CNN
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Delays and flight cancellations are impacting major airports across the country as the longest government shutdown in history continues.
A shortage of air traffic controllers has caused problems at many airports this week, with a ripple effect on nearly every flight. The government has now promised to “reduce” air traffic at all major airports due to closures from Friday 7 November. Here’s what to do if your flight is delayed or canceled, according to experts.
There’s nothing worse than finding out your flight has been delayed for a long time or worse, canceled, but it’s better to find out from the comfort of your home or hotel room.
“Check your flight status before you go to the airport. Most of these notifications are not at the last minute,” said Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com. “It saves you the hassle of driving to the airport.”
More tips from Keyes:
Sign up for free airline text alerts about flight status when you buy your ticket. Also, download your carrier’s app. You can get the status of your flight by typing the airline and flight number directly into the Google search bar. Check out the website FlightAware for big flight trends around the country. Enjoy immediate hop-on hop-off privileges ahead of inclement weather. Early bird offers the best selection of remaining seats and flights.
If you are at the airport, act quickly. Mr. Keyes told me to get to the airline agent’s desk as soon as possible. “It makes a difference who gets there first. It’s first-come, first-served. Being close to the desk helps,” Keyes said.
You should also call your carrier while you wait. It may be faster to contact the call center. “Whatever happens first, it’s great,” he said.
Other tactics you can try:
American Airlines and United Airlines advise you to go to a self-service kiosk. Travel advice website Travel Lens recommends using social media to your advantage. If you can’t get through on the phone, try politely contacting the airline via X or another platform. Keyes suggests trying your carrier’s international call center. Calls to U.S. domestic numbers may experience longer wait times.
Attitude and research are important
Whether you’re dealing with an agent in person or over the phone, the way you approach things can make a big difference.
“Honey attracts more flies than vinegar,” Keyes says. “Look at this from an airline agent’s perspective. …The agent is the person most capable of helping you. Asking kindly and sympathetically is much more likely to get you what you want than being obnoxious.”
When it was his turn to talk to his agent about the new arrangements, he offered another tip. “Already be prepared to suggest your options. Doing your own research definitely helps.”
Other considerations:
If the price is the same, please book directly with the airline. If you booked through a third-party site, any cancellations must be handled through that site. Consumer advocacy group US PIRG suggests people should avoid connecting flights if possible when making reservations. The more times it stops, the more likely something is going to go wrong. According to US PIRG, when it comes to delays on the tarmac, airlines must provide restrooms that can be used at all times. “After two hours you have to have food and water. After three hours you have to get on the plane or go back to the airport or the airline will incur a hefty fine.”
Cooperation between airlines can work to your advantage.
“If your flight is canceled, many airlines have transit agreements, so you have the option of being put on another airline,” Going.com product operations specialist Louson Smith told CNN Travel.
“This means, for example, if Delta Airlines is suspending service but American Airlines is operating a flight to your destination, you may still be able to board that flight.”
Thanks to changes to frequent flyer programs over the past few years, airlines often offer flights that can be redeemed for miles even when weather events increase demand, Julian Keel, founder and CEO of Points Pass, told CNN Travel.
“You’ll have to be prepared to put in a lot of miles, and you might not get the best value. But if you’re trying to shelter from a storm, you’ll save a lot of money,” Keel said.
“Most U.S. airlines now allow you to cancel flights booked with frequent flyer miles without fees or penalties up to the time of departure. This means you can use your miles to book multiple alternative flights on another airline in case one airline is delayed or cancelled.”
“However, duplicate flights may be automatically canceled, so don’t book another flight on the same airline. Also, remember to cancel any remaining flights you don’t end up using to get your miles back.”
What do you do if you don’t think you’ll be able to catch a flight until the next day and you’re not in your city?
This depends on the specifics of your situation. For example, in the United States, airlines are not legally required to put customers in hotels. US-based airlines have their own separate policies for situations “within the airline’s control” that are tracked by the Department of Transportation.
However, other countries have different requirements. For example, in the UK, food and accommodation vouchers may be automatically granted. Further details can be found on the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) website.
Your canceled flight will be covered by UK law if it was scheduled to depart from the UK, regardless of who you were flying with.
Also, if your flight was due to arrive in the UK, UK law will apply as long as you are using an EU or UK airline. This document from the British Civil Aviation Authority explains all the details of these rules.
Nevertheless, as the CAA says, airlines may not be able to help everyone. “Situations like this can occur when staff are overburdened during major disruptions.” The CAA’s advice is to “plan appropriate care and assistance yourself and claim reimbursement of costs later. If you end up paying for it yourself, keep all receipts and make sure you don’t spend more than is reasonable.”
Other considerations:
Mr. Smith told me to book my ticket with a credit card. “Many credit cards offer travel protection, such as refunds if your flight is canceled and you need to make arrangements for things like hotels and meals.” If your flight is delayed but not canceled, consider staying at the airport instead of traveling to and from your hotel. Keyes said a lot depends on the individual’s comfort level and expected wait time. Check to see if there are any hotels available within the airport. If you can, try going into an airport lounge. There, you can charge your phone and rest more easily, advises Points Guy. Make safety your top priority. If extreme weather conditions disrupt air travel, traveling by land can be dangerous, Keyes warned.
Travel insurance and receipts
Consider purchasing travel insurance, an airport parking reservation agent emailed CNN Travel.
“Most travel insurance policies offer additional cover for travel uncertainties,” the newspaper said. Additional coverage “generally applies if the flight is postponed for more than 12 hours due to strikes, bad weather, or mechanical failure.”
The site also recommends saving receipts for items purchased at the airport. You can later request a refund from the airline.
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U.S. airlines are now required to issue cash refunds to passengers if their flights are significantly delayed or canceled, even if the passenger has not explicitly requested a refund.
The Department of Transportation says a final federal rule requiring airlines to issue refunds instead of vouchers went into effect on Oct. 28, 2024. Click here for details.
