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Thousands of flights are being canceled across the world as the Omicron variant of the coronaviruses spreads rapidly, including among airline staff and crew members.
More than 900 U.S. flights were grounded on Monday, according to FlightAware. Bad weather and maintenance issues delayed flights. One of the busiest travel periods of the year is being disrupted by the cancellation of flights, causing chaos and frustration for people trying to get to family reunions and holiday destinations.
More than 2 million passengers were screened each day during the holiday weekend, and fewer than 850,000 were screened a year ago.
If you are stuck at an airport with a canceled or delayed flight, here is what you should know.
If possible, try to book directly through the airline rather than through an online travel agency, which may make it more difficult to change your itinerary in case of a cancellation or delay.
Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott's Cheap Flights, said that your rights under the law are the same. He said that dealing with an airline will be simpler and more efficient.
You should make sure you have all the necessary documentation for travel, such as a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination, which many countries require for entry. The chief executive of a New York City-based luxury travel agency said that a lot of people don't have the right information before they get to the airport.
If possible, check in 24 hours in advance of your flight so you can avoid the check-in or baggage drop lines.
If there are any delays or changes to your flight, you should check your flight status before you leave. It is possible to download the application for the airline you are flying with so that you can more easily track your flight and schedule.
If a flight is delayed or the passenger chooses not to travel, airlines are obliged to give a full refund to customers. Mr. Keyes said that two hours is usually a good rule of thumb. The contract of carriage on the airline's website outlines the policies for more specific information.
If you decide to travel, you should speak with a gate agent to discuss your options. You will usually be placed on the next flight. Mr. Keyes suggests that you try the airline's international numbers, which are listed on their website's "contact us" pages and might have a shorter wait.
He said that if you are calling Canada, it is two cents a minute. It will take 20 minutes instead of three hours if you call a U.S. hotline. I think it is worth 40 cents.
If you booked through an online travel agency, you will need to call them directly to resolve your issue. Mr. Keyes said that the airline wouldn't want to deal with you.
If you choose to keep traveling, you are not entitled to compensation under federal law, but some airlines may offer it if the delay is their fault, such as if it is caused by a mechanical or staffing issue.
If your flight is delayed and you don't board before midnight, American Airlines will arrange an overnight stay for you.
Depending on the length of the delay, the airline offers compensation of $50 to $200 for flights that are delayed three or more hours. If your flight was booked directly through the airline, it will email you within seven days of the flight's scheduled departure to provide instructions for receiving compensation, according to its Customer Bill of Rights. If you booked through a third party, such as Expedia or Orbitz, you will need to call that company's customer service line to ask for compensation.
If the delay is caused by an act of God, such as bad weather, and you're stuck somewhere overnight, you're on your own when it comes to meals and lodging.
If your flight is canceled by the airline, you can either be accommodated on a later flight or you can get a full refund under federal law. If the flight had more than one stop, you would be given a full refund for the unused portion of the flight.
Usually, airlines will give travel credits or vouchers in lieu of a full refund, 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465 888-282-0465. It is important to know your rights under the law. If you don't want to go, try to get a cash refund instead of a voucher. Cash is more valuable than an airline voucher.
If you decide to accept a later flight, you should queue up to speak to the gate agent or customer service desk. Mr. Keyes suggests looking at partner airlines for your carrier and asking the agent if there is room on another carrier's flight.
When a flight is canceled, the agents have tons to deal with, and they are just trying to figure out how to get the situation resolved. They are not trying to figure out what is the best flight for your situation.
If you can get help before you reach the gate agent, call the airline or online travel agency you booked your flight with.
Travelers have taken to social media to complain about their travel experience, but Mr. Keyes said airlines are encouraging people to call their customer service lines.
Federal law does not allow airlines to offer compensation. If it cancels a flight within four hours of its departure and cannot accommodate a traveler within an hour of the scheduled departure time, it will give you $50 in compensation. The number goes up to $100 if the cancellation happens after the scheduled departure.
If no rooms are available, Delta will give a voucher for up to $100 to passengers who are stuck at one of its hotels.
Just ask if your experience warrants compensation. If the flight is canceled, the airlines will be more willing to compensate you.
Mr. Keyes said to be kind and courteous.
He said that if you are an airline agent, your entire day is spent dealing with irate, frustrated, impatient customers who are frankly not treating you nearly as well as you should be treated. If they have someone who is treating them in a humane way, they are more likely to try to help you.
Mr. Keyes said that airline agents have a fair amount of discretion, so you shouldn't give up if the person you speak with isn't receptive.
He said to hang up and call again instead of trying to lobby or argue with this person. You will get patched through to one of the thousands of other agents.
If you receive a travel credit for a canceled flight, you can redeem it through the airline's website or app.
You can apply a travel credit to your purchase at check out after you log into your account.
Information about redeeming a travel credit can be found on the airlines websites. American Airlines has detailed instructions on how to redeem various types of credits.
The type of ticket you bought is important. If you bought a basic economy ticket, you may have to call the airline to rebook it.
If you booked through an online travel agency, the credit will need to be used on the website.
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