At the height of the summer travel season, thousands of air travelers were faced with flight cancellations and delays this weekend and Monday due to storms that battered the East Coast and the Midwest of the United States.
In addition to bad weather, a technological glitch also contributed to the flight disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration briefly halted operations at Washington DC area airports Sunday night due to a problem with the communications system at a major air traffic control facility. The sorties resumed after the repairs were completed.
Beyond Washington DC, a chain of flights was also delayed or disrupted in other major travel hubs – including New York, Chicago and Atlanta – as thunderstorms moved across the country.
Nearly 2,000 US flights were canceled Saturday and Sunday combined, according to the FlightAware flight tracking service, and more than 1,400 US flights had been canceled as of 2:45 p.m. ET on Monday. Thousands of other travelers suffered delays.
According to experts, staying calm and knowing your rights can go a long way in the event of a flight cancellation. Here are some of his tips for dealing with a flight cancellation:
MY FLIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELED. WHATS NEXT?
If you still want to reach your destination, most airlines will rebook you for free on the next available flight, as long as it has seats, according to the US Department of Transportation. If you want to cancel your trip, contact the air Line.
If you want to cancel the trip, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you have purchased non-refundable tickets. You are also entitled to reimbursement of baggage costs, seat upgrades or other extras.
Kurt Ebenhoch, a travel consumer advocate and former airline spokesman, has stressed that travelers are entitled to a refund, not just vouchers for future travel. If you accept a voucher, find out about expiration dates and other restrictions on use.
CAN I REQUEST TO BE INCLUDED IN A FLIGHT OF ANOTHER AIRLINE?
Yes. Airlines are not required to put you on another airline’s flight, but they can and sometimes do, according to the Department of Transportation. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, previously recommended looking for alternative flights while you wait to speak with an agent. Agents are often under a lot of pressure when a flight is cancelled, so giving them some options helps.
Ebenhoch also suggests looking for alternative airports that are close to the original destination.
IS THE AIRLINE REQUIRED TO GIVE ME A HOTEL ROOM OR OTHER COMPENSATION?
No. As announced last month, the Biden administration wants to require airlines to compensate travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the company’s control, but for now , each airline continues to have its own policies on how to serve customers whose flights are cancelled, according to the Department of Transportation.
Many airlines offer accommodation, so you should check with their staff. The Department of Transportation also has an online dashboard that allows travelers to compare the cancellation and delay policies of major airlines.
I HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME TO BOOK AGAIN. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
If someone in your travel group is in a higher tier in a frequent flyer program, use the number reserved for that tier to call the airline, Ebenhoch said. You can also try calling an international airline help desk, as those agents have the ability to make changes.
HOW CAN I AVOID THIS IN THE FUTURE?
Ebenhoch said nonstop flights and morning flights are generally the most reliable if you can book them. If you’re worried about getting to the airport on time for your morning flight, he said, consider staying at a hotel connected to the airport the night before. And consider flying outside of busy dates.
Klee recommended comparing airline policies on the DOT service panel. He also suggests booking multiple flights and then canceling the ones you don’t use, as long as the airline gives you your money back or converts it into a credit toward a future flight.
ARE FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS DECREASING IN 2023?
Flight cancellations trended lower during the spring of 2023 than last year, according to FAA data.
Industry officials argue that airlines have fixed the problems that contributed to a spike in flight cancellations and delays last summer, when 52,000 flights were canceled between June and August. The airlines have hired some 30,000 workers since then, including thousands of pilots, and are using larger planes to reduce flights but not the number of seats.
Still, officials warn of persistent staff shortages, especially among key air traffic controllers. The FAA is training about 3,000 more controllers, but they won’t be ready for trips this summer. The agency resorted to lobbying airlines to reduce flights in the New York City area this summer and opened 169 new flight routes over the East Coast to reduce bottlenecks.
In a government audit released last week, the Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General found that the FAA has made “limited efforts” to adequately staff critical air traffic control facilities, noting that the agency “continues to face staffing challenges and lacks a plan.” to deal with them, which in turn represents a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations”.
2023-06-26 19:43:00
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