Airlines offer "Comfort Level" and "Peace of Mind" in case of war

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

U.S. airlines to loosen rules if war comes


NEW YORK (Reuters) --Several U.S. airlines say they will loosen travel
restrictions and waive some fees in the event of war on Iraq or a "Code Red"
alert.

This month, five major airlines -- AMR Corp. unit American Airlines Inc.,
UAL Corp. unit United Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc., Continental
Airlines Inc. and US Airways Group Inc. -- announced plans to waive some
ticket change fees, which can reach $100, in case of military action.

American and US Airways said they will also waive some fees if the U.S.
government issues a Code Red alert, indicating the highest threat of
terrorist activity.

Airlines also changed ticketing policies during the 1991 Gulf War.

"Any time the industry is disrupted in any way for a major reason, there is
short-term chaos and confusion," said Bob Harrell, an independent airline
consultant at Harrell Associates in New York. "Anything that can be done to
set procedures prior to an event will make travel less confusing."

None of the airlines is offering refunds if war or terrorism disrupts
travel. Most major U.S. airlines are losing money, and United and U.S.
Airways last year sought bankruptcy protection from creditors.

US Airways' "Peace of Mind" policy lets customers apply an unused ticket's
full value to future travel within 90 days of a war or Code Red alert.

American's "Comfort Level" policy, meanwhile, lets purchasers rebook U.S. or
international travel starting within 60 days of military action or a Code
Red.

Customers need "reassurance in knowing they can make changes to their travel
plans without standard fees during this time of uncertainty," American
spokesman Todd Burke said.

Continental's and Delta's policies, in contrast, allow changes only on
transatlantic travel. Customers may through May 31 change certain restricted
tickets bought between early March and March 31. Many analysts expect an
Iraq war, if it begins soon, to end quickly.

"There is a lot of timidity among the public about traveling outside the
United States, particularly to Europe," said Harrell. "These policies may
put the traveling public at ease and keep them from being dissuaded from
traveling."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TRAVEL/03/07/airlines.travel.war.reut/index.html


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