Carriers predict delays, waive change fees due to Hurricane Earl

U.S. airlines are warning passengers flying along the East Coast from Maine to Asheville, N.C., over the next few days that they may face weather delays related to hurricane Earl. Airlines also are waiving change fees, and in some cases also airfare differences, for passengers who need to change travel plans because of the storm.

If you think your itinerary may be affected, check your airline’s website frequently to find updated rules for ticket changes. Be mindful of deadlines.

Here are general policies for several airlines as of Thursday morning:

AirTran Airways [(800-AIR-TRAN] is offering passengers booked to/from affected airports from September 1 through September 4, 2010, the option to change their reservation without penalty. AirTran Airways customers traveling to/from the following airports may use this penalty-free option: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Richmond, VA; Raleigh-Durham, NC; Asheville, NC; Newport News-Williamsburg, VA; Washington DC (Dulles and Reagan); Baltimore-Washington; New York; Philadelphia; and Boston. Passengers may adjust their travel plans to an alternate date starting one day prior to their original travel day through three days after their original travel date.

The easiest way to utilize this free option is via AirTran Airways’ web site, www.airtran.com. Click on the reservations tab and follow steps for these complimentary changes.

American Airlines [(800) 433-7300] was waiving change fees for certain ticketed passengers going to or from Boston; Hartford, Conn.; New York City (JFK and LGA); Newark, N.J.; Norfolk, Va.; and Philadelphia on Thursday through Saturday. You must begin your re-booked travel by Sept. 10 to avoid the penalty.

Continental Airlines [(800)-525-0280 – Customers scheduled on flights to, from, or through affected airports through September 5, 2010 are permitted a one-time date or time change to their itinerary without penalty providing rescheduled travel originates by Sept. 19, 2010. If a flight has been canceled, a refund in the original form of payment may be requested. Complete details are available at continental.com. Customers should enter their confirmation number and last name in “Manage Reservations.”

Delta Air Lines [(800) 221-1212] and AirTran Airways [(800) 247-8726] also had advisories posted on their websites for a range of cities, including New York.

Frontier Airlines [(800) 432-1359] posted a weather advisory that warns passengers traveling through Saturday to expect delays if they are going to or from Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Newport-News/Williamsburg, Va.; Philadelphia; New York (LaGuardia); Newark; and Boston. Ticketed passengers with travel dates between Sept. 1 and Saturday have until midnight MT Saturday (11 p.m. PDT) to change travel plans. The fare difference and change fee will be waived for certain passengers as long as travel is completed by Sept. 18. Make sure to read the details on the website.

JetBlue Airways [(800)-JET-BLUE] Corporation will waive change fees and fare differences to allow customers booked for travel to or from select destinations between September 2 and 4, 2010. Prior to their originally scheduled departure, customers can voluntarily rebook for flights through Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Customers traveling to or from the following destinations between September 2 and 4 are eligible to rebook their travel prior to their originally scheduled departure: Baltimore, Md. (BWI); Bermuda (BDA); Boston (BOS); Charlotte, N.C. (CLT); Nantucket, Mass. (ACK); New York Metropolitan Airports (JFK, LaGuardia LGA, Newark EWR and White Plains HPN); Portland, Maine (PWM); Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (RDU); Richmond, Va. (RIC); Washington/Dulles (IAD)

All customers booked for travel to/from the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are encouraged to check the status of their flight online at www.jetblue.com prior to leaving for the airport. Customers with web-enabled cell phones and PDAs may check the status of their flight via mobile.jetblue.com .

United Airlines [(800) 864-8331] issued a travel waiver advisory for 21 airports along the East Coast for ticketed passengers traveling Sept. 1 through Saturday.

U.S. Airways [(800) 428-4322] was waiving change fees for certain ticketed passengers going in or out of certain cities in various states, including Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina. Passengers may move their itineraries up to seven days before or after the date they were supposed to leave.