Hurricanes Blow Away Change Fees for Airlines

As Hurricanes Iselle and Julio whirl closer toward Hawaii, airlines are bracing for impact. Major domestic carriers, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines are waiving change fees for vacationers with flights scheduled over the next several days.

Hurricane Iselle is expected to make landfall Thursday evening, with the Big Island feeling the effects around 6 p.m. EDT. Iselle’s winds have weakened to 80 miles per hour. On Iselle’s heels is Hurricane Julio, which was upgraded from a tropical storm on Wednesday. Julio is expected to clip the island Sunday night.

Alaska Airlines released a travel advisory for Iselle. For now, the airline plans to continue operating all flights as scheduled, but is giving ticket-holders the option of postponing or canceling their flights. Passengers who purchased tickets for travel to or from four Hawaiian airports on or before August 5, which included the travel dates August 7 or August 8, can modify or cancel their trip without incurring any fees. Affected airlines include Honolulu International Airport (HNL), Kahului Airport (OGG), Lihue Airport (LIH) and Kona International Airport (KOA).

Change fees and any differences in fare will be waived if travelers choose to rebook, but only if the new travel is booked in the same cabin and to the same original destination. New travel must be completed on or before August 19. Those who choose to exchange or cancel their trips must do so by August 12.

The advisory encouraged travelers to check their flight status before departure. If a passenger’s flight is affected by Iselle, they can rebook or request a refund. Alaska offers both Trip and Flight Status Alerts travelers can take advantage of. The airline has not released a travel advisory for Julio.

American Airlines issued a similar travel alert for Hawaii, which affects passengers flying to, through or from Hilo International Airport (ITO), HNL, KOA, LIH and OGG on August 7 or August 8. Travelers who were issued a ticket by August 4 are permitted to rebook one ticket without incurring a reissue charge. New travel must begin by August 12, and no stopovers are permitted. This policy also applies to US Airways ticket-holders. The airline has not released a travel advisory for Julio.

For the latest flight status updates, American Airlines passengers can sign up for the airline’s mobile alerts. US Airways ticket-holders can check their flight status with the same system.

Delta Air Lines has also released a travel advisory for Iselle. Travelers with trips scheduled to, from or through any Hawaiian airport on August 7 and August 8 are permitted to make a one-time change to their ticket without incurring a fee. Tickets must be reissued and used on or before August 11. Rescheduled tickets for any date beyond August 11 will still have their change fees waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Travelers are allowed to cancel their reservation and apply the ticket’s value toward the purchase of a new ticket within one year of its original issue. If a flight is canceled or significantly delayed on the impacted dates, passengers are entitled to a refund.

Delta travelers can sign up for the airline’s notification service to stay up-to-date on flight cancelations, delays and changes. The airline has not released a travel advisory for Julio.

Hawaiian Airlines is also waiving change fees for travel scheduled on August 7 and August 8. Passengers who were issued their original ticket on or before August 4 must rebook and use their new ticket by August 12. Differences in fare will only be waived if the rebooked ticket is of the same class service, from the same origin and to the same destination. Normal refund rules apply, meaning any cancellations for refundable tickets will incur a fee.

Several major hotel chains in Hawaii have also waived cancellation and reservation change fees, including over 20 properties managed by Outrigger. Iselle will be the first hurricane or tropical storm to hit Hawaii since 1992.