Flight Waivers, Cruise Itinerary Changes Ahead of Tropical Storm Dorian

As Topical Storm Dorian moves west across St. Lucia and into the Caribbean Sea, airlines and cruise lines are adjusting travel plans.

The storm is expected to dump three to six inches of rain from Martinique to St. Vincent, where a Tropical Storm Warning is in effect, with possible isolated totals as high as 10 inches. Maximum sustained winds are near 50 mph with higher gusts.

Dorian is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before it passes near or south of Puerto Rico on Wednesday and Hispaniola Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. A Hurricane Watch is in place for Puerto Rico and portions of the Dominican Republic, indicating hurricane conditions are possible within 48 hours. The storm center will continue into the Bahamas region.

It is too early to determine if Dorian will become a threat to South Florida, according to the National Weather Service Miami-South Florida.

Almost all airlines that operate flights to the Caribbean have issued a weather advisory for Tropical Storm Dorian.

Delta Air Lines: Waivers are in effect for travel Aug. 26-29 for the following airports: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ); Port-au-Prince, Haiti (PAP); San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU); Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI); Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ); and St. Lucia (UVF). Tickets must be reissued by Sept. 5. When rescheduled travel occurs beyond Sept. 5, the change fee will be waived.

Jet Blue: The airline will waive change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers traveling Wednesday, Aug. 28 through Thursday, Aug. 29 to/from the following cities: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN); La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM); Ponce, Puerto Rico (PSE); Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP); Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ); San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU); Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI); and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ). Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Sunday, Sept. 1.

A waiver is also in place for Barbados (BGI) and St. Lucia (UVF) for Aug. 26-27. Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Saturday, Aug. 31.

American Airlines: Change fees are waived from Aug. 26-29 for the following airports: Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI); Cap Haitien, Haiti (CAP); Fort de France, Martinique (FDF); Port Au Prince, Haiti (PAP); Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP); Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ); San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU); Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI); Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ); and St. Lucia, Saint Lucia (UVF). Rebooked travel must occur between Aug. 26 and Sept. 5.

Southwest Airlines: Travelers flying to or from Providenciales, Turks And Caicos Islands (PLS); Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ); and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) from Aug. 26-30 can rebook in the original class of service or travel standby.

United Airlines: The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing on or before Sept. 1, to or from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN); Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ); and San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU), for travel dates Aug. 28-29. 

Cruise lines
Two Royal Caribbean ships will change itineraries to avoid the projected path of the storm, according to the cruise line’s official blog. Harmony of the Seas has changed from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean itinerary, to include Perfect Day CocoCay, Cozumel, Roatan, and Costa Maya.

Symphony of the Seas has changed her itinerary and is skipping a scheduled stop at St. Maarten, while adding a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay at the end of the sailing.

Allure of the Seas has changed from an Eastern Caribbean itinerary to a Western Caribbean itinerary.

This article was updated to include United Airlines’ travel waiver.