Air airports open? What to know about flying through the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida amid Hurricane Ian
Florida’s airports will eventually be open Friday as Hurricane Ian pushes north, but air travelers will continue to feel the storm’s impact for days.
Just under 1,800 U.S. flights are canceled Friday, including many across Florida as well as Georgia and the Carolinas, according to FlightAware, which tracks flight status in real time.
Travelers are urged to check their flight status before any flight and rebook through their respective airlines. Some airlines have set deadlines for making changes or completing trips, but all travelers whose flights were canceled are eligible for refunds, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Here’s what travelers should know about airports and airline waiver policies amid Hurricane Ian.
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►Are airports open? Status updates
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
The airport is open and closely monitoring the storm. Travelers are advised to check with their airlines before heading out. Airport updates are available on Charlotte Douglas International’s Twitter page @CLTAirport and website.
Charleston International Airport (CHS)
Ninety percent of Friday’s flights at Charleston International Airport have been canceled, according to FlightAware. “We continue to work with our federal partners Joint Base Charleston to monitor the weather patterns of Hurricane Ian and any potential impact it may have on the Lowcountry area,” the airport said on its website and in a post pinned to the top of its Twitter page @iflyCHS, which travelers can follow for updates.
Myrtle Beach International Airport (MYR)
The airport was planning to remain open according to its Twitter page, but 90% of Friday’s flights have been canceled according to FlightAware. Travelers should check with their airlines and can follow the airport’s Twitter page @flymyrtlebeach and website for updates.
Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP)
“GSP is open and operational. Please check with your airline for flight status updates if you are traveling today,” the airport posted on Twitter Friday morning. Travelers can follow the airport’s Twitter page @GSPAirport and website for more information.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta international Airport (ATL)
Atlanta’s main airport, one of the busiest in the world, remains open Friday. “ATL is monitoring Hurricane Ian and working diligently to keep any impact to airport operations at a minimum,” the airport said in a tweet pinned at the top of their Twitter page @ATLairport. “Travelers should check with their airline carrier for the most up-to-date flight information and monitor the airport’s social media channels for updates.” More information may also be available on the airport’s website.
Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV)
The airport remains open but some flights have been disrupted. The airport advises travelers to check flight status with their respective airlines. More information can be found on the airport’s Twitter page @fly_SAV and website.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX)
The airport plans to gradually resume operations at noon Friday, with “some airlines operating on reduced schedules,” the airport said via Twitter. Travelers were urged to contact their airlines to rebook. Updates are available through @JAXairport on Twitter and jaxready.com/ian.
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
The airport will resume passenger flights sometime after noon Friday. “Travelers are advised not to arrive at the airport for their departure prior to 10 a.m., so the airport and partners can prepare working areas to better serve our customers,” the airport announced via Twitter. For updates, check Orlando International Airport’s Twitter page @MCO or website.
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Melbourne Orlando International Airport (MLB)
The airport reopened at 6 a.m. Friday and resumed normal operations. For more information, check Melbourne Orlando International Airport’s Twitter page @FlyMLB or website.
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
The airport fully reopened at 10 a.m. Friday. Passengers are still advised to check flight status with their airlines and arrive at least two hours before scheduled departures. Check @FlyTPA on Twitter or the airport’s website for more information.
St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE)
The airport reopened Friday morning, but some flights may still be impacted. Travelers should check with their airlines before heading out. More information can be found on St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport’s Twitter page @iflypie and website.
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)
The airport announced Thursday that it would reopen Friday but did not specify timing and urged travelers to check flight information with their airlines. Additional updates may be available on the airport’s Twitter page @SRQAirport and website.
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW)
The airport remains closed. “RSW will open when power and water has been restored and we can operate safely for flights,” the airport posted on Facebook Friday. Travelers can follow the airport’s Facebook page @flyRSW and website for updates and should contact their respective airlines to rebook travel.
Palm Beach International Airport (PBI)
The airport is open, but travelers should still check with their airlines for cancellations or delays before heading out. Additional updates may be found on Palm Beach International Airport’s Twitter page @flyPBI and website.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
The airport is open, but some flights may still be canceled or delayed. Travelers should check with their airlines. More information can be found on Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s Twitter page @FLLFlyer and website.
Miami International Airport (MIA)
The airport is open, but a number of flights are canceled or delayed, so travelers should check flight status with their airline before heading out. For more updates, check Miami International Airport’s Twitter page @iflymia or website.
► Travel waivers by airline
Alaska Airlines
Passengers flying to or from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa, Orlando, Charleston and Raleigh-Durham can participate in the airlines’ flexible travel policy to change or cancel their flights, according to the airline’s website. Cash refunds are available only on refundable tickets or flights that the airline canceled. Customers who purchase nonrefundable tickets will be issued future travel credits valid for one year if they opt to cancel their trips. Rebooked travel that takes place on or before Oct. 10 through the same airports will be exempt from fare difference charges.
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air expects flights to many Florida and South Carolina destinations to be disrupted through Sunday. Travelers whose flights are impacted must call 702-505-8888 to change their flight for no additional cost. Customers whose flights were canceled will receive automatic refunds within 72 hours of cancelation notification, according to the airline.
American Airlines
American Airlines will allow passengers whose plans were affected by Hurricane Ian to rebook without change fees or save the flight credit for future travel up to a year from the original ticketed travel dates. Travelers whose flights were canceled are eligible for refunds. Exact rebooking policies vary by airport, so check with the airline to see which rules apply.
American’s policies cover travelers heading to, from and though much of Florida, as well as parts of Georgia and the Carolinas. The airline said it also added reduced, last-minute fares to help people evacuate by air, including waiving checked bag fees for two pieces of luggage and lifting limits and fees for carry-on pets.
Delta Air Lines
Travelers flying to destinations in Florida and parts of Georgia and South Carolina through Friday will have the change fee and fare difference waived for rebooked travel that happens on or before Oct. 6, according to Delta’s website. Travel after Oct. 6 will still see the change fee waived, but fare difference charges will apply.
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Southwest Airlines
Passengers flying to Southwest Airlines’ Florida destinations through Sunday can change their departure/origin to another Florida city without additional charge, according to the airline’s website. They can also rebook their flight within 14 days of the original date of travel for no extra fee. Passengers traveling to Charleston, Greenville/Spartanburg or Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, Raleigh-Durham or Charlotte in North Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, will have that same flexibility through Monday.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit passengers with flights booked to, from or through Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando or Tampa through Friday and who push their travel to occur on or before Oct. 3 will see their fare difference and change fees waived, according to Spirit’s website. For rebooked travel that occurs after Oct. 3, the change fee will still be waived, but fare differences will apply. Spirit will also allow customers booked to travel to or from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina, on or before Oct. 2 to travel on or before Oct. 9 without paying fare differences or change fees. Rebooked travel to or from Myrtle Beach that occurs after Oct. 9 will still see the change fee waived, but fare differences will apply.
United Airlines
Travelers who had planned to travel to United’s Florida destinations through Friday can rebook their flight to occur between now and Oct. 8 and have any fare difference and change fee waived so long as the new flights use the same airports, according to United’s website. A similar policy is also in effect for some of the airline’s destinations in the Carolinas and Georgia. The original tickets for those airports should be for travel on or before Oct. 3, and the new itinerary must occur on or before Oct. 10 to avoid change fees and paying fare differences.