Airlines waive fees for changing, canceling NY and NJ flights ahead of Tuesday storms

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Major airlines are letting customers change — and even cancel — flights traveling to or from the New York metropolitan area as the city prepares for severe storms this week.

New York is now under a flood watch as meteorologists forecast up to 7 inches of rainfall from slow-moving storms passing through the city Tuesday night into Wednesday. By Tuesday afternoon, the approaching storms were contributing to headaches for travelers at regional airports. More than 330 flights were canceled into and out of JFK Airport, according to FlightAware data. Meanwhile, LaGuardia reported more than 450 cancellations, and Newark reported more than 220. The airports were also reporting dozens of flight delays, stretching for at least an hour or more in many cases.

The stormy forecast is concerning enough for certain airlines to temporarily scratch off rebooking fees for anyone traveling through the affected areas.

Here’s a breakdown of what each airline is offering.

American Airlines said it is waiving the fee to change certain flights traveling into or out of both JFK and LaGuardia airports on Tuesday.

Travelers entering or leaving major airports in Westchester County, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. are also eligible.

The airline is letting travelers make one-time changes for flights booked as recently as Sunday, so long as the trip’s origin and destination don’t change.

An American Airlines spokesperson did not comment further and instead referred to the airline’s travel alert.

JetBlue is waiving fees travelers usually pay when changing or canceling a flight because of the severe storms that “may affect travel,” a spokesperson for the airline said.

The exemption applies to those who booked JetBlue flights traveling to or from JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports from Monday to Wednesday, according to the advisory .

Travelers flying to or from airports in Long Island and Westchester County are also eligible.

The airline stipulates that the offer is good for any rebooked flight through Aug. 1. Those with cancelled flights can also get a refund.

United Airlines also said it is waiving fees for those traveling to or from airports in the New York metropolitan area, as well as Baltimore and Washington, D.C., citing potential thunderstorms along the East Coast.

The new flight just needs to be changed to another United flight departing between Monday and Thursday. Like other airlines, you may need to pay the difference if you upgrade to a different cabin.

Delta is letting travelers traveling to or from airports in New York City, New Jersey and White Plains make last-minute changes without incurring fees, the airline confirmed.

The offer applies to anyone traveling between Monday and Wednesday, so long as the ticket is reissued on or before Aug. 1.

And if travel can’t be rescheduled, Delta is letting travelers cancel their flights and receive a credit that can go towards the purchase of a new ticket traveling within one year of the original trip.

Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.

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