Similar to the way hurricanes, blizzards, or wildfires can influence airline policies, Taylor Swift is now causing an airline to make exceptions for ticket-change fees. The renowned pop star announced the postponement of her scheduled show in Argentina’s capital from Friday to Sunday due to heavy rain. Using the platform formerly known as Twitter, she stated, “Due to the weather being so truly chaotic, it would be unsafe to try and put on this concert.”
LATAM Airlines, the largest carrier in South America, responded to Swift’s announcement by reaching out to customers on Twitter: “#AttentionSwifties: we know your plans changed, so starting today, we are updating our flexibility policy for those with flights from Buenos Aires” for Saturday or Sunday. The Chile-based carrier declared that it is waiving both ticket-change fees and fare differences for travelers able to fly anytime until November 17, following the rescheduled show at Argentina’s largest stadium.
Taylor Swift (Credits: Billboard)
Despite this gesture, some customers voiced complaints on social media, stating difficulties in finding seats and alleging that the carrier informed them of the waiver too late. LATAM Airlines has not provided an immediate response regarding the possibility of adding extra flights.
It is customary for airlines to schedule additional flights for major events such as high-profile concerts, conferences like CES, or sports gatherings. However, industry executives informed CNBC that a change fee waiver in the context of a canceled or postponed concert is highly unusual. This move is also indicative of the significant impact Taylor Swift’s tour, The Eras Tour, has on various industries, extending beyond airlines to affect sectors like hotels.
