Airlines Respond to Hurricane Harvey

Image: PHOTO: United flight takes off in the rain. (photo via Flickr/Bill Abbott)
Image: PHOTO: United flight takes off in the rain. (photo via Flickr/Bill Abbott)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:50 AM ET, Fri August 25, 2017

Residents in Texas and Louisiana impacted by Hurricane Harvey are being warned to evacuate the area.

Now a Category 2 storm, Hurricane Harvey is predicted to make landfall late Friday night or early Saturday morning. With it will come up to three feet of rain, 125 mile-per-hour winds and 12-foot storm surges.

As a result of the incoming storm and orders from local governments to evacuate, airlines serving the region are waiving change fees and working with customers to help accommodate the inevitable delays and cancellations.

For those attempting to fly with American Airlines to or from destinations like Austin, College Station, Corpus Christi, Houston, San Antonio and others, change fees will be waived for customers who purchased a ticket before August 23, are scheduled to fly between August 25-27, can travel through August 30 and don't change the destination city.

Travelers who fly with Delta Air Lines will be happy to know that anyone traveling to or from Houston, (both William P. Hobby Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport), is eligible for a full refund if a 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.

[READMORE]READ MORE: Hurricane Harvey Threatens Travel Along Texas Coast[/READMORE]

Southwest Airlines is another major carrier making changes due to Hurricane Harvey. Customers traveling to or from Austin, Corpus Christi, Houston, Harlingen or San Antonio between August 25-27 may rebook in the original class of service within 14 days of their original date of travel for no additional fee.

As for passengers flying with United Airlines, cities impacted by the storm include Austin, Brownsville, College Station, Corpus Christi, Harlingen, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio. Eligible customers can have their change fee and any difference in fare waived for new United flights departing on or before August 30.

Business and leisure travelers using other airlines who could be impacted by the storms should reach out to their customer services departments and ask about the latest on delays, cancellations and waived change fees.


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Donald Wood

Donald Wood

Managing Editor

Donald Wood is TravelPulse’s Managing Editor, bringing nearly 15 years of experience to the desk. He currently lives outside Philadelphia with his wife and two children.

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