Men inspect flood damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen on September 28, 2024 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Sean Rayford | Getty Images News | Getty Images
As the Southeastern United States recovers from the devastation of Hurricane Helen, consumers looking to change their air travel plans to or from the affected areas without taking a financial hit may be out of luck. Experts point out that there is.
Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, an online service that helps air travel, said, “The big problem with air travel in the United States is that there are very limited compensation options for airline passengers in the event of a major disruption.” “I only have the right to do so.” airline passengers.
“Devastating damage”
The North Carolina Department of Transportation urged people to avoid unnecessary travel in the western part of the state due to hundreds of road closures due to fallen trees, landslides and “catastrophic damage.”
What airlines are obligated to pay passengers
Amid that destruction, travelers hoping to change flights for free or cancel plans for a refund are finding that airlines are financially reluctant to give them such flexibility. You may feel that there is.
Airlines are generally required to refund passengers “promptly” if they cancel or “substantially alter” a flight for any reason, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This also applies to consumers who have non-refundable tickets.
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But experts say weather-related events like Hurricane Helen are generally considered to be outside of airlines’ control, meaning passengers have relatively little right to compensation.
Napoli said the airline’s obligations in such cases typically depend on the passenger’s specific fare, such as economy or business class.
If a conference is canceled and you don’t have a ticket with free cancellation or no change fees, “[the airline]won’t do anything for you,” he said.
Airlines may make concessions
Hurricane Helen damages a store in Valdosta, Georgia.
Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Depending on the airline and region, some airlines have made concessions related to Hurricane Helen.
“Everything has different rules,” says NerdWallet travel expert Sally French.
Many of the major U.S. airlines have web pages dedicated to travel alerts that outline policies for specific events, she said.
For example, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines have issued flood warnings for the Southeast. Many focus on the area around Asheville, North Carolina, and some areas in Georgia, such as the city of Valdosta.
United Airlines is waiving change fees and fare differences for passengers whose flights are affected by flooding and who choose to reschedule their flights, for example.
United Airlines’ policy includes parameters. Passengers must have purchased a ticket by September 26 for travel between September 30 and October 31, 2024. Your new flight must depart before the end of 2024 and be a United flight between the same cities you originally booked. Those who cancel will receive a full refund.
American Airlines is also giving leeway to passengers scheduled to fly through Augusta, Ga., between Sept. 29 and Oct. 4, who must book changes by Oct. 4.
Delta passengers scheduled to depart via Asheville or Valdosta must board their rebooked flight by Oct. 18 to avoid paying the fare difference. However, the change fee will be waived after that date.
Read policy details
Experts say travel insurance isn’t necessarily a safety net in case a travel company doesn’t reimburse a consumer for flights, hotels or other travel expenses.
If you have not purchased a cancellation for any reason policy, your travel issue will typically need to fall under a specific qualifying reason. Additionally, insurance purchased after Helen became a named storm typically does not cover claims related to it.
“Be sure to read the fine print and what your insurance actually covers,” Napoli said.
Consumers who purchase travel with a credit card can receive certain travel refund benefits from their card issuer, even in the event of bad weather, French said. Credit card companies typically require a “quick response” to charges, often within 21 days, he said.