Flight Canceled Or Delayed Due To Weather Conditions? Possible Refunds, Rights, How To Reschedule

What are travelers to do if their flights are canceled or delayed due to weather conditions? It’s a question hundreds of vacationers had over the holiday weekend after storms throughout the U.S. grounded 1,400 flights and resulted in 2,600 delays, the Associated Press reported on Monday.

Most of the cancelations occurred at Chicago’s two main airports and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, where several tornadoes whipped through Dallas, Texas, according to flight-tracking service FlightAware.

In general, there are typically 150 cancelations and 4,000 delays, but the bad weather interrupted holiday plans for hundreds -- even though there wasn’t much snow. Heavy rainfall and strong winds can often be more treacherous for airlines, the AP noted.

If a traveler’s flight was canceled, here’s what he or she can do, as noted by Life Hacker:

1. Before anything, be sure to, check FlightAware to see if your flight has been canceled or delayed.

2. Once that’s confirmed, call the airline as soon as possible. This way, you can essentially skip the line of people who are waiting to rebook their flight.

3. Try to get compensated or ask for comforts. Each airline is different: Some will reimburse travelers for flights and others will pay for meals and hotel stays if delays are long enough. Check FareCompare.com before you fly, which has a list of each airline's cancelation policy.

4. Admit defeat and buy a new ticket. Sometimes, the airline won’t work with you and let you buy a new ticket with a competing airline that might have the flight that will get to your destination on time. While it’s not a viable option for some people, those who are able to shell out the extra bucks should call the old airline after the new flight, express their disappointment and hope for a voucher.