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U.S. airlines waive fees ahead of Tropical Storm Grace

Many are also starting to put waivers in place for Tropical Storm Fred

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Photo (c) ekapol - Getty Images
With Tropical Storm Grace streaking across the Caribbean and calculating its next move, possibly into southern Texas, U.S.-based airlines are offering travel waivers to any passenger affected by the storm. 

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines have all detailed travel policies for passengers needing to rebook flights due to the storm. Here are specific details for each carrier:

American Airlines

Passengers who are traveling to, through, or from the following cities are eligible for a waiver:

  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida

  • Fort Myers, Florida 

  • George Town, Bahamas 

  • Key West, Florida 

  • Miami, Florida 

  • Nassau, Bahamas 

  • Orlando, Florida 

  • Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands 

  • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 

  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic 

  • San Juan, Puerto Rico 

  • Santiago, Dominican Republic 

  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

  • West Palm Beach, Florida 

American’s change fee waiver has several caveats. The requirements apply to you if:

  • You are traveling on an American Airlines flight

  • You are booked in any fare class, including Basic Economy

  • You bought your ticket by August 15, 2021

  • You are scheduled to travel August 15 - 19, 2021

  • You can travel August 15 - 25, 2021

  • You don't change your origin or destination city

  • You rebook in the same cabin or pay the difference

American notes that all changes must be booked by Thursday, August 19, 2021, and completed within one year of the original ticket date. The airline said a difference in the price of the fare may apply.

JetBlue

If you're traveling to, through, or from the following cities on Monday, August 16, 2021, JetBlue is waiving all change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers:

  • Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 

  • Ponce, Puerto Rico 

  • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • Santiago, Dominican Republic

  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

JetBlue also has some caveats regarding the waiver. Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Thursday, August 19, 2021, online in the Manage Flights section of jetblue.com or by calling 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) 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. The original travel must have been booked on or before Saturday, August 14, 2021.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest is waiving all change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers traveling Monday, August 16, 2021, to or from the following cities:

  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The waivers are good for any flight through Monday, August 16, 2021. Monday, August 30, 2021, is the last day on which tickets must be reissued and rebooked travel must begin.

United Airlines

Passengers who are traveling to, through, or from the following cities are eligible for a waiver:

  • Aguadilla, Puerto Rico 

  • Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 

  • Ft. Myers, Florida 

  • Key West, Florida 

  • Miami, Florida 

  • Nassau, Bahamas 

  • Orlando, Florida 

  • Providenciales, Turks and Caicos

  • Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic 

  • Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

  • San Juan, Puerto Rico

  • Santiago, Dominican Republic 

  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 

  • St. Maarten 

  • St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

  • West Palm Beach, Florida 

United’s change fee waiver also has several caveats. For example, the original ticket must have been purchased by August 13, 2021, with an original travel date from August 15, 2021 – August 19, 2021.

The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing on or before August 25, 2021, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed. 

What about Fred?

Many U.S. airlines are also adding waivers for Tropical Storm Fred. If you have a flight booked to any area that might be affected by Fred, the following links should provide you with pertinent information regarding the waivers for certain airlines:

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