2020 was a record-breaking year for flight cancellations. Now with winter upon us, there are constant delays and cancellations as well. Preparing for disrupted flights should be part of any traveler’s to-do list. The first step is to research all the information you can about knowing your rights as a passenger with federal regulations and airline policies.
Here are some tips on how to handle flight delays and cancellations:
- Book a morning flight. Studies show morning flights have fewer delays and cancellations.
- If you are planning a tour or cruise, book a pre-night to give you time to arrive at your destination if there are flight delays.
- Try to book a non-stop flight to avoid delays at a connecting airport.
- Check the status of the flights’ on-time performance before booking. If a flight has a history of delays, consider an alternative.
- Sign up for the airline’s app. If a blizzard for example is in the forecast, airlines will post travel alerts, with the option to change your flight to another day, free of charge. These alerts will be sent by email, text, or within the airline’s app. Check the app often to beat the rush and try to get one of the first seats on a new flight after the storm clears.
- Most airlines have dropped the change fees, so you can also monitor weather and re-book your flight even prior to the airline’s alert.
- If your flight is cancelled, call the airline to rebook, rather than standing in line at the service counter. If you do need an agent’s help on rebooking and the hold time is long, try calling the international customer service number. They sometimes pick up faster.
- When an airline tells you it will be a matter of days before you can get home, don’t believe it. Keep checking your phone to see your options with Kayak or Google. You can always ask if you can be rebooked on another airline. Ask if the original airline will endorse your ticket to another carrier. Start your search with codeshare agreements with other airlines. If you have elite status with your airline you have a better chance of getting this to work for you.
- Consider an alternate nearby airport if you get stuck. You can always rent a car or do a share-ride to get to another airport.
If a flight is delayed for reasons beyond the airline’s control, U.S. carriers are not obligated to do anything but get you on the next available flight. Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for passengers. There are no federal requirements. If you are delayed, ask the airline staff if they will pay for meals or a phone call. If the delay is caused by bad weather, some airlines do not provide anything for stranded passengers. Contrary to popular belief, airlines are not required to compensate passengers whose flights are delayed or cancelled on domestic itineraries. Compensation is required if a flight is oversold and the passenger is bumped. You will get better results if you treat the gate agent with courtesy.
Keep in mind, if an airline cancels your flight, you are owed a refund. Some carriers say they can only issue a voucher for future travel, but that is not the case according to the DOT. This rule also applies to significant changes that are within the airline’s control. It does not cover flight changes due to weather but does include shifting flight schedules for revenue purposes. It could be tricky getting your money back, as DOT leaves it up to each airline to interpret what a “significant” change really is.
