What to Do If Your Flight Is Canceled During an FAA Ground Stop: Here’s Your Refund Right
Refunds and rebooking options
In the United States, airlines will rebook passengers after a cancellation, significant delay or change, or at least attempt to find another flight. Travelers can also choose a refund if their flight is canceled, regardless of the reason, or if a significant delay or change leads them not to travel.
Airlines may offer more help when a disruption is their fault. An air traffic control outage is not considered the airline’s fault, so other assistance is limited. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines have issued waivers allowing passengers to change or cancel without change fees or fare differences.
What airlines must provide
Airlines are not required to provide hotel rooms for overnight cancellations, ground transportation or meal vouchers. During a tarmac delay, however, they must provide water and a snack within two hours, unless safety or security concerns prevent it; a full meal is not required.
For domestic flights, airlines have three hours to move a plane to a place where passengers can safely get off. The limit is four hours for international flights. Passengers who leave the plane risk not being allowed back on.
Finding another way forward
Jamie Larounis, a travel industry analyst, said waiting in a long airport line during the ground stop may not be the best approach. He cautioned that the disruption would likely continue into the weekend and urged travelers to find a later flight, book a hotel promptly if stranded away from home, and consider train travel when possible.
Scott Keyes, founder of Going.com, suggested calling an airline’s international hotline, where fewer people may be waiting, or using its app to rebook. He said remaining seats were in a race to be claimed, so acting quickly could improve the odds of finding one.
Key points
- Canceled flights qualify for refunds, regardless of the reason.
- Airlines will rebook travelers or try to find another flight.
- Airlines do not have to provide hotels, ground transport or meal vouchers for an air traffic control outage.
- Try an airline app or international hotline to rebook quickly.