Flight cancellations in the Chicago, Denver and LaGuardia airports during the Thanksgiving and Christmas storms: How to avoid delay on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
Chicago O’Hare and Denver International airports were seeing the most cancellations on Thursday, according to data from flight tracking site FlightAware , while many of Friday’s cancellations were affecting Detroit Metropolitan Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York.
US air travelers had a decent run of it over the July Fourth, Labor Day and Thanksgiving holidays with largely favorable weather conditions. But we’re in for a different story for Christmas.
The National Weather Service says there is an “once-in-a- generation type event” happening right now and it is delivering dangerous cold and a lump of coal in our travel stockings. It’s all at the same time as a travel season that is returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Mother Nature has the final say. “There’s no amount of safety protocol or preparation that airlines can take that’s going to make it safe to land or take off in the middle of a snowstorm,” Keyes said.
If your flight gets canceled, consider flying on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, said Kathleen Bangs, a former airline pilot and a spokesperson for FlightAware. While there are fewer flights, there are also fewer passengers.
Jeff Klee, CEO of CheapAir.com told CNN Travel in a recent email that flight delays can be avoided with the scheduling of the first flight of the day. Studies show that the first flights of day are more likely to leave on time.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/holiday-travel-winter-storm-december-2022/index.html
Checking airline interline agreements with CNN Travelers: Reaching the Farthest Airports with Mobile Approximation (MIA)
Position yourself close to the agents’ desk, Keyes previously suggested to CNN Travel readers. And call while you’re in line to up your chances of getting a resolution faster.
Travelers are asked to inquire about interline agreements between airlines. If your airline puts you on another carrier, you could get to your destination.
Bangs encourages travelers to check DOT’s Airline Customer Service Dashboard . It highlights 10 US carriers’ commitment to passengers for controllable disruptions but it also shows passengers’ entitlement to a refunds.
“If you elect not to be accommodated on a later flight and you book a new ticket out of your own pocket, you are entitled to a cash refund, though that may not help you get to where you need to go,” Smith said. “As we all know, last minute flights are very expensive.”
airlines will be looking for volunteers to take a later flight with so many oversold flights. You can negotiate better compensation if you have flexibility in your plans.
Airlines may start out offering a $250 or $300 travel credit for passengers willing to give up their seats. “You don’t have to take the first offer. Keyes expects that those offers will keep increasing. He said that passengers can get up to $1,000 in credits.
“The good news is that many credit cards offer travel protections such as reimbursement if a flight cancellation forces you to get a hotel, meals, etc.” Smith said. If you paid with a card, these travel protections will usually be included as soon as you use it. Travel protections can be found on your credit card, so you should check that out.
Pack a lot of time: Tips for staying safe and prepared in the worst possible weather on winter storms and at the earliest possible airport arrival times
Leave a lot of time. “The number one thing, and I cannot stress this enough, is that you must get to the airport early and well before your flight time,” said Gautam Thakkar, CEO of Unifi Aviation, the largest provider of aviation services in the United States. If you are traveling with a lot of luggage or packages to check in, being two hours early may not cut it.
Light, Pack light. “The best way to ensure all luggage arrives safely to a traveler’s destination is to not check a bag. Packing light and carrying on is a great way to save money and have peace of mind that your luggage will make it to your destination with you,” Klee said.
It is the safest thing to avoid travel altogether when there are poor conditions. The weather service in Chicago said that “life-threatening conditions” Thursday evening through Friday night. Don’t drive in the dangerous weather by staying on top of the latest forecasts.
You can measure air pressure and tread on the tires with a tire gauge. Replace worn tires and fill low tires with air to the pressure recommended for your car.
• Keep your car in proper working condition by checking the heater, defroster, brakes, brake fluid, ignition, emergency flashers, exhaust, oil and battery.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/holiday-travel-winter-storm-december-2022/index.html
The U.S. Airlines Travel Industry is Increasing Every Month With H3N2 Flu, Employee Engagement, and Flexible Work Scheduling
An industry group said in a recent media briefing that the industry is adding 4,600 employees a month. The organization said that airlines have built up their reserves and hired more people to improve their performance.
The H3N2 Flu is proving to be a triple threat, but it isn’t impacting employees the way the Omicron strain did a year ago.
“This year, travel time will be extended due to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Sundays,” said Paula Twidale, a senior vice president of travel for the AAA.
“With hybrid work schedules, we are seeing more people take long weekends to travel because they can work remotely at their destination and be more flexible with the days they depart and return.”
What to Do If Your Flight is Cancelled Delayed? The Simple Way to Preserve Your Sleep, Or How to Make the Most of Your Flights
Bad weather. Computer glitches. Staffing shortages. There were too many flights. Inflation. Holiday crunches. It has been a tough slog for many air travelers for much of 2022.
With a massive winter storm, travel the week ahead of Christmas was messy and frustrating for many.
When you know a major weather event is forecast,said Scott Keyes, the founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights . The early birds have the best choices of the remaining worms (that is seats and flights).
If your flight is delayed instead of outright canceled, you might want to weigh whether to wait at the airport. Depending your personal circumstances, hunkering down there for five or six hours might be easier than going to and from a hotel. Also, Keyes said, check whether there is a hotel within the airport.
“Check your flight status before you go the airport. Most notifications are not happening at the last minute. “Save yourself the drive to the airport.”
You can also put your airline and flight number directly into a Google search bar to retrieve the status that way. It’s also useful if friends or family are ready to pick you up.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/what-to-do-flight-canceled-delayed/index.html
What to Do When Your Flight is Cancelled Delay? Is It Really Possible to Make Your Arrival Time Faster than It Needs to Be?
A key word here is fast. It’s going to make a difference when it comes to who arrives first. First-come, first-served is what it is. “Positioning yourself close to the desk can pay off,” Keyes said.
You might want to call up your carrier while you wait. Depending on your spot in line, it might be faster to get through to a call center. “That’s great, whatever happens first,” he said.
Most US travelers are not thinking of calling the Canadian help line for Delta. It might be quicker for you to get through to the agent. They can all handle your reservations just the same.”
You can also American Airlines says . Your boarding pass can be used to view your updated trip details. From there you can change your flight and print your boarding passes.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/what-to-do-flight-canceled-delayed/index.html
Honey attracts more flies than any other liquid, and airlines have the option to place people on another plane when flights are canceled delayed
Keyes said that honey attracts more flies than any other liquid. “Look at this from the airline agents’ perspective. They’ve been dealing with irate customers really since the pandemic began. The agent is the one who has the most ability to help you.
“Come prepared to give your own options already when you talk to the agent about new arrangements,” he said. You’re doing your own research.
If you’ve already looked up new routes and possible suggestions while you’re waiting, your agent can speed things up. Be ready to explain what you want.
Keyes suggested that you book with the airline if the price is the same. In case something goes wrong, it makes it much more complicated with multiple sets of policies when booked via a third party.
The group also backs up the advice from Keyes to be nice and polite to agents but also says consumers should be persistent in trying to get the situation resolved satisfactorily.
Lousson Smith of Scott’s Cheap Flights told CNN Travel that when flights are canceled, airlines have the option to put people on another carrier’s flight.
“This means, for example, if Delta is having service interruptions but American is running a flight to your destination, you may be able to get on that flight.”
For instance, Delta Air Lines says it will provide a hotel voucher in some circumstances if travel is interrupted for more than four hours after the scheduled departure time when the delay is between 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
It said “most travel insurance policies provide additional cover for travel uncertainty. If a flight is delayed more than 12 hours because of a strike, adverse weather or a mechanical problem, then additional coverage becomes applicable.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/what-to-do-flight-canceled-delayed/index.html
What is a Significant Delay? An Interpretation Explains What is an Innocuous Implication of Flight Delay Policies and Consumer Perception
Don’t change it to the basics. You are unlikely to be able to get back money for purchases such as alcohol or expensive meals due to the fact that airlines only pay for’reasonable’ expenses.
The policy is not changed even if the flight is canceled or delayed. However, what constitutes a “significant delay” remains open to interpretation.
According to the DOT website, “it has not specifically defined what constitutes a ‘significant delay.’ Whether you are entitled to a refund depends on many factors — including the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances. DOT determines whether you are entitled to a refund following a significant delay on a case-by-case basis.”