United Airlines memo offers alternative airports amid Trump airport name change
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United Airlines circulated an internal memo allowing agents to suggest nearby airports to passengers who wish to avoid the newly renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, while the airline says its policy does not permit changes solely due to an airport's name.
United Airlines circulated an internal memo to reservation agents on Thursday that instructed them to offer passengers free rebooking options to nearby airports such as Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or Miami (MIA) if travelers preferred not to use the renamed Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach. The memo included suggested language for agents, for example, “I understand that you’d rather not fly to this airport anymore. We can look at nearby airports like Fort Lauderdale or Miami instead. Is that an acceptable alternative?”
United did not deny the memo’s authenticity, but a spokesperson told The Hill that the wording was “poorly worded” and not an accurate reflection of company policy. The airline said customers can change tickets without a fee for many reasons, but policy does not allow changes based solely on an airport’s name or three-letter code.
The airport’s name change, approved by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in March, took effect earlier this month and will involve a new three-letter identifier, DJT, replacing PBI in mid-August. The state and the airport are each covering half of the $5.5 million cost of the change. The airport’s contact forms now note that passengers will continue to receive the same level of service during the transition.