As Hurricane Hilary grew to Category 4 status on Friday, airlines are eliminating change fees and pricing discrepancies for tourists flying via Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this weekend.
Los Cabos International Airport (SJD) in Baja California Sur has been issued with travel advisories.
Customers who purchased their ticket by August 16, 2023 and are planned to travel August 19-20, 2023 will be exempt from change costs. Travel must be completed within one year of the original ticket date, and changes must be booked by August 20, 2023. American notes that a fare difference may apply.
“Customers holding reservations to, from, or through the cities listed above [SJD] on Friday, August 18, through Sunday, August 20, and want to alter their travel plans may rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying additional charges,” Southwest Airlines confirmed.
United Airlines is also waiving change fees for impacted customers flying into or out of Los Cabos.
“You can reschedule your trip and we’ll waive change fees and fare differences. But, your new flight must be a United flight departing between August 16, 2023, and August 23, 2023,” the airline states. “Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked.”
JetBlue issued a similar alert. “We are anticipating severe weather in the Los Cabos, Mexico area due to Hurricane Hilary. We will waive change/cancel fees and fare differences for customers traveling Friday, August 18 through Sunday, August 20, 2023, to/from the following city: Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD).”
“Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Tuesday, August 22, 2023, online in the manage trips section of jetblue.com prior to the departure time of their originally scheduled flight. Customers with canceled flights may also opt for a refund to the original form of payment. Original travel must have been booked on or before Thursday, August 17, 2023,” the carrier said.
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines is offering a flexible travel policy for passengers at SJD as well as Loreto International Airport (LTO). “Due to Hurricane Hilary, we are offering a flexible travel policy if you would like to change or cancel your flight to/from Los Cabos (SJD) and Loreto (LTO),” Alaska said.
Before arriving at the airport, passengers should verify their flight status with their airline.
Hilary is anticipated to weaken over the weekend but remain a tropical storm when it moves by Southern California and the Southwest United States, potentially producing catastrophic flooding in famous tourist destinations such as San Diego and Las Vegas.
