To Travel or Stay Home When Ill
Dec 08
News air travel, Continental Airlines, travel tips No Comments
Between cold and flu season and swine flu, personal hygeine has become more important than ever. Grocery stores offer antibacterial wipes next to shopping carts, and the most popular hand out on the trade show floor has become travel-sized hand sanitizer.
The CDC’s latest healthy travel campaign urges ill travelers to stay home – but at what cost? Flying while ill to avoid significant cancellation and rescheduling fees certainly seems like a viable option…but what if you are the unlucky passenger stuck next to the passenger coughing and sneezing throughout your flight?
A recent MSNBC article outlines current airline policies on cancelling a reservation due to illness:
- JetBlue, Northwest and Delta – case-by-case basis
- American and US Airways – changes to non-refundable tickets cost $150, plus the difference between the old and new fares
- AirTran Airways – waives cancellation and rescheduling fees for any passenger with a doctor’s note documenting that they have H1N1 (but not seasonal flu or other illnesses)
- Virgin America, Continental and United – ongoing policies to waive change fees for customers who can provide documentation of illness from their doctor
- Southwest – no charge for changing or cancelling flights
How does illness impact your travel plans?
Current Discussions