The global software outage last week caused thousands of travelers flying in the United States and internationally to have their flights delayed, canceled or both. In the days that followed, some airlines were trying to reboot critical computer systems affected by the outage, with many of their passengers still stranded at airports.
During a travel meltdown, it may seem nearly impossible for air travelers to find immediate help. Gate agents are swamped, customer service phone lines have hourslong hold times, and seemingly confusing or incomplete instructions online only add to the headaches.
Passengers who foot the bill for last-minute lodging and other expenses are entitled to reimbursement if their flights were impacted by an event in the airlines’ control, like the CrowdStrike outage. Here’s how to get your money back.
It is the airline’s fault when a situation under their control — issues with crew, maintenance, baggage and fuel, or software outages — leads to a delay or cancellation. Weather and air traffic control issues do not count. On Friday, the Transportation Department noted that this I.T. outage fell under the control of the airlines.
What passengers will get from airlines depends on how long they were forced to wait, but it could include transport to and from hotels and the costs of accommodation.
Strategize your ask. Gate agents may not always know the airline’s commitments or the Transportation Department policies. Usually, airlines prefer to take care of the details, distributing vouchers or directly booking hotel rooms. But during the CrowdStrike fallout, they initially did not believe they were required to provide assistance and later, seemingly, remained unaware of their obligations in some instances or were too overwhelmed by the numbers.
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You don’t hear about Central Florida very often, and when you do, chances are it has something to do with Walt Disney World. But just over an hour north of the famed resort complex is the mid-sized city of Ocala, a destination bursting with superlatives, including “America’s largest spring” and “horse capital of the world.”
While most American cities aren’t considered easy to navigate by foot, a recent study by travel insurance experts AllClear ranked one popular Southern city as the most walkable in the country. AllClear examined topographical information for more than 240 cities around the world, taking into account average elevation and range, and assigned each city a score — and ultimately, it was New Orleans that was named the most walkable city in the U.S. and the fourth most walkable city globally.
The Paris Summer Olympic Games are coming to an end this weekend, but there are still plenty of disciplines to go, including a new sport at the Games this year: breaking.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charissa Enget, a content creator and cybersecurity architect who gained her graduate degree in Thailand. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Three fliers who were impacted by CrowdStrike’s global computer outage last month have filed a proposed class action lawsuit in Austin, Texas, blaming the company for negligence and asking CrowdStrike to pay impacted air travelers compensatory and punitive damages.
Visitors to one of the most popular national parks in the United States may need to adjust their plans. Yellowstone National Park's 'Biscuit Basin' area is closed due to a recent hydrothermal explosion that occurred on Tuesday morning, according to a news release. The closure affects parking lots, trails, and boardwalks near the Basin, which is located just north of the still-open Old Faithful geysers. The explosion was described as «localized» and occurred near the Sapphire Pool in Biscuit Basin. Videos of the incident, taken by tourists and then shared on social media, show large plumes of liquid and debris bursting in the air and then raining down on outdoor enthusiasts. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported at this time, according to the NPS. The park did not provide a timeline of when the area will reopen.