USA: Update – Airlines extend travel waivers as wildfires continue to burn in California

The devastating Camp Fire in Paradise has become the deadliest in California’s history. At least 48 people have been killed, and about 200 are still missing. More than 8,800 structures, most of them homes, have been destroyed as the area has been reduced to ashes. The blaze is only about 35 percent contained, and has burned 130,000 acres, as it continues to rage east of the city of Chico. The Woolsey Fire is burning west of Los Angeles and has swept through parts of Malibu. The fire is 40 percent contained and has charred more than 97,000 acres. The Hill Fire in Ventura County has been kept to about 4,500 acres and is 90 percent contained.

Airlines has begun issuing waivers for travellers.

American Airlines:

Passengers traveling to, through or from Burbank, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento or San Francisco can redeem a waiver to reschedule original flights planned through Nov. 16, for travel by Nov. 25.

American Airlines is also raising money for those affected, offering AAdvantage members 10 miles for every dollar on Red Cross donations of $25 or more until Dec.10.

Delta:

Travellers flying with Delta to, through or from Burbank, Los Angeles, Oakland, or San Francisco Nov. 12-13 can rebook their flight to travel no later than Nov. 28 without incurring a fee. Passengers who cannot travel can cancel their reservations and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original ticket issuance.

Southwest:

Those traveling to and from Burbank, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose can make changes to their reservation for flights between now and Nov. 20. Travellers can either rebook or travel standby “within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs” without paying any additional charge.

United Airlines:

Flights through Nov. 16 from or to Burbank, Los Angeles or San Francisco will have change fees and any difference in fare waived for new United flights departing on or before Nov. 25. The new flight must be between the same cities as originally booked and be in the same fare class.

JetBlue:

The airline will waive change and cancellation fees and fare differences for customers traveling through Nov. 16 to and from Burbank, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Customers may rebook their flights for travel through Nov. 21.