Fox News correspondent Danamari McNicholl reports on the official renaming of Palm Beach International Airport to President Donald Trump International Airport. Eric Trump landed the first plane, expressing his pride at the name change.
United Airlines plans to offer passengers a free flight change to avoid landing at President Donald Trump’s newly renamed Florida International Airport, according to an internal memo that appears to be aimed at customers who object to the airport’s new name.
Passengers who object to landing at the airport (formerly Palm Beach International Airport) can be transferred to Fort Lauderdale or Miami without having to pay extra, according to an internal memo obtained by Live And Let’s Fly.
“If a customer does not want to fly to an airport, use your authority to suggest acceptable alternatives, such as Fort Lauderdale Airport (FLL) or Miami International Airport (MIA),” the memo to booking agents says.
The memo even suggests a response to customers who object to landing at the renamed airport.
FAA BEGINS DJT TRANSITION AFTER TRUMP AIRPORT NAME EFFECTIVE
United Airlines plans to offer passengers free flight changes to avoid landing at President Donald Trump’s newly renamed international airport. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters/Reuters)
“I understand that you prefer not to fly to this airport anymore. Instead, we may consider nearby airports such as Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Is this an acceptable alternative? the manual says.
Agents are tasked with processing the change as an even exchange, effectively making the flight change free for travelers.
United told FOX Business that “the message was poorly worded and inaccurate.”
| Ticker | Safety | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAL | UNITED AIRLINES HOLDINGS INC. | 118.81 | -2.16 | -1.79% |
“United customers can make ticket changes without a fee for many reasons,” a United spokesperson said. “However, our policy does not allow changes due to the airport name or three-letter code.”
Fort Lauderdale is about 45 miles south of West Palm Beach and Miami is about 72 miles away, giving passengers alternative access to South Florida without setting foot at President Donald Trump International Airport.
However, according to the memo, agents are encouraged to offer a “reasonable alternative,” which means that flight changes remain subject to availability and at the discretion of the airline.
Airlines usually don’t allow free destination changes because the traveler objects to the person the airport is named after.
Passengers who object to landing at the airport may be transferred to Fort Lauderdale or Miami at no additional charge. (Joe Radle/Getty Images/Getty Images)
United is also expected to update its systems as the airport transitions from Palm Beach International Airport to President Donald Trump International Airport, according to the memo. The airport’s commercial passenger code is expected to remain PBI until the IATA code changes to DJT on 18 August.
It comes after outraged customers flooded the airport’s online feedback form with complaints after the airport was renamed after the current president last week.
The airport said the name change is required by state law and does not affect its ownership, management or operations.
The airport posted a message above the comments form acknowledging that the name change “may be perceived differently by our passengers.”
Many customers who responded to the form were furious about the name change and the airport’s disclaimer, and some vowed to boycott the airport, according to NOTUS, which obtained the messages through a public records request.
TREASURY REPRESENTS GOLD DOLLARS COIN WITH TRUMP ON FRONT
United is expected to update its systems and rename West Palm Beach Airport (PBI) after President Donald Trump (DJT). (Nicholas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)
“It’s truly funny that you had to add a disclaimer to this form explaining the renaming of your airport after our racist, xenophobic and misogynistic 47th President,” one person wrote.
Another said: “Hope you have plenty of airbags to catch people vomiting as they drive up.”
“How can we continue to kneel before such a narcissistic criminal, a so-called president?” another wrote.
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“I am writing to assure you that as long as you refer to this airport as something closely associated with “TRUMP”, I will NEVER FLY THERE. NEVER! You have 100% lost my family’s entire business. A sneaky move!” another added.
While airports have been named after other presidents, including former Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan, Trump became the first to have an airport named after him while still in office.