United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines are among the North American carriers making it easier for travellers to adjust their current or upcoming travel plans to Las Vegas after the weekend’s shooting.
Some 59 people were killed and 500 more injured at 10.00pm (local time) on Saturday night when a man opened fire at a crowd of festival goers at the Las Vegas Village and Festival Grounds.
Local authorities said the sixty-four year old, Stephen Paddock, used an automatic weapon to target attendees of the three-day Route 91 Harvest Festival from his 32nd floor room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
Sheriff says all but three victims of the Las Vegas massacre have been identified https://t.co/S9r4Wm6Hdv pic.twitter.com/QlJWTeLSj7
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 3, 2017
The motive behind the attack is still unclear as Paddock didn’t have any known affiliation with extremists groups nor did he show any previous signs of distress.
Hoping to help Vegas visitors move out of the city or update any upcoming holiday plans, North American airlines have announced fee waivers for select travellers.
United said it will waive the change fee for new United flights departing between 2 October and 13 October 2017 as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin and between the same cities. The carrier will also waive change fees for wholly rescheduled travel departing 13 October 2017, however, a difference in far may still apply – the reschedule must be completed within a year from the date when the ticket was first issued.
After the Las Vegas shooting, acts of heroism stand out amid terror and devastation https://t.co/p7dn4gaEEn pic.twitter.com/OrrDsY3JlT
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 3, 2017
American Airlines will also waive the change fee for those who bought their Las Vegas ticket before 2 October 2017 and are scheduled to travel between 2-3 October 2017. They can change their trip to travel from 2-6 October 2017 to the same cities as originally ticketed and in the same cabin.
Delta is also offering a free change for travellers who were booked to fly to Vegas on 2 or 3 October 2017. They can now reschedule for travel no later than 6 October 2017.
Click here to check out Spirit Airlines’ free waiver conditions and click here for JetBlue’s.
Meanwhile, the Mandalay Bay Hotel, which hosts the Michael Jackson One show, has cancelled the Tuesday 3 October performance and is reimbursing those who booked on the original credit card used for purchase. Click here for more information.
READ: “Las Vegas will work through this tragic incident”, tourism leaders respond to shooting