BEFORE getting ready for their last bit of summer, Labor Day flyers should look out for a new flight problem reportedly affecting passengers across the country.
Multiple airline carriers have come under fire after some have claimed that their notification systems, like text messages and app updates, have caused them to miss their previously-delayed flights.
Labor day weekend is one of the most highest travel periods of the year[/caption]
Over 300,000 flights are scheduled for the busy week[/caption]
One flight attendant warned her followers about the problem she’s seen[/caption]
One flight attendant posted on TikTok that no matter what text notification a flyer gets on their flight being delayed, they should always show up on time.
“Always go to the airport for the scheduled departure time,” TikToker @tay_shearer said.
“I don’t care how many hours it’s delayed. They may very well still take off at the same time.”
She claimed that as airlines attempt to stay on-time, if they’re able to fix what had caused the hold up, the plane could take off before the anticipated delay.
“I had so many passengers coming up to me today saying they almost missed it because they turned around and went and did something else besides going to the airport.”
She then said that Delta in particular is an “on-time airline.”
“Flight delays can be reversed if the original cause of delay is resolved quicker than expected,” AirAdvisor CEO Anton Radchenko told Forbes.
“My top advice while waiting out a delay is to stick to your original travel schedule despite the announcement of the delay.”
One family told the New York Times that they had been left behind in Guatemala City after a Spirit Airlines flight readied before its delayed time.
They had gotten something to eat, and had received no notification of the changing schedule.
“The gate staff said it would be three days before another flight was available, and they refused to book us on another airline,” Tom, a Michigan man, told the outlet.
“We were forced to spend over $3,000 for same-day, one-way tickets on JetBlue.”
Plane policies
Spirit’s policy, however, says it’s perfectly acceptable for the airline to push up their departure time after a delay.
“In the event of a delay, guests are recommended to remain in the gate area for updates and possible early departures,” it reads.
What to do if you luggage is lost, delayed, or damaged
IT is an awful experience when your baggage does not appear on the carousel.
However, travelers can take steps to get their bags back.
What if baggage is delayed?
If your bag doesn’t show up at your destination, make sure to speak to the nearest airline representative.
Airlines have a system that tracks where bags are and can see whether luggage has ever left an airport.
After getting as much information as possible from the representative, passengers can file a claim.
Once the bag is located, airlines will either deliver it straight to a flier’s door or send it to the nearest airport.
What if baggage is lost?
Fliers should stay in close contact with airlines throughout the search for their bags.
Sometimes, airlines will tell lucky passengers their bags are gone for good.
Most airlines will declare a bag lost between five and fourteen days after the flight, but this can vary.
Airlines are responsible for compensating travelers for lost bags’ contents as long as it doesn’t surpass maximum liability limits.
Airlines must also reimburse any fees that fliers paid out for a bag to be transported if it was found.
What if a bag is damaged?
Airlines are also required to pay back customers for bags’ contents that were damaged during flight.
However, the airline won’t take responsibility for items that were destroyed because the luggage was improperly packed.
Most airlines also won’t reimburse cash, electronics, fragile items, and perishables.
Anyone who has a bag damaged during flight should file a claim and discuss whether they can get a refund.
“Spirit shall not be liable to any guest who misses a flight, which departed earlier than the estimated departure time posted for the delay.”
For Southwest, the airline recommends coming to the airport at the initial time scheduled.
“[W]e use an automated system and will make reasonable efforts to notify you within 30 minutes after we become aware of such flight status change,” their policy states.
“Flight statuses are subject to change. Customers are encouraged to plan their airport arrival based on the scheduled departure time.”
Another person wrote how they had missed their United flight despite being at the gate over 20 minutes before its scheduled departure.
After reaching out to a worker for help, they were told the flight was gone, despite not receiving any notification.
According to The Points Guy, United had written back to the customer, saying: “We encourage customers to check at the gate throughout a delay for the most up-to-date information.”
Labor Day travel
This weekend, travelers should prepare for one of the most hectic airport periods of the year.
The Federal Aviation Administration has said this has been the busiest summer in 15 years, and it won’t be slowing down for Labor Day.
Airline travel is supposed to peak on Thursday, August 29, with 52,186 total flights.
Over a weeklong period from August 28 to September 3, almost 316,000 flights are scheduled.
The highest travel day is expected to be Thursday, August 29[/caption]
The FAA said that this has been the busiest summer in 15 years[/caption]
