Thousands of flights were canceled over the past week due to the winter storms, freezing temperatures, and a holiday rush hitting the nation all at the same time.
Southwest Airlines was hit hardest by these conditions, canceling 70% of flights on Monday. About 2,700 Southwest flights were canceled, almost 300 of which were flights coming out of Dallas Love Field Airport, as The Dallas Express reported on the scene.
Here is a quick guide on the next steps to take when your flight has been canceled.
Most airlines will rebook your flight for free and try to get you on the next available flight, as long as extra seats are still available.
If you choose to cancel your trip altogether, you will get a full refund of your ticket, baggage fees, and other extras.
You are entitled to a full refund and do not need to accept a voucher in lieu of it. If you do opt for the voucher, make sure you know all the details about potential usage restrictions it may have.
Southwest is offering full refunds or flight vouchers, but will not be rebooking flights until this Saturday, December 31.
If you choose to rebook your flight yourself, most major airlines will waive change fees, especially during these extreme weather conditions.
Make sure to check with your airline on any date windows that might affect whether the change is completely free or requires customers to pay the price difference for the tickets.
You can also ask to be booked with another airline. Some airlines will do this, but none are required to. Check other airports close to your final destination if flights to those seem more accessible.
Airlines are not required to provide you with lodging or other accommodations if your flight is canceled. Some do, but this depends on the airline’s policies.
Avoiding flight cancellations is usually out of the customer’s control, but there are some steps you can take to make it less likely. For example, choosing nonstop flights and morning flights usually minimizes your risk.
Flying outside of busy airport times can also help ensure that even if your flight is canceled, you can easily get on the next available one. The holidays are always busy, but some dates are busier than others. Friday, December 30, is expected to be an especially busy day at the airport this year.
You can compare different airlines’ policies on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website here.