NOW LEADING INTO THE MORNING. >> ONE OF THESE FRUSTRATIONS IS THAT IT SEEMS THE BOARD IS NOT UPDATED. A WOMAN TELLS ME HER 05AM FLIGHT TO PHOENIX WAS CANCELED BEFORE SHE ARRIVED AT AIR ART. ON THE BOARD IN FRONT OF ME, IT ALWAYS INDICATES THAT IT IS ON TIME. IT SEEMS THERE IS A REASON FOR ALL THIS SOUTHWEST CHAOS. TRAVEL EXPERTS SAY THERE IS A SYSTEMS FAILURE ON THE AIRLINE, LEADING TO CANCELED FLIGHTS AND DELAYS. AT LOGAN, SOME PASSENGERS ARE ADVISED THAT FLIGHTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE BEFORE THE WEEKEND. AND FOR A FAMILY, EN ROUTE FROM PHOENIX TO BOSTON FOR THE WINTER CLASSIC AFTER A SERIES OF DELAYS, FLYING WAS NO LONGER AN OPTION. >>WE WOULDN’T BE THERE BY THIS DAY WITH THEM SAYING STANDBY, STANDBY. THEY LET US STAY THERE. WE ARE OUT, HAVE A TRUCK WITH ENTERPRISE. >> THE FAMILY JUMPED IN A TRUCK AND MADE THE WAY FROM PHOENIX TO BOSTON. THEY HOPE TO ARRIVE WEDNESDAY. NOW THE US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS IT IS LOOKING SOUTHWEST, CALLING THE SITUATION UNACCEPTABLE. THE PEOPLE IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK ARE – RIGHT NOW WE CAN SEE THE LONG LINE OF PEOPLE HOPE TO DENIAL THEIR FLIGHTS OVER THE SOUTHWEST. SOME PEOPLE DON’T HAVE A GAME PLAN. A WOMAN TOLD ME IF SHE CAN’T REFUSE WITH THE OFFICE AGENT, SHE CANCELS HER FLIGHT ENTIRELY AND CHANGES BOOKING WITH ANOTHER AIRLI
Thousands of travelers found themselves stranded at airports or stranded waiting to rebook flights this week as a huge storm rocked travel in the US and Canada More than 2,800 additional flights had already been canceled in the United States at 7 a.m. Tuesday on the FlightAware flight tracking service, and the problems are expected to persist at least until Wednesday. Staying calm and knowing your rights can go a long way if your flight is cancelled, experts say. Here are some of their tips for dealing with a flight cancellation: My flight has been cancelled. And after that ? If you still want to get to your destination, most airlines will book you on the next available flight for free as long as there are seats, according to the US Department of Transportation. If you wish to cancel the trip, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you purchased non-refundable tickets. You are also entitled to a refund of any baggage fees, seat upgrades or other extras. Kurt Ebenhoch, a mainstream travel advocate and former airline executive, pointed out that travelers are entitled to a refund, not just vouchers for future trips. If you take a voucher, be sure to ask about blackout dates and other restrictions on its use. Will I have to pay change fees if I change my flights? Major airlines including Delta, American, Southwest, Air Canada, Alaska, Frontier and Spirit are awaiting change fees during the storm, giving travelers more flexibility when changing their plans. But Ebenhoch said travelers should read the fine print carefully. If you book a return flight outside the window set by the airline, you may have to pay the difference in fares, for example. Can I request to be booked on another airline’s flight? Yes. Airlines aren’t required to put you on another airline’s flight, but they can, and sometimes do, according to the DOT. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommends researching alternative flights while you wait to speak to an agent. Agents are usually under a lot of pressure when a flight is cancelled, so it helps to give them some options. Ebenhoch also suggests researching alternative airports close to your original destination. Is the airline required to give me a hotel room or other compensation? Each airline has its own policies regarding handling customers whose flights are canceled, according to the DOT. But many airlines offer accommodation so you should check with their staff I am facing a long wait to rebook. If someone in your travel party is at 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 help desk for the airline, as these agents have the ability to make changes. How can I avoid this in the future? Ebenhoch said nonstop flights and morning flights are usually the most reliable if you can book them. If you’re worried about getting to the airport in time for a morning flight, he said, consider staying at a hotel connected to the airport the night before. And consider flying outside of busy dates; This year, the United States Transportation Safety Administration expects large crowds on December 1. 30, for example. Klee recommends comparing airline policies on the DOT’s Service Dashboard: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard. He also suggests booking multiple flights and then canceling those you don’t use, as long as the airline refunds your money or converts it to credit for a future flight.
Thousands of travelers found themselves stranded at airports or stuck on hold trying to book flights this week as a huge storm ravaged travel in the United States and Canada.
More than 2,800 additional flights had already been canceled in the United States as of 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware, and problems are expected to continue at least until Wednesday.
Staying calm and knowing your rights can go a long way if your flight is cancelled, experts say. Here are some of their tips for dealing with a flight cancellation:
My flight has been cancelled. And after that ?
If you still want to get to your destination, most airlines will book you on the next available flight for free as long as there are seats, according to the US Department of Transportation.
If you wish to cancel the trip, you are entitled to a full refund, even if you purchased non-refundable tickets. You are also entitled to reimbursement of baggage fees, seat upgrades or other extras.
Kurt Ebenhoch, a mainstream travel advocate and former airline executive, stressed that travelers are entitled to a refund, not just vouchers for future travel. If you take a voucher, be sure to ask about blackout dates and other usage restrictions.
Do I have to pay a change fee if I rebook my flights?
Major airlines, including Delta, American, Southwest, Air Canada, Alaska, Frontier and Spirit, are waiving change fees during the storm, giving travelers more flexibility when changing their plans. But Ebenhoch said travelers should read the fine print carefully. If you book a return flight outside the window set by the airline, you may have to pay the difference in fares, for example.
Can I request to be booked on a flight with another airline?
Yes. Airlines aren’t required to put you on another airline’s flight, but they can, and sometimes do, according to the DOT. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommends researching alternative flights while you wait to speak to an agent. Agents are usually under a lot of pressure when a flight is cancelled, so it helps to give them some options.
Ebenhoch also suggests researching alternative airports close to your original destination.
Is the airline required to give me a hotel room or other compensation?
No. Each airline has its own policies regarding handling customers whose flights are canceled, according to the DOT. But many airlines offer accommodation, so you should check with their staff.
I am facing a long wait to book again. What should I do?
If someone in your travel party is at 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 help desk for the airline, as these agents have the ability to make changes.
How can I avoid this in the future?
Ebenhoch said nonstop flights and morning flights are usually the most reliable if you can book them. If you’re worried about getting to the airport in time for a morning flight, he said, consider staying at a hotel connected to the airport the night before. And consider flying outside of busy dates; This year, the United States Transportation Safety Administration expects large crowds on December 1. 30, for example.
Klee recommends comparing airline policies on the DOT’s Service Dashboard: https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/airline-customer-service-dashboard. He also suggests booking multiple flights and then canceling those you don’t use, as long as the airline refunds your money or converts it to credit for a future flight.
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