Why Do Airlines Change Flight Times?

Even when the travel industry isn’t dealing with a global pandemic, airline schedule changes are commonplace. A carrier may decrease the frequency of service to a given destination, or they could adjust flight departure times to optimize aircraft utilization.

In some cases, a flight booked several months in advance could undergo multiple changes. And this is even more pronounced today as the world continues to grapple with COVID-19. Airlines sometimes wait until a couple of months or even weeks before a flight to decide whether to operate it. This can be due to demand, equipment changes or any number of other reasons.

For example, recent weather across the country caused Southwest to proactively change, cancel and delay over 45% of its schedule, This wreaked havoc on thousands of weekend vacations, leaving passengers stuck for an extra night. As a paying passenger, it’s critical to understand how to handle a situation like this — so read on for some strategies for dealing with schedule changes.

Why would an airline change a flight time?

*Updated April 2015 – Unfortunately, yes. Airlines can change their flight schedules at any time and it is out of our control. These schedule changes happen fairly frequently. Most of the time it is a minor difference, for example, delaying the flight by a half hour, but in some cases, it can be more drastic.

If the airline is registered with TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) and the flight schedule change is greater than 24 hours, they are required to offer the option to cancel with a full refund if. If it is less than 24 hours, the airline is not required to offer any sort of compensation. Airline schedule changes can occur due to weather or mechanical issues, but sometimes they are simply a result of air space being organized between airlines.

Booking in advance means there is a greater possibility of schedule changes between your booking date and departure date. When tripcentral.ca is notified of a schedule change, we immediately send an email notice to passengers and a follow-up courtesy phone call. If you make a choice between two different flight options based on flight times, keep in mind that there is always a possibility of schedule changes. You may even decide to pay more for an option with a better time and later find out that it is worse than the one you decided not to book.

Schedule changes can be problematic and costly for people – including missing a day’s work, missing or paying a penalty on another pre-booked arrangement (such as a connecting flight to another city in Canada, or a cruise or tour). It’s for this reason that we advise people making these kind of arrangements to factor in a possibility of a schedule change.

It is not likely or foreseeable, but if you are flying to catch a cruise or tour, an extra day on the front end of the trip and travel insurance are strongly recommended. It’s best to allow tripcentral.ca travel agents to arrange as much as possible for you as part of a comprehensive itinerary.

Can airlines just change flight times?

Can flight times change after booking? – When you book a flight, you agree on its schedule. However, all airlines reserve themselves the right to change the time (and sometimes even the date) of the flight, as per their terms and conditions. Specifically, airlines do not guarantee flight times and stress that those are not part of the contract of carriage.

Here’s an example with this extract from American Airlines’ contract of carriage : “Sometimes we have to make adjustments to our operation, and between the time you book and the day you depart, When there are changes that affect your trip, we’ll try to contact you in advance and move you to a similar seat, though we can’t make any guarantees.

We do our best to be on time but our flight schedule is not guaranteed and not part of this contract. We are not liable if we’re late or you don’t make your connection, or we change the schedule of any flight. ” And another from British Airways’ contract of carriage : The flight times shown in our timetables may change between the date of publication and the date you actually travel.

What happens if my flight time is changed?

All airlines we asked simply offer an alternate flight or a refund if there’s been a schedule change.

What are my rights if my flight is rescheduled?

You’re legally entitled to get compensation if the cancellation is the airline’s responsibility and both the following apply: the replacement flight delays your arrival by 2 or more hours. your flight was cancelled less than 14 days before departure.

Is it better to wait last minute for flights?

Conclusion on Last-Minute Flights – Here’s what you have to remember:

Last-minute flights aren’t cheaper: on the contrary, they tend to get more expensive the closer to the departure date
If you have no choice but to book at the last minute, use tools like Skyscanner’s “everywhere search” or lastminute.com

In general, to find cheap flights, be flexible (with your dates and destination) and subscribe to newsletters: airlines and airfare deals like Scott’s Cheap Flights

Should your flight be disrupted, remember that you can get compensation from the airline:

Up to 600€ for flight delays and cancellations as well as boarding denials

Up to $3,500 for mishandled luggage

Download Service and automatically get compensation when your trip is disrupted:

Does an airline have to compensate you if they change your flight?

Airline Customer Service Dashboard – The U.S. Department of Transportation has created a dashboard to ensure the traveling public has easy access to information about services that U.S. airlines provide to mitigate passenger inconveniences when the cause of a cancellation or delay was due to circumstances within the airline’s control. This easy-to-use dashboard will empower travelers to understand the amenities that U.S. airlines have promised to provide should there be a controllable flight cancellation or delay.

When planning a trip, passengers should keep in mind that airlines do not guarantee their schedules. While airlines want to get passengers to their destinations on time, there are many things that can – and sometimes do – make it difficult for flights to arrive on time.

Some problems, like bad weather, air traffic delays, and mechanical issues, are hard to predict and often beyond the airlines’ control.
In the United States, airlines are not required to compensate passengers when flights are delayed or cancelled.

Compensation is required by U.S.
Law only when certain passengers are ” bumped ” from a flight that is oversold.

The Department’s rules regarding flight delays and cancellations apply only to flights that operate to, from, or within the United States. However, passengers flying between or within foreign countries may be protected from flight delays and cancellations by the laws of another nation.

Why are flights changing so much?

CINCINNATI — Airlines are surprising customers weeks, or even days, before flights, changing itineraries, flight times, connections or even connecting cities. The changes are causing vacationers to wonder why it’s happening. Jon Myers is planning a fall trip with friends to Colorado, and he found a great fare on an American Airlines flight from Cincinnati, connecting through Dallas, to Colorado.

It left at 4:10 in the afternoon, a perfect time,” he said.
A few weeks later, he received a flight change notice.

I got an email from American Airlines, saying we have changed the departure time on your flight from 4:10 in the afternoon to 7:50 in the morning, which is eight hours and 20 minutes earlier,” he said.

Not only does that mean he has to get up before 5 a.m., but it could affect his rental car plans during a year when rental cars are scarce and expensive. Why so many changes this year This summer, airlines are changing flight times for tens of thousands of travelers, according to reports by the Washington Post and The Points Guy.

The reports say American, United, Delta, Southwest and other airlines are still rebuilding their schedules after the pandemic.

With no dependable business travel, companies are constantly adjusting flights to meet fickle vacation demand.
American Airlines told the Post, “Labor shortages and the incredibly quick ramp-up of customer demand has led us to adjust a fraction of our scheduled flying.” Myers thinks there should be some sort of rule against it.

“Four months in advance, changing it eight hours and 20 minutes? No no no,” he said. The Points Guy said if this happens to you:

Request a better flight at the same fare.Ask for a full refund if the flight times no longer work.Ask for some miles as compensation for your troubles.

Myers just hopes it doesn’t change again. “So far, they haven’t changed the return flight.” The Points Guy said until regular business travel returns, don’t be surprised to see airlines continue to juggle their schedules. So double-check your flights frequently so you don’t waste your money.

_ Don’t Waste Your Money” is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. (“Scripps”). Like” John Matarese Money on Facebook Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese) For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc.

Can Ryanair change my flight time?

Occasionally, due to unforeseen circumstances, we may have to change flight timings before scheduled departure. If this happens, we will notify you of the schedule change via e-mail. The change will also be reflected in your trip details under the ‘My Bookings’ section in your myRyanair account.

Can I ask for compensation if my flight is rescheduled?

How to get maximum refund for delayed or cancelled flights Flight cancellations and airport delays are expected to continue for the next few months. Airlines all over the world have cancelled more than 25,000 flights from their flight schedules for August, including a total of 15,788 flights across Europe. British Airways (BA) is cutting nearly 30,000 flights from its April-to-October schedule, Turkish Airlines cancelled 4,408 take-offs last week alone and flight cancellations at Portuguese airports have already peaked.

For the passenger, it is not only about plan disruption but also the long wait for refunds.

Which tickets to buy: Zero-cancellation, flexi fare or refundable ticket? Zero cancellation: Buy tickets with zero cancellation fee.
Airlines offer a minimal surcharge with which you can cancel your tickets free of the extra cost.

Flexi-fares: Flexi fare tickets come with benefits such as date change, pay later options, cancellation refunds, etc. But read the fine print. Refundable: You might get the base price back but you will still end up losing money in other fees that are added to the ticket’s base price.

Book directly through the airline: It is easier to adjust plans if you book directly through the airline. Several airlines are offering zero-cancellation/change fee. If you booked through a third-party site, they will charge service fee and you will never get all your money back. Visit the airline’s official website and read through the cancellation policy – it’s usually either on the ‘contact’ or ‘FAQ’ page.

Most airlines will include information about rebooking and refunds when they email to tell you about the cancellation, so check your inbox. Know your rights in the event of flight delays and cancellation: According to consumerhelpline.gov.in, at the time of booking, the airline must clearly ‘indicate’ the amount of refund money that will be given to passenger in case of cancellation.

The charter states: • If any passenger is denied boarding due to over-booking of a flight, the passenger would not be liable to hold airline for compensation if he or she is given an alternate flight within one hour of original flight’s departure.
If the flyer is not informed 24 hours before departure or she misses a connecting flight due to cancellation, the airline has to offer compensation • If a flight is delayed by over six hours, the airline needs to communicate the rescheduled time more than 24 hours before the original departure time.

The airline also needs to offer customers either a full refund or an alternative flight. • Airlines need to inform passengers about flight cancellation 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. In this case, the customers should be offered either a full refund of the ticket amount or an alternative flight.

• If the flyer is not informed 24 hours before departure or she misses a connecting flight due to cancellation, the airline has to offer compensation. The compensation amount ranges between ₹5,000 and ₹10,000, depending on the block time. • The airline will have no obligation to pay ‘compensation’ if delay or cancellation happens due to circumstances beyond the control of the airline.

These include political instability, natural disaster, riots, floods, government regulations, meteorological conditions, security risks and so on. • A passenger has the right to receive refund of statutory taxes, user development and passenger service fees levied by the airlines in case s/he cancels the ticket.

The right to refund will be subject to the airlines internal policy in case of a foreign airline. Wait until the last minute to cancel your ticket: Do not change your plan or accept a voucher until the last possible minute. That’s because when you call to make a voluntary change, the airline has no obligation to refund you.

However, if the airline cancels or announces significant delay on your flight, then you are entitled to a full refund due to an involuntary change in your itinerary (also referred to as an irregular operation). Schedule changes mean a full refund: Airline policies on schedule changes vary.

A schedule change may include the following scenarios: Change in departure or arrival time, an equipment swap, change in the duration of a layover or a switch from a nonstop to a connecting flight (or vice versa).
If you want to cancel your ticket, some airlines will issue a refund voucher; others will credit the full fare back to the original form of payment.

A second call helps: If you are calling up an airline for refund or a schedule change and the first customer care representative says no or is not helpful, hang up and call again. Ask for the supervisor. Check flight protection under your credit card and travel insurance: Even if the airline will not issue refund, your credit card or travel insurance may cover the cost if you have to cancel your flight.

If you do opt for the voucher or re-booking, negotiate: If the airline is offering a voucher instead of a refund, do not say yes to the first number. Negotiate. Non-refundable tickets can become refundable: If a flight is cancelled, significantly delayed (generally over two hours), faces a schedule change in advance of takeoff, or faces a route change (like a nonstop flight changing to one with connections), you can get a full refund on a non-refundable fare.

How quickly are airlines, travel agents, and online travel agencies required to process a refund? Airlines and ticket agents are required to make refunds promptly. For airlines, ‘prompt’ is defined as being within 7 business days if a passenger paid by credit card, and within 20 days if a passenger paid by cash or cheque.

Where to complain: According to India’s Department of Consumer Affairs, if the airline is not sticking to the norms provided in the passenger charter, the passenger needs to first complain at the airline’s help desk or email them.

If the passenger is not satisfied with the resolution provided by the airline, file a grievance with the Ministry of Civil Aviation through its AirSewa portal or its app.

flightrefund.com: I have not tried but this website helps harried passengers get their refund. Of course, for a fee. The company also has a Refund Pass that offers protection to passengers against flight cancellation and delays. To be sure, refunds can take time even when you follow all the steps.

How often do airlines change flight times?

Quarterly Schedule Changes – Airlines schedule flights up to a year in advance of departures. This allows the airlines to have a booking window of eleven months. These schedules are subject to change as routes and conditions change over the year. Every three months, most airlines roll out a quarterly schedule change.

What if my flight is delayed by 2 hours?

Don’t solely rely on insurance when taking a flight. The airlines, too, have a responsibility towards consumers if the flights are delayed. What airlines need to do in case of delays depends on how long passengers need to wait. The government has fixed responsibility on the airline to compensate customers in case of delay.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has a passenger charter that states the rights and rules of consumers.

Here’s what airlines need to do in case of delays.
Suppose passengers checked-in on time, but the airline expects a delay.
If the delay is between two and five hours, the airline must offer passengers free-of-charge meals and refreshment based on the time the flight is delayed.

If the delay is six hours or more, the airline must communicate the rescheduled time 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Passengers can ask for an option of either an alternative flight or even a full refund of the ticket. Even if the airline has communicated that there will be over six hours delay 24 hours before the scheduled departure, they should provide the passengers with hotel accommodation if the flight is scheduled to depart between 20:00 hours and 3:00 hours.

The same holds if the flight is delayed over 24 hours. If the flight is diverted to a different destination, the airline must provide refreshment during the waiting time if it’s two hours or less. If the waiting time is over two hours at the alternative airport, the airline must provide passengers with refreshment, water, tea or coffee.

Remember that the government takes what is known as “block time” in aviation parlance to decide on the compensation. Simply put, block time is the time between the departure of a flight from the gate and arrival at the destination gate. Remember that an airline will have no obligation to pay “compensation” if delay or cancellation happens due to circumstances beyond the airline’s control.

Do flights go up the longer you wait?

Why Do Airline Ticket Prices Fluctuate? – If you’re interested in getting the best deal on flights, it helps to understand what causes changes in pricing. Timing plays an important part. Specifically, plane tickets usually don’t get cheaper closer to the departure date.

Instead, flights tend to be the most inexpensive when you book between four months and three weeks before your departure date. According to CheapAir.com, you can expect rates to go up after that period. There may, of course, be some compounding factors that can affect this. For example, seasonal changes and holidays can have a big impact on pricing at different times.

Using a free tool like Google Flight Alerts can help you stay on top of fare pricing trends so you can pinpoint the best time to book flights.

Is 1 hour before a flight enough time?

How early should you really arrive for your flight? 10 mistakes you’re making at the airport Having a hard time at the airport? Here are 10 common mistakes you may be making. Want to start an argument? Tell your travel companion you won’t be arriving two hours before your flight. Go on, try it. I’ll be right here. This is the time of year when emptier airport terminals are making a lot of passengers question the conventional wisdom about check-in times. And no, this isn’t a frivolous, first-world problem. Vacations have been ruined because of it. Marriages have ended. So let’s settle this question once and for all. As with so many things in travel, there’s a simple answer — and a complicated one. The simple answer is: Two hours for domestic flights, three hours for international flights. More or less. “The two-hour recommendation is fairly standard across the industry,” says Heather Lissner, a spokeswoman for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. “We recommend the two hours so that travelers have enough time to get dropped off or park their cars, check their bags and get through security to their gates.” The complicated answer: It depends. Lissner explains that while experienced travelers may find they need less time, the two hours gives those who don’t travel as frequently a chance to have a less rushed and stressful travel experience. And during busy holiday periods or special events, the airport may recommend adding even more time. For example, during last year’s College Football Playoff, the folks at Sky Harbor adopted a “3-2-1” recommendation: Arrive at the airport ticket counter to check in three hours before your flight; be in line at the airport security checkpoint two hours before your flight; be at the gate one hour before your flight. How “standard” is this advice? The Transportation Security Administration agrees with it, but airlines don’t. For instance, American Airlines advises passengers to be at the airport two hours before flight time for international departures and 90 minutes for domestic flights. Also, there’s an exception for flights to certain overseas destinations, which require that you check in earlier. United Airlines further complicates this issue by adding luggage to the equation. If you’re not checking luggage, the carrier advises you to arrive at the airport at least 60 minutes before your scheduled departure time. If you’re checking luggage, it’s 90 minutes. For international flights, give yourself two hours, says United. Confused yet? It may help to note the likely motives behind the advice. The TSA and airports want you to get there earlier, each for its own reasons. The agency does not like to be rushed with screenings even if there’s a long security line. Airports want you to take advantage of their incredible shopping and dining facilities, which you can’t do if you’re rushing to the gate. Also, they factor in the time it takes to find parking. Airlines, on the other hand, don’t want you milling around the boarding area for too long. But these guidelines don’t take into account the fact that you’re dealing with people — some with mobility problems, others who are nervous and would arrive a day before their flight if they could. That’s where things get interesting, and that’s where the “depends” really becomes apparent. Joe Reimers, a sales engineer from South Bend, Ind., describes himself as a “conservative” traveler, especially when he’s checking a bag. But if he flies out of his home airport, which he knows well, he sometimes arrives just 45 minutes before his departure. “Flying out of less familiar airports on return trips is a different story,” he says. He sticks to the airline advice of two hours for international flights and 90 minutes for domestic flights. “At very large airports, I may go even longer,” he adds. Yet other experienced travelers say their lead time is always the same. Douglas Jensen, an IT consultant from Natick, Mass., is a top-level elite frequent flier with 45 years of air travel experience. “I always allow two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international flights,” he says. That means leaving his home at 1 a.m. for a 5 a.m. flight, gives him the security of knowing that he won’t miss his flight. And that really is the object of this whole exercise: to not miss the flight. So the real question is whether to go with the airport and TSA recommended arrival times which are more generous, or the airline times, which cut it a little closer. In this case, the airports and the TSA are absolutely correct. Never mind the overpriced airport food and the tacky duty-free shops your local airport want you to frequent, or the pat-down the TSA agents hope you’ll endure. And forget the seasonal lull, which will probably be over by the time you’re finished with this article. If you miss your flight, you have a whole new set of problems. You don’t want to go there. What to do at the airport for free while you wait • See the art. Phoenix Sky Harbor, for example, has an impressive collection of art (more information can be found at ). Terminal 4 has art dedicated to Arizona’s weather on exhibit through March 19, for example. Don’t forget to check out the car rental terminal artwork displays. • Watch the planes. One of the best places to plane-spot is Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Terminals there are connected by long, open-air walkways, where you can see the aircraft up close, smell the aircraft fuel and hear the deafening roar of aircraft engines revving up. Other observation opportunities can be found on the Spotters Wiki:, • Take a hike. Sitting in a pressurized aluminum tube for hours at a time is no one’s idea of fun. But you can stretch your legs before you take off by walking through the airport terminal. The longest walkable concourse? That would be Denver International Airport’s Concourse B, which is 3,300 feet long. But you can always hop on the people mover to the next terminal and keep walking. Christopher Elliott is a consumer advocate and editor at large for National Geographic Traveler. Contact him at or visit,

: How early should you really arrive for your flight?

What is the best day of the week to book a flight?

This Is The Cheapest Day Of The Week To Book A Flight According To New Data Hint: Don’t book on a Friday. Passenger airplane taking of at sunrise getty When it comes to booking airfare, there’s no Magic 8 ball that travelers can peer into that will reveal the best date and time to fly.

Although that would be nice wouldn’t it? However, there is data and research that can help travelers make more informed decisions says Expedia, who’s new was released today and includes need-to-know travel hacks from the cheapest day of the week to book a flight to the best time of day to book to avoid flight delays and cancellations and how far out you should be booking domestic versus international flights.

Expedia’s 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report: U.S. travelers can save on airfare by booking and traveling, on this day to avoid flight delays Expedia “This report and Expedia’s new Price Tracking and Predictions feature on the app do more than save people money,” President of Expedia Brands Jon Gieselman said in a statement Wednesday.

“It’s about the time savings and peace of mind that comes with knowing you have machine learning informing your booking decisions and a tool at your fingertips that does the work of price tracking for you.” Expedia’s findings—now in its eight year running — was done in partnership with global air ticketing database (ARC) and leverages data and air travel trends from more than 15-billion passenger flights from 490 airlines and 230 countries and territories around the world, according to a press release.

Here are the top takeaways according to the 2023 Air Travel Hacks Report:

Book airfare on a Sunday to save up to 15%: Travelers who book on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 5% on domestic flights and 15% on international flights. Book at least a month before for domestic flights and six months before for international flights to save 10%: Travelers that booked in these periods saved 10% on average compared to those who waited until the last minute. Depart before 3 p.m. to reduce the chance of cancellation: Based on year-to-date flight status data, flights that depart after 3 p.m.have a 50% higher chance, on average, of being delayed than those that depart earlier in the day.” Depart on a Wednesday to save up to 15%: Avoid departing Saturday – Monday, which are the priciest days, on average, to start a trip. Set up price alerts: Take the guess work out of deciding when to book with the Price Tracking and Prediction feature on the Expedia app, which uses exclusive data to pinpoint the best time to book and notifies travelers when flight prices change. Travel off-peak: Data shows that avoiding the peak travel periods can have more benefits than just cost-savings. Historically, flight delays were shorter during March and April compared to the busy summer months, dropping by about 40 minutes. As summer wound down, delays began to shorten again, making fall an appealing time for air travel.

“While it has been a volatile recovery, our data indicates travel is beginning to normalize with travelers taking advantage of flying again,” Chuck Thackston, Managing Director of Data Science and Research at ARC said. “Airlines have improved their performance while both capacity and traveler demand continue to increase.

At what point does an airline have to compensate you?

How to get compensated for a flight delay in the U.S. – Although delayed flights are a regular part of life for frequent flyers, that doesn’t mean they are forced to pay for them out of pocket. Whether it’s through travel insurance benefits you may already have, or through laws governing the airspace, passengers have more opportunities for compensation than ever before.

According to the DOT, airlines are not required to provide money or other compensation when flights get delayed, regardless of how late they are. However, when a “significant delay” takes place, passengers may receive refunds for seat selection fees or checked baggage fees. Although there is no specific definition of “significant delay,” the DOT determines refunds on a case-by-case basis.

Unfortunately, simply waiting more than 2 hours delay for a flight doesn’t automatically qualify you for delayed compensation benefits. 🤓 Nerdy Tip Airlines may also offer food and hotel vouchers to stranded passengers, so be sure to ask if you are delayed.

If you paid for your flight with a credit card, you may also benefit from travel insurance trip delay benefits as well. Travel insurance benefits are usually extended when individuals pay for their entire flight with a credit card that offers insurance and are delayed by a significant amount of time, usually between six and 12 hours.

For instance, Chase card trip delay insurance kicks in when a trip is delayed for more than 12 hours or requires an overnight stay. You’re automatically covered if you booked your flight with any of these cards: Benefits differ from company to company and bank to bank, so be sure to check with your issuer before filing a claim.

Do airlines pay for hotel if flight is Cancelled?

Travelers at airports across the United States have been reporting many flight cancelations on Southwest Airlines. According to FlightAware, 71% percent of Southwest Airlines flights were canceled on Monday. As of late Tuesday morning, 63% of the airlines’ flights were canceled for the day.

It has already canceled 61% of its flights for Wednesday.

By comparison, Delta canceled 6% of its flights on Monday, and United canceled 5%, according to FlightAware.
The result has left thousands of flyers with few options to visit family or return home.
According to federal guidelines, there is some recourse for passengers.

The Department of Transportation says that passengers that opt to cancel their trip due to a flight cancellation are entitled to a refund even for non-refundable tickets. The government says travelers are also entitled to a refund for bag fees and any extras such as a seat assignment.

Airlines also are not required to put passengers on another airline’s flight, but it might be an option. Airlines may also propose vouchers in lieu of a refund. The Department of Transportation encourages passengers to inquire about blackouts, restrictions and other stipulations before accepting. Whether airlines are required to pay for expenses incurred due to travel disruptions, such as hotel rooms and meals, the Department of Transportation said the answer is no.

However, if the delay or cancellation is the airline’s fault, most airlines will offer to pay for expenses, such as meals and hotel rooms, according to a federal government dashboard. While extreme cold and a blizzard triggered cancelations late last week, some experts say other issues are at play.

The storm that hit last week was the catalyst to this, but what went wrong is that our IT infrastructure for our scheduling software is vastly outdated.
It can’t handle the number of pilots, flight attendants that we have in the system with our complex route network,” Capt Michael Santoro, vice president of Southwest Airlines Pilot Association, told CNN.

“Our software can’t keep track of it. So they don’t know where we are, they don’t know where airplanes are, and it’s frustrating for the pilots, the flight attendants, and especially for or passengers,” he added. Southwest Airlines apologized for the disruptions but said the weather is what caused the disruptions.

We were fully staffed and prepared for the approaching holiday weekend when the severe weather swept across the continent, where Southwest is the largest carrier in 23 of the top 25 travel markets in the U.S.
These operational conditions forced daily changes to our flight schedule at a volume and magnitude that still has the tools our teams use to recover the airline operating at capacity,” the airline said in a statement on Monday.

The Department of Transportation said it is investigating whether Southwest Airlines could have done more to prevent the disruptions. Whether that means passengers would be eligible for additional compensation remains to be seen. Full guidance on delays and cancellations is available on the Department of Transportation website.

How long can an airline delay a flight?

For How Long Can Airlines Delay Your Flight? – Since the duration of a flight delay can vary depending upon the reason for the delay, there is no time limit for how long a flight can be delayed. For example, once a flight was amazingly delayed by bees for up to four hours until a beekeeper was called to resolve the situation.

Can I get refund if airline changes flight?

Am I Entitled to a Refund? – In the following situations, consumers are entitled to a refund of the ticket price and/or associated fees.

Cancelled Flight – A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline cancelled a flight, regardless of the reason, and the consumer chooses not to travel.

Schedule Change/Significant Delay – A consumer is entitled to a refund if the airline made a significant schedule change and/or significantly delays a flight and the consumer chooses not to travel.

DOT has not specifically defined what constitutes a “significant delay.” Whether you are entitled to a refund depends on many factors – including the length of the delay, the length of the flight, and your particular circumstances. DOT determines whether you are entitled to a refund following a significant delay on a case-by-case basis.

Class of Service Change – A consumer is entitled to a refund if the consumer was involuntarily moved to a lower class of service. For example, if the consumer purchased a first-class ticket and was downgraded to economy class due to an aircraft swap, the consumer is owed the difference in fares. Optional Service Fees – A consumer is entitled to a refund of fees paid for an optional service (for example, baggage fees, seat upgrades, or in-flight Wi-Fi) if the consumer was unable to use the optional service due to a flight cancellation, delay, schedule change, or a situation where the consumer was involuntarily denied boarding.

Note : In situations where you have purchased an optional service and that amenity either does not work or is not available on the flight, you may need to notify the airline of the problem to receive a refund.

Baggage Fees – A consumer is entitled to a refund if the consumer paid a baggage fee and his or her baggage has been declared lost by the airline.

Airlines may have different policies to determine when a bag is officially lost. Most airlines will declare a bag lost between five and fourteen days after the flight, but this can vary from one airline to another. If an airline unreasonably refuses to consider a bag lost after it has been missing for an unreasonable period of time, the airline could be subject to enforcement action by the DOT. Learn more about lost, delayed, or damaged baggage,

Fully refundable ticket – Consumers who purchase fully refundable tickets are entitled to a refund when they do not use the purchased ticket to complete their travel

In the following situations, consumers are not entitled to refunds except under very limited circumstances:

Non-refundable tickets – Consumers who purchase non-refundable tickets are not entitled to a refund unless the airline makes a promise to provide a refund or the airline cancels a flight or makes a significant schedule change. Personal Issue – Consumers who purchase nonrefundable tickets, but are unable to travel for a personal reason, such as being sick or late to the airport, are not entitled to a refund. Unsatisfactory Service – A consumer who willingly takes a flight but has a bad experience with the airline or the flight is not entitled to a refund. Incidental Expenses – A consumer who incurs incidental expenses such as a rental car, hotel room, or meal due to a significantly delayed or cancelled flight is not entitled to a refund of the incidental expenses.

Note : While airlines are not required to issue a refund for non-refundable tickets, they are free to do so or they may issue a credit or travel voucher for future use on the airline. Airlines must also comply with the promises they make, and in some instances, they may be willing to offer passengers accommodations or other benefits that they are not required to provide.

Why would a flight leave early?

#2. Planes cannot leave until the precise departure time, correct? – Planes can and do leave early, though such departures are rarely more than a few minutes before the official departure time stated on your ticket. Sometimes this can happen because the boarding process went unexpectedly smoothly, or maybe a mechanical problem got fixed a lot faster than anticipated.

As Delta states on its website, “flight schedules are not guaranteed” and I’ve heard several anecdotes about different airlines where planes took off before a straggler or two got to the gate.

Bottom line: Don’t be late.
Many airlines provide guidance for getting to the airport.
For example, American suggests anyone traveling within the U.S.

arrive 90 minutes before departure. Think you’re allowed to board with a carry-on at no cost? Beware: Some airlines charge for that bag. (iStock)