Hurricanes, airline staff shortages create travel chaos
The summer travel nightmare continues, with more than 19,000 flights delayed and nearly 3,000 more canceled since Sunday in the U.S. this summer, nearly a quarter of flights by U.S. airlines have been delayed, according to FlightAware. The average delay is almost an hour.
Bad weather coupled with problems with airline and air traffic control staff made Paul Thompson’s trip from Los Angeles to New York a three-day trip.
“It’s incredibly frustrating. I mean, you can’t rely on anything,” Thompson said.
In New York, Joby Palathinkal, his wife and children got stuck on their way to Tampa.
“Delay another hour, delay another hour,” he said. “And now today, the same thing is happening again.”
The cancellation in Denver had airlines rolling out cots for stranded flyers.
In Seattle, there was a different disruption on an Alaska Airlines flight to San Diego when the plane’s engine cover was torn off during takeoff Monday morning. No one was injured.
“We’re still looking at far too many delays and cancellations,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CBS News, adding that he thinks airlines should be held to a higher standard.
Buttigieg sent a letter to the airline last week calling his performance unacceptable. Airlines say they are cutting flights and increasing fares in an effort to keep pace.
“It doesn’t take nearly as long to get someone to get into a call center like a cockpit,” Buttigieg said. “We need to make sure that passengers have a clear understanding of their rights.”
The Transportation Department plans to launch a website in the coming days detailing what types of accommodations each U.S. airline provides for delays and cancellations. The department is also finalizing new regulations that require refunds for long delays or significant schedule changes.
Kris Van Cleave is a congressional correspondent for CBS News based in Washington, D.C.
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Do airlines give hotel vouchers for weather delays?
There is no federal law in the US that requires airlines to provide free hotel or meal vouchers when a flight is delayed or cancelled. Instead, individual airlines set their own policies.
Do airlines compensate for weather-related delays? Bad weather is – according to airlines – one of the most common reasons for flight delays and cancellations. Read also : Air Canada has announced a major flight reduction due to the chaos of unprecedented travel. Normally, passengers have compensation if their flight is interrupted and they arrive at their final destination with a delay of more than 3 hours (2 for cancellation).
Do airlines pay for hotel if flight is Cancelled weather?
Passengers are also required, by law, to receive meals, hotel stays when cancellations result in overnight stays and full reimbursement when cancellations delay passengers for five hours or more.
Do airlines give vouchers for weather delays?
When a flight delay occurs, you are entitled to help and a choice between rerouting, reimbursement, or rebooking. See the article : This Simple Water Bottle Travel Hack Is So Obvious, But No One Else Seems To Do It. If you arrive at your destination more than 3 hours after your scheduled arrival time, you are entitled to the same reimbursement, rerouting, and rebooking structure as denied boarding.
What percent of flights are Cancelled?
That represents more than 23% of scheduled flights, according to flight tracker FlightAware. And more than 20,000 − almost 3% − were canceled. Read also : Revenge travel: the trend behind full airports and rising air fares. That’s up from 20% of flights delayed and 2% canceled in the same period in 2019.
Which airline cancels the most flights?
How many flights are being Cancelled?
US airlines have operated between 21,000 and 25,000 flights a day in recent months. So far in 2022, an average of one in five flights a day has been delayed – a total of more than 820,000 flights delayed according to FlightAware. More than 116,000 flights have been cancelled.
Why are airlines Cancelling so many flights?
Airlines have struggled with flight cancellations and delays this summer as they face staff shortages, severe weather and air traffic control delays.
Can you take an airline to court?
Sure you can claim against the airline itself: The rules are there for a reason and anyone can access them, but it’s important to know what you’re letting yourself in for.
