by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:33 AM ET, Tue September 5, 2017
Travelers are always aware of the severe impact storms can have during hurricane season, and those thinking about visiting Florida or the Caribbean in the coming days have been warned about the incoming Category 5 Hurricane Irma.
UPDATE: 4:45 p.m. ET 9/7/2017
Airports and airlines in the region are beginning to shut down service, with Key West International Airport being among the first. Airlines, including United, have announced that they will likely be canceling most flights to and from southern Florida from Saturday through Monday, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Several airlines have also announced price caps on flights to avoid price gouging. For Air Canada customers, the airline announced it will operate 24 additional flights to bring customers home early from the Dominican Republic, Florida, Cuba, Antigua and Providenciales.
Officials from Saint Kitts have announced that the island has avoided major devastation from Hurricane Irma and Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is also open and accepting flights.
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UPDATE: 11:15 a.m. ET 9/7/2017
As Hurricane Irma continues toward Florida, airlines in the United States continue to adjust flight schedules, make cancellations and assure passengers that price gouging is not something they are doing.
According to Reuters, American Airlines and other top carriers in the U.S. would begin winding down operations in south Florida Friday to prepare for the incoming storm. Airports in cities such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach will be impacted.
For residents trying to take a flight out of the state before Hurricane Irma makes its expected landfall in the U.S. Sunday, American, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have all announced fare caps on flights out of Florida.
As a result of accusations about price gouging by airlines, Senators Richard Blumenthal and Edward Markey reached out to the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate.
One airport hit particularly hard was Princess Juliana International Airport in Saint Martin. The first footage of the facility following Irma's impact on the island was released Thursday.
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UPDATE: 11:20 a.m. ET 9/6/2017
Airlines and airports in the path of Hurricane Irma have expanded their change-fee waivers, including more and more carriers serving South Florida. The storm is expected to make landfall in the United States this weekend.
Major airlines such as American, Delta, JetBlue, Spirit, Southwest and United are issuing changes to their rebooking policies for several Florida airports, including Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Miami International Airport and more.
Carriers throughout the Caribbean have been offering fee-free changes for days leading up to the storm, but this was the first time mainland airports in the U.S. were impacted by the changes to the re-booking policies as a result of Hurricane Irma.
Officials are advising travelers to call their airlines before heading to the airport and see if the flights to or from impacted destinations have been delayed or canceled.
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Original Text
As the storm continues to strengthen, with winds reaching speeds of 185 miles per hour, airlines in Florida and the Caribbean are keeping a close eye on what the National Hurricane Center says about the powerful hurricane and its trajectory.
For those attempting to fly with American Airlines to or from destinations in the Caribbean, change fees will be waived for customers who purchased a ticket by September 3, are scheduled to fly between September 5-8, can travel through September 12 and don't change the destination city. Impacted destinations include Anguilla, Antigua, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and more.
Travelers visiting cities like San Juan, St. Croix, St. Maarten and St. Thomas will be eligible for a full refund if a Delta Air Lines flight is canceled or delayed for 90 minutes or more. Passengers are also permitted a one-time change without fee even if their flights aren't canceled.
While the storm's path could change drastically in the coming days, Southwest Airlines revealed that its scheduled service on September 5-8 may be disrupted to San Juan and Punta Cana. Change fees will be waived for travelers already scheduled on impacted flights.
Of all the major airlines, United Airlines has only issued travel advisories for two destinations in Puerto Rico, including Aguadilla and San Juan. Change fees and any difference in fare will be waived for new flights departing on or before September 11.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Hurricane Irma a 'Growing Threat'[/READMORE]
Travelers should continue watching the news and checking for updates from the National Hurricane Center as Hurricane Irma's path toward the Caribbean and Florida becomes clearer.
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