Airlines and Travel Alerts

[ancestry]

How far in advance of a storm do airlines usually issue travel alerts whereby they basically waive change fees allowing passengers to reschedule their flights outside of the storm period?

Understanding that not all airlines do this, I'm mainly curious about those that do and how far in advance they make the call to do this.

At this point, it appears that a snow storm will be moving through the Portland area late Friday and into Saturday. Of course we are scheduled to fly out on Saturday. There is a slight chance that we could leave early *if* the airline was willing to waive our change fees due to weather conditions but the challenge we are facing is we can't make the change a the last minute. If we were to leave on Thursday night or Friday morning (in advance of the potential storm) we would need to know by mid day tomorrow. We would also be willing to fly out of Boston instead of Portland in order to avoid the storm but again need to wait until the airline issues a travel advisory so we wouldn't be charged for the change plus the increased cost of the airfare.

 

[DebbieB]

How far in advance of a storm do airlines usually issue travel alerts whereby they basically waive change fees allowing passengers to reschedule their flights outside of the storm period?

Understanding that not all airlines do this, I'm mainly curious about those that do and how far in advance they make the call to do this.

At this point, it appears that a snow storm will be moving through the Portland area late Friday and into Saturday. Of course we are scheduled to fly out on Saturday. There is a slight chance that we could leave early *if* the airline was willing to waive our change fees due to weather conditions but the challenge we are facing is we can't make the change a the last minute. If we were to leave on Thursday night or Friday morning (in advance of the potential storm) we would need to know by mid day tomorrow. We would also be willing to fly out of Boston instead of Portland in order to avoid the storm but again need to wait until the airline issues a travel advisory so we wouldn't be charged for the change plus the increased cost of the airfare.

I don't think they would put out an advisory for Saturday by tomorrow. Typically it's a day before, two at most. Which airline?

 

[ancestry]

I don't think they would put out an advisory for Saturday by tomorrow. Typically it's a day before, two at most. Which airline?

That is what I thought. Air Tran (unfortunately).

 

[*Emily*]

I can't help with your question but I feel your pain. I'm flying out Saturday but out of Boston. Hope you get out ok!

 

[ancestry]

Thanks we have decided that if we can't get out on Saturday we will try to extend our trip rather than trying to leave early. There is hardly any availability at WDW earlier due to the marathon but there is much more availability at the end of our trip. The problem is DD's work schedule and DS's school schedule. Well only time will tell.

Keeping my fingers crossed that Saturday ends up okay and that all of this alternative planning ends up being unnecessary.

 

[NJBILL]

Here is a great site to stay on top of weather issues.

http://travelweather.weebly.com/disney-weather.html

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

AirTran has one our right now....covering 1/7 through 1/8 out of Portland, ME

Delta also has one out..

I haven't checked anyone else's website.

 

[ancestry]

AirTran has one our right now....covering 1/7 through 1/8 out of Portland, ME

Delta also has one out..

I haven't checked anyone else's website.

Thanks! I saw the advisory yesterday allowing changes without fee charges. We have a nonstop flight to Orlando. The weather is pretty clear here in Portland and Orlando seems to be okay as well. Portland is supposed to get minimal snow (less than 2 inches and most of that is scheduled for after our flight leaves). I'm hoping that our flight will go off as scheduled. The worst of the weather and the delays seems be south in the New York/New Jersey area.

I do know that our plane arrives in Portland via a nonstop flight from Orlando tomorrow late morning. What I don't know is where the plane is coming from when it arrives in Orlando either this evening or tomorrow morning.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Delta and AirTran are cancelling flights... check yours. There is bad weather in Atlanta... where both of them have LOTS of planes!