Airlines waive change fees as winter storm threatens Thanksgiving travel
With a winter storm system threatening to hit the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast during the busiest travel period of the year, airlines have already begun waiving change fees for Thanksgiving holiday flights.
A mix of snow, ice and rain is forecast for the East later today or early tomorrow, providing a major headache for travellers on the road and in the air, said Weather Channel meteorologist Matt Sitkowski.
American, Delta and United have started waiving rebooking fees for flights on November 26, when over two million travellers will take to the air, according to trade group Airlines for America.
American/US Airways is allowing travellers to make one change for free during November 25-27 at airports from Maine to Virginia, including Albany, NY, Boston, New York airports, Philadelphia, and Washington DC-area airports.
United Airlines is offering a one-time change to tickets without a fee to travel on or before November 28.
The airline said change fees may be lifted for travel beyond this date, although any fare differences may apply.
Delta Air Lines has a similar policy for travel to, from or through the Northeast region.
Meteorologists said major snowfall was expected in upstate New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, northeastern Pennsylvania and Maine.
Up to 10 inches was possible in some areas, forecasters said.
AAA predicts up to 46.3 million Americans will take planes, trains and automobiles between now and November 30.
Rail operator Amtrak expects to carry more than last year’s record of 754,000 passengers during the Thanksgiving holiday travel period.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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