Weather

Airlines offering waivers to/from Hawaii’s Big Island

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Courtesy USGS

Don’t cancel that Hawaiian vacation just yet.

Although there’s increased volcanic activity and a new flow of lava from the Kīlauea volcano on the island of Hawaii (the Big Island), the Hawaii Tourism Authority website is reassuring visitors that no flights into airports anywhere in Hawai‘i are being affected and that the area where the lava is coming to the surface is very far from resort areas.

For updates, photos and webcam views of the volcano activities, see the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website.

That’s the good news.

The bad news: due to the volcanic activity there is a no-fly zone over Kīlauea volcano and on Friday Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park was closed until further notice because of damage caused by earthquakes and aftershocks in the area.

So helicopter tours and visit to the park are out.

There’s still plenty to do on the Big Island, but some airlines are offering travel waivers for those who don’t want to head that way right now.

For those with tickets issued on or before May 3 and scheduled to travel to/from Hilo (ITO) or Kona (KOA) on  Hawaiian Airlines through May 13, the airline is offering change fee waivers for flights no later than May 20,

United Airlines is offering to waive change fees for those traveling to/from or through the Hilo (ITO) and Kailua-Kona (KOA) airports for those with tickets for travel through May 13 for new flights departing on or before May 16.

Other airlines flying to Hawaii may post waivers later today and this, of course, is a changing situation, so be sure to check your airline’s website and the USGS alerts for current news.

 

Updated list of airline travel alerts

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Winter Storm Grayson, packing snow, wind, flood and blizzard conditions, is descending on the east coast of the United States and wreaking havoc with travel plans in the air and on the ground.

Some airports in the south closed on Wednesday and airlines are proactively canceling flights and offering refunds and change fee waivers to passengers in dozens of cities.

Here’s an updated list of links to airline travel alerts and change fee offers:

Alaska Airlines is offering refunds and waiving change fees on flights booked for January 4 and 5 for travel to or from: Boston (BOS), New York JFK and LGA, Newark (EWR), and Philadelphia. There are also restrictions on unaccompanied minors and pets in the cabin and baggage.

American Airlines has a travel alert for travel on January 4 and 5 to or from about 14 cities in the northeast and for January 3 and 4 for about the same number of cities in the southeast.

Della Air Lines has travel alert info posted for the southeast, mid-Atlantic and northeast regions for a long list of cities. Refunds are offered for canceled flight or those delayed 90 minutes or more and change fees are waived.

Frontier Airlines has a travel alert posted for flights through January 4 to or from: New York LaGuardia (LGA), New York Islip, (ISP), Philadelphia, PA (PHL), Trenton, NJ (TTN) and Providence, RI (PVD)

Hawaiian Airlines has issued a travel alert for flights to/from New York JFK for travel scheduled January 4 and 5.

JetBlue’s  travel alert covers more than a dozen cities in the northeast for travel through January 4.

Southwest Airlines has travel alerts posts for two sets of northeast cities for January 4 and 5.

Spirit Airlines has a travel alert covering flight in the southest and the northeast through January 5

The travel alet for United Airlines covers flight in the southeast, mid-atlantic and northeast.

And here is a link to the travel alert and flight cancelation notice posted for Virgin America.

As always, check with your airline as the time of your flight gets closer. And be safe!!

 

Airlines issue travel alerts for first round of 2018 storms

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Cold weather and winter storms are getting 2018 off to a rocky start for many air passengers in the northeast, mid-Atlantic and southest parts of the country.

As of Tuesday evening, here are some of the domestic airlines that have posted change fee waivers and cancellation policy notices for January 3 and 4.

As of Tuesday evening, Alaska Airlines had an undated travel advisory posted for travel in the northeast.

American Airlines has posted a travel alert for flights to/from and through 14 cities on January 3 and 4. Details here           .

Delta Air Lines has travel advisories relating to winter weather in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. Details here.

Frontier Airlines had no travel alert for winter storms posted as of Tuesday night.

JetBlue’s travel alert is a winter weather fee waiver for flights January 3 to and from Charleston, S.C. and Savannah, GA. So far.

Southwest Airlines has a travel alert for winter weather in the Southeast for flight to/from Charleston, SC and Jacksonville, FL. Details here.

Spirit Airlines has a Southeast Winter Storm alert posted for Jan 3 – 4 affecting Myrtle Beach, SC.

United Airlines has posted travel and change fee waivers for the mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the country for January 3 & 4. See details here.

Virgin Atlantic had not updated its travel alerts as of Tuesday night.

As always, check with your airline as the time of your flight gets closer. And be safe!!

Hurricanes havoc for airports and air travelers

Air Travel, Airports, Weather,

(Photo courtesy Keene Public Library, via Flickr)

Hurricane Irma, and the two hurricanes just behind it, continue to wreak havoc for airports, air travelers and airlines in the Caribbean and – momentarily – in the southeastern United States.

As thousands of flights to and from Florida airports and others in the hurricane’s projected path are being cancelled, some airlines are rushing to add extra flights to get passengers out of Florida and the Caribbean. Many airlines are also bringing in extra supplies for recovery efforts.

Miami International Airport released a statement reminding travelers that the airport is not a designated storm shelter and that the airport’s parking garage is already at capacity.

American Airlines has issued a statement saying it is planning to wind down its operations at Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Myers and West Palm Beach airports on Friday afternoon, with all operations canceled through the weekend. American Airlines’ operations at Orlando International Airport were scheduled to end by 2 p.m. Saturday, with all of its Sunday flights canceled; Orlando International Airport is planning to close for all flights at 5 pm.

In advance of the shutdowns, American added 16 extra flights out of Miami, including 12 from to Dallas/Fort Worth, one to Philadelphia, and three to New York.

Other airports are adding some extra flights as well.

Regarding fares, and the rumors of price gouging, American said it has capped fares at $99 each way for Main Cabin, and $199 for the premium cabin, on direct, single leg flights to/from cities covered under the Travel Alert, which is now in place for more than 40 airports. The carrier said the fares will apply for flights out of the affected area through Sept. 17, and returning to the affected area from Sept. 10-17.

Here are links to domestic airline travel alerts. Many airlines have considerably expanded the dates and the airports included by their advisories and are adjusting them as the storms progress.

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines. More than 40 airports currently covered by the alert.

Delta Air Lines

Frontier Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

JetBlue

Southwest Airlines

Spirit Airlines

United Airlines

Virgin America

Airline travel Alerts for Hurricane Irma

Air Travel, Weather,

 

Move over, Harvey.

Hurricane Irma has just hit Category 5 status and is headed for the Caribbean and, most likely, Florida.

Here are links to posted travel alerts from airlines and their current policies on canceling flights and waiving change fees. Stay safe out there. And if you do have travel planned to the region, keep checking the airline webistes as the travel waivers are likely to expand and be extended as the storm moves along.

American Airlines Travel alert currently covers travel to/from or through 8 airports, including, San Juan, for travel scheduled September 5-8.

Delta Air Lines – Travel alert currently covers travel to/from or through San Juan, PR (SJU), St. Croix, VI (STX), St. Maarten, SX (SXM) and St. Thomas, VI (STT) for travel scheduled September 5-6.

Frontier Airlines has a travel for   San Juan, PR and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ) for travel scheduled through September 8

JetBlue Travel alert for affecting 8 airports, including San Juan, PR is in effect for travel scheduled through September 6.

Spirit Airlines Travel alert currently affecting 6 airport for travel booked through September 8.

Southwest Airlines has issued a travel advisory for flights booked through Sept 8 to/from San Juan, PR and Punta Canta (PUJ)

United Airlines has a travel alert posted for travel through Sept 7 to San Juan, PR and Aguadilla, PR (BQN).

 

Airports closed; more flights nixed, thanks to Tropical Storm Harvey

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Tropical Storm Harvey – Rainfall chart – courtesy NOAA

Check the websites of Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU) Airports and you’ll see this notice, posted at noon local time on Sunday.

UPDATED 8/27/2017 at Noon
Commercial operations have ceased at both IAH and HOU until further notice due to severe weather. No inbound or outbound flights from either airport at this time. For flight details, rescheduling and waivers, please contact your air carrier.

The FAA has posted notices as to when these and other airports in the region, including Corpus Christie International Airport (CRP), are expected to reopen, but it’s a fair bet those deadlines will be extended as rain and flooding associated with, now, Tropical Storm Harvey, batters the region.

FlightAware  (a service that track flights), has tallied thousands of canceled flights into and out of the affected areas and with these airports closed for at least a day and, in some cases, more, it’s clear no one is going to be flying through the region on anything  like a normal schedule anytime soon. Many flights in and out of Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, New Orleans and other airports have been affected too.

Most airlines have posted revised dates for when they will be waiving change fees and offering full refunds for cancellations.

Here are some links updated on Sunday evening that may be helpful if you have a flight.

American Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Frontier Airlines

JetBlue

Spirit Airlines

Southwest Airlines

United Airlines

Virgin America

Of course, international airlines have been cancelling flights to the region as well, so be sure to check with your airline if you have an upcoming flight.

If you’d like to donate some cash to help out with what are going to be expensive and long-lasting storm recovery efforts, both American Airlines and United Airlines (so far) are offering bonus miles for cash donations.

 

Donate (and earn miles) to help Hurricane Harvey victims

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The devastation in Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey is still being tallied, but it is clear many people lost their homes, their business, their livelihoods and, in some cases, their lives.

Donating money to groups such as the Red Cross is a great way to help right now and American Airlines is encouraging you to do so by offering you some bonus miles when you do.

Through September 24, 2017, AAdvantage members can earn 10 miles for every dollar they donate to the Red Cross, with a minimum donation of $25.  Donate here.

United Airlines is also encouraging you to donate to hurricane relief efforts and has set aside 3 million bonus miles and $100,000 to match contributions from Mileage Plus members made to the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Airlink, or Operation USA through this fundraising page.

Donate $50-$99 to earn 250 bonus miles; $100-$249 to earn 500 bonus miles and donate $250 or more to earn 1,000 bonus miles.

 

 

 

Airlines waive change fees for Hurricane Harvey

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Hurricane Harvey is on its way to Texas and airlines have issued travel advisories with notices about waived changed fees, refunds and cancellation notices. Here are some of the posted notices. Be sure to check with your airline for updates as cancellations, especially, are bound to increase as the storm makes it way into the region and affects schedules across the system.

Airports may stay open if even all or most flights are cancelled.

Here’s some information on changes/refund policies as of Friday morning

Alaska Airlines:

For travel August 25 to 27 to or from Austin (AUS), San Antonio (SAT) and Houston (IAH), the airline will waive the change and refund fees and the difference in the price of the ticket if new travel is booked and completed on or before September 3, 2017. Tickets must be exchanged or refunded by Aug. 28.

American Airlines  

The advisory affects travel to or from Austin, Texas (AUS), Beaumont / Port Arthur, Texas (BPT), Brownsville, Texas (BRO), College Station, Texas (CLL), Corpus Christi, Texas (CRP), Houston, Texas, (HOU) Houston, Texas (IAH), Lake Charles, Louisiana (LCH), McAllen / Mission, Texas (MFE), and San Antonio, Texas (SAT)  August 25 t0 27.  New travel is allowed through August 30, 2017.

Delta Air Lines 

Delta Air Lines’ travel advisory affects travel to or from Austin, TX (AUS), Houston, TX – Hobby (HOU), Houston, TX – Intercontinental (IAH) and San Antonio, TX (SAT) for flights scheduled August 26-27. Rebooked travel must begin and be rebooked no later than August 29.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines’ advisory covers travel to or from Austin (AUS), San Antonio (SAT), Houstin (IAH) and New Orleans (MSY) through August 27. New travel must take place by September 18; origin and destination cities may be changed.  More detail here.

JetBlue

JetBlue is waiving change and cancellation fees and fare differences for customers traveling Friday August, 25 through Saturday, August 26, 2017  to or from Austin, TX (AUS), Houston, TX (HOU) and New Orleans, LA (MSY).

Southwest Airline

Cities covered by the Southwest Airlines travel advisory include Austin (AUS)Corpus Christi (CRP), Houston (HOU), Harlingen (HRL), and San Antonio (SAT) for travel scheduled August 24 through 28. Customers may rebook or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel) without paying any additional charge.

United Airlines

United Airlines’ travel advisory covers travel to or from Austin, TX (AUS), Brownsville, TX (BRO),College Station, TX (CLL), Corpus Christi, TX (CRP), Harlingen, TX (HRL),Houston, TX (IAH),McAllen, TX (MFE) and San Antonio, TX (SAT). Change and cancellation fee waivers are offered for travel scheduled August 25 to 27.  New travel must take place on or before August 30, 2017.

 

 

 

 

Flying somewhere? Winter Storm Stella may stop you.

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Spring flowers are showing off their beauty in many parts of the country, but in the Midwest and Northeast United States there’s a blizzard on its way and that means thousands of canceled flights and big hassles for travelers trying to get from here to there.

Your airline may have already preemptively canceled your flight in advance of Winter Storm Stella – or may be about to.

Or your airline may be encouraging you to cancel your plans yourself – with the help of a change fee waiver – and fly another day.

Here are links to the current winter weather alerts from many airlines. In most cases you can make one change to your travel plans without incurring a change fee.

Alaska Airlines

American Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Frontier Airlines

JetBlue

Southwest Airlines

Spirit

United Airlines

Virgin America

As always, it’s a good idea to keep checking with your airline for updates and changes as the storm moves through.  Stay safe.

 

NE storm brings cancellations & flight waivers

Weather

Winter storm Niko may drop a foot of snow – or more – in many parts of the northeast, wreaking havoc for travelers in many parts of the country.

Ahead of the storm, airlines were cancelling flights and issuing change fee waivers for passengers. In many cases, travelers may request refunds for their travel, whether or not a flight has already been cancelled yet or not.

If you have travel booked, be sure to check your airline website for the most up to date policy as the storm moves through.

Here are links to the policies and statements many airlines had posted as of Wednesday evening:

Alaska Airlines is offering change fee waivers for those scheduled to travel Feb 8 to 10 to/from or through Boston, Baltimore (BWI), New York (EWR + JFK), Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. (IAD and DCA). Rebooked travel must be completed by February 17.

Allegiant Air has a travel alert in effect for February 9 for Allentown, PA (ABE), Baltimore (BWI),cBangor, ME (BGR), Harrisburg, PA (MDT), Newark, NJ (EWR), Portsmouth, NH (PSM), Scranton, PA (AVP), Stewart, NY (SWF) and Trenton, NJ (TTN). Allegiant allows changes to other cities served.

American Airlines’ travel waiver affects travel to/from or through more than 30 cities in the northeast U.S. and Canada. Changes fees will be waived if you are scheduled to travel February 9 – 10, 2017 and can travel February 7 – 13, 2017 instead between the originally booked cities in the same cabin

24 airports are currently affected by the NE storm travel alert from Delta Air Lines for travel scheduled Feb 9 and 10. Tickets must be rebooked and begun by Feb 12.

Frontier Airlines change fee waiver currently goes though Feb 9 for NY (LGA), Trenton, NJ (TTN), Washington, D.C. (DCA + IAD) and Philadelphia (PHL). One change is allowed; both origin and destination city may be changed. Travel must be completed by Feb. 28.

Hawaiian Airlines (which was also having an issue with its reservation system on Wednesday evening) has a travel alert posted for passengers flying to or from New York (JFK),  Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Charlotte, NC (CLT), Raleigh Durhah, NC (RDU), Washington, DC (IAD) and Philadelphia (PHL). The travel waiver covers Feb 9. Changes must be rebooked and ticketed for new flights no later than February 9, 2017 for new travel that takes place on/before February 12, 2017.

JetBlue‘s travel change fee waiver policy covers flights scheduled through Feb 10 for flights to/from/through 17 northeast cities. Flights may be rebooked for travel through February 16.

Spirit Airlines‘ travel alert covers passengers with scheduled flights to/from: Atlantic City (ACY), Boston, Newark, New York (LGA) and Philadelphia on February 9.

The winter weather advisory for Southwest Airlines  covers 17 cities – mostly for travel through February 10.

19 cities are currently covered under the United Airlines  travel alert for travel scheduled through Feb 10.

And, Virgin America has an alert for flights to/from Boston (BOS), JFK, EWR, LGA through February 10. Rebooked travel must take place by February 17.