Not every day does a massive airline shutdown, but that’s what happened to Southwest Airlines this past Christmas season. The airline suddenly ceased all operations for the remainder of the year, leaving many passengers stranded for the holidays during winter storm Elliot. Unfortunately, passengers weren’t the only ones. The Southwest Shutdown led to flight attendants being stranded in airports, only to get harassed by disgruntled passengers. Some call this Southwest’s biggest operational meltdown and even declared a state of emergency.
Many customers of Southwest need clarification, as they feel they have not done anything to amend their 2,000-plus flight cancellations. The U.S. Department of Transportation criticizes Southwest, saying the rate of canceled flights is “unacceptable.” CEO Bob Jordan issued a statement on December 27th, explaining and apologizing for the situation. What can you do if you are stuck in this situation? It is complex, to be fair, but there are some steps you can take to feel more at ease when traveling through cancellations.
What to do if it Happens to You?
Your first thought might be, “how do I get my money back?”. This is a reasonable reaction because travel is often so expensive. Southwest says that they are encouraging Customers to submit receipts to be considered for reimbursement. They can offer reimbursements such as meal vouchers and hotel stays. However, this only applies to cancellations and delays under their control. Basically, you might not be as lucky if your flight was canceled due to weather cancellations or air traffic control.
A canceled flight might mean wasted vacation days, but it’s hard to complain in this situation. The airline will attempt to offer you credit with a competitor so you don’t take any monetary action to acquire a reimbursement. In some cases, competitors will offer discounted fares to lure disgruntled fliers. These competing airlines might be taking advantage of the situation to acquire new customers, but it’s hard to complain in this situation.
Notify your Booked Hotel or Airbnb
Make sure to notify your hotels that you may be arriving late, and see if you can re-book your dates if your new flight is on a different date. You don’t have to miss out on your vacation if you stay calm and try to move things around a bit. Most will be sympathetic to your situation, especially considering you are not in control of the circumstances. Try to stay calm; stress will only worsen the situation, as we all tend to make rash decisions while stressed.
Always Have a Plan B
Travel is unpredictable. Your family holiday vacation can turn into a nightmare if you do not prepare for some plans to change. You can try re-booking your flight with your original airline, but you may get canceled again. This is why we recommend having options to get to your desired home or destination. Research different airlines to see what available tickets they may have. If your flight is canceled, you will be more relaxed because you have another way of getting home. If the tickets aren’t booked, then.
Have an Emergency Fund
We recommend having extra money set aside for emergencies. If you need to book a new ticket with a different airline at the last minute, you will be prepared to do so. Remember, booking a ticket will cost more than it would if you purchased it in advance. Be prepared for those prices to hike up to double the price.
What if you have a Visa?
Unfortunately, if your passport has a visa, it won’t suddenly extend because your flight got canceled. Visas and passports interact in a specific way. This can be especially troublesome if you’re attempting to enter a country with a rigorous visa application process that only issues short-term stay visas. In this case, having your flight pushed back a few days could mean permanently shaving a few days off your trip, even if you can rebook.
If this is the case , you may have to reapply for the visa or request an extension from the consulate that issued the visa. While this rarely happens, it can if the reason is good enough. If this is not an option , you can always reapply for the visa using an expedited service that can get you a visa in only a few days.
In all seriousness, this can happen, and should it happen while you’re in a foreign country, it may be best to contact the local consulate servicing your nationality to see if some form of compensation can be agreed upon.
Need a Passport or Visa?
If you don’t want to wait a month for your passport, you can always apply with us here at The Passport Office. We offer professional private courier services that allow us to get your passport in as quickly as one day, depending on your situation. Apply today for a new passport in Orlando, Miami, Tampa, or Hollywood.