As Spokane, Washington, struggles to battle fast-moving wildfires that have forced the evacuation of thousands of people, American Airlines, which has recently quietly changed its refund rules for last-minute tickets, has assured its passengers through a travel alert on its website that anyone holding a ticket to travel to or from the U.S. county in Washington can rebook without paying a change fee.
With Spokane serving as a gateway to Eastern Washington, thousands of travelers have the potential to be affected, and American Airlines is urging its passengers to take advantage of its travel waiver if they have been impacted.
American Airlines Promise To Waiver Changing Fees For Passengers Affected By Spokane Wildfires
American Airlines announced on August 2 that passengers expecting to travel to/through/from Spokane International Airport (GEG) can rebook their flight without paying a change fee.
“If your trip is eligible, you can make a one-time change online,” American Airlines states on its travel alerts page.
To be eligible, flyers need to have an American Airlines ticket that was bought by August 1, 2026, with a scheduled travel date between August 2 and August 4. They also need to be available to travel from now until August 8 and must rebook before August 4.
American Airlines has warned affected passengers not to change their origin or destination city unless it is to one of these alternatives:
- Kalispell, Montana (FCA)
- Missoula, Montana (MSO)
- Pasco, Washington (PSC)
- Portland, Oregon (PDX)
- Seattle, Washington (SEA)
The airline also points out that the rebooking should be made for the same cabin class, or passengers will have to pay the difference.
How To Rebook Eligible Flights
In order to rebook flights, American Airlines passengers should go onto the airline’s website and select “Find Your Trip.” If the flight is eligible to be changed, travelers will see the option “change trip” in the tool bar. They should ensure their tickets meet the requirements, before creating a new itinerary for dates leading up to August 8, in the same cabin class.
If passengers have booked through a travel agent, they are urged to send over their new preferred dates and times as soon as possible.
Spokane International Airport Continues To Operate Despite Wildfires
Spokane International Airport is still open and running, despite the growing wildfires. The airport is served by several major carriers including:
|
Carriers serving Spokane International |
Destinations |
|
American Airlines |
Boise, Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle |
|
Alaska Airlines |
Boise, Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle |
|
Allegiant Air |
Las Vegas, Orange County, and Phoenix/Mesa |
|
Delta Air Lines |
Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. |
|
Frontier Air |
Denver and Phoenix |
|
Southwest Airlines |
Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix-Sky Harbor, Sacramento, San Diego, and San Jose |
|
Sun Country Airlines |
Seasonal flights to Minneapolis/St. Paul |
|
United Airlines |
Denver, Chicago-O’Hare, Houston-Intercontinental, and San Francisco |
Despite the airport remaining open, flights are facing serious operational challenges due to poor visibility, smoke, and strong winds caused by the fires.
While no other airline that operates out of Spokane International Airport has formally issued a travel alert due to the wildfires, American Airlines has done so in order to allow passengers to move their flights before receiving a cancellation notification.
Evacuations Grow As Wildfires Continue
Almost 65,000 people have now been forced to evacuate their homes as the three major blazes continue to burn in Spokane, destroying hundreds of buildings and leaving thousands without power. While no deaths or injuries have yet been reported, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown has not ruled that out, telling the BBC that this is “the worst natural disaster our region has faced” and that authorities were “still discussing the potential for lives to be lost.“
Videos of the wildfires show plumes of smoke, towering flames, and damaged buildings, proving the destruction they have caused. The fires remain 0% contained.
According to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Department, 37-year-old male Aaron F. Farinacci was arrested on Monday, August 3, for Arson 1st Degree, in connection with the Old Trails Fire, one of the three wildfires in Spokane. In a press conference on Monday, Sheriff John F. Nowles noted:
“Tips from Citizens, along with information from Airway Heights Police Officers and Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputies who responded to the initial call and conducted evacuations, proved to be extremely valuable to Fire Investigators, leading to today’s arrest.”
This remains an active investigation, as does the cause of the other two fires, the Autumn Lane and Fairview Fires.
