Airlines Offering Waivers Because of Hurricane Earl
At least five big U.S airlines have waived change fees for customers flying into the path of Hurricane Earl, which threatens to disrupt flight schedules just as the Labor Day holiday weekend begins. Continental, Delta, US Airways, AirTran and Frontier are among the carriers that have instituted special policies to allow customers to make hurricane-related changes to their itineraries. List of airlines below:
CONTINENTAL AIRWAYS
Continental includes more than a dozen mainland U.S. airports on its waiver list, but the airline's biggest impact is likely to come at its Newark hub -- already considered to be a delay prone airport in less-than-optimal weather. The other airports currently included in Continental's waiver are Asheville, N.C.; Boston; Charlotte; Greensboro, N.C.; New York JFK; New York LaGuardia; Norfolk, Va.; Philadelphia; Providence; Raleigh/Durham; and Richmond, Va.
AIRTRAN AIRWAYS
AirTran's waiver covers travelers flying through Sept. 4 on flights to, from or through the following U.S. cities: Asheville, N.C.; Baltimore; Boston; New York LaGuardia; Newport News; Philadelphia; Raleigh/Durham; Richmond; San Juan; Washington Dulles and Washington Reagan National.
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Customers flying American also have options if they're headed to areas near the path of the storm. That carrier offers a more general "hurricane protection policy." On its website, American says it applies to customers "ticketed for travel within the area and dates of a hurricane watch issued by the United States National Hurricane Center."
DELTA AIR LINES
Delta is allowing customers traveling between Sept. 1 Sept. 11 to make a change if they're traveling to, from or through the following airports: Baltimore; Bangor, Maine; Boston; Charlottesville, Va.; Hartford, Ct.; Jacksonville, N.C.; Manchester, N.H.; Nantucket, Mass. ;Newark; New Bern, N.C.; Newburgh, N.Y.; Newport News, Va.; New York JFK/LGA; Norfolk, Va.; Philadelphia; Portland, Maine; Providence; Richmond, Va.; Washington Dulles/National; White Plains, N.Y.; and Wilmington, N.C.
FRONTIER AIRLINES
Frontier's waiver currently covers fliers transiting airports in Raleigh/Durham and Newport News, though it warns conditions could be dicey in the Northeast as the storm heads north.
US AIRWAYS
US Airways policy covers passengers scheduled to fly to affected airports on Wednesday or Thursday. US Airways will allow one itinerary change without penalty for customers with travel to, from or through those cities. The cities covered by US Airways currently include: Jacksonville, N.C.; New Bern, N.C.; Newport News, Va.; Norfolk, Va.; Salisbury, Md.; and Wilmington, N.C.
