WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of air travelers are facing potential flight cancellations and delays this weekend, the summer travel peakas thunderstorms threaten the East Coast, West Coast, and points in between.
Nearly 500 US flights were canceled by noon Thursday, according to the FlightAware flight tracking service, and more than 2,700 US flights were delayed.
Staying calm and knowing your rights can go a long way if your flight is cancelled, experts say. Here are some of his tips for dealing with a canceled flight:
MY FLIGHT WAS CANCELED. WHATS NEXT?
If you still want to get to your destination, most airlines will rebook you for free on the next available flight as long as you have 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, consumer travel advocate and former spokesperson for the airline, has stressed that travelers are eligible for a refund, not just vouchers for future travel. If you take a coupon, be sure to ask about blackout dates and other restrictions on its use.
CAN I REQUEST A RESERVATION ON A FLIGHT FROM ANOTHER AIRLINE?
Yes. Airlines are not 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, previously recommended searching for alternate flights while waiting 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 suggested looking for alternate airports that are close to your original destination.
IS THE AIRLINE REQUIRED TO GIVE ME A HOTEL ROOM OR OTHER COMPENSATION?
No. As announced last month, the Biden administration is seeking require airlines to compensate travelers and cover their meals and hotel rooms if they are stranded for reasons within the airline’s control, but, as of now, each airline still has its own policies on supplying customers whose flights are cancelled, according to the DOT.
Many airlines offer accommodation, so you should check with their staff. DOT also has a online dashboard that allows travelers to compare the cancellation and delay policies of the main airlines.
I AM FACING A LONG WAIT TO BOOK. THAT I HAVE TO 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 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.
Klee recommended comparing airline policies in the DOT Service Panel. He also suggests booking multiple flights and then canceling the ones you don’t use, as long as the airline refunds your money 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 carriers have fixed problems that contributed to a spike in flight cancellations and delays last summer, when 52,000 flights were canceled from June to 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, particularly among top 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 published 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 challenges personnel and lacks a plan to address them, which in turn represents a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations.”