Airlines expect severe weather in the US midwest to disrupt travel this weekend.
Continental, Delta and United Airlines prepare for disruptions from severe winter weather this weekend.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) will allow customers whose flight plans may be affected by severe winter weather across the US midwest to make to amend their travel schedules through Sunday, December 12.
United Airlines and Continental Airlines (NYSE: UAL) are permitting passengers on flights to, from or through the region, including Chicago and Cleveland, through Dec. 13 to reschedule if their flights are affected by the bad weather.
All three airlines advise customers traveling through the midwest to think about re-routing or postponing their travel right now to avoid possible inconvenience from delayed or canceled flights.
Normally such changes would incur a rebooking charge, but the airlines will waive the fees once, because of the foul weather that has been forecast.
With Delta, travel for changed itineraries must begin by December 14, 2010, and changes to an air ticket’s origin or destination could mean a fare increase. Any difference in the air fare between the original airline ticket and the new one will be collected at the time of rebooking.
The areas most likely affected by bad weather include Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Customers whose flights are cancelled may request refunds.
Delta will proactively reduce flight schedules to and from affected airports to minimize delays during the storm, including at its hubs in Cincinnati, Detroit and Minneapolis-St. Paul. Delta will continue to monitor the weather situation and provide the latest weather updates on its web site.
Customers should check their flight status before arriving at the airport.
Delays and cancellations of flights at are possible at Continental’s hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and United’s hub at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
Customers scheduled on flights to, from or through the affected area, including Cleveland and Chicago, may reschedule their itinerary with a one-time date or time change through Dec. 13.
If a flight has been canceled, a refund in the original form of payment may be requested.
Customers may also book a new reservation, change an existing reservation or check flight status by calling the numbers below. However, the fastest and most effective way to change travel plans is for passengers to visit the web site of the airline that sold the air ticket.
Customers can then manage their reservations directly. Just visit your airline here:
www.continental.com
www.delta.com
www.united.com
Telephone numbers: Continental Reservations at 800-525-0280, Delta Air Lines +1-404-715-2554,
United Reservations at 800-UNITED-1.
Another way to receive the latest information on flight cancellations, gate changes and flight delays is with Continental’s TripAlert service or United’s EasyUpdate service, both of which can transmit passenger notifications directly via phone, text or e-mail.
Image by nafmo via Flickr
