Multiple airlines have issued travel waivers after an attack in the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans. The attack occurred in the early morning hours of New Years Day and caused the Allstate Sugar Bowl to be postponed until Thursday January 2, 2025.
With tens of thousands of fans in town to watch the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and Notre Dame Fighting Irish, many will need to adjust or rebook their travel plans. Multiple airlines have issued advisories and waivers in relation to the attack.
American Airlines
American Airlines has issued a travel alert for Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) for passengers scheduled to travel between January 1-3, 2025. Passengers in any fare class, including Basic Economy, traveling on American Airlines flights can rebook travel free of charge between January 1-6, 2025. Changes to origin and destination cities are not allowed and passengers must rebook into the same cabin or pay the difference in price.
Breeze Airways
Breeze Airways has issued a travel waiver for passengers traveling to/from New Orleans, LA (MSY) between January 1-3, 2025. The airline is allowing flights to be cancelled for a full flight credit, redeemable for 24 months from the original booking date. Cancellations can be made via the carrier’s mobile app. Passengers who purchased No Flex fares should contact the airline’s customer support team.
Passengers can also move flights to the next available one or one operating anytime within 2 weeks (14 days) of the original flight without additional charges.
Delta Air Lines
Delta issued an advisory for passengers traveling to/from New Orleans between January 1-3, 2025. If rebooked travel occurs on or before January 6, 2025 in the same cabin of service as originally booked, the fare difference will be waived.
If travel is not able to be rescheduled within these guidelines, customers may cancel their reservation 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. Applicable fare difference may apply for new travel dates. Final travel must be completed by end of ticket validity.
JetBlue
JetBlue is waiving change fees and fare differences for travels to/from New Orleans through January 3rd. Passengers can rebook their flights for travel through Wednesday, January 8, 2025, prior to the departure time of their originally scheduled flight. Original travel must have been booked on or before Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Southwest Airlines
Southwest issued a travel advisory due to the events that occurred in New Orleans, and is offering increased flexibility to passengers holding reservations to, from, or through New Orleans, LA (MSY) between January 1-3, 2025. Passengers who wish to adjust their travel plans may rebook or travel standby within 14 days of their original travel date, between the original city pairs, and in accordance with our accommodation procedures, without incurring additional charges.
Spirit Airlines
Spirit Airlines has not issued any travel advisories or waivers at the time of publication. If any are issued in the future, it can be found here.
United Airlines
United has issued a travel alert for passengers traveling between January 1-3, 2025 from New Orleans. Tickets must have been booked on or before December 31, 2024. Passengers can reschedule flights with no fare difference as long as the new flight is a United flight departing between December 31, 2024 and January 6, 2025. Tickets must be in the same cabin and between the same cities as originally booked.
Summary
In the wake of the tragedy in New Orleans earlier today, multiple airlines have issued travel waivers for passengers traveling to, from, and through Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY). Most airlines have waived change fees and fare differences for flights scheduled between January 1-3, 2025 as long as travel is rebooked by January 6, 2025. This post will be updated with new information as it is released.
(Image courtesy Lorenz von Schimonsky. You can find more of his work on Instagram at @abia.spotter)
