Airlines Offer Travel Waivers Amid California Wildfires

After a series of deadly wildfires in northern California that has led to a death toll of 31 people and about 200 people unaccounted for, airlines are issuing travel warnings and waivers for those with plans to visit California.

Those who are traveling to, through, or from Burbank, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, or San Francisco with Delta on November 12-13 can rebook from now until November 18, as long as they purchased their ticket before November 12. The change fee will be waived, however, for travelers who cannot fly between those times, they can cancel their reservation and use that value toward another ticket within one year.

United Airlines ticketholders whose flights take them to Burbank, Los Angeles, or San Francisco can receive a free travel waiver if they were traveling between November 9-13. Their rescheduled ticket must depart on or before November 18 for the free change waiver to apply.

Southwest Airlines is also accommodating travelers going to and from Burbank, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Jose. Passengers can alter their plans if they were traveling between November 9-13. Southwest is allowing them to rebook or travel standby within 14 days of their original travel date without any additional fees.

Sun Country Airlines is providing passengers travel waivers if they were flying to or from Los Angeles or San Francisco on November 10-12. Their new tickets must have travel dates that occur before November 18.

American Airlines travelers will receive a free travel waiver that will allow them to reschedule their flight(s) planned for November 10-13, 2018, to November 10-18, 2018. Travelers must have bought their ticket before November 10 and cannot change aspects such as their original cabin or origin or destination city.

American Airlines and their customers have donated $400,000 to the Red Cross in the past two months and staff have put together 5,000 hygiene comfort kits. AAdvantage members can also earn 10 miles for every dollar donated to the Red Cross through their website (as long as it’s a $25 minimum donation) until December 10.