Airlines Issue Change Fee Waivers as Tropical Storm Elsa Slams Florida’s Southern Coast

Tropical Storm Elsa hit southern Florida on Tuesday afternoon, bringing strong winds and heavy rain along with storm surge, flooding, and tornado warnings to the state this week.

As of Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), a tropical storm warning was in effect for the Florida Keys from Craig Key westward to the Dry Tortugas, along with the state’s west coast from Flamingo northward to Ochlocknee River.

The NHC has also put a hurricane watch in effect for Egmont Key to the Steinhatchee River, warning that hurricane conditions are possible within the area over the next 24-hours.

According to the National Weather Center in Key West, winds of up to 70 mph have been recorded amid heavy rain in Key West.

The expectation is that Elsa will make landfall near the state’s Big Bend early on Wednesday and the storm could intensify enough to become a Category 1 hurricane before hitting the area between the Ochlocknee River and the Anclote Key.

Tampa and St. Petersburg are expected to see the worst of the storm on Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

The storm will then move up towards Georgia, the coastal Carolinas, and southwest Virginia, which could see some impact late Wednesday into Thursday night.

Airline waivers
Alaska Airlines has yet to issue a waiver for travel, however, it has updated two policies for July 6—Alaska will not allow unaccompanied minors on flights out of Tampa unless a parent or guardian remain in the boarding area until the flight has departed and the carrier is now accepting pets traveling in cargo.

American Airlines has issued a waiver for travel to, through, or from Fort Myers (RSW), Key West (EYW), Sarasota (SRW), and Tampa for travel through July 7. American is allowing rebookings for travel through July 12 as long as changes are rebooked by July 7.

Delta Air Lines has issued a waiver for travel to, from, or through Fort Myers (RSW), Key West (EYW), Sarasota (SRQ), and Tampa. The waiver includes all tickets for travel on July 6 and 7. Tickets must be reissued on or before July 10 for travel no later than that same date.

Frontier Airlines has issued change fee waivers for travel through July 9 for travel to, from, or through July 9. Frontier’s waiver includes Tampa (TPA), Fort Myers (RSW). Travel must be completed by July 15.

JetBlue is also allowing changes on tickets booked for travel through those same airports. JetBlue’s waiver allows passengers with tickets on July 6 or 7 to rebook through July 10 as long as the original travel was booked on or before July 5.

Spirit Airlines has issued a waiver for travel to, from, or through Ft. Myers (RSW) and Tampa (TPA). Spirit’s waiver is for travel through July 7 and allows for free change fees for flights through July 12.

United Airlines has issued a waiver for eight Florida airports—Ft. Lauderdale (FLL), Ft. Myers (RSW), Key West (EYW), Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), Sarasota (SRQ), Tampa (TPA), and West Palm Beach (PBI). The waiver includes flights through July 7 and allows for changes for flights through July 14 as long as origin and destination cities, and cabin, remain the same.