The Best Advice If Your Flight is Cancelled

It’s inevitable. So plan for it. It’s a rare trip that follows the booked itinerary but there are things you can do to make it a minor inconvenience instead of a catastrophe.

Federal Law Says…

It’s important to know that federal law entitles you to a full cash refund in the event your flight is canceled, regardless of the reason. On domestic carriers.

Unfortunately, getting a refund is often a lengthy and frustrating process (and as such, the DOT is actively working to improve this with new protections for flyers – including $600 million in refunds and legal action against several airlines). Most airlines will instead offer a voucher – but be wary of vouchers since they often come with limitations such as blackout and expiration dates. If you’re able to get a refund, note that it covers the total cost of airfare only and does not include other expenses associated with your trip.

US News 11/15/2022

International carriers have different policies and you should know these before you book your ticket.

Cancellations may mean you need to book a hotel room while you wait for the next flight, or cover rebooking charges. Or eat. Or catch up with your tour group.

There 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 about what it will do for delayed passengers.  If your flight is experiencing a long delay, ask airline staff if they will pay for meals or a hotel room.  While some airlines offer these amenities to passengers, others do not provide any amenities to stranded passengers.

US Department of Transportation

Get Coverage

Minimize the financial impact by purchasing travel insurance covering trip delays or interruptions. It’s part of most plans, is relatively inexpensive and may be all you need if your regular health insurance covers treatment abroad. Shop plans that include trip cancellation and interruption, lost/stolen or delayed baggage, fare change coverage. You’ll still have to manage the upfront costs but you can file for reimbursement when you return.

Get the App

Monitor your flights. The airlines don’t want you to be trapped in the airport waiting for delayed or cancelled flights. Download your selected airlines apps and sign up for flight notifications so you can make alternative plans. You’ll be more comfortable at home or in your hotel room waiting out a delay and better equipped to review your options, rebook and reschedule. Airlines are required to give status updates 30 minutes or sooner once aware of a change. So when they know, you’ll know.

Don’t Wait to Talk to an Agent

Everybody will tell you to Talk to an Agent. Except me.

The agent is feeling pretty beat up by the time you reach them. So be proactive.

First, look at your airline’s schedule and determine your next best option. Then call the airline, while you’re in line to speak to the agent. Usually if your flight is cancelled, it’s not an isolated event. Your airline MAY automatically book you on the next available flight at no additional cost. They will notify you of this action. But you know what works best for your itinerary. And, depending on why your flight was canceled, finding seats on a new flight may prove difficult and may alter your travel plans considerably. So be proactive.

An agent can expedite things if you’ve already looked up new routes and can offer possible solutions to your flights while you’ve been waiting. Be ready to explain what you want.

If you’ve booked through Expedia or another third-party site, you’ll have to deal through them when there’s a cancellation. Again, get on your phone.

And while I’m not advocating this option, if you’re at wits end and have no reasonable options, you can pay for Cranky Concierge’s Urgent Assistance plan. They’ll charge you $175 upfront and claim to help travelers find a solution to flight changes (either delays, cancellations or missed connections). I haven’t used them. But I’m making notes and following their social media.

Where’s My Luggage?

This is the fun part.

Not really. Remember those Apple Air Tags I recommended in an earlier post? I’m doing it again. On multi-leg tickets, the airlines won’t send your bags on without you. And if you rebook on another flight on the same carrier, your checked baggage will follow you. This, in an ideal world. Travel is not an ideal world so monitor your bag and make sure it’s on your new flight.

If you change carriers, which you will only be able to do by speaking to the agent at your booked airline, ask them to make the arrangements. However, when airlines don’t have interline agreements with other carriers, you’ll have to allow enough time to retrieve and recheck your own luggage.

Yeah, I know. Another reason NOT to change carriers if you have a multi-leg flight.

Sisters, it’ll work out. I promise it will. Uncertainty, adventure, mystery, did I mention adventure?…this is all part of travel. Nothing lines up and then, wonderfully, EVERYTHING lines up and you realize the trip happened as it was meant to. And that control-freak thing? Out the window. Happily.

xoxo