CHECK FIRST Airlines plan for Matthew

Posted on 10/05/2016 | About United States

Airlines are cancelling some flights to the Caribbean and the US south east coast as Hurricane Matthew is expected to spin toward Florida later this week.

Canada
As a result of Hurricane Matthew approaching Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Bahamas, Air Canada has implemented a policy for customers who purchased tickets and whose itinerary includes a flight to, from or via several airports in the Caribbean and the east coast of Florida.
Passengers can change their flight, free of charge, to another date between now and the date indicated subject to availability in the cabin they originally purchased. Otherwise, any fare difference will apply. Check the details.
WestJet is advising passengers on flights to the Caribbean, the east of Florida and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to check the status of their flights and permitting alternate flight arrangements without penalty (based on availability). Check the details.
United States
Many US airlines are letting passengers change travel plans without penalty if their trip might be affected by the hurricane, which pounded Haiti on Tuesday and caused flooding that was blamed for several deaths.
By late Tuesday, American Airlines had cancelled about 120 flights through Saturday, a spokesman said. Nearly half were departures from Miami, mostly to Caribbean destinations.
Delta Air Lines planned to check the latest storm-tracking models on Wednesday before deciding whether to scrap any Florida flights, according to an airline spokesman.
American said it would waive change fees on trips scheduled Thursday or Friday to or from eight cities in Florida. The airline had already offered waivers on trips scheduled through Thursday in several Caribbean nations including Cuba.
United Airlines said it would waive change fees and any difference in fare for customers scheduled to fly Wednesday through Friday to, from or through five airports in Florida.
Delta waived change fees on trips through Wednesday in the Caribbean and through Thursday at eight Florida destinations, although differences in the fare would still apply.
JetBlue Airways said passengers flying Thursday through Sunday to or from eight cities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina can change planes without a fee or additional fare. A similar offer covers Caribbean travel through Thursday.
Spirit Airlines said it would waive the change fee and fare difference on Florida trips Thursday and Friday.
The offers come with conditions that vary by airlines. Customers usually have just a few extra days to complete their rescheduled trip.
The fee to change a nonrefundable ticket on United, American and Delta is typically $200 for domestic flights and usually more for international trips.
Travellers whose flights are cancelled can get a refund.
US cities covered by waiver offers:
American - Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key West, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, West Palm Beach in Florida.
United - Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, West Palm Beach.
Delta - Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Key West, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, West Palm Beach.
JetBlue - Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, West Palm Beach; also Savannah-Hilton Head, Georgia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina.
Spirit - Fort Lauderdale, Orlando.