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What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled, according to experts

Posted on by L. Dreeye
What to do if your flight is delayed or cancelled, according to experts

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When your travel plans suddenly go off course, figuring out what to do next can seem daunting.

Let’s say your flight is canceled due to a hurricane, and you either need to change planes or find a hotel for the night—and of course, you don’t really want to pay all that out of pocket. Are you talking to the gate agent, trying to contact the airline by phone – like everyone else – or is this where travel insurance comes into play?

It’s a fair concern considering that 29% of the 281.7 million U.S. air passengers experienced a flight delay this summer, with 2.2% of those delayed by more than three hours, according to a survey by AirHelp, a passenger support organization.

According to a separate AirHelp survey of 1,363 people, many passengers who experienced significant disruption (such as a delay of two hours or more or a canceled flight) found that 70% ended up spending extra money on replacement travel, accommodations or food.

“Without knowing their rights, passengers find it difficult to know what steps they should take to receive compensation for a flight disruption,” said Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp. “Now that stricter protections are in place in the US, it is even more important that passengers know what they are owed in the event of an outage and what steps they should take to receive compensation if they are entitled to it.”

If your flight is disrupted, here’s how you can get help from airlines and travel insurance.

What should I do if my flight is cancelled?

According to Stan Sandberg, co-founder of TravelInsurance.com, check with the airline first, even if you have travel insurance.

That’s because the Department of Transportation requires airlines to refund travelers their original form of payment if their flights are canceled for any reason and they decide not to take the alternative flight. If you want to board another flight, the airline will help you rebook your ticket.

Pavlyshyn agrees, adding that you should head straight to the airline’s customer service desk at the airport. “If you’re already at the airport, this is probably still the fastest way to get help,” he added. “Airline staff can help with rebooking and other options.” Keep your flight details, booking numbers and identification documents handy to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible.

If the line is already long, you can contact the airline by phone or through a mobile app, such as United Airlines Chat.

Many carriers also provide tools for customers to rebook themselves through the airline’s app or website.

After speaking with the airline, call your insurance company’s emergency number, as this may help with additional costs or financial losses, such as if you miss a cruise or need an overnight hotel stay. “There are experts on the other side of this challenge to help handle any emergency,” Sandberg said.

Travel insurance varies, but providers usually bundle protection against unexpected events into a single plan, so you’ll likely get cover for things like accidental death, trip interruption, or baggage delays. “The main thing is it will protect your wallet in the event of an emergency that forces you to miss (your trip),” Sandberg said.

It is in your best interest to find out what you are covered for before you travel, so you know exactly what you can make a claim for. “Go to a comparison site to get a quote and see your available plan options,” he added. You can also call travel insurance companies before purchasing and tell them your concerns and how to obtain such coverage.

What should I do if my flight is delayed?

As with cancellations, contact your airline as soon as possible. Under the new DOT rule, you may be eligible for a full refund if your flight is significantly delayed. The Department of Transportation recently defined a significant delay as more than three hours for a domestic flight or six hours for an international flight, and now requires airlines to refund passengers in the same manner as cancellations if a person decides not to travel on the delayed flight or takes an alternative flight. route from the airline. Previously, compensation was at the discretion of the airlines, making it a little difficult for passengers to figure out how much they were owed.

DOT also added coverage for “significantly modified” flights that include “departures from or arrivals from another airport; increasing the number of connections; cases of passengers being downgraded to a lower class; or connections at different airports or flights on different aircraft that are less accessible or accommodating for people with disabilities.”

How can I pay for room or board while I’m waiting?

Airlines may provide overnight accommodation or meal vouchers, but this is not guaranteed. Travel insurance may help cover these additional costs depending on your policy, so if you have it, give them a call and find out what’s included in your cover.

As soon as you hear that your flight has been canceled or even delayed, Pavlyshyn suggests “demanding that the airline tell you the reason for the disruption” for your own record. Be sure to save documentation, such as photos and screenshots of boarding passes, airline notifications, and receipts. “To ensure passengers receive maximum compensation, it is always wise to gather the necessary evidence to support your eligibility,” he said. This will be helpful if you are also applying for travel insurance.

Remember that there may also be some requirements before the insurance kicks in, such as a minimum layover duration and a daily benefit limit, so make sure you fully understand your policy beforehand.

What should I do if my luggage is lost or delayed?

If you realize that you will not be able to reunite with your luggage upon arrival at your destination, please contact the baggage counter immediately to notify the airline.

The good news is that you will get some of your money back. According to the DOT, airlines must reimburse passengers for “reasonable, verifiable, and actual incidental expenses they may incur while their baggage is delayed,” up to a maximum liability limit of $3,800 for domestic flights and $1,780 for international flights. , according to DOT. If your bag is lost, airlines are required to compensate you for the contents, subject to depreciation and maximum liability.

Under the new DOT rule, passengers are also entitled to a refund of the checked baggage fees they paid if their baggage is not returned to them within 12 hours for domestic flights or 15 to 30 hours for international flights, depending on the length of the trip. .

A travel insurance plan with a comprehensive policy, such as trip interruption insurance, can also help with this. “If you lose your luggage and your bag gets delayed, you’ll have to buy a bunch of stuff to make up for it,” he said. “Keep all your receipts to file your refund claim on the backend… If you have documentation and are a little organized, the process will be quick and easy.”