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Travel Waivers Issued as Storms Head for Hawaii and Florida

JT Genter
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JT Genter is a digital nomad who travels full-time.
Aug. 31, 2016
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4 min read
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Travel Waivers Issued as Storms Head for Hawaii and Florida
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Update 2: And here's United's NYC waiver:

Screen Shot 2016-09-02 at 8.25.12 PM

Update: Airlines have begun to add waivers for New York City-area airports as well. American Airlines' waiver is here and below:

For those that missed their calendar reminder, June 1 kicked off "hurricane season" in the Atlantic. However, September is usually the busiest month for tropical systems. The tropics are kicking off the month with a bang. Two systems are currently taking aim at the US: Hurricane Madeline is just off the Hawaiian Big Island, while Tropical Depression 9 is headed for Florida.

Compared to the 17 hurricanes that made landfall from 2002-2008, the US has luckily only experienced three hurricane landfalls since 2009. So, it's noteworthy that we have two potential hurricane landfalls coming in the next two days.

HURRICANE MADELINE

Hurricane Madeline will severely impact flights to and from Hawaii's Big Island this week.

The Hawaiian Big Island is bracing itself for Hurricane Madeline, which is expected to make its closest pass around 8pm local time Wednesday night. Last night, the Hawaii governor declared a state of emergency as a precautionary measure.

Airline Travel Waivers

If you're traveling from, to or through the Big Island Wednesday or Thursday, check below to see if your airline has issued a travel waiver. If so, you might be able to change your flights with no fees. Click on the airline name for more details about the airline's current waiver.

Alaska Airlines

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Original travel dates: August 30 – September 1, 2016

Airports covered: Kona, Hawaii (KOA)

American Airlines

Original travel dates: August 31 – September 1, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Hilo, Hawaii (ITO)
  • Honolulu, Hawaii (HNL)
  • Kahului, Maui, Hawaii (OGG)
  • Kona, Hawaii (KOA)
  • Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii (LIH)

Delta Air Lines

Original travel dates: August 31 - September 1, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Kahului, Maui, Hawaii (OGG)
  • Kona, Hawaii (KOA)

Hawaiian Airlines

Original travel dates: August 31 – September 1, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Hilo, Hawaii (ITO)
  • Kona, Hawaii (KOA)

United Airlines

Original travel dates: August 31 – September 1, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Hilo, HI (ITO)
  • Kahului, HI (OGG)
  • Kona, HI (KOA)

TROPICAL DEPRESSION 9

The big impact from Tropical Depression Nine will be the torrential rainfall. Image courtesy of NOAA.
The big impact from Tropical Depression 9 will be the torrential rainfall. Image courtesy of NOAA.

Currently churning in the Gulf of Mexico, this system is expected to strengthen into a strong tropical storm — or maybe even a minor hurricane — before making landfall in the Florida panhandle Thursday night. While the winds may not be too strong, the main impact from this storm will likely be the large amount of rainfall the storm is expected to drop on Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas over the next few days.

Airline Travel Waivers

If you're traveling from, to or through the Southeast over the next few days, check below to see if your airline has issued a travel waiver. If so, you might be able to change your flights with no fees. Click on the airline name for more details about the airline's current waiver.

Allegiant Airlines [statement, but no fee waivers]

American Airlines

Original travel dates: September 1-2, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Gainesville, Florida (GNV)
  • Jacksonville, Florida (JAX)
  • Tallahassee, Florida (TLH)
  • Tampa, Florida (TPA)
  • Savannah, Georgia (SAV)
  • Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
  • Charleston, South Carolina (CHS)
  • Florence, South Carolina (FLO)
  • Hilton Head Island, South Carolina (HHH)
  • Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR)

Delta Air Lines

Original travel dates: September 1-2, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Brunswick, GA (BQK)
  • Charleston, SC (CHS)
  • Destin Ft. Walton Beach, FL (VPS)
  • Gainesville, FL (GNV)
  • Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
  • Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)
  • Panama City, FL (ECP)
  • Pensacola, FL (PNS)
  • Sarasota, FL (SRQ)
  • Savannah, GA (SAV)
  • Tallahassee, FL (TLH)
  • Tampa, FL (TPA)
  • Valdosta, GA (VLD)
  • Wilmington, NC (ILM)

JetBlue Airlines

Original travel dates: September 1-2, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Tampa, FL (TPA)
  • Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
  • Daytona Beach, FL (DAB)
  • Savannah/Hilton Head, GA (SAV)
  • Charleston, SC (CHS)

United Airlines

Original travel dates: September 1-2, 2016

Airports covered:

  • Charleston, SC (CHS)
  • Fort Walton Beach, FL (VPS)
  • Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
  • Panama City, FL (ECP)
  • Sarasota, FL (SRQ)
  • Savannah, GA (SAV)
  • Tampa, FL (TPA)

As of publishing, the following airlines haven't released travel waivers for this storm: Alaska Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines

Featured image by Hurricane shore palm beach featured