Cruising Altitude is a weekly column about air travel. Have a suggestion for a future topic? Fill out the form or email me at the address at the bottom of this page.
Whether you’re about to head out for your Thanksgiving travels or your journey is already underway, I hope you have (or are having) an easy trip.
But let’s be honest: it’s one of the busiest times of year on the roads and in the skies. There’s a non-zero chance that something went or could go wrong.
If that happens to you, don’t panic. Delays and other travel mishaps can be frustrating, but they’re not the end of the world. Eventually, you’ll get where you’re trying to go. But still, it’s a good idea to know what you’re entitled to if something has gone awry. Here’s what to know.
If your flight is canceled for any reason, you’re entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel on alternative flights offered by your airline, even if you originally purchased a nonrefundable ticket.
If you do choose to fly on different flights provided by your airline, you may still be entitled to hotel, meal and ground transportation vouchers. Check your airline’s specific policies or the Department of Transportation consumer travel dashboard to learn more about how policies vary by carrier.
If your flight is delayed, what you’re entitled to may vary depending on the cause.
Airlines are typically on the hook for refunds, rebookings and other compensation for significant delays that they are at fault for: things like delays caused by maintenance or crew scheduling issues. Other delays, like those caused by weather or air traffic control limitations, are not viewed by regulators as being in the airline’s control, which means the carriers are not responsible for rebooking or accommodating you when they occur.
The Trump administration also recently nixed a proposed rule that would entitle passengers to cash compensation for delayed or canceled flights.
If your luggage is delayed, damaged or lost, you may be entitled to some compensation.
I recently wrote a full guide to exactly what to do if your luggage doesn’t arrive with you, but the basics are: keep in touch with your airline, make sure you keep your receipts, and reach out to your travel insurance provider if you have one.
Airlines will typically cover incidentals that result from delayed baggage, and are required to compensate you for the value of lost luggage up to $4,700 for domestic flights, and up to (approximately) $1,700 for international flights, based on the value of the items lost.
The best thing you can do if you’re flying, not just during Thanksgiving, but really, any time, is to download the airline’s app. It’s the easiest way to get real-time updates about your flight.
During busy travel seasons, it’s also a good idea to get to the airport earlier than you normally would, just in case you encounter long security lines. Better to cool your jets in the concourse than be sweating it out in the back of an Uber with 15 minutes to go before boarding.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.
