It doesn't matter if the reason for the cancellation was outside their control, such as weather, or within their control, such as maintenance issues or flight crew shortages. The Department of Transportation requires airlines to offer a refund when they cancel a flight. Can I get a refund if my flight is canceled? Unclaimed baggage wells up between carousels for passengers arriving on Southwest Airlines flights at Denver International Airport Oct. What's a stranded traveler to do? Know your rights and persistently pursue them, including taking airlines to task on social media. "In the past 20 years, those contracts have gotten much harder to read, they've gotten lengthier, and they've gotten much weaker from a consumer standpoint." Over the summer, he joined other consumer advocates taking their case to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. In the United States, you are at the mercy of the contract of carriage," said William McGee, an aviation adviser to Consumer Reports who has pushed for an air passenger bill of rights for years. Hotel and meal vouchers and expense reimbursement are up to individual airline policies spelled out in dozens of pages of legalese known as a contract of carriage. Rules covering refunds for cancellations and significant flight delays by the airline are dictated by the U.S. There is a disconnect between what passengers think they are owed and what airlines owe them when flight plans go haywire due to a patchwork of federal regulations and airline policies. ►Southwest flight canceled? Here's why the airline won't put you on another carrier ►Southwest apologizes for cancellations: Five-hour wait times, flight shopping and a rental car rush amid weekend woes Southwest offered stranded travelers an array of refunds, flight credits and travel vouchers, but for customers who had to book flights on other airlines, stay extra hotel nights, rent cars to drive home or miss out on time-sensitive plans, that may not be enough, and it can be confusing to figure out what they are owed. EDT, according to FlightAware, which tracks cancellations and delays worldwide in real time.
One in 10 Southwest flights was canceled Monday, and more than 1,000 flights were delayed as of 3:30 p.m. United Airlines just reached a tentative two-year agreement with ALPA that will enhance overtime compensation and premium pay, improve quality of life for pilots with schedule flexibility, and allow an 8-week paid maternity leave.Īmerican Airlines pilots recently gathered near the New York Stock Exchange and airports nationwide with signs that read, “Frustrated with AA? So are we.Many Southwest passengers weren't where they wanted to be when they woke up Monday morning after a weekend of flight cancellations that stretched into a third day. He adds, “It’s disheartening to see customers waiting in long lines to rebook flights due to scheduling issues that could have been prevented.”ĭelta pilots said they are working overtime at record numbers and are blaming Delta management for their issues. “This is the first time in our history that we’ve published an open letter to customers,” said Delta ALPA Master Executive Council (MEC) chairman Capt. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) recently posted an open letter to Delta Air Lines customers empathizing with travelers whose flights were either delayed or canceled. Southwest said in a statementthat while it respects the right of employees to express their opinions, “we do not anticipate any disruption in service as a result of this single demonstration.” Not Just A Southwest Airline Issue Union leaders hope a new contract, something they’ve been asking for since 2020, will fix this issue.
In addition, thousands of pilots have flown on their days off to get passengers to their destinations. The union found that pilots are three times more tired than last year, USA Today reports.Īccording to SWAPA, pilots have lost 20,000 days off due to schedule mismanagement over the last year. Our fatigue rates reflect that,” he says.
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