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Commercial pilot Kathleen Bangs offers advice on how to navigate cancellations and delays due to the storm.
As Hurricane Ian approaches Florida’s west coast, many travelers planning to fly to the Sunshine State are trying to navigate airline cancellations and storm delays.
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According to the Fox Prediction Center, a hurricane watch has been issued for the Florida Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area, ahead of wind, rain and storm surge expected this weekend.
“The biggest shock at the moment is that we’ve seen very few canceled flights for tomorrow and the next day,” said Kathleen Bangs, commercial pilot for FlyAware.
A Boeing 777-300ER of US airline United Airlines flies over the Furth after taking off from Nuremberg Airport.
(Daniel Carman/Image Consortium/Getty Images)
She added that the airlines have not issued public statements about alerts or advisories, but suggested that travelers look for flight alerts or advisories on airline websites. There you will find information about affected flights and what travelers can do about it.
“What they’re saying is, if you want to change that flight, if you want to cancel that flight or delay that flight or get a refund, please go ahead and do it online now,” Bangs said, adding that those who try to call may have to wait a long time to get a customer service representative.
“If you try to call Alaska Airlines on their website, you might have to wait a week or so for someone to get a phone number right now,” Bangs said. “So you want to go over there and change now.”
Georgia, Atlanta, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Delta Air Lines, tarmac and airport services.
(Jeff Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Getty Images)
Bangs also noted that each airline has its own restrictions on when to change flights and when to travel.
“You’ll want to get there within the next couple of days, so don’t miss the window to change your flight if you want to avoid the wrath of Hurricane Ian,” she added.
Travelers across the country should take note of the hurricane’s coast-to-coast flight plans as Ian heads toward Florida, especially once the storm comes ashore.
Airline passengers wait in line to check in at Sydney Kingsford Smith Domestic Airport on December 18, 2020 in Sydney, Australia.
(James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
“We don’t know where he’s going yet, but everyone should definitely be paying attention to what’s going on with Ian this week,” Bangs said.
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