Before that fiasco, one of the worst instances of flight cancellations was this past winter due to the terrible weather over Christmas. It left thousands of Southwest Airlines passengers stranded (this was a major nightmare that lasted way too long). All of these potential problems with flights can leave travelers feeling helpless and frustrated. The situations that lead to canceled flights are beyond our control. However, there are some things that you can do if your flight is canceled that will help to make it at least more tolerable. We’ll go over what to do if your flight is canceled to give you back a little feeling of control.
What To Do if Your Flight’s Canceled or Delayed
The first thing to know is that if your flight is canceled and you don’t want to rebook, your flight will be reimbursed as it is a federal law. If you do want to rebook another flight, however, there are some things that you can do either from the airport or from home. Since no one wants to get trapped at the airport. If your flight is going to be canceled, it’s better to wait it out at home than to get all the way to the airport and then find out you won’t be able to take off. So how do you find this out ahead of time? Here are some easy things to do.
Check Your Flight Status From Home
Get Text Alerts - Before heading to the airport, you should check the status of your flight. When you book your ticket, you can also opt to be notified, by text, of any flight changes that occur between purchasing the ticket and the scheduled flight time. This is very helpful for not only cancelations and delays but also to be informed about gate changes. Download The Airline App - Another way to stay informed is to download the app of your flight carrier. This way you can easily check the status of your flight. On top of that, when you find out about a cancellation, you can quickly rebook through the app instead of trying to fight the crowds at the airline help desks. Download The FlightAware App - This app provides real-time flight tracking. If you know that the weather could be bad, it’s a good idea to start tracking the flight early. You can also enable push notifications and flight alerts. Use the Online Flight Tracker At FlightStats - Here you can enter your airline and flight number to get the current status. Keep Track Of The Weather Forecast - One of the best things that you can do proactively is to stay informed of the weather ahead of the flight. When severe weather is in the forecast, many airlines will foresee the potential need to cancel flights and will offer a passenger the chance to change their flight ahead of time. When you are able to do this, it puts you at an advantage of actually getting another flight instead of trying to make a change at the last minute like everyone else.
React Quickly While at the Airport
Checking your flight status from home isn’t always a guarantee that your flight won’t be canceled once you arrive at the airport. Some things, like mechanical issues with the airplane or computer glitches, come a the last minute. This is when you have to act fast to get ahead of the rush of people scrambling to make a change. Here are a few ideas for beating the rush. Go Immediately to the Help Desk - Spending time thinking or talking about your options when a flight is canceled only delays the help that you can receive from the airport help desk. Not only that, but you could end up at the tail end of a very long line. Open Your Airline App - As you are walking to the help desk, open your airline app. It’s possible that they may have rebooking information available right from the app already. If this is the case, you can rebook while you are standing in line and end up not needing the help desk at all. This also gives you a head start on getting a chance at a new flight while they are available. Call the Airline Directly - If you don’t have an app, you can also call the airline directly as you are walking to and standing in line. Most likely, though, the lines will be very busy making it difficult to get through to an agent. If you can’t get through using the U.S. number to the airline, you might have better luck calling the international call center for the airline instead. Use the Self-Service Kiosk - According to American Airlines, you can just scan your boarding pass and enter your record locator to see your updated trip details. From there you can also switch your flight and print your new boarding passes. Check With Other Airlines - If you are not having any luck finding a flight with your own carrier, you may be able to schedule a flight with a different airline because of the interline agreements. However, your airline is not required to do this—it is a courtesy and should not be an expectation. It’s always easier when you are traveling with at least one other person. One of you can be trying to rebook a flight by phone or app while the other is ready to talk with the help desk in the event that you are next in line before having the ability to get rebooked by other means.
What To Do if You Have To Incur Additional Expenses
When a flight is canceled or delayed for a long time, you may find yourself needing to throw out some extra cash for lodging and meals. You may be able to recoup some of those costs. Ask the Airline To Give a Voucher or Reimburse Hotel Costs - Some airlines will do this, especially if the delay is caused by a mechanical issue. They are not required to do this, however. It probably won’t be volunteered as an option but if you ask, they may comply. Check if You Have Credit Card Travel Protection - If you use a credit card to book your flight, some cards have this protection built in and will reimburse for lodging and meals that were necessary because of a canceled flight. Travel Insurance - If you have purchased travel insurance, you will most likely be able to get reimbursed for costs due to a long delay. The cost to buy travel insurance averages 5-6% of your total trip cost. It’s something to consider when planning your vacation and could come in handy in the event of a cancellation. Next Up: Travel Delay Survival Guide: 8 Unique Journals and Activity Books for Travelers of Any Age
