This article from NYTimes.com has been sent to you by psa188@xxxxxxxxx /-------------------- advertisement -----------------------\ Explore more of Starbucks at Starbucks.com. http://www.starbucks.com/default.asp?ci=1015 \----------------------------------------------------------/ Airlines Ease Some Rules Amid Hurricane September 16, 2003 By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Filed at 2:16 p.m. ET Travelers scheduled to fly to and from parts of the East Coast later this week will be allowed to alter their plans without penalties as several airlines eased reservation policies ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Isabel. By Tuesday afternoon, no carriers had announced flight cancellations. Forecasters said Isabel appeared to be on a course to hit Thursday on the North Carolina coast and move northward through eastern Virginia. American Airlines said customers flying in and out of six states, as well as the nation's capital, through Sept. 23 will be allowed to change the date or time of their flights at no extra charge. The states covered are Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Virginia. US Airways announced a similar policy change for customers who will be traveling to and from North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. The Arlington, Va.-based carrier's waiver applies to travel scheduled through Friday. The waiver also applies to US Airways customers scheduled to fly to the Bahamas before Thursday and to Bermuda before Sept. 28. In the event of a flight cancellation because of the hurricane, US Airways said customers will be allowed, at no extra cost, to book an alternate flight, reschedule travel up to seven days later or receive a refund for the full value of the ticket. JetBlue Airways, meanwhile, said customers scheduled to fly before Friday will be allowed to change their itinerary with no fee or fare increase, as long as they fly by the end of Saturday. Beyond that, the change fee will be waived, but any fare increase will apply. Southwest Airlines never penalizes customers for changing their itineraries, and even nonrefundable fares are reusable. For updates on flight cancellations and details of individual carriers' reservation policies, customers are recommended to call the airlines or check their Web sites. ^------ On the Net: www.amrcorp.com www.jetblue.com www.southwest.com www.usairways.com http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Hurricane-Isabel-Travel.html?ex=1064742137&ei=1&en=8fa6500247c74ba9 --------------------------------- Get Home Delivery of The New York Times Newspaper. Imagine reading The New York Times any time & anywhere you like! Leisurely catch up on events & expand your horizons. Enjoy now for 50% off Home Delivery! Click here: http://www.nytimes.com/ads/nytcirc/index.html HOW TO ADVERTISE --------------------------------- For information on advertising in e-mail newsletters or other creative advertising opportunities with The New York Times on the Web, please contact onlinesales@xxxxxxxxxxx or visit our online media kit at http://www.nytimes.com/adinfo For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help@xxxxxxxxxxxx Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company