Delayed and Cancelled Flights
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How can I avoid flight delays?
- Research the Airlines' on-time ratings and use the Airline with the best rating.
- Avoid peak travel time.
- Take early morning flights. Early flights are less likely to be delayed and if they are delayed you'll have more options remaining throughout the day to complete your trip.
- Avoid the last flight of the day since a delay might force an overnight stay.
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Where can I find information on which Airline and/or flight has the best chance of arriving on time?
http://www.bts.gov/programs/airline_information/ The U.S. Department of Transportation's On-time statistics expanded database query web page. This site contains a huge database of information on the on-time statistics of major U.S. Airlines. You can focus your search in any number of time periods and research particular Airlines, airports, time of day or day of the week. Want to know if your particular flight has had more delays on its Monday or Tuesday morning departure? Want to know which Airline has the least amount of delays for flights scheduled to depart from your home airport before 10 a.m. and arrive at your favorite destination? Complete the questionnaire on the page and get your answer immediately. http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/ The U.S. Department of Transportation's Air Travel Consumer Report web page. This site contains information on flight delays, mishandled baggage, oversales or overbooking of flights, consumer complaints, and disability complaints for the ten largest U.S. Airlines. Each of these sections provides valuable information to assist the traveler in evaluating which major Airline would provide them the best service.Top of Page | Back to Categories
What should I do if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
- If your flight is delayed or cancelled, work with the Airline's counter personnel to book you on another flight. Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper.
- If there is a line at the counter, call the Airline's reservation center directly to book another flight instead of waiting in line for the few people available to help. If you have another person traveling with you, spread out with one in line and the other on the phone. See if others in your party belong to any premium clubs that will help to get you special consideration.
- If it looks like lots of people are going to be stuck for a long time, consider booking a hotel room and/or a rental car before everyone else grabs them all.
- Look into other practical forms of transportation such as trains, buses, or rental cars. The airport may close, but that doesn't necessarily mean the highways and railroads are impassible.
- Move quickly, a closed airport will mean that other forms of transportation and hotel rooms will sell out quickly.
- Update any future reservations with Airlines, hotels or rental cars that will be effected by your delay.
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What type of compensation will I receive if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
- Being nice and working with the agent will often bring much better results than losing your temper.
- Ask to be protected under the Airline's "Rule 240", so you are given all the consideration you are due. "Rule 240" refers to the Airline's own written rules in the ticket's conditions of carriage for dealing with bumped passengers, delayed and cancelled flights. The U.S. Department of Transportation mandates that a copy of this contract be available to passengers at the Airline's ticket counter.
- Keep all your receipts for expenses caused by your delay or flight cancellation.
- Compensation will vary depending on the amount of time you were delayed.
- If the delay or cancellation is caused by weather, air traffic congestion, security or other issues beyond the control of the Airline, the ticket's conditions of carriage usually state that no compensation is due the passenger.
- If you are late checking in, you may have waived any compensation you are due.
- Many Airlines will not pay for an overnight hotel stay at the origin or destination of your flight.
- You can always make an appeal to the Airline's customer service department.