U.S. airlines react to security alert

In response to pleas for information from passengers, several U.S. airlines have issued statements giving tips and guidance for travel over the next few days and weeks, both to the UK and other international destinations, and within the U.S.

The American airline worst affected by the security alert at Heathrow Airport yesterday has been American Airlines, which uses the London airfield as a hub for much of its westward international travel.

Despite reports of mass disruption in the UK, the airline says it has had relatively few cancellations of service over the past 36 hours, with just three of its 16 flights from the UK to the U.S. being taken off schedules.

AA also said only three flights originating in the United States have been cancelled - all of them heading to Heathrow - from Boston, Chicago, and New York-JFK.

Schedules over the next few days will still be subject to change, delays, and possible cancellations but the airline said it was confident that it could keep disruption to a minimum and ensure that all passengers reached their destinations.

The advice from many other airlines was to arrive early and, if possible, to check on the status of flights via airlines' Web sites before they travel to the airport.

Denver-based Frontier Airlines was one carrier that said it did not anticipate cancellations, although it did admit to "extensive" schedule disruptions.

"Our promise to our passengers is to maintain as much flexibility as possible, and to provide as much information as we can, as we try to get our planes out as close to their scheduled times as possible," said Chris Collins, Senior Vice President of Operations at Frontier.

US Airways has announced that it would be waiving change fees and excess baggage fees on flights to, from, and through several UK airports until September 1. This was a temporary measure to accommodate displaced passengers, the carrier said.

Northwest Airlines will also waive fees for changing itineraries on UK-oriented travel until August 20 and similar measures are being introduced by Delta Air Lines, American (both through September 1 for UK travel), and Alaska Airlines (through August 14 on all routes).

Alaska also announced that it would be increasing random baggage checks at airports, which may result in delays to schedules. Delta has said it will increase its staffing for security reasons and to expedite travel.

Most airlines anticipate returning to a relatively normal schedule over the next few days but warned passengers to arrive early, check baggage into cargo wherever possible, and be patient as delays were possible and sometimes unavoidable due to heightened security.

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