With the recent events in airports all over the U.S., multiple flights canceled and delayed can be a hassle to get to your final destination. In addition, the airline's cancelation policy (the fine print) can be tricky, and sometimes knowing them will save you money and time.
Get familiar with the US Department of Transportation Aviation consumer protection. According to the US DOT, “In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or canceled. Compensation is required by U.S. law only when certain passengers are “bumped” from an overbooked flight."
The Department’s rules regarding flight delays and cancellations apply only to flights operating from, from, or within the United States. However, passengers flying between or within foreign countries may be protected from flight delays and cancellations by the laws of another nation.”
Make sure you read and understand the conditions of carriage of your airline since this may vary between carriers. In addition, a contract of carriage outlines the rights and obligations of the parties to that contract and anything either party is liable.
Each airline has its contract of carriage. You can find the conditions of carriage of most of the US airlines on the list below. Then, follow the links of your airline of choice.
Southwest and Spirit Airlines don't have a direct link to their contract of carriage. However, once you are on the webpage, scroll down to the page's footer, and you can find the contract on PDF.
And last, be ahead of the game; Air legit is a site that allows you to view historical flight data and how frequently your flight is delayed. Also, downloading your airline’s app will notify you if your flight gets canceled or postponed by text, email, or push alerts. Finally, don't forget that purchasing trip insurance will help with the financial inconvenience.
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