As the east coast continues to dig themselves out of the massive snow storm that has hit and cancelled over 5,000 flights, we are inundated with pictures and videos of people who are stranded at the airport.  Many of these stories are of people on their way to exotic honeymoons, home to visit family, or some other tear-jerking story.  But what about the majority of people?  The business travelers who are missing meetings, the travelers who have missed connections and hotel bookings, what can they do?

Rebook Your Flight

There are tons of websites out there telling you what to do in case your flight is cancelled.  Outside of the sage wisdom of “check your flight before you leave,” your options are somewhat limited if your flight is cancelled due to the weather.  Often-times, the airline will allow you to rebook on a different flight at no extra charge (these charges could run into the hundreds of dollars otherwise).  However, without knowing the extent of the weather delay and the fact that most flights are incredibly full, you may not be able to get on another flight in time to make your meeting or vacation plans.  Most airlines, like Continental, will allow you to rebook your flight, free of charge, after a certain time, and usually for give you the option to schedule the flight anytime within a year.  This would not be a breach of contract because the weather is deemed an “act of god.”

Flight Cancelled For Weather Related Reasons

Unfortunately, when your flight is cancelled, you have limited options.   Most airlines will allow you to standby for a different flight or to try to rebook a different flight.  You are only owed the “contract of carriage” which allows you the above listed options or a refund of your ticket (but not hotels, etc).  Depending on what the weather situation is, this could mean just taking a flight that leaves a little later or the next day, or a flight that doesn’t leave for another week (right now Continental and United are allowing rebooking beginning January 5).

You Don’t Even Get A Bag Of Peanuts

You are owed only a seat on an airplane at some point, even if you are stuck in the airport over night.  This means, no food vouchers, no overnight accommodations, you might not be able to get to your checked bag, so you might not have a fresh set of clothes, and no transfer to another airline.  That being said, some airlines do try to provide things like blankets and water, some hotels near the airport have “distressed” traveler discounts (though in the case of a major airport like Newark, there are far too many people for the local hotel).  However, despite the airline treating people like cattle, there is no basis of a lawsuit since you’ve agreed to the “contract of carriage” with the airline by purchasing your plane ticket.

What do you think, should airlines have to pay if there is a weather delay? Even though the airlines have no control over the weather, should they still be liable for missed vacations?