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Why are flight disruptions expected?
More than 2.8 million passengers are expected to go through airport security on Friday, a single-day record, according to to the Transport Safety Administration.
TSA Prepares for ‘Continuously Higher Passenger Volumes’ all summer longwith the period from June 29 to July 5 being the busiest period.
This comes as a result of heavy storms and staff shortages derailed thousands of flights this week. Storm are predictions across the US strip heading into the weekend.
A technology issue could also snarl air travel this weekend. Starting Saturday, wireless carriers will be able to boost their 5G signal and aircraft that won’t be retrofitted with certain equipment to prevent interference from such transmissions will not be allowed to land when visibility is poor, as in bad weather, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
“It’s a whole mix of factors,” said Kimberly Palmer, a personal finance expert at NerdWallet. “Unfortunately, we expect a lot of delays.”
What is your penalty for a delayed or canceled flight?
Travelers affected by a flight interruption may have some options for redress. But the rules vary depending on the situation and the airline.
Federal law does not require airlines to compensate passengers for delays, Palmer said.
If airlines cancel a flight for any reason, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund, including airfare, taxes, baggage fees, surcharges and incidentals. Passengers must receive this refund within seven business days if they paid by credit card and within 20 days if they paid by cash or check.
“You don’t have to accept a rebooking or a voucher or anything else,” Murray said. “They have to give you your money back if you want it.
Unfortunately, we expect a lot of delays
Kimberly Palmer
personal finance expert at NerdWallet
Of course, this policy does not necessarily help cover other costs incurred, such as food and accommodation, or help passengers who would rather continue to their destination rather than accept a refund.
Here, airlines have some leeway in handing out money – especially if the delay or cancellation is their fault and not due to something beyond their control, such as bad weather.
“There’s no reason not to ask,” Palmer said.
US Department of Transportation Airline Customer Service Panel outlines passenger rights for specific airlines. The list shows the liabilities of the 10 largest carriers in the event of “controllable” cancellations and delays.
“These are not proposals,” Murray said of the commitments. “It is binding.
For example: All major carriers will rebook passengers on the same airline at no additional cost for “significant” delays and will pay for meals if there is a delay of three hours or more. Some will rebook with a partner airline at no additional cost.
All major airlines (except Frontier) cover hotel stays and transportation to the hotel for overnight cancellations. Six out of 10 will rebook on another airline at no extra cost. Two offer credits or travel vouchers are enough if the cancellation causes a wait of at least three hours.
Even if the delay is not their fault, many airlines will transfer your ticket to another airline with available seats at no extra cost – if you ask according to to the American educational fund PIRG.
Of course, none of these options help passengers who, faced with flight disruptions, opt for another mode of transportation, such as renting a car, Palmer said.
“I think this is a really common situation for people” that can add up to “a lot of extra costs,” she said.
How to reduce the likelihood of flight problems
Here are some general travel tips from the experts to make it less likely that a delayed or canceled flight will affect you.
- Fly early in the morning. This is generally when airlines experience the least disruption; if there is, passengers would likely have plenty of alternative flights for the rest of the day depending on the route and carrier.
- Try to avoid connecting flight. Taking two flights instead of one doubles your chances of being disrupted.
- If possible, choose an airline with multiple flights per day to your location. If there is a disruption, there are more chances to get on another flight.
- Check if your credit card offers compensation for flight delays and cancellations. If so, and you purchased travel with this card, you may be entitled to certain benefits.