Here's what fliers need to know about travel disruptions caused by Hurricane Helene.

• The Southeast U.S., including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee, experienced high winds and mass flooding due to Hurricane Helene.
• Experts stated that airlines are not typically financially responsible for customers due to weather-related events.
• In certain areas such as Asheville, North Carolina, and Valdosta, Georgia, some carriers are providing discounts.

Experts said that consumers in the Southeast U.S. may not be able to change their air travel plans without financial penalty after Hurricane Helene's destruction.

According to Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, a significant disruption in U.S. air travel results in very limited rights for air passengers when it comes to compensation.

'Catastrophic damage'

On Thursday, Hurricane Helene hit Florida as a Category 4 storm, causing widespread wind and flood damage across several states, including Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee.

Over 120 individuals lost their lives during the storm, which also caused power outages for millions of people and left many stranded without access to basic necessities such as running water.

The western part of North Carolina is experiencing hundreds of road closures due to downed trees, landslides, and "catastrophic damage," prompting the Department of Transportation to urge people to avoid unnecessary travel in the region.

What airlines owe passengers

Travelers seeking to modify their flight plans or obtain a refund may encounter airlines that are reluctant to provide financial flexibility during times of destruction.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, airlines are obligated to provide prompt refunds to passengers who cancel or make significant changes to their flights, regardless of the reason, even for those with non-refundable tickets.

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Experts said that weather-related events like Hurricane Helene are typically outside an airline's control, so passengers have limited rights to compensation.

Generally, the airline's responsibility in such cases is determined by the passenger's specific fare, as stated by Napoli.

If your conference was canceled and you don't have a ticket that allows for free cancellation or has no fees for changes, airlines won't do anything for you, he said.

Airlines make concessions in some cases

Though concessions tied to Hurricane Helene vary by airline and location, some airlines are making them.

NerdWallet's travel expert, Sally French, stated that all the rules are distinct.

She stated that several significant American carriers have webpages devoted to travel notifications detailing their policies concerning particular occurrences.

Alerts about flooding in the Southeast have been issued by American Airlines, Delta Airlines, and United Airlines. The focus is on areas around Asheville, North Carolina, and some parts of Georgia, including the city of Valdosta.

Passengers whose flight was affected by flooding and who choose to reschedule their flight will have their change fees and fare differences waived by United.

United's policy outlines specific conditions: Tickets must be purchased before Sept. 26, 2024, for travel between Sept. 30 and Oct. 31, 2024; the new flight must be a United flight departing by the end of 2024 and between the same cities as originally booked. If cancelled, a full refund is available.

Passengers traveling through Augusta, Georgia, between Sept. 29 and Oct. 4 on American Airlines are being given flexibility to make changes. The deadline for booking these changes is Oct. 4.

Passengers flying Delta through Asheville or Valdosta must rebook their flights by Oct. 18 to avoid paying a fare difference. Change fees would still be waived after that date.

Read the specifics of insurance policies

Experts pointed out that travel insurance may not always guarantee a refund from the travel provider for flight, hotel, or other travel expenses.

If you didn't buy a cancel-for-any-reason policy, your trip problems typically have to fall under specific, covered reasons. Additionally, policies bought after a named storm like Helene generally won't cover claims related to it.

Napoli advised to carefully review the fine print and understand the specifics of the insurance coverage.

Travel reimbursement benefits may be available to consumers who purchased their trip with a credit card, including in cases of severe weather, according to French. Credit-card companies typically require a quick turnaround on a claim, usually within 21 days, she said.