Airlines and Hurricanes

[DianeV]

Does anyone know at what point airlines start posting info on their websites about hurricanes and their policy? We are supposed to fly into Orlando Sunday morning around 1030am and woudl rather fly in Saturday evening if it avoids bad weather but I wonder when airlines are receptive to that? I know its a few days away still ---

 

[Bob P]

They will post as soon as things become clear. Right now there are still a lot of questions, among them are: how strong will Wilma be, where will it make landfall, and when.

 

[DianeV]

Thanks I was thinking that too...maybe sometime tomorrow they will have a better idea...

 

[Lewisc]

Just keep checking the airlines website and the airports website. Remember if you take an earlier flight your family might not be sitting together.

 

[safetymom]

USAirways has this posted on their website. Have you checked yours? I would imagine this information will change as the path of the hurricane changes.


At the Airport

Operations Alert
Due to emergency conditions affecting the airport listed below, US Airways will allow passengers traveling to or from the these locations to change their flights. Please check flight information for latest details.

Airports Affected

October 11 - 23, 2005 - Re-accomodation Procedures for Guatemala
Guatemala

October 18 - 21, 2005 - Re-accomodation Procedures for Hurricane Wilma
Belize City, Belize
Cancun, Mexico
Cozumel, Mexico

October 18 - 23, 2005 - Re-accomodation Procedures for Hurricane Wilma
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida
Key West, Florida
Miami, Florida
West Palm Beach, Florida

 

[DianeV]

We are flying Spirit and right now they are only including Ft Lauderdale and Ft Myers. We are supposed to fly in on Sunday morning and wanted to change to Friday evening. The girl I spoke to seemed to think I was nuts to be worried about ORlando. Yes I know it wont be the direct hit there but it will sure be affected and I was trying to be proactive

I told her as of right now US Air and AA have Orlando and Tampa listed as allowing to be rescheduled and she said "we dont go by what other airlines do"

Ha right. Well I will keep checking

 

[safetymom]

That's all you can do is keep checking. I see that USAirways has updated again to include Orlando.

I am flying out of MCO tomorrow and was supposed to return on Tuesday. Call me crazy but I don't know that I want to be away from home when a hurricane is supposed to hit.

 

[Lewisc]

Sothwest doesn't have any hurricane information posted and they're usually pretty good.

Some airlines are just waiting for better weather information.

 

[DianeV]

Oh I agree I just had to laugh when the girl at Spirit told me why was i even worried about ORlando as it wasnt going to hit there? And then she wondered if it is going to be affected why do I want to go "into the storm"?

Pretty funny is all..so far I have noticed 2 airlines including Orlando and Tampa (US Air and American) Hopefully others will follow depending on how things go

Unfortunately we know that things can change so quickly that it will be a real mess if they wait too long in my opinion

 

[Lewisc]

Unfortunately the airlines have had a lot of experience with hurricanes over the last year or so. They know what they're doing. Even the MCO website doesn't have any information yet.

Just keep checking.

Unfortunately we know that things can change so quickly that it will be a real mess if they wait too long in my opinion

 

[DianeV]

Update for anyone interested, Continental is now including Orlando and Tampa so that makes:

For Travel in & out of Orlando/Tampa:

US Air: 10/19-23
AA: 10/20-24
Cont: 10/18-25

I'm sure mine will be one of the last to make a decision

 

[sweet maxine]

I've got a flight arriving Sat. evening. I'm wondering at this point should I go ahead and make hotel ressies and add a day to my car rental in hopes that SW will post something to let us change dates. I hope they don't wait all day to decide something.

 

[DianeV]

I am thinking the same thing! We are hoping to come in Friday evening instead and while i dont know about the car rental I am seriously thinking of booking a cancelable reservation before it gets too crazy down there

I've got a flight arriving Sat. evening. I'm wondering at this point should I go ahead and make hotel ressies and add a day to my car rental in hopes that SW will post something to let us change dates. I hope they don't wait all day to decide something.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm going to call the car rental agency, and also book a cancellable ressie for Friday too, before things get crazy. Good idea, Diane V!

 

[Brygida]

Does anyone know at what point airlines start posting info on their websites about hurricanes and their policy? We are supposed to fly into Orlando Sunday morning around 1030am and woudl rather fly in Saturday evening if it avoids bad weather but I wonder when airlines are receptive to that? I know its a few days away still ---

I wouldn't change to Saturday... latest tracker had Wilma crossing Florida from west to east on Saturday. It looks like on Sunday it will be all over.

Where is your flight from? If it's from the east coast, expect turbulent weather through your entire trip.... even into next week, as Wilma will be coming up the east coast. Pack necessities for the kids in something accessible from your seat (without unbuckling) and don't expect even drinks to be passed out.

We flew just after Katrina and it was a wild ride down to Orlando. Stewardesses were not allowed to leave their seats.

 

[DianeV]

Our new plan is to try to get in Friday evening...we are coming from Detroit

Its a short trip anyway (leaving for home late Wed) so if it gets delayed from the start that would be a real bummer

 

[JerJan]

This is directly from the AirTran Airways website:

Hurricane Wilma may approach western florida this weekend

October 19, 2005, 10:00 am ET – Based on the current forecasts issued by the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Wilma is expected to approach Western Florida this weekend.


While the path of the storm is still uncertain, some of our operations in Florida may be affected on Saturday and Sunday, October 22-23, 2005. If you have planned travel to the following cities between noon on Saturday and noon on Sunday, AirTran Airways is offering passengers the opportunity to alter the travel dates of their flight itineraries without change or cancellation fees or fare adjustments.

Ft. Lauderdale
Ft. Myers
Miami
West Palm Beach


Travel must occur within 7 days of the original travel date. The airline will also allow passengers to cancel their travel to these cities booked for this time period and receive a credit to use for travel up to one year from the date of purchase. To make your travel adjustments, please call us at 1-800-AIR-TRAN.

These booking options may be adjusted if the path or speed of the storm changes. We urge passengers to check on their flight status online in the Flight Status section of our website, or to call us at 1-800-AIR-TRAN.

Status updates will be issued as needed.

**Personally I wouldn't be going to Florida, I would try to change my ressie and postpone my trip. I have a VERY BAD feeling about "Wilma". **

 

[DianeV]

Southwest has added themselves to the list including ORlando and Tampa although at this point they state they plan to operate all flights as scheduled. They are offering rebooking for travel 10/19-23

Also Independence Air 10/19-23

So that makes:

US Air
American
Continental
Southwest
Independence

So far

 

[DeeCeeSW]

We are expected to be on an 8am. flight this Saturday to MCO on American and they are currently saying that we can change our plans but would need to travel by October 24th. Our backup plan was to drive down, but if AA doesn't actually cancel our flights, we lose everything. This stinks, but I feel worse for the residents of Florida. Are they saying that this hurricane would hit Florida by Saturday evening?

 

[k9disney]

Delta has joined the list but does not include Orlando as of now:

If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed, you are entitled to a refund. Even if your flight is not canceled, you may make a one-time change to your ticket without fee if you are scheduled to travel to, from, or through the following cities on Delta, Song®, Delta Connection®, or Delta-coded flights during the specified time periods listed below.


Destination City:

Cancun, Mexico
Cozumel, Mexico
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Fort Myers, FL
Key West, FL
Miami, FL
Naples, FL
Sarasota, FL
Tampa, FL
West Palm Beach, FL

Original Travel Date: October 19–23, 2005