CNN —
bad weather. computer malfunction. Air traffic controller shortage. holiday stress. Accident and investigation. Unruly passengers. So many things can cause a flight to be delayed or canceled.
No wonder travelers are cautious about arriving at their destination on time or at all. (And even if you arrive, your lost luggage may never be found).
Here are some tips for navigating what can be a very complex and frustrating system when your flight is delayed or cancelled.
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 aren’t 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.
In some cases, delays or cancellations may occur after you arrive at the airport. What should you do when you’re given bad news?
Mr. Keyes told me to get to the airline agent’s desk as soon as possible. “It’s going to make a big difference who gets there first. It’s first come, first served. It pays to put yourself closer to the desk,” Keyes said.
Try calling 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 by phone, try 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 supporting you. Asking kindly and sympathetically is far more likely to get what you want than being sarcastic about it.” are more likely to get it.”
When it was my turn to talk to my agent about the new arrangements, he had another tip: 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 will 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 need 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.
Going.com Product Operations Specialist Louson Smith told CNN Travel: “If your flight is cancelled, many airlines have transit agreements so you can be put on another airline’s flight. There is an option to have it done.”
“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 still have flights available for miles even when weather events increase demand, says Points Pass founder and CEO CEO Julian Keel told CNN Travel in an email.
“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 away from a storm, you might save a lot of money,” Keel says. said.
“Most U.S. airlines now allow you to cancel flights booked with Frequent Flyer miles up to the last minute of departure without any fees or penalties. This means you can use your miles to book multiple alternative flights on different airlines, just in case.
“However, please avoid booking another flight on the same airline, as duplicate flights may be automatically canceled. Also, in order to get your miles back, cancel any remaining flights you don’t end up using. Don’t forget to.
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?
“Have the airline put you in a hotel or give you a hotel voucher. They may do that. They may not. It’s not required by law,” Keyes said. he said. He said it was unlikely to happen because of weather issues.
Many airlines promise to provide meal and hotel vouchers in some cases. The U.S. Department of Transportation has a dashboard that tracks these efforts.
Other considerations:
Book your flights with a credit card, says Smith, “Many credit cards offer travel protection, such as refunds if your flight is canceled and you need to stay overnight, including hotel 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. Please 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.
The magazine says, “Most travel insurance policies offer additional cover for travel uncertainty. Additional cover typically applies if your flight is delayed for more than 12 hours due to strikes, bad weather, or mechanical failure. It will be done.”
The site also recommends saving receipts for items purchased at the airport. You can later request a refund from the airline.
