American Airlines has activated an American Airlines Lala rebooking policy covering passengers scheduled to fly to four Hawaiian airports, as Tropical Storm Lala threatened to make landfall on the Big Island and prompted Hawaii to declare a state of emergency on 13 August 2026.
The carrier is waiving change fees for travellers booked to fly into Honolulu, Kahului/Maui, Kona, and Lihue/Kauai. The rebooking window covers original travel dates between 14 and 17 August, and all changes must be completed by 17 August. The policy applies to every fare class, including basic economy.
Conditions attached to the American Airlines Lala rebooking offer
Several conditions govern eligibility. The ticket must have been purchased on or before 11 August 2026. Passengers cannot change their origin or destination city, and must rebook in the same cabin or pay any fare difference. Rebooked travel must fall between 12 and 21 August 2026, and the trip must be completed within one year of the original ticket date.
American Airlines said in a travel alert on its website: ‘When severe weather or other uncontrollable events impact your flight and travel dates, you may be able to change your trip with no change fee. We understand you may have questions about your upcoming travel. We’re working around the clock to care for you on your travel journey. If your flight is impacted, we’ll reach out via email and app notifications.’
The airline advised passengers to check their tickets, email, and app notifications for updates before contacting the carrier directly.
Lala strikes as a Category 1 storm, causing serious damage
The storm’s severity escalated quickly. The National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for parts of Hawaii, indicating that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) were expected in the affected area. A warning, as defined by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is issued 36 hours in advance of the anticipated onset of tropical-storm-force winds; a watch, by contrast, signals that such conditions are possible rather than expected, and is issued 48 hours in advance.
According to NASA Earth Observatory, the Island of Hawaiʻi narrowly avoided a direct landfall. Lala passed just south of the island on 15 August as a Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson wind scale, but nonetheless delivered serious damage in the process. The near-miss did little to spare communities from the storm’s effects, with tropical-storm-force winds and heavy rainfall compounding conditions across the affected areas.
Other major carriers introduce parallel Hawaii flexibility
American Airlines was not alone in adjusting its policy. United Airlines confirmed it would waive change fees and fare differences for customers, provided the new flight is a United service departing between 13 and 23 August 2026, in the same cabin and between the same city pairs as the original booking.
Delta Air Lines said customers who rebook on or before 19 August in the same cabin of service will have any fare difference waived. Where the original booking class cannot be maintained in the rebooked itinerary, a fare difference may apply. Customers unable to rebook within those parameters may cancel and apply the unused ticket value toward a new booking within one year of the original ticket issuance date.
Southwest Airlines offered passengers the broadest set of options. Travellers can retain their original booking, rebook or travel standby within 14 days of their original travel date between the same city pairs without a change in airfare, or (if Southwest cancels or significantly delays a flight) request a refund if they choose to cancel the trip entirely.
The Lala disruption adds to a difficult summer for airline operations. Earlier in August, major thunderstorms produced widespread delays and cancellations across the network, and on 11 August a separate American Airlines incident involved multiple failed landing attempts that resulted in a low-fuel emergency before pilots safely landed the aircraft.
Passengers holding tickets with any of the carriers listed should monitor their airline’s travel advisories page directly, as dates and specific conditions vary by carrier. American Airlines has set 17 August as the hard deadline for changes under its current Lala waiver.
