"Airlines offering changes, refunds for canceled flights"

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Airlines offering changes, refunds for canceled flights
By Kristin Jackson
The Seattle (WA) Times


Air travel is in chaos today after British police foiled a terrorist plot to
blow up planes flying between Britain and the United States. Flight
cancellations and delays are boomeranging around the world and travelers are
scrambling to rebook flights.

Security and restrictions on carry-on baggage have been drastically
tightened, creating long delays at airports worldwide, including Sea-Tac
Airport. Thousands of flights, especially in and out of Britain and
continental Europe, have been canceled.

Both European and U.S. airlines, including Alaska Airlines, are allowing
travelers to postpone or cancel flights for the coming days because of
severe airport congestion, the new restrictive carry-on rules and travelers'
concerns about air travel. Most are waiving penalty fees for changes and
have loosened restrictions on what otherwise would be unrefundable tickets.

Here's a look at some airlines' policies:

British Airways: The airline, one of the world's largest, has canceled all
of its domestic flights and European short-haul flights, to and from
London's Heathrow Airport for all of today. The airport had huge security
lines and confusion. Many flights from London's Gatwick airport also were
canceled.

British Airways is trying to operate as many long-haul flights as possible
from Heathrow, including to the United States. A Heathrow to Seattle flight
was to arrive several hours late this evening.

Travelers due to leave from United Kingdom airports today and Friday can
rebook flights or get a refund. Passengers flying from airports outside the
U.K. can rebook or get refunds in case of delays or cancellations. Get more
information at www.ba.com (Other European airlines also canceled flights,
including Air France, which stopped all flights to Heathrow today.)

Given the new, restrictive carry-on baggage rules, Alaska Airlines and
Horizon Air are offering ticket refunds and waiving change fees for
passengers who are due to travel through Aug 14. Refunds will be offered to
travelers who don't have new dates for travel; change fees won't apply if
travelers rebook their flights for travel starting by Sept. 10.

Because of extensive delays today, Alaska said it would not accept
unaccompanied minors or pets traveling with passengers. See
www.alaskaair.com

American Airlines

American has canceled a half-dozen flights today between London Heathrow and
Boston, Chicago and New York. Because of airport congestion, American is
allowing passengers traveling within/between the United States, Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands (with tickets bought by Aug. 9) to change their
travel date up until Sept. 1 or get a refund in the form of a travel
voucher.

International travelers can change their flights through Sept. 1 without
fees (as long as tickets were purchased no later than Aug. 9). For those who
want to cancel a trip, a refund will be offered; for non-refundable tickets
it will be a travel voucher that can be used to purchase tickets at some
other time. Like many other airlines, for travelers using frequent-flier
tickets, the mileage will be refunded to their accounts.

Get details at www.aa.com

Northwest Airlines

For passengers with tickets to, from or through the United Kingdom between
today and Aug. 20, Northwest is waiving normal change fees. Passengers may
postpone their travel for up to one year from the date their ticket was
issued as long as they rebook by Oct. 31.

Passengers who miss any flights today because of security delays can go on
the next available flight without the normal penalty fees.

Information

Children flying alone: Many airlines are not allowing unaccompanied minors
to fly today, given the flight delays. Pets traveling in holds also are not
permitted.

Carry-on luggage: The British government has banned carry-on baggage on
flights from the United Kingdom to the United States. The U.S. government
has restricted carry-on items, with all lotions, liquids and gels forbidden.

Excess baggage, online check-in: Most airlines are waiving excess baggage
fees since travelers must check more luggage. British Airways has suspended
online check-in; other airlines may do so.

Check-in times: Many airlines are recommending that passengers arrive at the
airport two hours early for domestic flights, three hours for international.
Alaska Airlines

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