Updated: February 7, 2013
Another winter storm – named Nemo – is on the way and airlines are getting ready for it by issuing weather-related fee waivers and encouraging travelers to change their flight dates, postpone travel or re-route their trips to and from a long list of cities in the northeast.
Here’s are links to most of the airline waiver policies:
Here are the links to some of the airlines offering waivers on re-booking fees for January 28th flights due to the storm in the northeast.
Most waivers are for the New York area airports, JFK, EWR, LGA, HPN, and mirror American Airlines’ policy, which was not yet posted on the website when started this list.
American Airlines (American Eagle or AmericanConnection) flights on Jan. 28 to, from, or through the cities listed below may change flights without penalty, have the ticket-reissue charge waived for one ticket change, and begin travel as late as Jan. 30 under American’s current travel waiver.
• New York Kennedy (JFK)
• New York LaGuardia (LGA)
• Newark, N.J. (EWR)
• White Plains, N.Y. (HPN)
Updates and more listings to come.
Supper storm Sandy really messed up air travel last week and now a Nor’easter is doing it again.
On Tuesday, many airlines began proactively canceling flights and posting travel waivers for much of the east coast. Late Tuesday night Flightstats.com was listing more than 680 cancelled flights for Wednesday.
Here’s a short list of links to the airline travel waivers and cancellation notices. Some airlines still have travel waivers for Sandy in effect.
“Due to severe weather projected for the Northeast this week, American Airlines and American Eagle are suspending operations on Nov. 7, in Philadelphia (PHL) at noon and at all New York-area airports by 3 p.m.
Operations at these airports are expected to start up again the morning of Thursday, Nov. 8. American and American Eagle have canceled approximately 290 flights to, from and through these airports on Nov. 7 and 8. Additional delays and cancellations may occur as American resumes operations in New York and Philadelphia.”
Delta Air Lines Travel to/from at least twenty cities included.
Frontier Airlines Guidelines for travel to/from New York-LaGuardia (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), and Allentown (ABE).
Jet Blue New travels alerts posted for travel to/from nine cities.
“Southwest Airlines is offering flexible accommodations for Customers traveling to/from Hartford (BDL), Newark (EWR), New York LaGuardia (LGA), Long Island (ISP), and Philadelphia (PHL), on Wednesday, 11/7 and Thursday, 11/8. ”
United Airlines Travel guidelines listed for eight cities.
Cities Affected: New Haven, CT ; Newark, NJ ; Islip, NY ; New York, NY (Laguardia) ; New York, NY (JFK) ; Newburgh, NY ; White Plains, NY
Date Range: 11/2/2012 1:00 PM ET through 11/8/2012 11:59 PM ET
If you get stuck at an airport, these airport guides I maintain for USA TODAY may help.
LaGuardia Airport during the storm. Courtesy Port Authority New York & New Jersey
A lot of people need – and will continue to need – help recovering from Superstorm Sandy and several airlines are offering incentives for their customers to make cash donations to the Red Cross and other relief organizations.
Here are a few options:
JetBlue is matching up to $50,000 in customer donations to the Red Cross and will give 6 TrueBlue points for every dollar you donate through 11/30/12.
On Thursday, the United Airlines Foundation announced that it upped from $50,000 to $100,000 the amount of donations it will match to the American Red Cross, AmeriCares and Feeding America. MileagePlus members who give a minimum of $50 will receive 250 bonus miles, and those who contribute $100 or more will receive 500 bonus miles. Find details here.
American Airlines is encouraging people to donate to the Red Cross as well. Through November 30, 2012, AAdvantage members can earn a one-time award of 250 AAdvantage bonus miles for a minimum $50 donation, or 500 AAdvantage bonus miles for a donation of $100. Details here.
The Delta Air Lines Foundation has given $100,000 to the Red Cross for storm relief and is encouraging customers to donate Sky Miles to the Red Cross for storm relief.
This page on the Red Cross website lists ways you can donate miles from Delta, United and US Airways and this page on the Red Cross website lists ways you can donate credit card rewards and hotel points from Choice Hotels, Hilton, Marriott and Starwood properties.
Hilton HHonors has partnered with GlobalGiving and from now until December 31, 2012 will give you 10 HHonors Bonus Points for every $1 USD donated to support the relief efforts. Hilton is also matching all donations up to $100,000. Donate here.
Starwood has announced that it will match donations of at least 2,000 Starpoints made by members of the Starwood Preferred Guests program to the American Red Cross through November 30, 2012. (2,0000 Starpoints equals a $25 donation.) Donate here.
Know of another airline, hotel, car rental or travel-related organization offering matches or bonuses to those who help out with storm relief? Let me know and I’ll update this list.
The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey tweeted this photo of Teterboro Airport and said while water is receding, “in this photo, you can see debris, and even fish, on the taxiway.”
In the New York area, JFK, Newark-Liberty and LaGuardia airports are all expected to be open on Thursday morning, although on reduced schedules, and passengers “displaced” by Sandy throughout the country – and the world – are slowly making their way to their destinations – or giving up altogether and making plans for another time. Buses in New York seem be running, Northeast train service is still suspended but, according to this Washington Post article, subway service may resume in New York City sometime on Thursday.
Meanwhile, United Airlines and American are offering bonus miles to those who donate to programs raising money to help those in need after the storm.
United Airlines Foundation is matching up to $50,000 of donations by United customers to the American Red Cross, Americares and Feeding America. The airline is also offering MileagePlus bonus award miles for cash donations of at least $50 to these organizations. MileagePlus members who give a minimum of $50 will receive 250 bonus miles; those who contribute $100 or more will receive 500 bonus miles. Find details about United’s Superstorm Sandy Relief efforts here. The airline has put aside 5 million bonus miles for this program.
American Airlines is also offering bonus miles for donations to storm relief efforts.
Through Nov. 30, 2012, AAdvantage members will earn 250 AAdvantage miles for a minimum donation of $50, or 500 AAdvantage miles for a donation of $100 or more to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Find more information here.
Boston Logan International Airport is offering a parking fee rebate for customers delayed returning to Boston Logan as a result of Hurricane Sandy. The rebates will be made for the period of time that exceeds the customer’s original ticketed date of return.
And, whenever there’s a long delay at an airport, it’s always really helpful to have complimentary access to a wireless Internet signal so you can take care of business. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a major airport that still charges for Wi-Fi access, is now moving closer to offering free Wi-Fi access. The day rate to access the Internet at ATL will drop to $4.95 on November 1, 2013 and be eliminated entirely by the fall of 2013.
Dazed and definitely confused – airlines, airports and travelers are trying to pick up where they left off before super-storm Sandy blew through.
Although it will certainly take a while to deal with and accommodate the backlog of passengers whose travel was disrupted by thousands of flights canceled due to the storm, airlines are resuming their flight schedules where possible.
Re-opening the airports in the New York City area will help. The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey plans to re-open John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday morning, October 31 at 7:00 a.m. for limited service. Rail service on AirTrain JFK and AirTrain Newark is suspended until further notice, however, and there’s no word on when LaGuardia and Teterboro airports will reopen.
On the other side of the country, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has a Halloween activity planned for travelers on Wednesday: airport staff and volunteers “dressed in ghoulish outfits” will perform “a spirited and thrilling dance performance” and hand out Halloween treats at 10 a.m. in the ticket lobby of the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT).
Airports closed. Thousands of flights canceled. Homes, businesses, lives and travel plans ruined by the hurricane formerly known as Sandy.
It’s still too much to handle. And it’s having on impact way beyond the areas directly hit by the storm.
Here are some resources that may help:
Airports
The New York City airports (LGA, Newark and JFK) are closed on Tuesday and while many airports on the east coast and elsewhere are technically open, most show pretty much all flights canceled. But if you find yourself stuck at an airport, one of the 50 airport guides I maintain for USA TODAY may be helpful. Here’s a link to those airport guides.
Airlines
USA TODAY has been updating its list of many of the airline weather waiver policies.
If you airline isn’t listed, check their website as well as their Facebook and Twitter feed for the latest details.
Cancellations remain staggering. Take a look at the count on Flightstats
Trains
Amtrak has suspended most service in the Northeast on Tuesday, October 30th.
Hotels
Many hotels are issuing refunds and allowing travelers to change non-refundable reservations. Many hotels are also offering storm-rates to stranded travelers. Hotels near airports may have “distressed traveler” rates available, but be sure to compare those rates to those found on last-minute booking sites.
Figuring out what to do
Travel Guard is offering some free emergency travel and medical assistance services to U.S. and Canadian travelers and their families affected by Hurricane Sandy and storms in the northeastern United States.
Airlines & airports are not fooling around when it comes to Hurricane Sandy.
On Sunday evening, news outlets were reporting that airlines had already canceled close to 7,000 flights throughout the system – not just in the northeast – in anticipation of the storm and encouraging passengers to take advantage of cancellation waiver offers.
Airports are doing their part to reinforce the message. Here’s part of a message that Philadelphia International Airport sent out Sunday evening:
We and the airlines will be monitoring/assessing the situation throughout the day tomorrow to determine when flight activity can resume. We ask individuals not to come to the airport.”
Other airports are sending out similar messages. This one from Nashville International Airport:
“Beginning later this evening, the majority of commercial service flights into and out of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark, N.J., and New York, N.Y., have been cancelled. If you are flying to these cities, please check your flight status.”
Bottom line: stay home, stay away from the airport, stay safe.
As hurricane Sandy makes it way to the U.S. airlines and airports, Amtrak, the New York subway system and highway departments along the projected path of the storm are getting ready.
Pretty much eery airline – including Hawaiian Airlines has offered to waive change fees and fare differences for passengers whose travel plans will be wrecked by the storm. USA TODAY has a good list of most airline weather waivers, but it’s a good bet that those waivers will get extended as the storm progresses, so check your airline’s website or Twitter feed.
Airports are also making preparations. On Friday, they were testing backup generators, clearing storm drains and taking other steps to get ready for the storm at Dulles International and Ronald Reagan Washington National airports. BWI airport officials said they were inspecting airport facilities and vehicles, reviewing emergency procedures and “coordinating preparations with airline and other tenants.”
Airports likely out of the storm’s path are also preparing for storm fallout. Denver International Airport issued a statement saying it was getting for fight backlog problems and notifying area hotels that they’re likely to be seeing stranded passengers.
[Updated Sunday, August 27, 2012]
Weather happens.
(Photo courtesy Keene Public Library, via Flickr)
Here are links to some of the travel alerts and flight change options issued in response to the tropical storm Isaac by airlines as of Sunday morning, August 27th:
While airlines may be canceling flights, airports in Isaac’s path may be open, but under hurricane watch or warning. Before you head to the airport, be sure to check the airport’s website or Twitter feed for updates. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), for example, sent out alerts late Sunday night reminding travelers that the airport is not a hurricane evacuation site.