Airlines Issue Travel Waivers Ahead of Hurricane Hilary

by Patrick Clarke
Last updated: 9:15 AM ET, Fri August 18, 2023

UPDATE: Saturday, August 19 at 9 a.m. ET

Airlines continue to add to the list of airports where travelers can change their flight without incurring fees due to Hurricane Hilary's potential impact on the southwestern U.S.

Southwest Airlines has issued a travel waiver for the following airports for travel taking place August 20-21.

Burbank, CA - BUR
Las Vegas, NV - LAS
Los Angeles, CA - LAX
Long Beach, CA - LGB
Ontario/LA, CA - ONT
Palm Springs, CA - PSP
San Diego, CA - SAN
Santa Barbara, CA - SBA
Orange County/Santa Ana, CA - SNA

American Airlines and others have issued similar travel alerts.

Airlines are waiving change fees and fare differences for travelers scheduled to fly through Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this weekend as Hurricane Hilary strengthened to Category 4 status Friday.

The travel alerts have been issued for Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) in Baja California Sur.

American Airlines is waiving change fees for customers who purchased their ticket by August 16, 2023, and are scheduled to travel August 19-20, 2023. Changes must be booked by August 20, 2023, and travel must be completed within one year of the original ticket date. American warns that a difference in fare may apply.

"Customers holding reservations to, from, or through the cities listed above [SJD] on Friday, August 18, through Sunday, August 20, and want to alter their travel plans may rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying additional charges," Southwest Airlines confirmed.

United Airlines is also waiving change fees for impacted customers flying into or out of Los Cabos.

"You can reschedule your trip and we’ll waive change fees and fare differences. But, your new flight must be a United flight departing between August 16, 2023, and August 23, 2023," the airline states. "Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked."

JetBlue issued a similar alert. "We are anticipating severe weather in the Los Cabos, Mexico area due to Hurricane Hilary. We will waive change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers traveling Friday, August 18 through Sunday, August 20, 2023, to/from the following city: Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD)."

"Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Tuesday, August 22, 2023, online in the manage trips section of jetblue.com prior to the departure time of their originally scheduled flight. Customers with canceled flights may also opt for a refund to the original form of payment. Original travel must have been booked on or before Thursday, August 17, 2023," the carrier said.

Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines is offering a flexible travel policy for passengers at SJD as well as Loreto International Airport (LTO). "Due to Hurricane Hilary, we are offering a flexible travel policy if you would like to change or cancel your flight to/from Los Cabos (SJD) and Loreto (LTO)," Alaska said.

Travelers are encouraged to check their flight status with their airline before arriving at the airport.

Hilary is expected to weaken over the weekend but could still be a tropical storm when it passes over Southern California and the Southwest U.S., potentially causing extensive flooding in some popular tourist areas such as San Diego and Las Vegas.