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Everything Vancouverites need to know about flight changes due to hurricanes in Mexico

Find out how you might still be able to change your flights.
Elana Shepert
Elana Shepert
acapulco-hurricane-otis-vancouver-flights-weatherjpg
Find out what to do if your flights from Vancouver are affected by Hurricane Otis or Hurricane Norma in Mexico. Photo via U.S. National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Otis made landfall in Acapulco, Mexico early Wednesday (Oct. 25) morning, prompting a regional advisory in the popular resort area. 

The tempest was downgraded from a category five hurricane to a category four tropical storm and is expected to continue to weaken. However, the Acapulco weather forecast includes the possibility of significant rainfall, raising the threat of landslides and floods.

According to the U.S. National Hurricane Center, Otis' hurricane-force winds are still occurring over mountainous terrain and its heavy rainfall will continue to affect southwest Mexico through Thursday. 

The centre of Otis is expected to move farther inland over southern Mexico through Wednesday night. 

Otis’ arrival came just days after Hurricane Norma struck the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula to the north.

On Tuesday night, Otis strengthed rapidly from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in a mere 12 hours. It is stronger than Hurricane Pauline which hit Acapulco in 1997 and destroyed swaths of the city and killed more than 200 people. Hundreds of others were injured in flooding and mudslides.

What to do if you have flights from Vancouver that may be affected by a tropical storm

Some air passengers from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will receive compensation or at least flexible booking arrangements if they have flights booked from the Lower Mainland to Mexico.

If you booked flights with an airline that will not provide coverage, you may be covered by your travel insurance provider if you purchased coverage. Since there are regional official advisories, some companies may cover travel when they are in effect.

Air Canada told V.I.A. that Hurricane Otis was not impacting its operations but that it would "continue to monitor the situation closely."

United Airlines shared this stance, adding that the carrier does "not fly to the affected area." However, it does fly to Acapulco via Mesa Airlines DBA United Express, which is one of its regional codeshare partners.

WestJet Flights 

WestJet introduced flexible change/cancel guidelines for travellers headed to Ixtapa Zihuatanejo, Mexico on Oct. 25 due to the tropical storms. 

The airline will allow you to choose one of the following options:

  • Change your travel dates to and/or from the same destination. If there’s a difference in fares, you won’t be charged. Blackout dates may apply.
  • Change your destination with or without changing your travel dates. If you’re going to a close airport like Vancouver (YVR) instead of Abbotsford (YXX), you won’t be charged for any fare difference.
  • If you choose to go to an airport that isn’t geographically close, you’ll pay the fare difference. 
  • If the new fare is less, the refund guidelines for fare types apply. 
  • Cancel your trip. You’ll get a refund according to the guidelines for the original fare bundle.

Aeromexico flights

Aeromexico has also implemented a flexible change and cancellation policy for its passengers due to hurricanes

For Hurricane Otis, all Aeromexico or Aeromexico codeshare passengers with tickets issued on/before Oct. 2 are eligible. The policy is valid from Oct. 24  to Oct. 31.

  • For travel to/from/through Alcapulo on travel from Oct. 24 to 26, the rescheduled trip must begin before Oct. 31.
  • For Zihuatanejo, Guerrero (ZIH), the affected dates are from Oct. 24 to 25, and rescheduled trip must begin before Oct. 28.
  • No charges for change of date or fare difference as long as the same route and branded fare are maintained.
  • The ticket issue fee will be waived
  • Route change is allowed without charge. Any difference in the fare between the old route and the new route must be paid when making the change.
  • If the rescheduled trip occurs after the allowed travel period, the change fee will be waived within the validity of this policy, however a difference in fare may still apply and must be paid at the time of re-booking.

For Hurricane Norma, all Aeromexico or Aeromexico codeshare passengers with tickets issued on/before Oct. 19 are eligible. The policy is valid from Oct.19  to Oct. 27.

  • All travel to/from/through San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur (SJD) from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23 may have a ticket reissued until Oct. 26.
  • All travel to/from/through La Paz, Baja California Sur (LAP) from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23 may have a ticket reissued until Oct. 27. 
  • All travel to/from/through Culiacan, Sinaloa (CUL), Mazatlán, Sinaloa (MZT), and Los Mochis Sinaloa (LMM) from Oct. 22 to Oct. 23 may be rebooked until Oct. 26.
  • No charges for change of date or fare difference as long as the same route and branded fare are maintained.
  • The ticket issue fee will be waived
  • Route change is allowed without charge. Any difference in the fare between the old route and the new route must be paid when making the change.
  • If the rescheduled trip occurs after the allowed travel period, the change fee will be waived within the validity of this policy, however, a difference in fare may still apply and must be paid at the time of re-booking.

With files from the Canadian Press