Chicago-based United Airlines has denied claims in a report that it would permit passengers to change their destination for free if they objected to flying to Palm Beach International Airport, now known as President Donald J. Trump International Airport (initially PBI, soon to be DJT). According to a blog by Live And Let’s Fly, it suggested that there was an internal memo to reservation agents that they could offer alternatives if passengers did not want to fly to the airport.
While the renaming of Palm Beach International Airport to Donald J. Trump International Airport has been met with widespread debate from both sides of the spectrum, it was suggested that United would permit passengers to change their ticket without a fee if they did not want to fly to the airport. It now appears, with United confirming, that this memo was poorly written and does not allow passengers to change for free.
United confirmed to USA Today that a memo was sent out to reservation agents in relation to the matter of passengers wishing to change their itinerary to avoid the use of the newly named airport after the current President of the United States. The memo was ‘poorly’ written according to the airline, and it outlined that it was inaccurately understood that passengers could change their booking destination with no fee.
The airline has confirmed that passengers are permitted to make changes to the ticket for several reasons; however, the terms and conditions do not permit changes due to the change in the airport’s name. The objection to the airport’s name or code is not classed as an official reason to receive a fee-free change to your booking.
Suggested by Live And Let’s Fly, the memo allegedly stated “use your empowerment to offer acceptable alternatives”, if the individual did not want to fly to the newly named Florida airport.
Name Change: Now Donald J. Trump International Airport
Palm Beach International was renamed recently after a decision was signed into state law by Governor Ron DeSantis. The Trump family regularly uses PBI (and from August 18, DJT) due to its proximity to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. Following the name change, the Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) also updated the airport’s three-letter IATA location code from PBI to DJT. While the name change upset some, the changing of the three-letter location code was hotly debated, as it could confuse pilots.
Passengers will use the code PBI up until August 18, when the airport will have its code officially changed and be reflected on baggage tags, tickets, and in airline reservation systems. The cost to change the airport name came in at a figure of approximately $5.5 million.
Donald Trump’s son, Eric Trump, and his family were the first to land at the newly named airport, on board a private aircraft. Eric Trump noted in an interview on Fox & Friends that there “was no way in hell I was letting UPS be the first plane to land”.
The private Boeing 757 made history as the first aircraft to land at the newly renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport.
Airline Operators At Palm Beach, Now Donald Trump International Airport
Palm Beach, now President Donald J. Trump International Airport, is an airport in the state of Florida and is located near the suburbs of Boca Raton, Wellington, Jupiter, and Palm Beach Gardens. It is the third busiest airport in the Miami Metropolitan area. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, JetBlue is the largest carrier at the airport, followed by Delta and American Airlines. The top five most popular routes between January and December 2025 were:
JetBlue operates around 27% of all flights at the airport, followed closely by Delta at 26%, and American Airlines at 18%. In total, 14 airlines offer domestic and international flights, with international services provided by Air Canada, Bahamasair, and Porter Airlines.
While it was first believed that United was permitting passengers to change the airport destination for a fee, it has been clarified that this memo was mistaken, and that due to the airport’s polarizing name change, this does not allow travelers to change their booking without a penalty.
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