Winter flight cancellations expected to increase
The FAA crackdown on excessive tarmac delays could mean you'll be stuck in an air port instead of an airplane this winter.
If the plane you book is going to, going through, or coming from a region of bad weather, a government study says the airline is now more likely to cancel the flight before the plane even reaches the tarmac.
The reason? First of all, most planes are flying at or near capacity. There are few seats to spare.
Secondly, airlines are trying to avoid steep fines for keeping you waiting on the tarmac too long. So they're planning ahead. If a winter storm makes successful takeoff unlikely, or socks in your connection or final destination, a government study shows there's a greater chance now that your flight will simply be cancelled.
According to the Government Accountability Office report, airlines are 24 percent more likely to cancel a flight at the gate, before the plane can taxi out. That's a major irritation if you're in your home town, and a huge and potentially expensive hassle, if you're stuck in another city.
"The airlines simply want be no part of these huge fines so they're being proactive and cancelling the flights. That is not good news to the consumer," said travel expert Steve Danishek.
Danishek predicts this could be a record year for flight cancellations. You may find the weather just fine in your connecting city, but find your flight cancelled because the weather at your destination is bad. With fewer unsold seats available, it will be much tougher for the airlines to get you on another flight right away and you have to act quickly to snag the first empty seat available.
If you're flying to a major hub city and your connecting flight is cancelled, get on the phone as soon as you learn about the cancellation (as soon as permitted if you're still in flight). Get your travel agent or the airline and start finding a seat on the next available flight.
At the airport, you'll probably be instructed to get in line with all the other stranded passengers. Go ahead and do that, but start working on alternate flights by phone while you're waiting. Don't wait for that travel agent at the counter. With persistence, you may be able to make other flight arrangements before your turn in line.
And if there's a chance your connecting flight will be cancelled for an extended period, call ahead and book a reservation at a hotel in the connecting city just in case. That means you need to have nearby hotel phone numbers at your fingertips before you start your trip.
"I'd get the hotel right away." said Danishek, "But I would not do a pre-paid reservation. I'd do the type of reservation where you can cancel at 6 o'clock. So use your credit card to guarantee the reservation (if possible), then you can turn around and cancel if your flight opens up or you get out of town."
And whenever possible, travel experts say try to book the first flight of the day. That often gives you a head start when bad weather is in the forecast.
The FAA has a website that shows you the real-time delay conditions at airports across the country. Regardless of your final destination, check the website before your flight to identify potential delay problems at connecting airports that might trip you up.
If the plane you book is going to, going through, or coming from a region of bad weather, a government study says the airline is now more likely to cancel the flight before the plane even reaches the tarmac.
The reason? First of all, most planes are flying at or near capacity. There are few seats to spare.
Secondly, airlines are trying to avoid steep fines for keeping you waiting on the tarmac too long. So they're planning ahead. If a winter storm makes successful takeoff unlikely, or socks in your connection or final destination, a government study shows there's a greater chance now that your flight will simply be cancelled.
According to the Government Accountability Office report, airlines are 24 percent more likely to cancel a flight at the gate, before the plane can taxi out. That's a major irritation if you're in your home town, and a huge and potentially expensive hassle, if you're stuck in another city.
"The airlines simply want be no part of these huge fines so they're being proactive and cancelling the flights. That is not good news to the consumer," said travel expert Steve Danishek.
Danishek predicts this could be a record year for flight cancellations. You may find the weather just fine in your connecting city, but find your flight cancelled because the weather at your destination is bad. With fewer unsold seats available, it will be much tougher for the airlines to get you on another flight right away and you have to act quickly to snag the first empty seat available.
If you're flying to a major hub city and your connecting flight is cancelled, get on the phone as soon as you learn about the cancellation (as soon as permitted if you're still in flight). Get your travel agent or the airline and start finding a seat on the next available flight.
At the airport, you'll probably be instructed to get in line with all the other stranded passengers. Go ahead and do that, but start working on alternate flights by phone while you're waiting. Don't wait for that travel agent at the counter. With persistence, you may be able to make other flight arrangements before your turn in line.
And if there's a chance your connecting flight will be cancelled for an extended period, call ahead and book a reservation at a hotel in the connecting city just in case. That means you need to have nearby hotel phone numbers at your fingertips before you start your trip.
"I'd get the hotel right away." said Danishek, "But I would not do a pre-paid reservation. I'd do the type of reservation where you can cancel at 6 o'clock. So use your credit card to guarantee the reservation (if possible), then you can turn around and cancel if your flight opens up or you get out of town."
And whenever possible, travel experts say try to book the first flight of the day. That often gives you a head start when bad weather is in the forecast.
The FAA has a website that shows you the real-time delay conditions at airports across the country. Regardless of your final destination, check the website before your flight to identify potential delay problems at connecting airports that might trip you up.
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