United offers free flight changes for passengers avoiding proposed Trump-named airport

According to some reports, United Airlines is allowing passengers booked to or from Palm Beach International Airport to change their flights free of charge if they wish to avoid the airport after it has been renamed to “Donald J. Trump Palm Beach International Airport.”

On July 9, Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) was officially renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT). The IATA code is scheduled to change from PBI to DJT on Aug. 18, 2026.

The reported policy would allow eligible travellers to switch to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport or Miami International Airport without paying change fees or fare differences. Passengers are reportedly required to contact United directly to make the change.

After backlash, an internal United memo obtained by Live and Let’s Fly and reported by multiple outlets on July 16 says United told reservation agents:

“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)”

Agents are directed to process it as an even exchange, effectively free of charge, with a suggested script:

“I understand that you’d rather not fly to this airport anymore. We can look at nearby airports like Fort Lauderdale or Miami instead. Is that an acceptable alternative?”

The move follows a proposal by Florida lawmakers to rename Palm Beach International Airport after President Donald Trump, a plan that has generated opposition from some travellers and local officials. Critics argue the renaming would politicise the airport and could affect its identity, while some passengers have reportedly said they would prefer to use alternative airports.

The release notes that United has not publicly commented on the reported policy, which would represent an unusual extension of its fee-waiver practices beyond weather- or operational-disruption events.