A nasty storm with winds of 60 miles per hour pounded parts of the Northeast on Tuesday, creating dangerous road conditions and locking up airports.
More than 1,200 flights were canceled before noon, mainly along the east coast, but that is likely to spread westwards as the day progresses.
Airlines have no control over the weather, but are still required to provide refunds to customers whose flights are canceled. Here’s what you need to know about your rights and what to know if the cancellations start piling up:
When airlines expect bad weather to cause problems for flights, they often give travelers the chance to reschedule their trip by a few days at no additional cost. Google your airline and “travel alerts” or similar phrases to see the offers.
It’s better to be stuck at home or in a hotel than to be stranded in an airport terminal, so use the airline’s app or flight websites to make sure your flight is still on before you head to the airport. Airlines usually cancel flights hours or even days before departure time.
If you’re already at the airport, it’s time to multitask to find another flight. Stand in line to speak to an airline representative and then call or go online to connect with the airline reservations staff. It also helps to reach out through X, the site formerly known as Twitter.
Most airlines will rebook you on a later flight free of charge. However, that depends on the airline that has empty seats.
That is possible, but airlines are not obliged to place you on another airline’s flight. Some airlines, including the largest except Southwest, say they can put you on a partner airline, but even then it’s often hit or miss. Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com, recommends researching alternative flights while you wait to speak with an agent.
If you no longer wish to make the trip, or if you have found an alternative way to get to your destination, the airline is legally obliged to refund your money, even if you purchased a non-refundable ticket. It doesn’t matter why the flight was canceled.
“They can’t give you a voucher, you can get your money back,” said Kyle Potter, editor-in-chief of Thrifty Traveler. “That means you’ll have to cancel your entire reservation, but that can be an easy option for some travelers – especially if you end up booking a flight with another airline.”
You are also entitled to a refund of any baggage fees, seat upgrades or other extras that you were unable to use.
U.S. airlines don’t have to pay compensation even if the cancellation is their fault – such as a lack of crew, a mechanical problem that grounds the plane, or a computer glitch that brings the airline to a standstill. However, the Transport Department is working on a proposal to change this if the airline has made a mistake.
“I know how frustrated many of you are with the service you receive from your America’s airlines,” President Joe Biden said. “That’s why our top priority has been to offer American air travelers a better deal.”
There is no federal requirement that airlines cover the cost of hotel rooms or meals for stranded passengers. Each airline has its own policy.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has a site where consumers can see the commitments each airline makes to refunds and cover other expenses when flights are canceled or significantly delayed.
If the weather forecast is unsettling, consider booking a backup flight, says Potter, editor of Thrifty Traveler. He says Southwest and Delta stand out as potential backups because they offer customers the option to cancel for a full refund, as long as they cancel within 24 hours of booking. “Others only allow that if you book at least two or even seven days in advance,” he says.
If you’re in a group and one person belongs to a higher level of the airline’s frequent flyer program, use the number associated with that person to call the airline, says Kurt Ebenhoch, a travel consumer advocate and former spokesperson of the airline.
If many flights are canceled, airlines will soon be swamped. Try calling your airline’s international helpline number (usually available online). These agents can also make changes to your itinerary.
Be nice. The agent you’re talking to probably also deals with a lot of other frustrated travelers, and yelling at the agent isn’t going to make him or her want to help you. The cancellation is not their fault.