Airlines Issue Waivers Ahead of Tropical Storm Alberto

Texas and Mexico are preparing for the first major storm of the 2024 hurricane season, which was named Tropical Storm Alberto by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) this week.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Alberto was 180 miles east of Tampico, Mexico, and 295 miles south-southeast of Brownsville, Texas, moving west at 9 mph. The NHC expects Alberto to pick up speed as it continues west, reaching the coast of northeastern Mexico by early Thursday morning.

Alberto isn’t expected to last once it does reach land—the NHC said it is “likely to dissipate over Mexico Thursday or Thursday night.”

The storm could impact travel in the area starting early Thursday—heavy rainfall is expected to fall across northeastern Mexico and into South Texas, causing some flash and urban flooding, and coastal flooding along “much of the Texas Coast” through Thursday, the NHC said.

Flooding is also expected near Galveston, the cruise port that Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas is expected to sail into on Thursday, and two Carnival Cruise Line ships are expected in on Saturday. A Royal spokesperson told TMR that, as of Wednesday afternoon, there were no changes to scheduled itineraries yet.

Airline waivers
Several airlines have issued change fee waivers for flights in and out of Texas, and some Mexico airports, through Thursday.

American Airlines has a waiver out for travel through Austin (AUS), Brownsville (BRO), Corpus Christi (CRP), Harlingen (HRL), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Laredo International (LRD), McAllen International (MFE), Monterrey (MTY), San Antonio (SAT), and San Luis Potosi (SLP). The waiver includes all flights through June 20. Ticket holders can rebook for new flights through June 25.

Delta Air Lines’ waiver includes flights through Austin (AUS), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Houston Hobby (HOU), San Antonio (SAT), and Monterrey (MTY). The waiver includes flights through June 20 and allows for new tickets to be issued on or before June 23.

Southwest is waiving any fare differences for flights through June 20 through Austin (AUS), Corpus Christi (CRP), Harlingen (HRL), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Houston Hobby (HOU), and San Antonio (SAT). Flights can be rebooked within 14 days of their original date of travel without fare differences.

United Airlines’ waiver includes flights through Austin (AUS), Corpus Christi (CRP), Houston Intercontinental (IAH), Laredo International (LRD), McAllen International (MFE), Monterrey (MTY), San Antonio (SAT), and Victoria Regional (VCT). Ticket holders can rebook for a new flight through June 25.

Second storm system
The NHC is also tracking a second system in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, which is currently producing showers and thunderstorms “a few hundred miles east of the Bahamas.” The storm is forecasted to hit the southeastern United States by Friday.

There are still some questions as to how powerful the system will be when it does make landfall—the NHC is currently saying that the formation chance of the system is around 20%.