Major airlines are providing waivers to allow impacted passengers to reschedule their travel plans without paying additional fees as Tropical Storm Helene approaches the southeast region of the US.

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Photo: NOAA

As Hurricane Helene makes its way across the Caribbean Sea, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis upgraded the state of emergency to cover 61 of its 67 counties on Tuesday afternoon. The storm is forecast to grow to near hurricane status by early Wednesday. According to the National Hurricane Center, it might become a major hurricane when it hits the northern US Gulf Coast on Thursday.

Airline waivers and change policies

American Airlines

American Airlines
has issued a travel alert for 23 airports, including 16 in Florida. The list included both the Tampa and Sarasota/Bradenton airports. Anyone who booked a ticket to or from the impacted airports between September 24 and 27 may change their travel plans free of charge through September 27 and complete by October 4.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines
issued a travel alert for ten Florida airports, including Tampa, Sarasota/Bradenton, and Orlando. Anyone intending to fly via the impacted airports between September 25 and 27 can rebook for free till October 4. Tickets must be reissued at the end of the day on October 4, finished no later than that day, and for the same fare and class. Travelers who cannot fly before then may see pricing changes, but change fees will be waived.

United Airlines

United Airlines
issued a travel notice for eight Florida airports, including Sarasota/Bradenton and Tampa. According to the advisory, anyone who booked a ticket before September 23 for a flight on September 24-27 can rebook without paying a change charge until October 4.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines
travel advice includes eight Florida airports. Anyone booked to travel to or from the impacted airports between September 24 and 27 can rebook their flights for free within two weeks of their original trip date. Passengers may also rebook travel or fly standby for free within 14 days of their original travel dates for flights booked until September 25 to and from Cancun, Mexico (CUN), and Havana, Cuba (HAV).

JetBlue

JetBlue
will waive change fees and fare differences for passengers flying to and from six Florida airports, including Tampa and Sarasota, on September 26-27. Customers can rebook their flights through October 2 or get a full refund to their original form of payment.

Alaska Airlines

Travelers with Alaska Airlines
flights planned to and from the three Florida airports and Cancun, Mexico, between September 25 and September 27 can rebook or cancel for free. Travelers must modify or cancel their flight before it departs. Their new trip date cannot be later than September 30. Passengers who cancel their flights will receive a credit for use on future trips.

Horizon Air Embraer E175 pulling into its gate a Portland International Airport.

Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying

Breeze Airways

Breeze airways
issued a travel alert for four Florida airports, including Tampa and Sarasota. Anyone planning to fly to or from the impacted airports between September 25 and 27 can switch to any available trip within 14 days of the original without paying additional fees. Passengers can also cancel their flight for flight credit.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines
issued an advisory before Helene’s impact, affecting six Florida airports, including Tampa, Sarasota, and Pensacola. Anyone who booked a ticket before September 24 for flights planned between September 26 and 27, can rebook for free, though cost changes may apply. Flights to and from Cancun, Mexico, booked until September 25th are also qualified. If a passenger chooses to cancel their flight, they will get travel credit back, minus any airline or cancellation costs that may apply.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines
issued an alert for four Florida airports, including the international route to and from Cancun, Mexico. Until October 2, anyone planning to fly to or from the impacted airports between September 25 and 27 can rebook for free.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Allegiant Air
has not issued any flight rebooking advisories. The travel alert only states that scheduled flights from three Florida airports may be disrupted.

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