Coronavirus airline guide: Who’s canceling flights and waiving fees - New York Post

Got travel plans? You might want to read this.

The spread of coronavirus has thrown a wrench into the world of travel — both for those with vacation plans, business obligations and the airline industry itself. Canceled or changed flights are leading many to worry not just about their health, but their time and money.

Travel advisories have been listed for China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan. And already, airlines such as JetBlue and United have reduced their flight schedules, especially to areas hit hard by the virus. Most airlines are offering customers the chance to cancel or change their plans, but the window to do so is limited.

Still, many brave travelers are choosing to fly anyway, relying on travel insurance or vigilant hygiene practices.

Whether you’re sticking to your travel plans or navigating the process of changing your trip, here’s everything you need to know about air travel amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Airline fees and service changes

• Delta is limiting service to Japan, and reducing the number of weekly flights between the US and South Korea. It has suspended flights to China until April 30. The airline will waive fees for all flights booked between March 1 to March 31, including international flights previously booked that are scheduled to fly in March. The airline will allow passengers to adjust trips to Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul and all locations in Italy through April 30. Check Delta’s site for updates.
• American Airlines will waive fees up to 14 days prior to travel for customers who purchase flights  between March 1 and March 16. Flights to Milan have been suspended through April 25. Flights to and from Seoul, South Korea, have been halted as well. The airline will be contacting affected customers to help them make accommodations. More updates are on the airline’s website.
• JetBlue is suspending change and cancellation fees for all for travel through June 1 on new reservations made between Feb. 27 through March 11.
• Air Canada has suspended flights to Beijing and Shanghai.
• British Airways is suspending flights to mainland China, with a reduction in service to Milan, according to Reuters.  Airline reps said they will contact customers to facilitate rescheduling.
• Alaska Airlines will waive fees for all tickets bought between Feb. 27 and March 31. This applies to travel all the way through June 30. Check the site for updates.
• United Airlines will suspend flights between the US and the following cities in China: Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, as well as Hong Kong, Iran and some services to Japan and Seoul through April 30. Anyone who booked a flight between March 3 and March 31 can change it for free over the next 12 months. Check the site for updates.

A member of the Airport Medical Service takes a temperature reading from staff members with a digital thermometer at Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc Airport on Feb. 5 during a presentation for the press.AFP via Getty Images

What destinations are affected right now? 

• The US State Department issued its highest warning advising against travel to China, South Korea and Iran.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) followed suit March 4, discouraging all nonessential travel to China (not including Hong Kong, Macau or the island of Taiwan), as well as South Korea, Italy and Iran.
• The CDC issued slightly lower travel advisories (“practice enhanced precautions”) for travel to Japan.
• Travel+Leisure advises communicating directly with your hotel and airline to feel secure about choices and to monitor updates for current information about your destination.
• The CDC cautions that any travelers returning from China, Italy, Iran and South Korea stay home for 14 days from the time they left. If those travelers come down with a fever, a cough or shortness of breath, they should immediately call their doctor and avoid contact with others.

An airline staff member wears a protective mask as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus COVID-19.AFP via Getty Images

Will travel insurance save the day?

Not necessarily. Most insurance companies won’t cover cancellations, since the outbreak is generally considered a “foreseen event,” unless you booked that trip well before the virus hit in January, according to Vox. Pricey insurance plans that allow travelers to cancel for “any reason” are more likely to offer some (but likely not full) coverage for cancellations.

In short: If you’re thinking about getting travel insurance now, it’s too late.

“Some providers do exclude epidemics or pandemics outright,” Squaremouth content director Steven Benna told Vox. “Others have specific language that won’t refer to whether or not something’s a pandemic, but would have a foreseeability date whether something has an impact on travel.”

Those who have some coverage through their credit cards, such as Chase Sapphire cardholders, may not be covered if they have to change their flights or other travel accommodations. Chase representatives tell The Post you’re better off arranging that through your airline or hotel.

Passengers wear protective masks as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus COVID-19AFP via Getty Images

In-flight sanitary precautions

At this point, if you’re still planning on flying, there are precautions you can take to try and protect yourself.

• Book a window seat, which can limit your exposure to potentially sick people.
• Otherwise, the same rules apply for flying as they have everywhere else (wash your hands with soap and water).
• Experts also suggest wiping down surfaces with disinfectant and using a tissue to touch screens. Hand sanitizer and wipes can be effective tools to kill illness-causing germs. Those made with at least 60 percent alcohol tend to be the most effective, according to the CDC. “It’s not bad to wipe down the area around you, but it’s worth remembering that the coronavirus is not going to jump off the seat and get into your mouth,” Aaron Milstone, associate hospital epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Hospital told the New York Times. “People should be more careful of touching something dirty then putting their hands on their faces.”
• Face masks are not going to help much, and you should only wear one if you have symptoms. In fact, masks might even spread more bugs than they stop, says David Powell, a physician and medical adviser to the International Air Transport Association: “[A mask] will allow viruses to be transmitted around it, through it and worse still, if it becomes moist, it will encourage the growth of viruses and bacteria,” Powell told Bloomberg.

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