We recently saw Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) be renamed and get a new IATA code, as it’s now officially known as President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT). As you’d expect, opinions on that are mixed — some people are overjoyed to be able to fly into an airport named after Trump, while others are horrified.
Along those lines, United Airlines has quietly introduced an interesting policy internally, and it potentially creates an opportunity for passengers, which I find to be sort of hilarious.
In this post:
United offers free changes for customers who don’t like Trump
Live and Let’s Fly reports on an internal memo that United Airlines reservations agents have been given, regarding the renaming of Palm Beach Airport. United is currently in the process of updating all of its systems to reflect the airport name and code change, and that also comes with some interesting guidance.
United is telling reservations agents that “if a customer does not want to fly to the airport, use your empowerment to offer acceptable alternatives such as Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) or Miami International Airport (MIA).” The idea is that customers can change their flights to those airports without a fare difference, though there’s an element of discretion to all of this.
The memo even gives reservations agents a suggested response if someone expresses concern, telling them to say “I understand that you’d rather not fly to this airport anymore,” and “we can look at nearby airports like Fort Lauderdale or Miami instead, is that an acceptable alternative?”
This policy strikes me as being… overly customer friendly?
Airlines typically don’t allow flight changes simply because a customer doesn’t like the name of an airport. I have to say, even as someone who objects to naming airports after politicians, not wanting to fly into the airport because of the name strikes me as a bit much… but that’s just me.
We’ll see how long this policy sticks around, but to state the obvious, there might even be some creative opportunities here, if you see a cheaper fare into Palm Beach, but actually want to fly to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. I imagine this policy will only stick around for so long, presumably covering the transition period.
Also, I’m curious how long until we see the first confrontation on a plane regarding the airport’s name. I’m envisioning something like the flight attendant still announcing the name as Palm Beach Airport, and then an angry passenger confronting them with their camera upon deplaning, asking them why they aren’t referring to the airport by the proper name. Not to give anyone any ideas, but that’s bound to happen soon… right?
Bottom line
We’ve just seen Palm Beach Airport renamed after President Trump, and the code has been updated from PBI to DJT. While people have mixed feelings about the name change, United is sure coddling customers, allowing changes with no fare difference to Fort Lauderdale or Miami. We’ll see how long this policy sticks around, but that’s quite something.
The airlines has come out and said this is fake news, fwiw.
Flights there are usually 2-3 times more expensive than FLL or MIA, so not much loss for United
As to your last point about a member of the cabin crew still referring to the airport by its old name, no reason for them to have to do that either. The only time they would use the name of the airport is when a city has more than one. And to that end I have flown into DCA plenty of times where the FA has still referred to it as simply National.
Why would anyone who cares so much about the airport bearing Trump’s name have been traveling to Palm Beach, Florida in the first place? Seems like the airport name is an odd line to draw.
I think it's a good safety policy. People are volatile enough as it is. No reason to force the issue (whether or not you think it is or even should be an issue), better to let them opt out so they don't cause a scene and end up costing the airline money.
I'm not a Trump fan, don't like naming something after a sitting politician, and can't imagine supporting putting Trump's name on anything after he leaves office. I've flown to Washington National and Houston Intercontinental, I've never had a reason to fly to Grand Rapids or Little Rock. No part of my life is spent wondering if somehow flying to an airport is possible support of the name on it. I fly to DeGaulle and O'Hare...
I'm not a Trump fan, don't like naming something after a sitting politician, and can't imagine supporting putting Trump's name on anything after he leaves office. I've flown to Washington National and Houston Intercontinental, I've never had a reason to fly to Grand Rapids or Little Rock. No part of my life is spent wondering if somehow flying to an airport is possible support of the name on it. I fly to DeGaulle and O'Hare so as not to confuse them with Orly or Midway. Does my indifference toward DeGaulle or my great respect for O'Hara ever come to mind? Yes, just once this century as I typed this post. Don't sweat the little things...this is a little thing. (Pun intended)
"I won't fly to an airport cause i don't like its name" is objectively far more ridiculous and 8-year-oldish than Trump naming an airport Trump airport, although I'm not a fan of the latter either.
I just wish there was a non-stop flight from Fukuoka Japan to Palm Beach. The boarding pass would show the itinerary as FUK-DJT. That would be a collector's item.
You should fly from Røst to Alor Island.
Don't be a D.
The day will come when they have to remove his name from all of these places, in shame.
Hopefully by Monday, posthumoulsy of course.
It's been wild watching the left become the party of hate and violence. I never would have guessed it 15 years ago.
I also always thought the US would have peaceful transfers of power. Your boy ended that.
Yeah, because it was antifa storming the capitol and assaulting officers on J6? (In which case, why is Trump pardoning them? Does he secretly support them?)
Marjorie Taylor Green had been spewing the worst sort of vitriol against liberals for years, and never once felt physically threatened. She began mildly criticizing Trump and within a month had to request security due to death threats. Tell me again how the left is the party of hate and violence?
I wonder if anyone from Fresno ever flys to Palm Beach? You know…..FAT-DJT.
Palm Beach to Sioux City… DJT-SUX.
If you fly from Fukoaka airport in Kyushu to Palm Beach you are flying FUK-DJT
Palm Beach to Helsinki…
DJT-HEL? Shorthand for the United States of America.
I don't care who it is, Trumpster, Obomba, Ronnie Reagan, Geo Washington, Tommie Jefferson or anybody else, no public building, airport, bridge, whatever, should be named after a politician.
Why?
Because usually just under 50% of the voters voted against that person.
I lived in Vegas for 13 years, flew into Mccarran dozens of times. I have nothing against Harry Reid, but for anyone who lived in Vegas at the time it will always be Mccarran.
And the rest of the US still just calls it The Vegas.
United catering and coddling he libs that have strong TSD!!!!!!!!!!!!
dee, next time do at least 15 exclamation points. That'll show 'em!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dee while your standard MAGA mouth breather is low information…you continue to plumb new depths
Sounds like... dee's nuts!
I still refuse to use Reagan airport. There's no way I'd ever fly into or out of Trump airport. My wife sold her apt. in a Trump branded condo when the con man ran for president, out of embarrassment!
As a Floridian, I have said this before, I am so disgusted that our State legislature in Tallahassee has nothing better to do ( like addressing our homeowners insurance crisis....among many other issues) that the push through BS crap like this ! My hope is that when DJT is removed / leaves office that every single bit of his flagarant narissism will be reverted back top its original state. Everthing Donald Trump touches dies.
Nah. Turns to SH*T.
Now if only they would do the same for Houston (George Bush) and Washington DC (Ronald Reagan)! I still cannot refer to either of those airports by the name of the president.
However, United should really stay out of politics. If someone does not want to fly into a specific airport, it is easy enough to find another flight or airline.
TDS is real and an entirely different derangement
Only free if you change to Sasereme Airport?
To be fair, many FAs simply announce the destination city e.g. welcome aboard flight XXX. to West Palm Beach, same with gate agents. So, I don’t think it would be that difficult to avoid using the airport full name. That’s what I would do if I were a flight attendant or gate agent.
Perhaps, United should operate a nonstop from Palm Beach to Sioux City. And, from Fukuoka to Palm Beach… gonna want printed boarding passes for those.
Cute.
I can't imagine any reasonable person who is traveling to West Palm Beach or North of there, to change from DJT airport. Traffic is very heavy between DJT and FLL and even worst to MIA. Maybe if they are goinh way north maybe Melbourne, but small airport with limited flights.
Whatever! He’s still our president! Cry more!
You mean, tears of joy… when it’s finally over.
If having an airport named after someone you don't particularly like triggers you there's no words for your level of toddler like state.
Maybe you can tell the therapist where on the doll the airport hurt you.
Weren’t you previously whining about ‘Jackson’ (ATL) and ‘Harry Reid’ (LAS)? So, on ‘mental health,’ you may be ‘projecting,’ sir.
I am triggered but breathtaking corruption, grifting, convicted felon, rapist, mentally unstable.... yes my list goes on and on and on.
You're probably the type that wouldn't fly into Dickinson, ND because Teddy Roosevelt is on Mount Rushmore instead of Mango Mussolini and that Roosevelt was an environmentalist.
I imagine they'll only allow this for tickets booked prior to the official name change, so as to keep people from playing the fair games that Ben mentioned could happen.
Since orange man is a dictator he will round up anyone who calls to change their flight. He is also planning to rename all airports in the country after himself
With without much argument the most divisive president in anyone’s modern history, I’m not surprise companies are doing this.. it’s a small price to pay to keep the customer, keep the revenue booked, etc. Someday all of this will be erased..
“With without much argument the most divisive president in anyone’s modern history…”
Well, he is certainly the most provably corrupt in the history of the USA. And the most dementia addled. And cruel. And racist. And felonious. And the most prolific rapist and child molester.
The GOAT. It helped so many closeted commies to come out and finally learn who they really are. We Venezuelans just love it with the same fervor we hate all the useful idiots from the left
If this isn't evidence of Trump Derangement Syndrome in action, nothing is. It's a stupid airport name...if someone needs to go to Palm Beach, they should go to Palm Beach, no matter the name. This is just dumb.
Well, no one really "needs" to go to Palm Beach, so... *burp*
Correct assessment. Lucky’s TDS is only moderate, while it takes severe TDS to refuse to fly to an airport. United may have just axed any chances of fed help on future mergers or other items.
Recently, had an AA crew welcome us to Florida and the vibrant city of Miami. I thought that sounded pretty cool.
JFK is always JFK. Only had ONE UA flight say Bush Intercontinental. National for DCA. Rarely ever hear Reagan National. Dulles for IAD and many foreign airlines will say Tom Bradley International Terminal which surprises me. Happened on QF and LH.
It sure beats OTL and/or TDRS…
He has a self-image issue. His old man always thought he was a loser. I'd bet if his mom and dad were still alive, they'd be ashamed.
Donald, who?
EFI - Epstein Files International is my suggestion once the orange menace is impeached.
I remember is flying a certain widget-logoed U.S. carrier to Taiwan, which the in-flight announcements carefully referred to as "Taoyuan International Airport, Serving Taipei." Only for the gate agent on arrival to say, "Welcome to Taiwan." Never gonna make everybody happy.
You could even say welcome to China, and both ROC and PRC people would be fine with that. Foreigners, however, likely very confused…
(That's what Xi said...)
Completely false. The people of taiwan don't refer to themselves as "China" in english.
Okay, but how often do flight and cabin crews refer to the sole airport serving a city by its official name ... instead of simply saying things like, "Our flight time to Palm Beach will be ...", "Welcome to Palm Beach", etc. etc.?
My European home base had been Berlin Brandenburg Airport "Willy Brandt", and no pilot or flight attendant has ever said anything other than "Berlin."
Tom, you meant to suggest, that upon landing at BER, the German-speaking crew doesn't say, "Willkommen Schönefeld!" and, all passengers reply in-unison: "Bitte!" while clapping politely?? ...as is custom.
No, most Taiwanese wouldn't be happy with that. The ROC name is a relic from when Taiwan was ruled by the KMT (which lost the mainland to the Communists and had ambitions of retaking it). But nobody in Taiwan these days thinks they're China.
Anybody who disrespects our LEADER this way should be put in prison. America is a free country, and if you don't give 100% support to your LEADER you should have your rights taken away from you.
LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!
Well played, Jerry.
Time for a time out, Jerry! Nite, nite!
You realize he is a liberal trying to troll, right? Trumpets are not famous for their intelligence, but they are not this stupid ;)
Correction, it’s “president” Trump airport.
Correction, it's still Palm Beach International airport.