United Airlines Offers Free Changes to Avoid Trump Airport
United Airlines plans to allow passengers to change flights for free if they want to avoid the newly renamed President Donald J Trump International Airport.
Alternative Florida Destinations Offered
Passengers who do not wish to land at the site can choose alternative routes. The airline will allow travelers to move their tickets to Fort Lauderdale or Miami without paying extra fees.
An internal memo instructed customer service agents to handle the requests as an even exchange. Fort Lauderdale sits roughly 45 miles south of West Palm Beach, while Miami is about 72 miles away.
Airline Recommends Soft Responses
The internal guidance suggests a specific script for agents dealing with unhappy travelers. The script advises staff to offer nearby airports as acceptable alternatives.
Official spokespeople for United Airlines stated that general company policy does not allow changes based on an airport's name. However, the internal memo suggests that frontline agents still hold the discretion to process these switches.
Public Backlash Sparks System Updates
The renaming follows a recent Florida state law that changed the designation of the former Palm Beach International Airport. The three-letter commercial code will remain PBI until it officially changes to DJT on 18 August.
Disgruntled travelers flooded the airport's online systems with complaints and vows of boycotts after the announcement. Trump is the first US president to have an airport named after him while still serving in office.
