When a Hurricane Disrupts Your Travel
Follow these tips if your flight is canceled or delayed because of Hurricane Sandy -- or any other disaster.
Hurricane Sandy is expected to wreak havoc along the East Coast over the next few days. For travelers, it's already a nightmare because thousands of flights have been canceled.
DOWNLOAD: The Kip Tips iPad App
Last year when the earthquake in Japan disrupted people's travel plans, I turned to travel expert Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, to get her advice. I thought those tips would be worth sharing again to help travelers whose flights have been canceled or who might be stranded as a result of Hurricane Sandy.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
1. Start by learning your rights. If your flight is canceled due to weather, natural disaster or anything not within the airline's control, you're only entitled to a refund for the canceled portion of your trip. Of course, it never hurts to ask for more (hotel or food voucher, a waiver of fees for booking a new flight). You have more rights if it's the airline's fault that your flight is canceled or delayed, Banas says.
2. Whenever you get an airline, hotel or other agent on the phone who promises you something (such as a full refund), get the person's full name and direct line. If you don't seal the deal during that call, you risk getting a different agent -- and a different response -- if you call back.
3. Don't give up if a customer-service representative denies your request. Thank him for his time and call back later. You may get a more favorable response if you speak with another agent. If your travel plans are disrupted because of a disaster, it may pay to wait to contact the airline to give it time to develop a response to the situation.
4. If all else fails, tweet. Some airlines respond well to customer questions and complaints on Twitter. Just don't be belligerent, Banas warns. For more on using Twitter to voice your dissatisfaction, see How to Get Airlines to Respond to Your Complaints.
If you are stranded due to a cancellation ...
Sign up to receive flight alerts on your cell phone or vie e-mail. You can sign up at your airline's Web site or at AvoidDelays.com. If you're at the airport when you receive a delay or cancellation notice, head to the nearest ticket counter to be the first in line to get a seat on another flight.
Take advantage of free assistance. Travel insurance company Travel Guard is offering free assistance to U.S. and Canadian travelers affected by Hurricane Sandy. It will help travelers who call (866) 644-6811 with flight rebooking, hotel booking, emergency cash coordination and emergency medical assistance.
Find a hotel room by using sites such as Expedia, GetARoom.com or Hotels.com. If you don’t have Internet access, your next-best choice is to head to the baggage-claim area and check the hotel board. Or you can phone GetARoom’s call center at 800-468-3578.
-
9 Types of Insurance You Don't NeedFinancial Planning If you're paying for these types of insurance, you may be wasting your money. Here's what you need to know.
-
Are You Putting Yourself Last? The Cost Could Be Your RetirementIf you're part of the sandwich generation, it's critical that you don't let the needs of your aging parents come at the expense of your future.
-
Time to Prepare for Disasters Like They Could Happen to YouYou can no longer have the mindset that "that won't happen here." Because it absolutely could. As we head into 2026, consider making a disaster plan.
-
Why It's Worth Booking a Winter VacationTravel Smart In the early months of the year, travel demand dips — and so do prices.
-
5 Ways to Save on a Trip to the 2026 Olympics in ItalyA guide to going to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics without breaking the bank.
-
The Best (and Worst) Airlines for Flight Delays and CancellationsWhich airlines should you book and which should you avoid if you want to make it to your destination on time?
-
Four Luxury Spa Resorts for Well-Heeled TravelersWe hand-picked these U.S. luxury spa resorts for their serenity, amenities and dedication to the comfort of older travelers.
-
Child-Free Cruises Perfect For Your Retirement CelebrationHow to find a bespoke ocean or river vacation for adults. Many of these options are smaller, charming river cruises, expeditions, or niche experiences.
-
Noctourism: The New Travel Trend For Your Next Trip"Noctourism" is a new trend of building travel and vacations around events and plans that take place at night. Take a look at some inspiring noctourism ideas.
-
My Husband and I Retired at 67 With $3.2 Million, But He's Frugal About Travel. How Can I Convince Him to Loosen Up?We asked financial planning experts for advice.
-
Cruise Lines Sue to Block Hawaii’s New Climate Tourism TaxState Tax Your vacation to the Aloha State could come at a higher price tag next year. Here’s why.
