Airlines pledge to cap airfares for fleeing Florida tourists and residents
Following allegations of price gouging, airlines have announced price caps on air fares for flyers fleeing the wrath of Hurricane Irma.
For the few seats still available out of Florida, JetBlue capped fares at $99 one-way and at $159 for connecting flights through September 13.
It also applies on some Caribbean routes.
"We want those trying to leave ahead of the hurricane to focus on their safe evacuation rather than worry about the cost of flights," JetBlue spokesman Philip Stewart told the Miami Herald.
American Airlines also capped economy airfares at $99 for the same dates.
Meanwhile Delta Air Lines promised to charge no more than $399 for flights to or from South Florida including for first-class seats.
"Delta has been examining and adjusting fares in Florida since early this week, when Irma’s path became apparent and demand to fly out of the area surged," Delta said in a statement.
The airline had taken heat after accusations of price gouging when one customer took to social media complaining of a six-fold hike in airfare to leave Florida.
Industry analysts say this is purely down to automatic dynamic pricing as seats become scarcer, rather than wilfully jacking up fares.
This has been impacted further by pre-emptive cancellations with at least 300 flights scrapped at Miami Airport for Friday.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season