What to do if your flight was delayed or canceled in the FAA chaos

After thousands of travelers were stranded during an hour of FAA computer outage, many are looking to rebook or refund if they no longer wish to travel.

More than 2,700 US flights were canceled and another 8,000 delayed on Wednesday, according to flight tracking site FlightAware, and the disruptions could stretch for days.

Anyone whose flight has been canceled is entitled to a full refund if they no longer wish to travel. For passengers experiencing delays, remedies vary by airline and could include options to rebook or request a refund.

Staying calm and knowing your rights can go a long way if your flight plans are disrupted, experts say. Airline customers who believe their rights as passengers have been neglected may submit written complaints to the Department of Transportation.

Here, travel experts share their tips for dealing with a flight delay or cancellation, and the latest information from each airline on refunds and rebooking:

What is each of the major airlines doing to help travelers?

Most major US airlines are allowing anyone planning to fly on Wednesday the option to rebook a ticket between the same two cities at no cost, even if their flight was not canceled or delayed.

southwest airlines offered the most generous rebooking windowallowing anyone with a ticket for Wednesday to rebook a flight on or before January 25 at no additional cost.

Southwest also said in a statement to DailyMail.com that it will issue refunds to customers who “opt out of travel due to cancellation or significant delay.”

In addition, united airlines issued an undulating for all flights on Wednesday, allowing travelers to switch to another flight departing the following Monday or earlier at no additional cost.

United also said it is “offering refunds to customers who no longer want to travel” and directed travelers to its website to request returns.

delta airlines also issued a fee difference waiver for all its flights on Wednesday, allowing travelers to change to another flight on or before Friday at no additional cost.

The airline said the FAA outage led to the cancellation of more than 130 Delta flights.

‘We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience. Delta remains connected with our partners at the FAA at all levels as we work to mitigate the impact,” the company said in a statement.

american airlines It had not released any information about rebooking policies as of Wednesday afternoon and did not immediately respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with the FAA to minimize customer disruptions,” the company said in a tweet, its only apparent comment on the matter.

My flight was cancelled. Can I get a refund?

Yes. If your ticketed flight was canceled and you no longer wish to travel, 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 consumer travel advocate and former airline executive, stressed that travelers are eligible for cash back for canceled flights, not just coupons for future travel.

If you take a coupon, be sure to ask about blackout dates and other restrictions on its use.

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 my flight was delayed, can I get hotel or food vouchers?

Usually not. There are no federal laws that require airlines to provide passengers with meal vouchers or other compensation when their flights are delayed.

But each airline has its own policy, so if you experience a long delay, you should ask if you can get a meal voucher or a hotel room.

If your flight was delayed for so long that you no longer wish to travel, you may be able to get a refund.

The US Department of Transportation says travelers are entitled to a refund if there is a “significant delay,” but doesn’t define “significant.”

The refund depends on many factors, including the length of the delay and the length of the flight. It is decided on a case by case basis.

Both Southwest and United proactively said they would offer refunds to customers affected by the FAA grounding stop, even for long delays.

Can I ask to be rebooked on 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, recommends looking for alternative flights while you wait 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 suggests looking for alternative airports that are close to your original destination.

If you’re facing a long wait while trying to rebook your flight, there are a few tactics you can use to speed up the process.

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.

To avoid future travel disruptions, 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.

Klee recommends comparing airline policies on refunds and rebooking using 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.