JetBlue Joins Delta in Issuing Travel Waiver for the Dominican Republic
A wave of sudden deaths, illnesses and accidents among tourists in the Dominican Republic has raised questions surrounding the safety of Caribbean nation. So much so that the US State Department has had a Level 2 travel advisory on the country since April, encouraging tourists to exercise increased caution.
Fortunately, you've got options if you have travel booked there — even if you didn't book the trip with a credit card that provides trip cancellation and interruption protection. Just days after Delta issued a travel waiver for Punta Cana (PUJ) due to "recent events" there, JetBlue has announced that it will allow passengers with flights to/from the Dominican Republic to change or cancel their flights for no additional fee.
The waiver is not posted on JetBlue's website, but representative of the airline provided TPG the following statement:
"The safety of our customers and crewmembers is our first priority. While JetBlue's flights to the Dominican Republic are unaffected, we are working with the U.S. Embassy and local authorities to stay updated on developments. To support our customers, we are currently waiving change fees when rebooking flights to/from the Dominican Republic. For customers who wish to cancel their flights, we are waiving the cancellation fee and issuing a credit for future JetBlue travel. For additional questions, customers can call 1-800-JETBLUE."
Unlike Delta's waiver which only applies to travel to Punta Cana, it seems that JetBlue's covers all airports the airline flies to in the country (LRM/POP/PUJ/STI/SDQ). JetBlue's waiver also doesn't list any restrictions in terms of travel dates or dates you must have purchased your ticket by.
No other airline has issued a travel waiver for the Dominican Republic yet, though it can't hurt to still ask the airline to reaccommodate you if you don't feel comfortable going there as they may make exceptions on a case-by-case basis.
For the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips please subscribe to The Points Guy daily email newsletter.
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app