U.S. airlines canceled flights to/from Tel Aviv, but issued revised rescheduling and cancellation policies. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – In the wake of the cancellation of flights to Tel Aviv by U.S. and European airlines, passengers who have booked canceled flights have different recourses to reschedule their trips or get their money back, depending on each airline’s cancellation policy.

The following are the current policies of major U.S. airlines regarding rescheduling canceled flights to Tel Aviv. All the airlines have official refund policies, but it may be better to call the airlines to find out if additional refund exceptions can be made specifically for canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv.

These policies may also change if the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extends or shortens the initial 24-hour suspension on flights that it instituted on Tuesday afternoon. US Airways issued a statement Wednesday that it may resume flights to Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport on Thursday if it receives FAA approval, CNN reported.

Delta Airlines:

Delta has suspended service until further notice to and from Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv (TLV) and its New York-JFK hub. You may make a one-time change to your ticket without a fee if you are scheduled to travel to, from, or through Tel Aviv on Delta, Delta Connection®, or Delta-coded flights between July 9 and August 15. All tickets must be reissued on or before August 31, and the rebooked travel must begin no later than August 31.

When rescheduled travel occurs beyond August 31, 2014, the change fee will be waived. But a difference in fares may apply. Final travel must be completed by the end of ticket validity, one year from the date of original issue. If travel cannot 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 change fees and fare differences will apply for new travel dates. Final travel must be completed by the end of ticket validity.

Changes to origins and destinations may result in an increase in fare. Any difference in fare between your original ticket and the new ticket will be collected at the time of booking. Customers can also apply for a refund here.

United Airlines:

In some cases where severe weather and other uncontrollable events are impacting United’s operations, United may, at its sole discretion, issue an exception policy designed to accommodate customers with restricted tickets who wish to change their travel in advance of any potential disruption. For canceled Tel-Aviv-bound flights scheduled between July 22 and August 15, changing to earlier or later flights is allowed, but final travel must be completed within one year of the issue date of the original ticket.

When rescheduled travel commences by August 31, change fees and fare differences will be waived. Travel may be rescheduled in any fare class, same cabin. For all other dates and ticket uses, the change fee will be waived, but a difference in fare may apply. Customers may be eligible for a refund and should apply here.

US Airways:

The airline has relaxed its change-fee policies. If your trip is affected, you can change your trip online in most cases here, and your change fee will be waived.

You can book a flight with the same origin and destination between July 9 and August 31 if your current ticket is scheduled between July 9 and July 31. You may have to pay to change your trip if you change your origin and/or destination, your travel is outside the dates listed above, or if there is a difference in fare. The airline asks that customers call if part or all of your trip is on another airline or if you don’t see a “change my trip” link when you pull up your reservation.

Customers traveling on certain tickets—such as some available from third-party ticket discounters, including but not limited to discount travel websites—may not have all the elements of the policy available to them. Tickets issued by US Airways for travel on airlines other than US Airways, US Airways Shuttle or US Airways Express will follow the rules of the airline operating the flight(s). Itinerary changes are subject to availability, and in certain cases, an additional collection fee. Customers will be able to stand by for alternate flights without incurring the standby fee if a satisfactory alternate itinerary cannot be confirmed.

Information regarding refunds is available here.

American Airlines, which is merging with US Airways, has also canceled its flights to/from Tel Aviv and issued a similar travel notice exception advisory effective through August 31, available here.