American Airlines Capping Fares, Adding Capacity Ahead of Hurricane Maria
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Forming just Saturday morning, Hurricane Maria has rapidly developed from a cluster of storms into a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane with 160 mph top sustained winds. Monday, the storm hit hard the small island of Dominica, leaving “widespread devastation.”
Tuesday, the storm is going to graze the Leeward Islands, already battered by Irma two weeks ago; thankfully, the hurricane’s powerful core is expected to remain offshore. However, the vicious storm has St. Croix and Puerto Rico in its crosshairs, with landfall expected on Wednesday as a Category 5 hurricane.
Although a storm this far south is typically bad news for Florida, the consensus is that the hurricane will stay offshore from the US mainland, according to a model run on Tuesday morning:
American Airlines’ Response
With a hub in Miami (MIA), American Airlines has a significant presence across the Bahamas and Caribbean. Many of its airports are likely to be affected by the storm. Here’s how the airline is responding to the threat:
Capping Fares
To help those trying to escape the storm, American Airlines is capping one-way nonstop fares from — and back to — the following airports. The fares will be $99 one-way in Main Cabin and $199 in any premium cabin. The price cap will remain in place through September 24.
- Antigua, Antigua (ANU)
- Cap Haitien, Haiti (CAP)
- Port Au Prince, Haiti (PAP)
- Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (PLS)
- Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP)
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
- San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU)
- Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI)
- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)
- St. Croix Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX)
- St. Kitts, Saint Kitts and Nevis (SKB)
- St. Thomas Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)
Adding Capacity
In addition to capping fares, the airline is adding capacity from San Juan (SJU) to Miami (MIA). The extra SJU flight (AA9240) will depart Tuesday afternoon at 2:40pm local time, operated by a 273-seat Boeing 777-200. A scheduled additional 737-800 flight to/from St. Croix (STX) for Tuesday was cancelled.
Cancelling Flights
As of 8am Tuesday morning, 30 flights have been cancelled for Tuesday and another 30 flights have been cancelled Wednesday. Some of these cancellations are due to lingering effects from Hurricane Irma, which is still impacting AA operations at Key West, Florida (EYW); Santa Clara, Cuba (SNU); St. Maarten, Saint Maarten (SXM) and St. Thomas Island, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT).
Cancellations expected Tuesday-Wednesday at the following airports:
Weather Waivers
American Airlines also has three sets of change fee waivers for Hurricane Maria, in addition to 10 lingering waivers for Hurricane Irma. Basically, if you’re flying to/from/through the Caribbean, Bahamas, Cuba, Florida, and even Georgia, Alabama or South Carolina over the next few days, open American Airlines’ waiver page and search your origin, connecting and/or destination airport(s) to see if you can change your flights for free.
In addition, the following airlines have also issued change fee waivers for Hurricane Maria: Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Frontier, Spirit Airlines, United
Featured image by NOAA.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,650
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 2X points on all travel and dining, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Plus earn up to $50 in statement credits towards grocery store purchases within your first year of account opening.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.