Air travel is inherently stressful. You’ll need to make sure you allow enough time to get to the airport, and once there you’ll have to contend with bag drop and potentially long lines at security. Without fail, you have too much time before boarding or no time at the gate at all. Other than timing, many conditions surrounding air travel are beyond a passenger’s control, including flight cancellations and delays.
In the U.S., just under 20 percent of flights are delayed in 2024, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. And on Friday, more More than 2,400 flights were cancelled A massive technology outage that touched multiple industries caused chaos at airports across the country and delayed thousands more. Stranded at the airport, frustrated travelers may feel out of options. But you have a few cards in your hand: reschedule, refund, request or wait. Here are some answers to help you make a plan if you find yourself waiting for a delayed or canceled flight.
What causes flight delays and cancellations?
DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics Tracks reasons for flight delays. Airline delays and flight delays have been common for the past few years The most common reason For flight delays. A Includes carrier delays Circumstances such as aircraft cleaning, damage to the aircraft, waiting for connections for passengers or crew to arrive, refueling and maintenance – which can be controlled by the airline.
The second-most common cause of flight delays was late arrival of aircraft — which could be due to weather. In 2021, weather is responsible 26 percent of the total delay for that year.
reason for Flight cancellations are the same as delays: air carriers, extreme weather, national aviation system issues (such as non-extreme weather, airport operations, heavy traffic volumes, and air traffic control), and safety (such as security breaches or long lines requiring evacuation, or requiring reboarding) security).
I have an upcoming flight. What can I do to prepare?
Before you leave for the airport, make sure you sign up for text alerts and download the airline’s app (turn on its notifications) or Flight conscious App to get real-time flight information. If your flight is delayed or canceled in advance, you can plan accordingly from the comfort of a hotel or a loved one’s home instead of the chaos of the airport.
Take a few photos of your luggage so that if it gets lost down the line, you can give an accurate description of what it will look like. Travel expert Gary Leff of Travel Blog View from the wing Also recommends placing an Apple AirTag on your luggage so you can track the exact location of your suitcase, whether across the country or at baggage claim.
Familiarize yourself with the services your airline provides in the event of delays or cancellations so you know how to advocate for yourself and other passengers. of DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard Details Airlines commit to providing various amenities if there are any reasons the airline can control, such as maintenance or crew problems, but not weather. These services include free rebooking of your ticket on the same airline (or a partner airline) or a meal voucher for a delay of more than three hours.
Your credit card may offer trip delay coverage or baggage delay coverage where your hotel expenses, meals and expenses are reimbursed. Chase Sapphire Reserve, American Express Platinum Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Credit cards offer this protectionBut check your credit card agreement for exact details.
Some airlines, eg United And Delta, there are no change fees for economy tickets and above, so you can change your flight for free if the flight is delayed longer than you would like and there is a more convenient flight on the same air carrier. If you’re trying to change your flight, check with your airline to make sure you’re not paying extra.
My flight is permanently delayed. I have to get out of this airport.
For overnight delays due to controllable issues, many airlines — including American, Delta, Spirit, Southwest and United — offer complimentary hotel accommodations, according to the DOT Airline Customer Service Dashboard. Many of these airlines offer free transportation to hotels. Extreme weather doesn’t fall under “controllable” reasons why an airline would offer these services, but it’s worth asking if you’re stuck due to weather delays.
Dealing with passengers “Significant” delays are entitled to a full refund Do they prefer not to travel? DOT has not defined what constitutes a “significant” delay, but rather makes the decision on a case-by-case basis, considering the length of the delay and the length of the flight. Under normal circumstances, refunds are issued fairly quickly, Leff said.
For airlines that won’t cover hotel stays and meals, go to the baggage claim office and ask Distressed traveler rates, said Lieut. “When the airline doesn’t pay for the hotel, the hotels may have discounts available through their own negotiations, and the hotels offer those discounts because they want business from the airline,” he explains. “So you can get a better rate than if you book directly yourself. This is not a publicly available rate.”
My flight has been cancelled. what now
Regardless of the reason for the cancellation, every passenger Entitled to a full refund They should not be rebooking.
As for delays and cancellations, Leff said, the best course of action is to avoid long lines at airline counters at the airport. “Standing in hours and hours-long lines probably won’t get you information that’s even going to be useful,” he says. But exhaust all your options: try calling, reaching out via social media, chatting with a mobile app or club level staff, looking at other flight options on other airlines, or making a route by train or bus. “You treat the flight options as if you were buying new, know that with a canceled flight you’ll get your money back, and then you have the option of submitting Southwest receipts for some level of reimbursement,” Leff said of that particular situation. Confronted passengers said.
Just remember that airline staff, on the phone and at the airport, are not responsible for your travel headaches and are not the people to relieve your frustrations. be nice
I finally landed. where is my luggage
Sometimes passengers get separated from their luggage, leaving people in a new place without clothes and toiletries. When your bags do not reach your destination, speak to the airport staff immediately. They may have your paperwork to describe the physical characteristics of your suitcase and its contents. Hopefully, the airport can find your bag and deliver it to you in time. (Before you leave, make sure your checked baggage contains no irreplaceable items, such as keys or items you may need immediately, such as medicine.)
The most an airline can pay passengers is for permanently lost luggage is $3,800 For domestic flights. Again, airlines may reimburse you for items you need to purchase while your suitcase is missing, so keep the receipts.
When it comes to air travel, there are many factors that can get confusing at times. Have a plan (and a backup plan), know what costs the airlines will cover, and try to anticipate potential headaches.
Update, July 19, 2024: This piece was originally published on December 28, 2022 and has been updated to include news of July 2024 technology outages and subsequent flight delays and cancellations, along with more recent data on delays.
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