The FAA recently encouraged airlines to reduce flights to and from major New York airports this summer because it doesn’t have enough air traffic controllers at a key facility. The Federal Aviation Administration has also created disruptions due to technology outages and staffing shortages. The Transportation Department says it is working with the airlines to reduce cancellations and delays this summer, when air travel could exceed pre-coronavirus pandemic records.Ī report last month from the Congressional Government Accountability Office blamed airlines for a surge in cancellations as air travel began to recover in 2021 and early 2022. The Transportation and Justice departments are investigating whether Southwest scheduled more flights than it realistically could handle. As per the SW Airlines Cancellation Policy, if a customer cancels a Business Select and Anytime ticket, he/she gets a 100 complete refund in the original form. Questions arose again around reimbursing consumers for out-of-pocket costs after Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 17,000 flights during a December meltdown in service. Click the Manage Reservations link, which is located in the far-left column under the Flight header. This will take you to a window with many options and links. Nine of the 10 - all but Frontier Airlines - also promised to pay for accommodations for passengers stranded overnight. Click the Flight Hotel Car tab at the top of the homepage. airlines quickly promised to provide cash or vouchers for meals when a cancellation forces passengers to wait at least three hours for another flight. The site lets consumers check each airline’s policy on refunds and compensation when flights are canceled or delayed.Įach of the 10 largest U.S. regulators and lawmakers amid a days-long meltdown of holiday air travel. Airlines often try to persuade consumers to accept a travel voucher instead of a refund.Īfter widespread flight disruptions last summer, the Transportation Department posted an online dashboard that was designed to pressure the airlines to improve customer service. Southwest Airlines accounted for about 85 percent of canceled domestic flights Tuesday, drawing the attention of U.S. Powers 2023 North American Airline Satisfaction Study. The rule-making process can take months or years.Ĭurrently, when an airline cancels a flight for any reason, consumers can demand a refund of the unused part of their ticket and certain extras that they might have paid to the airline, such as fees for checking a bag or getting a seat assignment. North American travelers are unhappy with high ticket prices, staffing shortages and reduced routes, according to consumer research company J.D. There is no certainty if or when the Transportation Department might publish final rules around new compensation for travelers. “Carriers have taken responsibility for challenges within their control and continue working diligently to improve operational reliability,” including hiring more workers and reducing their schedules, the group said.Īfter the pandemic hit, airlines paid tens of thousands of workers to quit or retire early, but they have added about 118,000 workers since November 2020 and now have 5% more employees than before the pandemic, according to Transportation Department figures.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |