Summer is the “peak season” for flight delays. What travelers need to know

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The summer travel season is in full swing, often bringing more flight delays and cancellations.

But experts say depending on the root cause and specific airline policies, travelers may be out of luck when it comes to getting compensated for such disruptions.

“Generally speaking, in the U.S., airlines don’t really have an obligation to pay you anything at any time,” said Eric Napoli, chief legal officer of AirHelp, which helps passengers file claims for flight delays or cancellations.

‘High’ season for flight delays and cancellations

Naples said mid-June to the end of August is typically the “peak season” for flight disruptions.

“This summer will bring more aircraft in the sky, frequent severe weather and increased use of the nation’s airspace,” the FAA said. Web page About summer travel.

According to FAA data as of July 21, severe weather has accounted for 66% of total flight delay minutes so far this year.

Such figures presumably include the global IT outage that grounded thousands of flights on July 19.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg discusses the impact of global internet outages

The FAA said “traffic” caused another 15% of delays this year.

Hopper Chief Economist Haley Berg wrote in a recent report that summer typically brings “more passengers and flights” as schools are out and “millions of Americans” go on vacation. analyze Travel disrupted.

In fact, according to the FAA, 8 of the 10 busiest travel days in 2024 will be in June, July and August data Starting on Sunday.

What do you expect from an airline?

Airlines generally have one primary responsibility when it comes to compensating passengers: If an airline cancels a flight or makes “significant changes” to a flight, regardless of the reason, it should refund the ticket price and fees, according to the U.S. State Department. .

The Department for Transport said consumers are only entitled to a refund if they choose not to accept the airline’s alternative options, such as rebooking on a different flight.

This obligation applies even to those who purchased a non-refundable ticket.

There’s a key caveat, though: The Department of Transportation has not yet defined what constitutes a “significant” change. The agency said the decision was based on factors such as delay and flight times, as well as specific circumstances.

Starting October 28, airlines will be required to automatically pay refunds to passengers “in a timely manner” due to a rule recently issued by the Biden administration, which also defines a “significant” change as a three-hour delay for domestic flights and a delay of three hours for international flights. Flight delayed by 6 hours.

More broadly, airlines’ compensation policies for delays and cancellations vary.

Department of Transportation Dashboard Outline the commitments of major operators Provided to the customer in case of cancellation or delay of more than three hours. (These airlines include: Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Airways, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines.)

The agency said airlines “must adhere” to these commitments.

For example, all airlines have promised to rebook passengers on the same airline for free and provide free meals if a flight cancellation results in a wait of at least three hours for a new flight. Most of them provide hotel accommodation for overnight delays. But no company offers cash compensation for delays of three hours or more.

Importantly, these compensation policies only apply to “controllable” delays and cancellations, that is, delays and cancellations attributable to airline operations. The same obligations may not apply to circumstances beyond their control, such as severe weather.

For example, last month’s series of delays and cancellations related to global IT outages were deemed “controllable” events. A failed technical update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike affected Microsoft services used by multiple airlines.

Experts say passengers flying abroad may have more rights under international rules.

For example, passengers traveling to and from Europe typically have more rights According to AirHelp, compensation is based on EU law.

Tips for passengers

Experts recommend several ways to minimize the likelihood of flight disruptions and be better prepared for delays or cancellations if they occur:

Book the first flight of the day. Flights departing after 9 a.m. are twice as likely to be delayed as flights departing between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m., Berg said.
Avoid connecting flights to reduce the possibility of disruption. This is not always possible depending on factors such as airfare, airport and destination. If you do need to connect, Naples says, allow plenty of time to do so. Berg said travelers should allow at least 45 minutes of transfer time for domestic flights and 90 minutes for international flights.
Build within buffer days. Leave “wiggle room” in your destination so you don’t miss out on “big” events or plans in the event of delays or cancellations, Berg says.
Fly on less busy days. Traveling on weekdays, such as Tuesday or Wednesday, tends to reduce flight traffic, Naples said. Travelers may be less likely to experience certain types of delays and have more available seats when they need to rebook. Tickets tend to be cheaper these days too.
Pack smartly. Naples said people with carry-on luggage or personal belongings should pack their bags properly in case their flights are delayed or cancelled. If you don’t check a bag, for example, it might make sense to have a change of clothes, snacks, electronics, valuables and a toothbrush on hand, he said.
Perform multiple tasks while waiting. If delays or cancellations occur, use your time wisely, experts say. “While calling the customer support center, stand in line to speak with an airline representative,” Berg said. This way, you can maximize your chances of speaking to a representative faster if multiple passengers try to get through at the same time.