What to do if your flight was halted during nationwide ground stop

Airline passengers stranded by Friday’s nationwide ground stop have several options to change their travel plans without paying additional fees, while federal regulations may entitle some travelers to a full cash refund.

Even though the FAA lifted the four-hour ground stop just after 8 p.m. ET, airlines are warning that heavy delays and residual cancellations will stretch into the weekend.

But passengers should think twice before canceling their reservations themselves. Travel experts urged fliers not to hit the cancel button in their airline apps while a flight is still listed as delayed.

Canceling voluntarily before the airline officially cancels could leave customers with a travel credit instead of a cash refund they might otherwise qualify for under Department of Transportation rules.

Here is what each major airline is offering.

• Delta Air Lines has expanded its fee-free rebooking window through Nov. 21. Its initial waiver covered flights scheduled for Nov. 13 and 14, with the expanded window allowing affected passengers to change their travel plans without change fees, as well as fare differences if they remain in their original cabin and booking class.
• United Airlines is waiving both change fees and fare differences for replacement flights departing between Nov. 12 and Nov. 20. New bookings must remain in the same cabin and between the same cities as the original itinerary. “You can reschedule your trip and we’ll waive change fees and fare differences,” the airline said. Passengers who no longer want to travel can cancel for a full refund.
• American Airlines is waiving change fees for all fare classes, including Basic Economy, for tickets purchased by Nov. 12 for travel on Nov. 13 or 14. Rebooked flights must depart between Nov. 13 and Nov. 17 and follow the same routes. Fare differences may still apply.
• Southwest Airlines is allowing affected passengers to rebook without change fees within five days of their original travel date.
• Frontier Airlines is offering fee-free flight changes for travel scheduled between Nov. 13 and 15.

• Alaska Airlines is allowing affected travelers to change or cancel their flights without change fees or fare differences.

• JetBlue is waiving change and cancellation fees, as well as fare differences, for passengers scheduled to fly on Friday, provided tickets were purchased before that day. Affected travelers can rebook online for travel through Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

United and JetBlue also announced cancellations affecting the vast majority of their remaining Friday night flights, with select international routes among the exceptions.

Passengers also have federal protections independent of the airlines’ offers. Under federal Department of Transportation rules, travelers are entitled to a full refund if an airline cancels their flight and they decline an alternative flight or decide not to travel.

The requirement applies regardless of the cancellation’s cause, including an FAA-ordered ground stop.

Significant delays can also qualify for refunds.

The DOT generally defines them as three hours or more for domestic flights and six hours or more for international flights, based on arrival time.

Accepting an alternative flight or travel credit instead of a refund generally means surrendering the right to a refund.

Airlines may also provide meal vouchers and hotel accommodations when cancellations or significant delays are within their control, according to the DOT’s airline customer service dashboard.