In the United States, severe winter weather has resulted in thousands of delays and more than 1,600 airline cancellations, leaving passengers stranded.
While the Department of Transportation reminds travelers of their rights to reimbursement and compensation, airlines are providing waivers and accommodations.
Travel plans are being severely disrupted by extremely cold temperatures and a lot of snow as a strong winter storm moves throughout the Midwest and East. FlightAware, a website that tracks flights, reports that by Sunday evening, over 1,600 flights had been canceled and another 6,800 had been delayed.
American Airlines and Southwest suffered the most, with 6% and 8% of their flights canceled, respectively.
Airlines such as United, American, and Southwest have granted weather waivers to impacted passengers, so travelers are advised to check flight statuses before leaving for the airport. For certain dates and airports, these exemptions permit changes or cancellations at no extra cost.
When these disruptions occur, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is reminding travelers of their rights. Travelers are entitled to a reimbursement if they decide not to fly due to significant delays, which are defined as more than three hours for domestic flights.
Airlines may also provide free rebooking or food vouchers as accommodations, but they are not allowed to pay passengers in cash for delays.
With the storm showing no signs of abating, experts advise travelers to take immediate action: get in touch with airlines by phone, social media, or apps, and be aware of your rights before interacting with an agent. Travelers can negotiate these difficulties throughout the hectic holiday season with the help of the DOT’s dashboard, which offers comprehensive airline policies.
