What to Do When Your Flight is Cancelled
http://progolfmagazine.com/articles/21303/1/What-to-Do-When-Your-Flight-is-Cancelled/Page1.html
Harry Raymond Cowperthwaite
Harry Raymond Cowperthwaite is a Publisher and Webmaster of: http://www.packageholidaysauctions.com He provides original articles on his website about Holiday places to visit and links where you can book Holidays, Vacations more cheaply. By Harry Raymond Cowperthwaite
Published on 09/28/2009
If you often fly when you travel, you may have experienced having a flight or two cancelled Cancelled flights aren't fun
If you often fly when you travel, you may have experienced having a flight or two cancelled. Cancelled flights aren't fun. No one, including the airlines, wants last minute flight cancellations. Whenever it happens, it starts a domino effect. Other flights following the cancelled flight either get delayed or cancelled. Planes get stuck in the wrong tarmac and their crew can't fly them since they have to follow regulations.
There are a number reasons why flights are cancelled. Bad weather is one of the most common reason. It's a pretty obvious reason too. If you're at the airport and there's a snow storm, chances are your flight will be cancelled.
But there are times when all is sunny and calm out and flights still get cancelled. What's up with that? The airlines can cancel flights when the weather at the destination airport is experiencing some bad weather. So even if it's nice and sunny from where you board your plane, it may be snowing terribly where it's landing. Or somewhere between your origin and destination, the weather is bad. The weather at any point of your destination (or even from other destinations if you are, say, getting on a connecting flight) can have an effect on your flight.
Besides the weather, a mechanical problem with the plane can cause a flight to be cancelled. If something is wrong with the plane you're boarding, wouldn't you want the airline mechanics to fix it first? It's frustrating to have your flight cancelled, but if the reason is as serious as a problem with the plane, you should be thankful that the airline mechanics discover the error while the plane's still on the ground and not when it's already in the air!
Delays for one reason or another can cause flight to get cancelled. When this happens, the crew remains on stand by; the pilot can't simply get his plane to your terminal and start loading up his plane. When there are delays, the airplane crew has to wait for further instructions from the main terminal. They have to follow rules as to when they can or can't fly.
So what do you do if you discover that your flight is cancelled? Call the toll-free number of the airline you're flying. While you're making that call, head to the line at the counter. You're likely to have yourself re-booked much more quickly on the phone than at the counter where many disgruntled travelers are overwhelming a few airline employees.
Either on the phone or at counter, ask about your options. If you're a seasoned traveler, you probably already have had enough experience with flight cancellations that you've started carrying Plan B (C, D, E, and several other alternatives) with you whenever you fly. The sooner you can act on your alternative plan, the sooner you can be on your way while other passengers are trying to find something.
Most airlines don't charge fees or levy penalties for re-booking you if your flight is cancelled. They often re-book passengers of cancelled flights on the next flight that has available seats. If you happen to be traveling during the holidays or if the weather is really bad, you could have a long wait ahead of you, from a few hours to even a few days.
If you are going to have to wait too long for the next flight with available seats, ask the agent if she can find you a seat on another airline. While airlines are in direct competition, they often will endorse your ticket to another airline and get you to your destination as soon as possible. You're in luck if the airline can get you a seat with a partner airline. If you can't get a direct flight out to your destination, ask the agent if she can get you a connecting flight or in worst cases, you can go to another airport to get on another flight. But then again, if flights are being cancelled due to bad weather, it's not likely you'll be able to get out quick enough since nearby airports are likely to have cancelled their flights also.
There are a number reasons why flights are cancelled. Bad weather is one of the most common reason. It's a pretty obvious reason too. If you're at the airport and there's a snow storm, chances are your flight will be cancelled.
But there are times when all is sunny and calm out and flights still get cancelled. What's up with that? The airlines can cancel flights when the weather at the destination airport is experiencing some bad weather. So even if it's nice and sunny from where you board your plane, it may be snowing terribly where it's landing. Or somewhere between your origin and destination, the weather is bad. The weather at any point of your destination (or even from other destinations if you are, say, getting on a connecting flight) can have an effect on your flight.
Besides the weather, a mechanical problem with the plane can cause a flight to be cancelled. If something is wrong with the plane you're boarding, wouldn't you want the airline mechanics to fix it first? It's frustrating to have your flight cancelled, but if the reason is as serious as a problem with the plane, you should be thankful that the airline mechanics discover the error while the plane's still on the ground and not when it's already in the air!
Delays for one reason or another can cause flight to get cancelled. When this happens, the crew remains on stand by; the pilot can't simply get his plane to your terminal and start loading up his plane. When there are delays, the airplane crew has to wait for further instructions from the main terminal. They have to follow rules as to when they can or can't fly.
So what do you do if you discover that your flight is cancelled? Call the toll-free number of the airline you're flying. While you're making that call, head to the line at the counter. You're likely to have yourself re-booked much more quickly on the phone than at the counter where many disgruntled travelers are overwhelming a few airline employees.
Either on the phone or at counter, ask about your options. If you're a seasoned traveler, you probably already have had enough experience with flight cancellations that you've started carrying Plan B (C, D, E, and several other alternatives) with you whenever you fly. The sooner you can act on your alternative plan, the sooner you can be on your way while other passengers are trying to find something.
Most airlines don't charge fees or levy penalties for re-booking you if your flight is cancelled. They often re-book passengers of cancelled flights on the next flight that has available seats. If you happen to be traveling during the holidays or if the weather is really bad, you could have a long wait ahead of you, from a few hours to even a few days.
If you are going to have to wait too long for the next flight with available seats, ask the agent if she can find you a seat on another airline. While airlines are in direct competition, they often will endorse your ticket to another airline and get you to your destination as soon as possible. You're in luck if the airline can get you a seat with a partner airline. If you can't get a direct flight out to your destination, ask the agent if she can get you a connecting flight or in worst cases, you can go to another airport to get on another flight. But then again, if flights are being cancelled due to bad weather, it's not likely you'll be able to get out quick enough since nearby airports are likely to have cancelled their flights also.