Copyright The Street
Hurricane Melissa has already reached Category 5 strength, with maximum sustained winds of 175 mph, exceeding Hurricane Katrina’s intensity. People in Jamaica have been told to evacuate, as the storm is expected to bring “catastrophic flash flooding,” “numerous landslides,” and a “life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves,” writes The Independent. As of midday Oct. 28, Melissa is located just south of Jamaica, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. The hurricane has already caused fatalities in Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic and is expected to destroy infrastructure and isolate communities. The travel industry, including airlines and cruise lines, is staying away from Jamaica this week as Hurricane Melissa is expected to make landfall on the island as a Category 5 storm on the afternoon of Oct. 28. Experts project 15-30 inches of rain, which could cause catastrophic flash flooding and landslides, writes Travel Pulse. On October 25, at 5 a.m. EST, the National Hurricane Center posted the following message on X (formerly Twitter): “#Jamaica: Remain sheltered! Catastrophic flash flooding, landslides, and destructive winds will continue through today, causing widespread infrastructural damage, power and communication outages, and isolated communities. Total structural failure is possible near the path of Melissa’s center. Along the southern coast, life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected through the day. Failure to act may result in serious injury or loss of life.” Delta Air Lines cancels flights, issues travel waivers Flight disruptions cost airlines between $25 billion and $35 billion annually, or about 5% of airline revenue. When accounting for expenses for travelers, corporations, and the broader ecosystem, that number can reach $60 billion, or about 8% of airline revenue, writes Robyn Grassanovits, VP of Traveler Services at Cirium, a global leader in aviation data solutions. To address the situation and canceled flights, large carriers have issued travel waivers for destinations affected by Hurricane Melissa, including Jamaica’s main airports. Delta Air Lines has issued a change fee waiver for travel to Kingston and Montego Bay on flights originally scheduled through October 28, provided customers rebook flights on or before October 31, per Travel Pulse. More Airlines: American airline brings back very long flight to New Zealand American Airlines makes key beverage change Delta Air Lines CEO says airline gives passengers a better experience On its website, Delta Air Lines suggests travelers check their flight status frequently for up-to-the-minute information, or have updates sent directly to mobile devices or email through its one-time notification system. The carrier lists the following cities as affected (to/from/through): Kingston, Jamaica (KIN) Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ) Providenciales, Turks & Caicos (PLS) Delta Air Lines says impacted travel dates are from October 25 through October 30, and that tickets must be reissued on or before November 2, 2025. Booked travel must begin no later than November 2, 2025. Delta Air Lines waiver details: Rebooked travel on or before Nov. 2, 2025, in the same cabin: fare difference waived. If the original booking class is not available, a fare difference may apply. Rebooked travel after Nov. 2, 2025, may incur a fare difference. If travel cannot be rescheduled under these rules, customers may cancel and apply the unused ticket value toward a new ticket within one year of issuance. Fare differences may apply for new dates. Costs for travelers stranded in Jamaica When cancellations occur due to circumstances outside Delta Air Lines’ control, such as those caused by Hurricane Melissa, travelers are responsible for their own accommodations, meals, and transportation. Two days in Jamaica can cost stranded travelers around $500, according to The Jamaican XP, a travel-and-culture guide to Jamaica. Typical daily budgets are as follows: Budget travelers: $60 to $80 USD/day Mid-range travelers: $150 to $250 USD/day Luxury travelers: $400+ USD/day Delta Air Lines’ cancellation policies When your itinerary is changed by the airline less than 72 hours before departure, you are dealing with one of the following: Significant delay: Departure or arrival 3 hours or more earlier or later for domestic itineraries, or 6 hours or more for international itineraries Delay: Departure fewer than 3 hours earlier or arrival fewer than 3 hours later for domestic itineraries, or fewer than 6 hours for international itineraries, compared to your originally scheduled departure or arrival time Flight cancellation Depending on the cause of a delay or flight cancellation, you may be entitled to certain reimbursements. When a flight is canceled or impacted by a significant delay, Delta Air Lines will try to keep travelers on existing flights (if delays) or attempt to rebook flyers automatically on a new flight. If travelers are unhappy with the flight changes, they can: Search for alternate flight options in the Fly Delta app or My Trips Cancel the rebooked flight and receive a refund of the unflown portion of the ticket and any prepaid seat upgrade or Preferred Seat, or an eCredit valid for 5 years from issuance If none of these actions are taken within 24 hours, Delta Air Lines will automatically issue a refund to your original form of payment. When a significant delay (>3 hours), misconnect, or cancellation is within its control, Delta Air Lines may be able to provide: Complimentary hotel accommodation (based on availability) Complimentary ground transportation to and from the hotel Meal vouchers However, Delta Air Lines is unable to provide reimbursement for delays or cancellations caused by circumstances beyond the carrier’s control, such as: Air traffic control delays Weather delays In addition, Delta Air Lines does not reimburse the following types of expenses:
