United Airlines plans to offer passengers free flight changes to avoid landing at Florida’s recently renamed Donald J. Trump Presidential International Airport, according to an internal memo that appears aimed at customers who oppose the airport’s new name.
Passengers who object to landing at the airport — formerly Palm Beach International Airport — can be transferred to Fort Lauderdale or Miami without having to pay extra, according to an internal memo obtained by Live And Let’s Fly.
“If a guest does not wish to fly to the airport, use your power to provide acceptable alternatives such as Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) or Miami International Airport (MIA),” the memo to reservation agents says.
The memo even suggests a response to customers who object to landing at the renamed airport.
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United Airlines plans to offer passengers free flight changes to avoid landing at the newly renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters/Reuters)
“I understand that you prefer not to fly to this airport anymore. We can instead turn to nearby airports like Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Is this an acceptable alternative?” said the guide.
Agents are asked to treat the change as an equal exchange, thus making the flight change efficient. free for travelers.
Fort Lauderdale is about 45 miles south of West Palm Beach, while Miami is about 72 miles away, providing passengers with alternative access to South Florida without setting foot at President Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Agents are nevertheless advised to offer an “acceptable alternative,” according to the memo, suggesting that a flight change remains subject to availability and discretion permitted by the airline.
Airlines generally do not allow free destination changes because a traveler objects to the name of an airport.
Passengers who object to landing at the airport can be transferred to Fort Lauderdale or Miami without having to pay extra. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/Getty Images)
United should also update its systems as the airport transitions from Palm Beach International Airport to President Donald J. Trump International Airport, according to the memo. The airport’s commercial passenger code is expected to remain PBI until the IATA code becomes DJT on August 18.
FOX Business has contacted United for comment.
This comes after outraged customers flooded the airport’s online contact form with complaints after the airport was renamed last week after the current president.
The airport said the name change was required by state law and did not affect its ownership, governance or operations.
The airport had posted a message above its feedback form acknowledging that the name change “may be received in different ways by our passengers.”
Many customers who responded to the form were furious about the airport’s name change and disclaimer, with several vowing to boycott the airport, according to NOTUS, which obtained the messages through a public records request.
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United is expected to update its systems to rename West Palm Beach Airport (PBI) to President Donald J. Trump (DJT). (Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)
“It’s really funny that you have to add a disclaimer to this form explaining the renaming of your airport in honor of our racist, xenophobic, misogynistic 47th president,” one person wrote.
Another said: “I hope you have lots of airbags to catch people’s vomit when it comes.”
“How can we continue to kneel before such a narcissistic so-called criminal president?” another wrote.
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“I am writing to assure you that as long as you call this airport something closely related to ‘TRUMP’, I will NEVER fly there. EVER! You have 100% lost all of my family’s business. A despicable move!” » another added.
Although airports are named after other presidents, including former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, Trump is the first that an airport bears his name while it is still in operation.