Did you buy a plane ticket for a future travel time but there may be a hurricane ruining you plans? What will happen to your money that you spent?
Do airlines refund for hurricanes?
Yes, most of the time you should be able to get a refund when a hurricane occurs.
The policy varies from airline to airline and sometimes the amount of money refunded is limited, which means that it is hard for passengers affected by a hurricane to get enough back on their yearly travel budget.
The best thing to do is to read up on your airline’s policy on this before you buy the ticket to make sure that you are covered. Some with give a refund and others will gave a credit towards future travel plans.
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Do Flights Get Cancelled Due To Hurricanes?
Yes. Hurricanes can be a lot of damage to a city, and a big part of that is the affect on the airports.
Some airlines have been known to cancel flights due to weather conditions. The size of the storm can have an effect on which flights get cancelled, but it does happen. In 2000 Hurricane Charley forced the cancellation of over 1,000 flights at Orlando’s international airport alone. In 2004 Hurricane Frances caused numerous flight cancellations in Florida during Orlando’s hurricane season and Georgia.
In 2005 Hurricane Katrina caused the cancellation of over 1,000 flights from Florida to New York. In 2012 150 flights were cancelled from Florida to New York. In 2010 the east coast was hit by a lot of hurricanes and multiple flights to and from Florida were also cancelled.
What Happens If A Hurricane Cancels Your Flight?
If the flight is canceled, then you do get a refund. To get that refund, you will need to contact your airline and in a lot of cases a ticket agent in the airport will have all the information in order to credit your account.
Most tickets purchased through an airline have a guaranteed amount of money back in case of flight cancellation. Usually this number exceeds the total price of the ticket so there won’t be much money left on your credit card or bank account when it does happen.
Are There Insurance Policies For Cancelled Flights?
Yes. You can buy travel insurance to cover you should your flight be cancelled due to a hurricane. It can protect you in case there is bad weather, but it does not protect you from terrorist attacks like 9/11 or other similar situations.
If your flight gets cancelled due to bad weather you will be refunded the cost of the flight.
How Long Do I Have To Get A Refund For A Cancelled Flight?
The refund policy varies by airline. The general rule is that the airline will give you a refund within a week after it gets cancelled. Some airlines will give you a refund for up to 50% of the cost of the ticket.
This happens mostly when there is significant damage from a hurricane, high winds or flooding, or if there is some kind of accident with your flight. In general, airlines will give you back at least 80% of your money back if there are no extenuating circumstances to the cancellation.
When Is Flying During A Hurricane Acceptable?
The general rule is that you should not fly when the hurricane’s category is 4 or higher. Some airlines may even cancel your flight if it is a category 3 or above. Category 3 is the strongest and most dangerous of hurricanes. It covers winds of 111-129 mph and up to 155mph. Usually airports will be closed when a hurricane hits a category of 3 or higher.
However, flying at a category 1 hurricane is doable. You just have to be prepared. Some airlines will still be operating their flights during a category 2 hurricane at the discretion of the captain. The airline will allow you to cancel your flight after you have bought it, but it is still up to the captain’s discretion if you are allowed to board or not.
Can A Plane Fly Through A Hurricane?
Yes, if the category is low enough. Planes can fly through a category 1 hurricane. The wings of the plane have to create a strong vortex which will allow the plane to fly through it. It is a very dangerous maneuver, but it does happen.
You should keep in mind that the front of the plane is usually stronger than the back since there is more air pressure there and it has to slice through faster. The tail can be damaged very easily if not done correctly, and winds will increase once you go past the eye of the storm.
You can also fly over a hurricane. If you are flying over a tropical storm or hurricane that is considered category 4 or higher, then it is not recommended to fly through it since you could lose your plane in case of bad weather. A jet can easily be damaged by flying through a hurricane.
Conclusion
Yes. Airlines will usually refund up to 80% of your money if the flight is cancelled due to a hurricane’s category. The length of time you have to get a refund depends on the airline and its policy, but most refunds are within a week of the flight being cancelled.