With Hurricane Helene disrupting travel, here’s what fliers need to know

As the southeastern U.S. recovers in the wake of Hurricane Helene’s devastation, consumers looking to change their air travel plans to or from the affected areas without suffering financial damage may be out of luck, experts say.

“The big problem that’s happening in U.S. air travel: When there’s a significant disruption, airline passengers have very, very limited rights” when it comes to compensation, said Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, an online service that helps airline passengers.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation urged people avoid unnecessary travel in the western part of the state due to hundreds of road closures due to fallen trees, landslides and “catastrophic damage.”

Amid this destruction, travelers looking to change their flights for free or cancel their plans for a refund may find airlines unwilling to provide that financial flexibility.

Airlines generally do that “prompt” refunds are due to passengers if they cancel a flight or make a “significant change” regardless of the reason, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. This even applies to consumers with non-refundable tickets.

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However, weather-related events such as Hurricane Helene are generally considered beyond the airline’s control, meaning passengers have relatively little entitlement to compensation, experts said.

The airline’s duty in such cases generally depends on a passenger’s specific fare, such as economy or business class, Napoli said.

“There’s nothing [airlines] will suffice for you” if your conference is canceled and you don’t have a ticket that allows you to cancel for free or with no charge for changes, he said.

Some airlines are making concessions related to Hurricane Helene, although these vary by airline and region.

“All the rules are different,” says Sally French, travel expert at NerdWallet.

Many major U.S. airlines have dedicated travel alert web pages that outline their policies around specific events, she said.

For example, US airlines, Delta Airlines And United Airlines have warnings about flooding in the southeast. Many focus on the surrounding areas Asheville, North Carolinaand some parts of Georgia, such as the city ​​of Valdosta.

United is waiving change fees and fare differences for passengers whose flights are affected by flooding and who choose to reschedule their flights.

United’s policy imposes parameters: Passengers must purchase their ticket by September 26 for travel between September 30 and October 31, 2024; the new flight must be a United flight departing in late 2024 and between the same cities as originally booked. Those who cancel can get a full refund.

American Airlines is also accommodating passengers who will travel through Augusta, Georgia, between September 29 and October 4. They must book changes by October 4.

Delta passengers flying through Asheville or Valdosta must travel on rebooked flights before October 18 to avoid paying a fare difference. However, change fees would still be waived after that date.

Travel insurance isn’t always a safe solution if consumers can’t get reimbursement from the travel provider for a flight, hotel or other travel costs, experts say.

If you don’t have a cancel for any reason policy, your travel issues should generally be for specific, covered reasons. In addition, policies purchased after Helene became a so-called storm generally do not cover claims related to it.

“Make sure you read the fine print and what the insurance actually covers,” Napoli said.

Consumers who purchased their travel with a credit card can receive certain travel reimbursement benefits from their card issuer, sometimes even in the event of a severe weather event, French said. Credit card companies generally require “expeditious resolution” of a claim, often within 21 days, she said.