Hurricane Milton impacts travel nationwide Jack Wu — WWLP

Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the west coast of Florida by tomorrow, leaving some passengers across the nation impacted.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Hurricane Milton is expected to hit the west coast of Florida by tomorrow, leaving some passengers across the nation impacted.

Airport closures, evacuation orders, and preparation efforts. That’s the current state of Florida, as they’re expecting another major hurricane this week. For travelers, your troubles don’t end when the storm passes through. Mark Schieldrop with AAA Northeast told 22News the real problems come when assessing the damage.

“You may be able to get a flight in a few days but once you get there, there’s a lot of questions about what the power outage situation is gonna look like and so on. so you’re gonna have to do a little bit of checking in and find out whether or not your travel plans are still feasible,” said Schieldrop.

Flights are only one part of the equation. The next issue comes with canceling your hotel. While airlines are governed by strict federal policies hotels are more subject to their own policies in terms of cancellation, but there is one step you can take to protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances.

“Buy insurance. Purchase some type of insurance because you know that some money back is better than no money back,” said Doreen Coakley Rodriguez, owner of Doreen’s Going PLaces Travel Service.

Third-party travel insurance can often refund you 90% if not the full amount of your trip if you purchase in advance. While many airlines and hotels may not technically owe you a refund, there is a glimmer of hope through this struggle.

“The travel industry as a whole, it seems like they’re doing what they can to step up and help people out right now,” said Schieldrop.

You’ll want to contact your airline, hotel, and rental car service as soon as possible to assess what your options are. Expect wait times to significantly increase through this week.

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