Hurricane Hilary: Nearing Southern California, Airlines Provide Waivers

As of 9:00 p.m. More than 4,500 additional U.S. flights had been rescheduled or delayed as of 5:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to the flight monitoring service FlightAware. Airlines have provided waivers expressly for Tropical Storm Hilary, albeit not all of the delays are caused by the storm.

As of 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, more than 4,500 additional U.S. flights have been delayed or canceled, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. (Photo: Los Angeles Times)

Department of Transportation: Passengers are automatically entitled to a refund

USA Today reported that in accordance with Department of Transportation policy, passengers are automatically entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled for any reason; however, airlines are given additional latitude in the event of delays. The DOT maintains a dashboard that can be used by passengers to understand how airlines handle delay compensation.

Between August 20 and 21, Alaska is offering passengers with flights to or from the following cities to amend or cancel their reservations without incurring any costs.

View the flights list at USA Today .

Customers whose tickets were booked via Alaska Airlines are the only ones who can use the flexible travel policy. The journey must be finished by August 25.

Additionally, the airline is allowing guests who have flights from or to Los Cabos and Loreta, Mexico, scheduled from August 18–20 some flexibility, reports from Los Angeles Times.

Some passengers booked on flights with American between August 20 and 21 won’t be charged any change costs, but their new flight must depart by August 25. Passengers flying to, from, or through the following cities are eligible for the waiver (See flights at USA Today )

Through August 20th, American is also waiving change fees for travellers flying out of Mexico’s Los Cabos International Airport. Their new trip must be taken before August 22.

From August 20 to 21, travelers on Delta flights to, from, or through the following cities may rebook at no additional cost (See the list of flights at USA Today )

For travelers travelling to, from, or through Los Cabos International Airport August 19-20, Delta has also provided a waiver; the replacement trip must occur by August 24.

Customers of Frontier flying to, from, or via the following airports may modify their flights without incurring additional costs (See the list of flights at USA Today )

The exemption applies to travel on August 20–21.

On August 20-21, passengers who had booked flights on Hawaiian Airlines to or from the cities listed below may change their departure or arrival times without incurring a fee, or they may cancel their trips and get a future flight credit. View the flights list at USA Today .

READ ALSO: Hurricane Hilary Grows Into Category 4 Storm; Forecasted To Hit California, Southwest

Airlines are waiving change and cancellation fees

Customers who need to rebook flights must do so by August 27 and must finish their trip by August 31.

JetBlue is offering free flight changes and cancellations for travelers going to or from the cities listed below (See the full list of flights at USA Today )

The exception pertains to travel on August 20–21, and any subsequent travel must occur before August 25.

Additionally, through August 20, the airline is waiving change and cancellation fees as well as fare disparities for anyone flying to or from Los Cabos International Airport. Their new trip must be taken before August 22.

Rebooking is free for Southwest customers flying to, from, or through the cities listed below (See the full list of flights at USA Today )

Passengers with flights booked to, from, or through Los Cabos International Airport August 18–20 are also eligible for the waiver, which applies to travel scheduled for August 20–21.

Travelers flying with Spirit to, from, or through the following cities may modify their reservations without incurring fines or incurring ticket discrepancies (See a list of flights atUSA Today )

The exception applies to trips planned for August 20–21.

If they are flying through one of the following cities (see list of flights at USA Today ), United travelers scheduled to fly Aug. 20–21 may modify their reservations without incurring fines or pricing changes.

By August 28, the new trip must have been completed.

Those who travel into Los Cabos International Airport on August 19 or 20 are also welcome to participate, but they must depart on their new vacation by August 23, reports from AOL. 

READ ALSO: Tropical Storm Hilary Forms Off Mexico’s West Coast, Poses Heavy Rain Threat To Southern California