Following the January 2nd attack in New Orleans
, airlines are offering travel waivers for those impacted by disruptions to flights and other forms of travel. Travelers who had plans to attend the later-rescheduled Sugar Bowl or other events in NOLA may be able to reschedule their travel without losing money on airfare, according to statements from various airlines serving the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
A Mass Casualty Event In New Orleans Disrupted Travel (And The Sugar Bowl)
Bourbon Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
On New Year’s Day, a purported terrorist attack took at least 15 lives in New Orleans, when a man drove his truck into crowds on Bourbon Street. The incident led to the closure of the street and the rescheduling of the Sugar Bowl, which was previously slated to take place on New Year’s Day. The Sugar Bowl was later rescheduled to January 2nd.
While travel plans may have been disrupted the day of the attack, airlines are offering waivers for travel scheduled afterward, too. For any travelers who held tickets for flights that were scheduled to take place on or around January 1st, airlines may offer the opportunity to reschedule.
This means that even travelers who missed their flights on January 1st due to airline or airport delays during the attack have the opportunity to reschedule and restart their travel plans.
Delta, American Airlines, And Others Offer Travelers Rescheduling Options And Waivers
Delta Air Lines plane.
Delta reported possible delays or canceled flights involving both arrivals and departures from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) between January 1st and 3rd. Travelers were offered the opportunity to rebook their travel by January 6th, meaning that travelers who have not yet rebooked as of today still have time to do so.
- Rebooked travel with Delta must also begin no later than January 6th.
While this offer is most helpful for travelers who simply missed their flights on January 1st, those who are currently in or heading to New Orleans may take advantage of Delta’s offer. Other airlines offered similar rebooking options, including American Airlines.
A Security Incident release specified that American Airlines travelers could rebook their January 1st-3rd tickets, with new travel dates between January 1st and 6th, for no additional fees.
- Travelers with American Airlines could receive a refund for canceled or delayed flights as per usual policy; new compensation guidelines in 2024 created policies that are friendlier towards travelers.
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While Delta and American Airlines are two of MSY’s biggest players, other airlines also offered rebooking opportunities to customers who were originally scheduled to travel to, from, or through New Orleans in early January.
United Airlines offers rebooking for flights originally booked between January 1st and 5th, while Southwest Airlines is offering waivers for new flights as late as January 17th, according to NBC.
At the time of publication, Southwest’s travel advisory post-attack had been replaced by a travel advisory for Winter Storm Blair. Travelers should contact the airline directly for information on rescheduling flights.
JetBlue and Frontier were both expected to cover flight rebookings up until January 3rd, with travel dates as far out as January 8th.
Winter storms have also disrupted travel plans
While fare differences may apply for travelers, the opportunity to rebook may help preserve travel plans ahead of a busy tourism season in New Orleans. Following the Sugar Bowl, New Orleans will also host Super Bowl LIX in early February, as well as Mardi Gras events in March.
However, travel conditions are not ideal as of Saturday, with Winter Storm Blair impacting travel throughout states such as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and West Virginia, according to The Weather Channel.
As of Saturday, January 4th, local businesses on Bourbon Street were reported to be back open, according to reports by MSNBC. MSNBC also noted that President Biden and first lady Jill Biden were expected to travel to the area on January 6th to meet with families of the victims.
References: NOLA, MSNBC, The Weather Channel