What you can ask from an airline after a delayed or canceled flight

29.12.2023 - 14:31 / thepointsguy.com

As we head into the next two weeks of holiday travel, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration expects to screen more than 2.5 million passengers daily from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, following the screening of approximately 30 million travelers over Thanksgiving.

While TSA said it is "prepared to handle the busy passenger volumes this winter holiday season," holiday travels can often be delayed and canceled due to Mother Nature.

Last year, nearly 20,000 holiday flights were canceled from the Monday before Christmas, thanks to a winter storm across much of the U.S. over Christmas. More chaos ensued when Southwest Airlines had an operational meltdown (for which the U.S. Department of Transportation fined the airline up to $140 million just this week on Dec. 18).

When you're heading home to see family or friends who have become chosen family, it's particularly frustrating when travel plans go awry over the holidays.

It's important to know what you, as a passenger, can reasonably expect from an airline in times of stress in case your flight is delayed or canceled over the next few weeks.

When your flight is canceled or significantly delayed due to reasons outside your control, like the weather and operational issues cited above, you can contact airlines to ask for compensation.

Although U.S. federal law requires airlines to compensate passengers who cancel their trip altogether in response to a canceled flight, the DOT determines whether a delayed flight warrants a refund on a case-by-case basis.

Therefore, we can't guarantee airlines will give you anything at all, but we suggest being prepared with the tangible requests outlined below.

If you choose to contact an airline's customer service department (see our guide on how to contact them), remember that you're speaking to a fellow human on the other side of the phone who deserves respect. Kindness goes a long way, especially in times of stress.

If you deal with a delayed or canceled flight over the holidays, bookmark this page. And if you don't, still bookmark this page because you likely have a similar situation in the future.

This starts with any extra costs (aside from the ticket itself) you may have incurred as a result of the cancellation or delay.

If your canceled or delayed flight forced you to seek alternative transportation options to get where you need to be, your first step is to ask the airline if it will cover those costs. These costs include booking a last-minute rental car or Amtrak ticket, for example.

If you booked a new flight the next day, see if the airline will cover at least some of your accommodation and food costs for the unexpected night.

"While some airlines offer these amenities to passengers, others do not provide any