originally planning to fly from September 25 – 30.
Learn more on Alaska’s travel advisory page.
American
American has issued a travel alert for 20 airports in the western Caribbean and Florida, allowing customers whose travel plans are affected by Hurricane Ian to rebook without change fees.
In order to assist customers who have chosen to evacuate via air, American added reduced, last-minute fares for cities that will be impacted by Hurricane Ian. American is also waiving checked bag fees for up to two checked bags to/from certain affected airports, lifting limits on the number of carry-on pets allowed in the cabin to/from all affected airports and waiving fees for carry-on pets to/from all affected airports.
If a customer chooses not to fly to/from an airport covered by the current waiver, American will waive change fees for future travel.
If an American flight has been canceled or excessively delayed, customers may cancel their itinerary and request a refund by visiting American’s website.
Learn more on American’s travel alert page.
Delta Air Lines
Delta has issued travel waivers for those who may be impacted by Hurricane Ian at Florida airports, in addition to some airports in Georgia and South Carolina effective September 25-30, 2022.
With this, the fare difference for customers will be waived when rebooked travel occurs on or before Oct. 3, 2022, in the same cabin of service as originally booked.
Learn more on Delta’s Hurricane Ian page.
JetBlue
JetBlue will waive change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers traveling Monday, September 26, 2022, through Friday, September 30, 2022, to and from many Florida airports. Customers may rebook their flights for travel Monday, September 26, 2022 through Thursday, October 6, 2022 online in the Manage Flights section of jetblue.com prior to the departure time of their originally scheduled flight.
Learn more on JetBlue’s travel alert page.
Southwest
In order to provide our customers with maximum flexibility, customers scheduled to travel to/from any of Southwest’s Florida cities during this time period may also change their departure/origin to any of our other Florida destinations, without paying any additional charge.
Learn more on Southwest’s Hurricane Ian travel advisory page.
United
For United passengers originally planning to fly to or from many Florida airports between September 23 – 30, the change fee and difference in fare will be waived for future flights, as long as travel is scheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and is between the same originally-booked cities.
Learn more on United’s travel notice page.
Travelers should check individual airline websites linked above for more details on carriers’ travel waivers and how to redeem them for future travel as they continue to update travel throughout the storm’s progression.
*Last updated September 28 at 10:30 a.m. ET.