How To Avoid A Flight Cancellation Ahead Of The Storm This Holiday
An immense winter storm is expected to pummel most of the nation just before Christmas Eve. As such, airlines are trying to get ahead of the mass number of flight cancellations that are sure to occur as a consequence of the impending storm. NPR reported that American Airlines, Jet Blue, Delta Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and Alaska Airlines are all collectively trying to ease flight cancellations and travel concerns for those whose trips will likely be impacted in the coming days.
American Airlines is allowing customers to rebook their tips to avoid flight cancellations free-of-charge up until December 23rd. This offer is valid at 60 different airports across the nation located in both the Northeast and Midwest. The only stipulation is that rebooked flights must be to and from the exact same departing and arrival destinations as the original booking.
Similarly, JetBlue is trying to ease flight cancellation concerns for its travelers. JetBlue is waving flight change fees for those flying out of or to New York, Baltimore, or Cleveland. Those who were initially scheduled to fly out from one of these cities on December 19th can change their flight to one departing anytime between December 20th and 25th.
Delta Airlines’s flight cancellation aversion plan extends to a wider breadth of travelers. Those scheduled to fly via Delta in the Midwest, Northeast, or Pacific Northwest all have the option to revise their initial bookings. In the Midwest, those with departing flights scheduled for December 21st that were booked prior to December 20th can reschedule for a day between December 22nd and 28th.
Those flying with Delta in the Northeast that booked flights prior to December 20th can rebook for any day between December 24th and December 27th. Lastly, those in the Pacific Northwest flying in or out of Portland, Oregon, or Vancouver, Canada whose flights were booked prior to December 18th can reschedule a flight up until December 26th.
Spirit and Southwest Airlines have less complex flight cancellation aversion strategies. Those flying Spirit in the Northeast between December 22nd and 24th or Midwest between December 21st and 23rd can rebook their flights for any time before and up until December 28th. Southwest travelers scheduled to fly between December 20th and December 24th can rebook their flights for free up to 14 days after their original booking.
Those looking to avoid a flight cancellation with United Airlines need not worry, either. Midwest travelers who booked before December 17th and are scheduled to fly between December 21st and Christmas Day can rebook for any day up until December 30th. If you are flying to or from Texas or the Pacific Northwest travelers who booked before December 18th can rebook for any day through December 27th.
Alaska Airlines’ strategy is perhaps the least forgiving. The airline is urging travelers to arrive at airports early in case a flight cancellation occurs. When one does inevitably occur the airline will honor rebooked flights up until December 27th and will make non-refundable flights eligible for an account credit.
