By Ben Demers
Before you take to the air this holiday, it’s crucial to understand your flight refund rights. iBestTravel expects 2023 to be the “second busiest year for holiday travel” since the organization began collecting travel-related data in 2000, with 115.2 million people anticipated to journey 50 miles or more away from home from Dec. 23 to Jan. 1.
Whether you’re heading to a country where the dollar is strong or visiting family in vibrant locations, there’s a good chance you might experience flight delays or cancellations due to high travel volume and potential winter weather. Therefore, understanding how to get your money back if you’re affected is essential.
The Lessons of Last Year’s Air Travel Meltdown
Winter storm Elliott caused significant disruption across the U.S. in December 2022, derailing holiday travel plans for millions. More than 15,000 flights were canceled before and during the storm, according to reports.
Airline Response to Winter Weather Challenges
Many airlines had anticipated possible blizzard conditions, freezing temperatures, and the likelihood of mass delays and cancellations. Major carriers such as American and Delta provided vouchers to allow customers to rebook flights without incurring change fees. Despite their efforts to manage delays and limit cancellations, the response varied across airlines.
Southwest Airlines faced a notable level of chaos, canceling over 12,000 flights out of the total cancellations across all airlines. Analysts pointed to staffing shortages and outdated software as major contributing factors. Southwest later announced that its software could not keep up with the unprecedented number of cancellations and crew changes.
In response, Southwest agreed to a record $140 million penalty from the Department of Transportation—nearly 30 times larger than any previous fine. The airline also faces over $750 million in total penalties and refunds to customers from last year’s challenges. Nevertheless, Southwest has stated its readiness for winter 2023, showcasing improvements implemented over the past year.
Key takeaways include: regional delays and winter storms can cause widespread disruption, airlines may not always be prepared to respond effectively, and extracting compensation can be a lengthy process.
How to Get Your refund
If your flight has been canceled or delayed, know that assistance is available. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) provides an Airline Customer Service Dashboard, which enables you to compare the refund and reimbursement policies of the major U.S. airlines.
Information from the DoT reveals that Alaska and JetBlue are the top carriers in providing assistance to passengers with disrupted travel plans, whereas Frontier Airlines ranks lowest.
You can find your airline in the provided tables and check whether your case is covered under their policies.
Customer Service Contacts for Airlines
Once you’ve confirmed your airline’s policy regarding your situation, contact them through their customer service portals:
- Alaska Airlines
- Allegiant Air
- American Airlines
- Delta Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Hawaiian Airlines
- JetBlue Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
