Storm delays, question

[NJlauren]

We are schedule to fly out Friday at 10am. The weather man is now calling the rain Thursday to Friday a nor’easter ! Luckily still just rain not snow...

How early do airlines (we are flying JetBlue) usually wave change fees? Was thinking I could try to get out Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Worst case we wait it out and hope we get out, it’s a shorter trip so losing a day or two would really be a bummer!


Updated in post 34, but lots of airlines are giving fee wavers with the weather, we switched to Thursday! Half day extra in Disney!!!

 

[StageTek]

JetBlue usually doesn't wave the change fees until the flight is canceled or delayed over 5 (or maybe 4) hours.

But there are always exceptions. You should call then today. Maybe they will change your flight with no fee if you get to them early enough.

 

[NJlauren]

JetBlue usually doesn't wave the change fees until the flight is canceled or delayed over 5 (or maybe 4) hours.

But there are always exceptions. You should call then today. Maybe they will change your flight with no fee if you get to them early enough.

But sometimes when there is a storm anyone going in and out of the affected airport can change with fees waved. How far in advance do they usually announce this?

A day? I will call later today either way just see what they say...

 

[MakiraMarlena]

There's no set time. If they believe the weather will be sufficiently disruptive then they will offer to allow changes or cancellations without fees. sometimes it's a day in advance and sometimes two and sometimes it is the same day. They wont' cancel for rain. Heavy winds maybe.

 

[NJlauren]

There's no set time. If they believe the weather will be sufficiently disruptive then they will offer to allow changes or cancellations without fees. sometimes it's a day in advance and sometimes two and sometimes it is the same day. They wont' cancel for rain. Heavy winds maybe.

What’s consider heavy wind? It’s saying gust of 43mph, but stead 18-20.... honestly I don’t mind a small delay just really hoping I’m not canceled fingers crossed

 

[sponica]

What’s consider heavy wind? It’s saying gust of 43mph, but stead 18-20.... honestly I don’t mind a small delay just really hoping I’m not canceled fingers crossed

What airport?

 

[NJlauren]

What airport?

Newark

 

[JimMIA]

What’s consider heavy wind? It’s saying gust of 43mph, but stead 18-20.... honestly I don’t mind a small delay just really hoping I’m not canceled fingers crossed

It's really impossible to answer questions like this, except to say, "It depends." There are just too many variables.

Weather can cause delays in two ways -- delaying your departure, and equally important, delaying the arrival of the aircraft you are flying out on.

I was in a weather mess one time in PHL, where nobody could leave for hours. Because of that, aircraft were still parked at the gate, and other aircraft were stacked up on the ground waiting for those aircraft to leave their gates so they could unload. Once the weather cleared, it took almost two hours to clear out the existing mess before they could even start landing aircraft. They simply had nowhere to put arriving flights, so nobody landed. The aircraft we were flying was stuck in a similar mess at Baltimore, about 100 miles away.

There's just no way to know what, if any, delays you might have. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[NJlauren]

It's really impossible to answer questions like this, except to say, "It depends." There are just too many variables.

Weather can cause delays in two ways -- delaying your departure, and equally important, delaying the arrival of the aircraft you are flying out on.

I was in a weather mess one time in PHL, where nobody could leave for hours. Because of that, aircraft were still parked at the gate, and other aircraft were stacked up on the ground waiting for those aircraft to leave their gates so they could unload. Once the weather cleared, it took almost two hours to clear out the existing mess before they could even start landing aircraft. They simply had nowhere to put arriving flights, so nobody landed. The aircraft we were flying was stuck in a similar mess at Baltimore, about 100 miles away.

There's just no way to know what, if any, delays you might have. Good luck and have a great trip!

I understand there is no way of knowing, but my question was how far in advance do airlines of in my case JetBlue typical wave fees if they are going to wave fees for weather related items. Meaning not till it happens, 24 hours in advance, 48 hours in advance.

Not if I was going to be delayed.

 

[sponica]

I understand there is no way of knowing, but my question was how far in advance do airlines of in my case JetBlue typical wave fees if they are going to wave fees for weather related items. Meaning not till it happens, 24 hours in advance, 48 hours in advance.

Not if I was going to be delayed.

I feel like EWR has fewer wind related issues than say LGA/JFK. I do not know as much about JB's weather policies as other airlines, most of them usually start somewhere between 24 and 48 hours making operational decisions about waiving fees for flight changes. They'd rather not have to rebook you if the flight is cancelled.

If the forecast is just rain I wouldn't be as concerned about a cancellation...

 

[FCDub]

I understand there is no way of knowing, but my question was how far in advance do airlines of in my case JetBlue typical wave fees if they are going to wave fees for weather related items. Meaning not till it happens, 24 hours in advance, 48 hours in advance.

Not if I was going to be delayed.

The answer is still, unfortunately, "it depends."

Weather is always a prediction and can change wildly in so many different ways.

 

[NJlauren]

I feel like EWR has fewer wind related issues than say LGA/JFK. I do not know as much about JB's weather policies as other airlines, most of them usually start somewhere between 24 and 48 hours making operational decisions about waiving fees for flight changes. They'd rather not have to rebook you if the flight is cancelled.

If the forecast is just rain I wouldn't be as concerned about a cancellation...

Yeah the wind is what’s worrying me....but I agree LGA seems to be the worst of the three.

The answer is still, unfortunately, "it depends."

Weather is always a prediction and can change wildly in so many different ways.

I know it depends, was looking for approximate, seems the answer is somewhere in the 24-48 hour range

 

[sponica]

I think as long as your airplane GETS to EWR the night before or the morning of your flight, you should be fine...maybe a tad delayed

 

[joelkfla]

One think I've experienced at EWR is that their people-mover shuts down in high winds. So if you plan to arrive by transit, or park in a lot that requires you to ride the shuttle in, plan on allowing extra time, because the buses that they run in place of the people-mover get very backed up.

 

[NJlauren]

I think as long as your airplane GETS to EWR the night before or the morning of your flight, you should be fine...maybe a tad delayed

I hope this is right, but I hope my plane gets there! May try and get on an earlier flight..... ugh I never know what to do on these situations you know hindsight is 20/20

 

[NJlauren]

One think I've experienced at EWR is that their people-mover shuts down in high winds. So if you plan to arrive by transit, or park in a lot that requires you to ride the shuttle in, plan on allowing extra time, because the buses that they run in place of the people-mover get very backed up.

Thank you! We are taking a car service so not to worried about that.

 

[NJlauren]

Thanks everyone, still hoping for the weather to shift..... a girl can dream right?

 

[sponica]

Thanks everyone, still hoping for the weather to shift..... a girl can dream right?

Friday's an eternity away as far as the weather's concerned, so there's still hope!

 

[NJlauren]

Friday's an eternity away as far as the weather's concerned, so there's still hope!

I keep telling myself that!

My husband offered to drive if it looks bad.... 16 hours in a car with a toddler I would rather the delay I think

 

[sam_gordon]

Delta will do a "same day change" for $50pp. Show up early, ask if there's room on an earlier flight and if there is, they'll change your flight for $50pp. I don't know if JB will do that or not.

Obviously if the airline waives the change fee, all the better, but this might be another option for you.