Flying Delays & Cancellations

When planning a trip, passengers should keep in heed that airlines exercise non guarantee their schedules.  While airlines desire to become passengers to their destinations on time, there are many things that tin – and sometimes do – make information technology hard for flights to arrive on fourth dimension.  Some bug, like bad weather, air traffic delays, and mechanical problems, are hard to predict and often across the airlines' command.

In the U.s., airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled.  Compensation is required by U.S. law only when certain passengers are "bumped" from a flight that is oversold.

The Department's rules regarding flight delays and cancellations use just to flights that operate to, from, or within the United States.  However, passengers flying between or within foreign countries may be protected from flight delays and cancellations by the laws of another nation.

Flight Delays

My flight is delayed - am I entitled to coin or other compensation from the airline?

  • No.  In that location are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed.  Each airline has its own policies nearly what information technology will practise for delayed passengers.  If your flight is experiencing a long delay, inquire airline staff if they volition pay for meals or a hotel room.  While some airlines offer these amenities to passengers, others do not provide any civilities to stranded passengers.

How do I find out how long my flight will be delayed?

  • Airlines are required to provide passengers with information most a change in the condition of the flight if the flight is scheduled to depart within 7 days.  Airlines are required to give these status updates xxx minutes (or sooner) after the airline becomes aware of a condition change. The flying status information must, at a minimum, be provided on the airline's website and via the airline'due south telephone reservation system.
  • Likewise, when a flight is delayed for 30 minutes or more, the airline must update all flying status displays and other sources of flight data at U.S. airports that are under the airline'southward control inside 30 minutes afterwards the airline becomes aware of the problem.

Why are flights sometimes delayed for several hours?

  • It is sometimes difficult for an airline to judge how long a delay will be during its early stages.  When a flight filibuster unexpectedly becomes longer and longer, this is called a "creeping filibuster."  During "creeping delays," unexpected developments can cause a delay to be longer than predictable.  For instance, atmospheric condition that was supposed to amend can instead become worse, or a mechanical problem can plough out to be more complex than the airline originally thought.

If my flight is delayed, tin can I switch to a different flight?

  • Perhaps.  If your flight is delayed, you tin can attempt to arrange another flight on your airline.  It is sometimes easier to brand such arrangements by calling the airline, through the airline's website or mobile application, or via social media.  Before yous decide to switch flights, check if the airline will charge you a fee and/or a higher fare for changing your reservation.
  • If yous discover a flight with an available seat on another airline, yous can inquire the get-go airline to transfer your ticket to the culling airline – this exercise could save you money past avoiding a fare increment.  However, in that location are no federal regulations requiring airlines to put you lot on another airline's flight or reimburse you if you purchase a ticket on another airline.  Besides, go on in mind that changing flights and airlines becomes more hard and time consuming if you have checked bags.

My flight is significantly delayed – am I entitled to a refund?

  • It depends.  In some situations, you may exist entitled to a refund, including a refund for all optional fees associated with the purchase of your ticket (such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, etc.).
  • DOT has non specifically defined "significant filibuster."  Whether you are entitled to a refund depends on a lot of factors – such as the length of the delay, the length of the flying, and your detail circumstances.  DOT determines whether you lot are entitled to a refund on a case by case basis.

Flight Cancellations

What happens when my flight is cancelled?

  • If your flight is cancelled, well-nigh airlines will rebook you for free on their next flight to your destination as long as the flying has bachelor seats.
  • If your flight is cancelled and you choose to cancel your trip as a event, you lot are entitled to a refund for the unused transportation – even for non-refundable tickets.  You are besides entitled to a refund for whatever purse fee that you paid, and any extras you may accept purchased, such as a seat assignment.
  • If the airline offers you a voucher for future travel instead of a refund, you should ask the airline almost whatever restrictions that may apply, such as coma and expiration dates, advanced booking requirements, and limits on number of seats.

If my flight is cancelled, tin my airline put me on another airline's flying?

  • Yes.  While airlines are not required to put you on another airline'south flight, they can and sometimes do, and so it does not hurt to politely ask your airline if it volition transfer your ticket to some other airline that has a flight with available seats.
  • Ask the airline or cheque online to see if another carrier has open seats and then enquire if the first airline will transfer your ticket to that carrier.  Remember, withal, that airlines are not required to do this.  Also, be enlightened that finding available seats on another airline's flight may be difficult, particularly during holidays and other tiptop travel times.

If my flight is cancelled, is the airline required to provide me with a hotel room, cab fare, a nutrient voucher, or reimbursement for whatsoever other non-airline ticket costs associated with my trip?

  • No.  Airlines are not required to provide passengers with money or other compensation for costs that fall outside of the cancelled airline ticket and fees tied directly to the airline ticket (such as baggage fees, seat upgrades, etc.) when flights are cancelled.
  • Each airline has its own policies about what it will do for passengers whose flights take been cancelled.  If your flight is cancelled, enquire the airline staff if they volition pay for meals or a hotel room.  While some airlines offer these amenities to passengers, others do not provide any amenities to stranded passengers.

Is an airline required to reimburse me for expenses if it cancels my flight and I am forced to miss my cruise, honeymoon, wedding, concert, or other activity?

  • No.  Airlines are not required to reimburse you for any trip costs afflicted by the cancelled flying, such as a prepaid hotel room, a prowl, a vacation, concert or other tickets, or lost wages.

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Concluding updated: Wed, March 4, 2020