United Airlines rescinds policy allowing free rebooking from Donald J. Trump International Airport
United Airlines withdrew a July 8 memo that had permitted reservation agents to rebook passengers at no charge from the renamed West Palm Beach airport to Miami or Fort Lauderdale, stating the guidance was inaccurate.
United Airlines announced it has revoked a July 8 internal memo that authorized reservation agents to rebook passengers scheduled to fly into Donald J. Trump International Airport (formerly West Palm Beach International) to nearby Miami International or Fort Lauderdale airports without charging a fare difference. The original memo instructed agents to offer "acceptable alternatives" and provided a script for handling passenger concerns about the airport name change, describing the rebooking as an "even exchange" even when the new fare was higher.
After the memo circulated publicly, the airline issued a statement saying the guidance was "poorly worded" and "inaccurate," and clarified that United’s policy does not permit changes solely because of an airport’s name or three-letter code. The carrier added that customers can change tickets without a fee for many reasons, but fare differences will now apply to any such rebooking.
United did not comment on whether the memo reflected senior-level policy, but indicated that the revised guidance removes the provision for free fare adjustments. All domestic tickets, except basic economy, remain eligible for changes, though passengers will be responsible for any price differences.